Labyrinth Patents (Class 384/480)
  • Patent number: 8734022
    Abstract: A sealing device is provided for sealing a space between a hub and a spindle pivotally connected by a bearing, the hub being coaxially mounted on the spindle and extending in an axial direction and the bearing having an inner ring. The sealing device includes a radial shaft seal including a shell portion having an outer static sealing surface disposeable against the hub and a hinge portion having a radial sealing lip. A sleeve member includes an inner static sealing surface disposeable against the spindle, a running surface contactable by the sealing lip and a sleeve portion. The sleeve portion extends in the axial direction beyond a side surface of the bearing inner ring and is disposeable about a shoulder diameter of the bearing inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Rico Dittmar, Thilo Beck, Bernd Stephan, Arno Stubenrauch, Peter Volpert, Thomas Will, John M. Dominguez, Linas L. Maskaliunas
  • Patent number: 8714827
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a transmission, which is capable of avoiding an ingress of foreign matter, reducing seal torque and reducing shear resistance between a retainer and balls, includes a recessed portion in an inner face of a pocket of the retainer, in which the surface area of contact with a ball is smaller than the surface area of contact when no recessed portion is provided. A sealing member is a contact seal and material of a tip portion of a sealing lip region is highly wearable material which, when the bearing assembly is rotated, wears to define a non-contact or the like. A grease contains a base oil and a thickening agent and the base oil is a mineral oil alone or a mixed oil of mineral oil and poly-?-olefin oil and has base oil kinetic viscosity not higher than 100 mm2/s at 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Yasumitsu Ishikawa, Tomokazu Nakagawa, Katsuaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8696211
    Abstract: A compact cassette seal and a corresponding wheel hearing for a passenger car or truck. The cassette seal has a bent sheet-metal ring which is and/or can be non-rotatably connected to a radially inner component and an annular sealing system which is non-rotatably connected to a radially outer component. The sealing system has a bearing ring and a radially peripheral seal with at least one sealing lip. The seal is secured to the bearing ring and the sealing lips resting on the bent sheet-metal ring in a sealing manner. A radially outer ring end section of the sealing system defines a labyrinth seal with a bent sheet-metal section of the bent sheet-metal ring. The bent sheet-metal section radially overlaps the ring end section on the exterior thereby forming an axially aligned or substantially axially aligned labyrinth seal section of the labyrinth seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Haepp, Robert Heuberger, Marc-Andre Schaefer, Wilhelm Walter
  • Patent number: 8646984
    Abstract: A roller assembly having a roller tube, a fixed shaft inside the roller tube, a bearing mounted on the shaft, an inner casing mounted on the bearing and rotatable with respect to the shaft, an outer casing fixedly mounted on the shaft, a shield cap mounted on the inner casing, and a seal member mounted between the roller tube, the shield cap and the inner casing for sealing the roller assembly. Facing walls of the inner casing and outer casing define inner cells and a first labyrinth path for reducing migration of contaminants through the inner cells. Facing walls of the outer casing and shield cap define outer cells and a second labyrinth path for reducing migration of contaminants through the outer cells. The facing walls of the outer casing and shield cap are provided with gel for further reducing migration of contaminants through the outer cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Gagnon
  • Patent number: 8646985
    Abstract: A sealed spherical roller bearing assembly, having an outer ring with a seal groove and an inner ring with a central bore. A plurality of rolling elements is arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring. A seal is provided that has a sealing element on an outer diameter of the seal, which sealing element engages in the seal groove in the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rocco Docimo
  • Publication number: 20140037239
    Abstract: A hub bearing assembly (10) is provided with a stationary outer ring (20), an inner ring (30) with a flange (32) for mounting of a wheel, the flange (32) forming an annular relief (36) that protrudes in an axially inner direction and has an inner cylindrical surface (37); a sealing device (50), mounted on the outer ring (20), has a non-contacting axial lip (61) which extends towards the flange (32) and has a free end portion (62) which provides a labyrinth seal with the cylindrical surface (37) of the annular relief (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Daniele Duch, Fausto Morello, Andrea Serafini
  • Patent number: 8641288
    Abstract: A radial needle rolling bearing, which has a thin-walled outer sleeve with radial rims that are axially inwardly directed on both sides, a plurality of needle bearings rolling on the inner lateral area of the sleeve and on the outer lateral area of the shaft to be supported, and a cage guiding the bearing needles in the circumferential direction in an evenly spaced manner. At least on one side, in addition to the needle cage, an additional stop disc is inserted into the needle sleeve. The disc is delimits axial movability of the needle cage together with a radial rim or a further stop disc inserted into the sleeve. Between the stop disc and the other radial rim, a sealing element is arranged, which seals the bearing. The sealing element is a labyrinth seal, which can be assembled from two individual mutually engaging sealing rings that have complimentary profile cross-sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Metten, Tino Beck, Dieter Jauernig
  • Patent number: 8628248
    Abstract: A seal arrangement with a centrifugal ring for a sealing between a rotatable bearing part and a static bearing part. The centrifugal ring has a first end piece, which forms both an outer circumference of the centrifugal ring and a cutoff edge located on a disk-shaped outer face. The seal arrangement reduces the coefficient of friction without having to accept any loss of sealing effect, but in which the seal arrangement nevertheless remains cost-effective to manufacture. For this purpose, the centrifugal ring has a second end piece. The end pieces together form a first collecting channel in the vicinity of the cutoff edge and the end pieces each form an annular seal gap with a static bearing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilheim Walter, Erwin Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20140010489
    Abstract: A hub-bearing assembly (10) is provided with an outer, stationary, ring (20), and an inner ring (30) with a flange (32) for mounting a wheel, and the flange (32) forms an annular relief (36) projecting in an axially inward direction and having an outer toroidal surface (42); a sealing device (50), mounted on the outer ring (20), has a non-contacting axial lip (61) which extends axially towards the flange (32) and has a free end portion (62) which creates a labyrinth seal with the outer toroidal surface (42) of the annular relief (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Daniele Duch, Fausto Morello, Andrea Serafini
  • Publication number: 20140003753
    Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing a radial rolling contact bearing, having a first sealing ring and a second sealing ring, wherein the two sealing rings can be rotated relative to each other about a common axis of rotation and together form a labyrinth seal, wherein a sealing gap of the labyrinth seal that extends substantially radially with respect to the axis of rotation is covered radially by an axial projection of the second sealing ring, and the sealing gap at the axial projection opens axially into a first catch channel of the first sealing ring. A hub of the radial rolling contact bearing forms the second sealing ring. Therefore, the second sealing ring is integrated into the hub flange, which means that the hub flange performs the function of the second sealing ring and to some extent helps to form the labyrinth seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Haepp, Wilhelm Walter
  • Patent number: 8613556
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint support bearing system having a bearing assembly supporting a first shaft connected to one member of the constant velocity joint. A first labyrinth seal on one axial side of the bearing assembly is formed by a shoulder that is unitary with the outer member of the constant velocity joint and by a radially inward projection on a bearing support bracket holding in place the outer race of the bearing assembly. A second labyrinth seal is formed between a cylindrical section of the bearing support bracket and an annular member that axially retains the bearing on the first shaft. Both the bearing support bracket and the annular member are formed from stamped sheet metal. The shoulder and the annular member are shaped to promote centrifugal slinging of contaminants away from the bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: NTN USA Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley Ketchel, Chris Katke, Yuichiro Noro
  • Patent number: 8596872
    Abstract: A bearing assembly is presented having a novel bearing seal design that, in one embodiment, combines the sealing advantages of both a labyrinth-like seal in combination with a contact seal. The seal is held perpendicularly to the sealing surface, and in one embodiment, substantially divides the sealing forces equally between the lubricant seal portion and the dust seal portion of the seal by virtue of the symmetry of the seal geometry and the application of the resisting force substantially along the seal body's centerline. The seal departs from the cantilever geometry of prior art seal designs, and in one embodiment, provides an inherently stiffer seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jessica Pruden
  • Patent number: 8591116
    Abstract: A bearing-isolating seal (40) comprises a metal seal member (50) and a non-metal seal member (60). The seal members (50, 60) comprise radial walls (51-53, 61-62) defining annular slots (55-56, 65) that together form a labyrinth-like path through the seal (40). The spindle-side wall (62) of the metal seal member (50) is sized for press-fit attachment around a spindle and the roller-side wall (51) of the non-metal seal member (60) is adapted to receive a roller therearound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: George Fedorovich
  • Publication number: 20130272638
    Abstract: A cage for a ball bearing unit comprises two half-cages (51, 52) which are connected to each other and are symmetrical about a mid-plane (P) of the bearing. Each half-cage has an annular body (53) providing two concentric and circumferentially continuous radial ridges (56, 57) extending radially in opposite directions, of which the first ridge (56) extends in a radially outward direction for sealingly engaging a groove (25) formed in the outer ring of the bearing unit, and the second ridge (57) extends in a radially inward direction for sealingly engaging a groove (35) formed in the inner ring of the bearing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Roberto Mola, Riccardo Restivo, Gianpiero Scaltriti
  • Publication number: 20130223781
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint support bearing system having a bearing assembly supporting a first shaft connected to one member of the constant velocity joint. A first labyrinth seal on one axial side of the bearing assembly is formed by a shoulder that is unitary with the outer member of the constant velocity joint and by a radially inward projection on a bearing support bracket holding in place the outer race of the bearing assembly. A second labyrinth seal is formed between a cylindrical section of the bearing support bracket and an annular member that axially retains the bearing on the first shaft. Both the bearing support bracket and the annular member are formed from stamped sheet metal. The shoulder and the annular member are shaped to promote centrifugal slinging of contaminants away from the bearing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: NTN USA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley Ketchel, Christopher Katke, Yuichiro Noro
  • Patent number: 8506170
    Abstract: A bearing is disclosed comprising an inner ring concentrically disposed with an outer ring with rotational elements therebetween adapted for allowing rotational movement of the inner ring relative to the outer ring. A relatively non-resilient isolator seal is mounted to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Baldor Electric Company
    Inventor: Christopher E. Hosmer
  • Patent number: 8474825
    Abstract: To improve sealing performance, a sealing device comprises an oil seal (10) mounted to a non-rotating housing (2), and a dust cover (20) mounted to a rotating body (5) outside the oil seal (10), one of the oil seal (10) and the dust cover (20) facing each other has an external seal lip (24) slidably in close contact with the other of them (10, 20) outside the slide sections (S1, S2) between the oil seal (10) and the rotating body (5), the oil seal (10) and the dust cover (20) have non-contact lips (16, 25) which are positioned outside the slide sections (S1, S2) and inside the external seal lip (24), have substantially conical tubular shapes becoming larger in diameter toward the tips thereof, and are loosely inserted to each other, and a labyrinth seal (30) is provided at the outer diameter side of the external seal lip (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventor: Takehiro Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8465269
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a dry vacuum pump comprising at least one rotating shaft (11) mounted on at least one lubricated bearing (5) and at least one sealing device (9) for sealing off lubricating fluids capable of entering the shaft passage from said bearing (5), said sealing device (9) being installed between the lubricated bearing (5) and a dry pumping stage (7), characterized in that said sealing device (9) comprises a centrifuge element (17) designed to rotate in unison on said shaft (11) and comprising at least one through line (19) capable of separating the lubricating fluids from the fluid that may travel from said bearing (5) to the dry pumping stage (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Albert Cacard, Francois Houze
  • Publication number: 20130104511
    Abstract: A spindle assembly for use with a rotating member is provided. The spindle assembly may include a flexible shield or seal that, in one embodiment, is radially and axially secured to one end of a spindle shaft of the assembly. The seal may be spaced-apart from one or more bearings rotationally supporting the shaft. As a result, a space between the seal and the bearing may be provided that allows dissipation of energy from a fluid (e.g., pressurized stream of cleaning fluid) that is forced past the seal. Moreover, spindle assembly constructions in accordance with embodiments of the instant invention may permit increased bearing spacing, potentially reducing bearing load and increasing bearing life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: EXMARK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: EXMARK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INCOR
  • Publication number: 20130077908
    Abstract: A brake cover plate for a disc brake of a motor vehicle having a plate-like section for covering a brake disc. An annular elevation which is spaced apart from the outer edge of the brake cover plate is formed on the side facing the brake disc as a wheel-bearing pre-seal. Furthermore, the brake cover plate forms a fastening flange radially within the annular elevation in order to fix the brake cover plate to a wheel carrier or the like. A wheel-bearing pre-seal is integrated into the brake cover plate via the annular elevation, the wheel-bearing pre-seal reducing the soiling of a wheel bearing thus improving the service life of the latter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Sven Frantz, Horst Klopp
  • Publication number: 20130011090
    Abstract: An axle bearing device (1) includes: an inner ring (4) fixed to an axle (2) of a railway vehicle; an outer ring (5) fixed to a journal box of the railway vehicle; and double row tapered rollers (6) arranged between raceway surfaces (4a) of the inner ring (4) and raceway surfaces (5a) of the outer ring (5). An opening portion between the inner ring (4) and the outer ring (5) is sealed by a labyrinth seal (Ls) including at least one axial labyrinth extending in an axial direction and at least one radial labyrinth extending in a radial direction. At least one of the at least one axial labyrinth and the at least one radial labyrinth which form the labyrinth seal Ls is formed between an outer-ring-side sealing member mounted to the outer ring (5) and the inner ring (4) or between the outer-ring-side sealing member mounted to the outer ring (5) and an inner-ring-side sealing member mounted to the inner ring (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Shimizu, Yasuhiro Shimizu, Fumihiro Murakami, Masahiko Kataoka, Masanori Ueno
  • Patent number: 8313245
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, double row rolling elements, and a constant velocity universal joint connected to a wheel hub of the inner member. A cap, formed as a low friction member, is interposed between a caulked portion and a shoulder portion of the constant velocity joint. The cap has a disc shaped abutting portion, a cylindrical portion and an anchoring portion. The disc shaped abutting portion is adapted to abut against the caulked portion and the shoulder portion. The cylindrical portion extends axially from the radially outermost portion of the abutting portion. The anchoring portion extends radially inward from a free end of the cylindrical portion. The radially inner diameter of the anchoring portion is formed slightly smaller than the radially outer diameter of the caulked portion so that the cap can be mounted on the caulked portion in a snap-fitting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Norimatsu
  • Patent number: 8308370
    Abstract: In a sealing device for a bearing, a sub-seal lip is configured such that a slide contact surface is formed like an annular band. As the rotation speed of the bearing increases, the width of the slide contact surface is reduced by a centrifugal force. Thus, sliding friction can effectively be minimized. The torque of the bearing can be prevented from increasing at high-speed rotation. Even when the centrifugal force increases somewhat, only reduction in the width of the slide contact surface is caused. Thus, a slide-contacted state can be maintained. Consequently, the problem of floating-up of the sub-seal lip from a slinger is difficult to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nakagawa, Youichi Numada, Hajime Tadumi, Tsuyoshi Okumura, Kunihiro Yamaguchi, Ikuo Ito
  • Patent number: 8272487
    Abstract: A rotation transmission device has a housing having an end wall with a shaft hole. An input shaft is inserted through the shaft hole, and an inner ring is mounted around the end of the input shaft inside the housing. A two-way clutch is provided between the inner ring and an outer ring disposed around the inner ring, and an electromagnetic clutch is provided adjacently, controlling engagement and disengagement of the two-way clutch. A first bearing mounted between radially facing surfaces of the housing and the outer ring is an open bearing, provided with a labyrinth on its end near the side of the open end of the housing. A second, single-sealed bearing is provided between facing surfaces of the inner ring and the outer ring, supporting these rings rotatably relative to each other. Lubricating grease with the same quality is used for the second bearing and the two-way clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Sato
  • Publication number: 20120195536
    Abstract: A radial needle rolling bearing, which has a thin-walled outer sleeve with radial rims that are axially inwardly directed on both sides, a plurality of needle bearings rolling on the inner lateral area of the sleeve and on the outer lateral area of the shaft to be supported, and a cage guiding the bearing needles in the circumferential direction in an evenly spaced manner. At least on one side, in addition to the needle cage, an additional stop disc is inserted into the needle sleeve. The disc is delimits axial movability of the needle cage together with a radial rim or a further stop disc inserted into the sleeve. Between the stop disc and the other radial rim, a sealing element is arranged, which seals the bearing. The sealing element is a labyrinth seal, which can be assembled from two individual mutually engaging sealing rings that have complimentary profile cross-sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Metten, Tino Beck, Dieter Jauernig
  • Publication number: 20120177315
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has a seal with a metal core and a sealing member. The metal core includes a cylindrical fitting portion press-fit into an end of the inner circumference of an outer member. A radially inner portion extends radially inward from the fitting portion. The sealing member is integrally adhered to the metal core. The sealing member has a side lip that is radially outwardly inclined. Either one of the metal core or the sealing member is formed with a weir portion that extends radially outward from the fitting portion of the metal core. The weir portion opposes the inner-side surface of the wheel mounting flange, via a small axial gap, to form a labyrinth seal. The weir portion also opposes the outer-side end face of the outer member, via a predetermined axial gap, to form an annular discharging groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Matsuki, Tomoya Yamada, Syougo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8136995
    Abstract: First portions are fixed to an outer ring, and second portions are fixed to an inner ring. Bimetal members and electromagnets are embedded in and fixed by elastic portions of the first portions and portions of the second portions are constituted by ferromagnetic members. Whereas at a normal temperature region, the first portions and the second portions are brought into contact with each other, based on deformations of the bimetal members at a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature equal to or higher than the normal temperature region, the first portions and the second portions are made to be disposed to be spaced apart from each other by intervals therebetween at a temperature equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature equal to or higher than the normal temperature region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunori Otsuka, Takeshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8123410
    Abstract: In a rolling bearing provided with an outer ring connected to a mounting opening of a knuckle, an inner ring connected to a wheel through a hub, a rolling element intervening between the outer ring and the inner ring and a sealing device for sealing the space between the inner and outer rings from the outside, the rolling bearing is provided with a sealing member for limiting the foreign substance invading the rolling bearing side from a clearance existing between a drive shaft provided rotatably with the inner ring and the knuckle, the sealing member including a ring-shaped cover including a cylinder press-fit in the outer ring and a ring-shaped upstanding wall extended radially inwardly from the cylinder and an outer lip provided at an inner diameter end of the ring-shaped upstanding wall, the outer lip serving to show the sealing function in cooperation with the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Masuda
  • Publication number: 20120045155
    Abstract: A sealed hub-bearing assembly for agricultural applications includes a hub-bearing unit 10 with a flanged outer ring 11 and a pair of radially inner stationary rings 16, 17 tightly mounted side to side. A sealing device 20 is mounted on a side of the hub-bearing unit 10 opposite to the side of the flange 12 and includes a sealing gasket 32 which is arranged to slide against the outer ring 11 and it is mounted by snap-action in a circumferential groove 18 formed in the inner ring 17 located farthest from the side of the flange 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Luca Morero, Fabio Picatto, Ove Lennart Andersson, Stephano Urso, Massimo Marivo, Carlo Maldera, Marco Panchetti, Andea Magnetto
  • Patent number: 8109674
    Abstract: A bearing assembly is presented having a novel lubricant sealing design that, in one embodiment, combines the sealing advantages of both a labyrinth-like seal in combination with a contact seal. The improved seal includes a non-rotating seal case working in closely spaced cooperation with a rotor to form a channel. The rotor is attached and turns with the shaft, inducing flow in the channel. Lubricant leakage is impeded by the tortuous fluid path formed by the convoluted channel of the labyrinth-like seal and the fluid shear forces developed by the turning shaft. Any lubricant leakage is further impeded by a resilient seal contacting the surface of the rotor and constricting the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Hubbard
  • Patent number: 8104970
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member with a wheel hub and inner ring, double row rolling elements contained between the inner member and the outer member, and; seals mounted between the outer member and the inner member. A stepped portion is formed between an inner side surface of the wheel mounting flange and its base. The stepped portion is formed with a circular arc cross-section with a predetermined radius of curvature. An annular recessed portion is formed on an inner circumference of the outer side end of the outer member. The recessed portion is arranged opposite to a corner edge of the stepped portion, via a small gap. The gap forms an annular labyrinth seal having a substantially “L” shaped cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Komori
  • Patent number: 8087831
    Abstract: It is prevented that magnetic foreign matter adheres the magnet encoder 3a to deteriorate the reliability of rotation speed detection with the sensor 4a. The encoder 3a is provided on the outside of the combined seal ring 19 with reference to the bearing interior space 24, and the sensor 4a faces the encoder 3a. The knuckle 21 is placed close to the housing 33 of the drive shaft member 28 of the constant velocity joint 27 to form a labyrinth seal 20. The width of the clearance of this labyrinth seal 20 is up to 40% of the pitch of adjacent S-poles and N-poles that are arranged on the detected surface of the encoder 3a. With this construction, larger foreign matter is prevented from attaching to the detected surface of the encoder 3a to solve the above subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: NSK, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junshi Sakamoto, Hiroya Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8061901
    Abstract: A bearing is disclosed comprising an inner ring concentrically disposed with an outer ring with rotational elements therebetween adapted for allowing rotational movement of the inner ring relative to the outer ring. A flinger may be secured to the inner ring having an extension member formed from a resilient material. The extension member may extend radially outward from the flinger along an axial side of the bearing and engages a portion of a side face of the outer ring during operation of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Baldor Electric Company
    Inventor: Christopher E. Hosmer
  • Patent number: 8038353
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member double row rolling elements, and a constant velocity universal joint. A wheel hub of the inner member and an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint are axially separably connected. The outer joint member shoulder portion abuts against a caulked portion of the wheel hub. A cap is interposed between the caulked portion and the shoulder portion. The cap is press-formed from a steel plate and has a surface roughness of 0.63 Ra or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Nobukatsu Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 8020874
    Abstract: A floating seal is provided between the fixed housing and the drive wheel, and an outside seal is provided so as to cover the outer circumference of the floating seal. The outside seal is composed of a gap between the fixed seal member secured to the fixed housing serving as a vehicle body and the rotating seal member rotatably secured integrally with the drive wheel. Blades that rotate on the outer circumference of the outside seal are provided on the outer circumference of the rotating seal member so as to protrude therefrom. By means of the blades, dirt accumulated in the fixed housing is scraped off. Therefore, dirt is prevented from being accumulated on the outer circumference of the outside seal, wherein it is possible to prevent dirt from entering the position of the floating seal and to appropriately discharge the dirt that has entered to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Kometani, Junichi Matsui
  • Publication number: 20110129175
    Abstract: There is provided a clutch release bearing in which a water resistance is enhanced. At that a side axially opposite from one side where an outer ring rib of a clutch release bearing is formed, there is provided a first seal member externally fitted to an outer ring to be fixed thereto. A seal lip disposed in sliding contact with an outside-diameter surface of an inner ring is formed at a radially-inward distal end of the first seal member. An annular guide is provided at a bearing-outward side of the first seal member, and an axial lip which extends toward the outside of the bearing and extends to be disposed radially outwardly of the guide is formed at a bearing-outward side face of the first seal member. The axial lip is disposed in non-contact, close relation to the guide to form a labyrinth. A radially outwardly-open groove is formed in a joint portion of the axial lip joined to the first seal member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiyuki Suzuki, Takashi Sugimoto, Motoshi Kawamura, Kouhei Yamaguchi, Tetsuro Inoue, Yoshitaka Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20110044569
    Abstract: A compact cassette seal and a corresponding wheel hearing for a passenger car or truck. The cassette seal has a bent sheet-metal ring which is and/or can be non-rotatably connected to a radially inner component and an annular sealing system which is non-rotatably connected to a radially outer component. The sealing system has a bearing ring and a radially peripheral seal with at least one sealing lip. The seal is secured to the bearing ring and the sealing lips resting on the bent sheet-metal ring in a sealing manner. A radially outer ring end section of the sealing system defines a labyrinth seal with a bent sheet-metal section of the bent sheet-metal ring. The bent sheet-metal section radially overlaps the ring end section on the exterior thereby forming an axially aligned or substantially axially aligned labyrinth seal section of the labyrinth seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Haepp, Robert Heuber, Marc-Andre Schaefer, Wilhelm Walter
  • Publication number: 20110002568
    Abstract: A snap cage (5) includes an annular cage body having a plurality of pockets (11) defined therein at respective circumferential locations for retaining a corresponding number of balls. Each of the pockets (11) also has an inner face formed with a recessed area (16) extending from a pocket open edge on a cage inner diametric side towards a cage outer diametric side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kawamura, Norihide Sato, Tomoya Sakaguchi, Takayuki Kawamura, Hikaru Ishida, Makoto Muramatsu, Tomoaki Goto
  • Publication number: 20100329598
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, double row rolling elements, and a constant velocity universal joint connected to a wheel hub of the inner member. A cap, formed as a low friction member, is interposed between a caulked portion and a shoulder portion of the constant velocity joint. The cap has a disc shaped abutting portion, a cylindrical portion and an anchoring portion. The disc shaped abutting portion is adapted to abut against the caulked portion and the shoulder portion. The cylindrical portion extends axially from the radially outermost portion of the abutting portion. The anchoring portion extends radially inward from a free end of the cylindrical portion. The radially inner diameter of the anchoring portion is formed slightly smaller than the radially outer diameter of the caulked portion so that the cap can be mounted on the caulked portion in a snap-fitting manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Norimatsu
  • Publication number: 20100272381
    Abstract: A bearing assembly is presented having a novel lubricant sealing design that, in one embodiment, combines the sealing advantages of both a labyrinth-like seal in combination with a contact seal. The improved seal includes a non-rotating seal case working in closely spaced cooperation with a rotor to form a channel. The rotor is attached and turns with the shaft, inducing flow in the channel. Lubricant leakage is impeded by the tortuous fluid path formed by the convoluted channel of the labyrinth-like seal and the fluid shear forces developed by the turning shaft. Any lubricant leakage is further impeded by a resilient seal contacting the surface of the rotor and constricting the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventor: Paul A. Hubbard
  • Publication number: 20100254643
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member with a wheel hub and inner ring, double row rolling elements contained between the inner member and the outer member, and; seals mounted between the outer member and the inner member. A stepped portion is formed between an inner side surface of the wheel mounting flange and its base. The stepped portion is formed with a circular arc cross-section with a predetermined radius of curvature. An annular recessed portion is formed on an inner circumference of the outer side end of the outer member. The recessed portion is arranged opposite to a corner edge of the stepped portion, via a small gap. The gap forms an annular labyrinth seal having a substantially “L” shaped cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Komori
  • Publication number: 20100074568
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member double row rolling elements, and a constant velocity universal joint. A wheel hub of the inner member and an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint are axially separably connected. The outer joint member shoulder portion abuts against a caulked portion of the wheel hub. A cap is interposed between the caulked portion and the shoulder portion. The cap is press-formed from a steel plate and has a surface roughness of 0.63 Ra or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Nobukatsu Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 7674044
    Abstract: In a sealing device attached to a housing and slidably brought into close contact with a mating member, the sealing device having a mounting ring fixed to the housing in accordance with metal fitting and a rubber-like elastic body, and having a side lip slidably brought into close contact with an end face portion of the mating member and provided in the rubber-like elastic body, there is provided the sealing device which inhibits a metal fitting portion from being deteriorated due to a rust generation and inhibit inhibiting the side lip from slidably wearing. For this purpose, a flange portion is provided in the mounting ring toward an outer side in a diametrical direction, and an end face portion is covered by attaching an end face seal portion constituted by a rubber-like elastic body brought into close contact with the end face portion of the housing to the flange portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Matsui
  • Publication number: 20090321216
    Abstract: A drift conveyor (1) has rollers (14) introduced into bearings (13) of a frame (12). An axle (143) of the roller (14) is received in a receptacle (1310) of the bearing (13), and a roller plate (15) presses the bearing (13) so that a first sealing region (1308) of the bearing (13) contacts a sealing region (152) of the roller plate (15). A rotary fastening region of the bearing (13) contacts a fastening region (153a) of the roller plate (15) and a second sealing region of the bearing (13) contacts the frame sealing region. One side of the bearing (13) has the receptacle (1310), the first sealing region (1308) and a rotary fastening region that prevents rotation of the bearing (13) with respect to the roller plate (15). An opposite side of the bearing (13) has a second region for sealing between the bearing (13) and the frame (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Reinhold Weichbrodt
  • Patent number: 7618194
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a wheel speed detecting apparatus has an outer member (4) with an integrally formed body mounting flange (4b) and double row outer raceway surfaces (4a) formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer member (4). An inner member (3) includes a wheel hub (1) with an integrally formed wheel mounting flange (7) at one end. A cylindrical portion (1b) axially extends from the wheel mounting flange (7). An inner ring (6) is fitted on the cylindrical portion (1b) of the wheel hub (1). Double row inner raceway surfaces (1a, 6a) are formed on the outer circumferential surfaces of the wheel hub (1) and inner ring (6), respectively opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces (4a). Double row rolling elements (5) are rotatably arranged between the outer and inner raceway surfaces (4a; 1a, 6a). An encoder (19) is mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Kazuhisa Shigeoka, Tomomi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7607836
    Abstract: A bearing assembly is provided having a roller bearing with an inner raceway fitted around the journal portion of an axle. An outer raceway combines with the inner raceway to receive roller elements. A backing ring is centered to the shaft fillet. An annular wear ring is positioned between the inner race and the backing ring. An improved lubricant seal arrangement is provided between the wear ring and the supporting outer raceway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: AMSTED Rail Company, Inc
    Inventors: Michael Allan Mason, David Wayne Shannon, Paul Adams Hubbard, Andrew James Sklute, Kurt Winfield Fisher
  • Publication number: 20090190874
    Abstract: A spherical outer diameter tapered roller bearing pillow block system (100) for supporting the rotating main shaft of a wind turbine. The bearing system is configured with a unitized construction and factory set preload bearing settings to facilitate installation and setup. A spherical outer diameter surface (114) is formed on the Outer race (116) of a tapered roller bearing assembly disposed about the rotating main shaft of the wind turbine. The bearing assembly is secured to a stationary support structure of the wind turbine through a pillow block housing assembly (102) providing a matching spherical housing scat (112) to form a ball and socket interface between the tapered roller bearing assembly (118) and the pillow block housing assembly (102). The ball and socket interface accommodates static and dynamic misalignments between the wind turbine main shaft and the supporting structure, while the bearing assembly (118) accommodates radial and axial loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: THE TIMKEN COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruce C. Burner, Gerald Fox
  • Publication number: 20090169146
    Abstract: A roller assembly having a roller tube, a fixed shaft inside the roller tube, a bearing mounted on the shaft, an inner casing mounted on the bearing and rotatable with respect to the shaft, an outer casing fixedly mounted on the shaft, a shield cap mounted on the inner casing, and a seal member mounted between the roller tube, the shield cap and the inner casing for sealing the roller assembly. Facing walls of the inner casing and outer casing define inner cells and a first labyrinth path for reducing migration of contaminants through the inner cells. Facing walls of the outer casing and shield cap define outer cells and a second labyrinth path for reducing migration of contaminants through the outer cells. The facing walls of the outer casing and shield cap are provided with gel for further reducing migration of contaminants through the outer cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Gagnon
  • Publication number: 20090123101
    Abstract: In a rolling bearing provided with an outer ring connected to a mounting opening of a knuckle, an inner ring connected to a wheel through a hub, a rolling element intervening between the outer ring and the inner ring and a sealing device for sealing the space between the inner and outer rings from the outside, the rolling bearing is provided with a sealing member for limiting the foreign substance invading the rolling bearing side from a clearance existing between a drive shaft provided rotatably with the inner ring and the knuckle, the sealing member including a ring-shaped cover including a cylinder press-fit in the outer ring and a ring-shaped upstanding wall extended radially inwardly from the cylinder and an outer lip provided at an inner diameter end of the ring-shaped upstanding wall, the outer lip serving to show the sealing function in cooperation with the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Masuda
  • Patent number: RE40666
    Abstract: A mounting for the road wheel of an automotive vehicle includes a spindle, a hub located around the spindle and inboard and outboard tapered roller bearings located between the hub and spindle where they are mounted in opposition. The cones (inner races) of the two bearings are separated by a spacer which at its ends is attached to the cones. The spacer holds the cones together within the hub so that the bearings and hub can be installed on and removed from the spindle as a unit. The spacer also establishes the setting for the bearings. In addition, the mounting has a seal located in the inboard end of the hub. The seal has lips which establish dynamic fluid barriers along the cone of the inboard bearing and along an adjacent sealing surface on the spindle without contacting the cone or spindle. The raceways and rollers for the two bearings have highly crowned profiles and the hub and the seal within contain an optimum amount of grease for lubricating the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Joki, James W. Skelly, Richard Borowski, Steven V. Boyd, Thomas J. Rybkoski