Axially Biased Race Patents (Class 384/517)
  • Patent number: 6422757
    Abstract: An active piezoelectric spindle bearing preload adjustment mechanism includes a preload adjustment assembly located between an inner ring and an outer ring of two bearings, and an internal generator mounted at a selected location in a spindle. The preload adjustment assembly includes a spacer ring set and a piezoelectric actuator located in the spacer ring set. The rotation speed of the spindle is changeable to enable the internal generator generating selected amount of power and voltage for controlling extension or contraction length of the piezoelectric actuator whereby to change slide distance between the inner and outer ring for controlling bearing preload value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Inst.
    Inventors: Tung-Chuan Wu, Jih-Jong Hsu, Kuan-Wen Chen, Tsann-Huei Chang
  • Publication number: 20020085780
    Abstract: A rolling-bearing unit comprising a pair of bearing assembled such that the tolerance range of the radial clearance or contact angle of the ball bearings is divided into a plurality of divisions, and that a pair of ball bearings is selected from the same division, and that a pre-load, which is set according to the division, is applied to the selected pair of ball bearings as they are installed in the unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Muraki, Norihiro Aoki, Norikazu Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 6409390
    Abstract: A duplex bearing mount including at least one duplex bearing having an inner race and an outer race, the inner race disposed within the outer race and being rotatable relative to the outer race about an axis, the inner race having substantially no relative movement relative to the outer race in at least one direction along the axis, the inner and outer races each having first and second axial faces which are respectively located at the same axial end of the duplex bearing. The duplex bearing is radially supported by a housing, and a shaft extends through the inner race, the shaft radially and axially supported by the inner race. A first retainer is connected to the housing and engages the first axial surface of a bearing race, the movement of which race in a first direction along the axis being constrained by the first retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: George Elias Bouzakis, James Edward Bowman, Edward J. Devine, Benjamin Joffe, Kenneth Neal Segal, Merritt J. Webb
  • Publication number: 20020076127
    Abstract: An active piezoelectric spindle bearing preload adjustment mechanism includes a preload adjustment assembly located between an inner ring and an outer ring of two bearings, and an internal generator mounted at a selected location in a spindle. The preload adjustment assembly includes a spacer ring set and a piezoelectric actuator located in the spacer ring set. The rotation speed of the spindle is changeable to enable the internal generator generating selected amount of power and voltage for controlling extension or contraction length of the piezoelectric actuator whereby to change slide distance between the inner and outer ring for controlling bearing preload value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Tung-Chuan Wu, Jih-Jong Hsu, Kuan-Wen Chen, Tsann-Huei Chang
  • Patent number: 6394657
    Abstract: An assembly method of a preload-adjustable rolling bearing unit comprising the steps of providing a shaft having a first inner raceway, an inner ring being press fitted onto the shaft and having a second innor raceway, such that a pitch of both raceways is set greater than a pitch required to give a predetermined preload, providing an outer ring having outer raceways, providing a plurality of balls to be fitted between the outer raceways of the outer ring, and the first and second ir raceways, positioning the balls equidistant apart in the circumferential direction, and vibrating the rolling bearing unit by means of piezo electric elements while moving the inner ring In the axial direction, measuring the resonant frequency of the rolling bearing unit with a vibration sensor to control the preload whereby the inner ring is pressed onto a shaft while vibrating with only a small amount of energy without scratching the raceway and rolling surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takamizawa, Daijiro Kitahara, Seizo Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6394658
    Abstract: A bearing system includes a housing with first and second relief cuts, and a bearing assembly that includes an inner race and an outer race. An adjust screw contacts a preload spring positioned adjacent the outer race. The preload spring exerts a force on the outer race. The outer race includes a first and second edge, and a connecting portion. The first and second edges are positioned adjacent the first and second relief cuts respectively. The connecting portion contacts a bearing bore surface while the first and second edges of the outer race do not contact the bore surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James R. Crowell
  • Patent number: 6375360
    Abstract: An angular contact ball bearing of a steering shaft (27) of an automotive vehicle, said bearing comprising an inner bearing ring (11), an outer bearing ring (1) and bearing balls (7) arranged between the inner and outer bearing rings in rolling contact with raceways (14, 5) formed on the inner and outer bearing rings, the inner bearing ring (11) being received by an elastic tolerance ring (15) of a polymeric material, said bearing further comprising an inseparable assembly, wherein, a retaining ring (20) is arranged between the steering shaft (27) and the tolerance ring (15), the retaining ring (20) comprises circumferentially equi-spaced retaining elements (19) that project therefrom in axial direction and comprise radially outward directed retaining lugs (22) that overlap the outer bearing ring (1), the tolerance ring (15) comprises circumferentially equi-spaced clearances (18) for receiving the retaining elements (19), and the tolerance ring (15) extends in axial direction up to the end of a generally radi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: INA
    Inventors: Ulrike Weisskopf, Rainer Lutz
  • Patent number: 6371739
    Abstract: A crankshaft directly connected to an electric motor and operably connected to a drive load is supported at two locations with bearings that are respectively subject to different amount of bearing loads. A resilient member is interposed between the inner race of one or both of the bearings and the crankshaft for applying an axial pre-load to the bearings. The weight of the crankshaft and the rotor, and/or a magnetic attractive force generated in the electric motor is/are applied to the bearing as an axial pre-load in addition to the pre-load by the resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Aiba
  • Patent number: 6371654
    Abstract: A pivot bearing cartridge for an actuator in a disc storage system includes a shaft, a first outer sleeve and a second outer sleeve. The first and second outer sleeves are coupled together. Raceways are formed in the sleeves and the shaft. The raceways carry balls to form ball bearings allowing movement of the sleeves relative to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Nigel F. Misso
  • Patent number: 6367980
    Abstract: The bearing according to the invention is an ultra thin type rolling bearing in which the ratio of a ball diameter/a pitch circle diameter is 0.03 or less, and includes an outer member, an inner member, and balls inserted between these members. A double row raceway surface is provided at the inner circumferential surface of the outer member. The inner member includes an annular member and an engaging member engaged to the outer circumference of the annular member and having an axial clearance to the annular member, and raceway surfaces are provided at the outer circumferential surfaces of the annular member and engaging member. Preloading is performed by pressurizing the engaging member and reducing the axial clearance. Thus, the number of parts is reduced and the manufacturing cost is reduced accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Umemitsu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6367979
    Abstract: In order to allow a ball bearing to be inserted into a housing which is closed at one end, without any bearing parts being damaged during the axial insertion process, the outer ring of the bearing has a radially inwardly directed flange that extends radially into the region of the inner ring while toward the open end of the housing, the inner ring is formed on the axially outward side of the bearing balls, without a shoulder on the inner ring. An axial compression spring is arranged between the closed end of the housing and the inner ring. The flange on the outer ring may be either axially inward of or axially outward of the row of bearing balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: FAG Automobiltechnik AG
    Inventors: Gottfried Ruoff, Heinrich Hofmann
  • Patent number: 6354743
    Abstract: A rolling bearing according to the present invention comprises an inner race 29, an outer race 31 and a plurality of balls 37 disposed therebetween. The inner race 29 has a raceway surface on its outer peripheral surface. The outer race 31 includes a raceway surface on its inner peripheral surface. The balls 37 are rotatably interposed between the raceway surfaces of the inner and outer races. A lubricant is enclosed in a space 41 formed between the raceways of the outer and inner races by an amount of 0.3% to 3% of the capacity of the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Muraki, Hiroshi Tani, Takashi Seshimo, Toru Takamizawa
  • Patent number: 6322092
    Abstract: An improved structure for a steering spindle securing device includes a movable fitting element mounted on a steering spindle of a conventional bicycle or scooter and having a notch extending axially along a peripheral wall thereof, one end of the movable fitting element having a generally wedge-shaped press portion for abutting against an inner ring of a bearing of a front head bowl of the bicycle or scooter, an outer annular wall thereof being provided with an outer thread; a generally tubular fixed fitting element having a notch extending axially along the peripheral wall thereof, a retaining hole extending transversely through the notch, and an inner thread for engaging at least a portion of the outer thread on the movable fitting element; and a retaining element that extends through the retaining hole to secure the fixed fitting element on the steering spindle at a predetermined position such that the movable fitting element, when rotated, displaces along the axis of the steering spindle of the bicycle o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Melton International, LLC
    Inventor: Tsang-Ying Chen
  • Patent number: 6283636
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for changing the clamping conditions of a rotatable part, which is rotatably disposed in the shaft bearing, and in the case of which the axis of rotation of the rotatable part is arranged axially identically with the axis of rotation of the shaft bearing. For changing a sound effect emanating from the rotatable part, the axial and radial clamping conditions between the shaft bearing and a rotatable part rotatably held in the shaft bearing, particularly of a shaft, of the engine, are changed in a controllable manner. Likewise, the transmission function of the vibrations, particularly of vibrations generating sound waves, existing between the rotatable part and the shaft bearing or a component contacting the shaft bearing is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Juergen Schnur, Silvia Tomaschko
  • Publication number: 20010003546
    Abstract: Providing a spindle unit that guarantees an appropriate changing of a pre-load applied to rolling bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Publication date: June 14, 2001
    Inventors: Michio Watanabe, Masateru Nakai, Tatsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6244751
    Abstract: A bearing assembly adjustable spacer may include an end portion, a deformable portion, a transversely inward face portion, and a transversely outward face portion. The end portion may be configured for generally axial abutment (e.g., with a shoulder portion) at a location about a spindle portion. The deformable portion may allow the spacer to be provided with a desired adjustment (e.g., a preload, an adjustment to an axial dimension of the spacer, and/or a compression of the deformable portion of the spacer). The inward face portion may be generally directed radially relative to an axis of the spacer. Further, the inward face portion may be configured for generally radial abutment (e.g., with a surface portion) at a location about a spindle portion. The outward face portion may have a generally axially curved portion. The curved portion may be largely directed obliquely away from the end portion of the spacer. Also, the curved portion may be configured to interface with a generally axially curved part (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Temper Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Rode
  • Patent number: 6227714
    Abstract: A compound bearing assembly for a swing arm is disclosed, which comprises a stepped shaft 1 having a large-diameter portion 1a and a small-diameter portion 1b, the large-diameter portion 1a having an inner raceway groove 2a directly formed in the inner periphery, a sleeve-like outer race ring 5 surrounding the stepped shaft 1 and having a distinct-member outer race ring 3 provided adjacent one end and also having an outer raceway groove directly formed in the inner periphery of a portion adjacent the outer end, a plurality of balls 4 provided between the inner raceway groove 2a directly formed in the large-diameter portion 1a and an outer raceway groove 2a formed in the distinct-member outer race ring 3, and a plurality of other balls 8a provided between an inner raceway groove formed in an inner race ring 7a fitted on the small-diameter portion 1b of the stepped shaft 1 and the outer raceway groove 2b directly formed in the inner periphery of the sleeve-like outer race ring 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Minebea Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Rikuro Obara
  • Patent number: 6179473
    Abstract: A rolling bearing, in particular for motor vehicle steering column comprising an external ring (4) provided with a bearing raceway, an internal ring (6) provided with a bearing raceway, a row of rolling elements (8) arranged between the bearing raceways of said rings, tolerance ring (9) linking the internal ring with the shaft (3), and a spring washer (11) for blocking the bearing on the shaft (3). The external ring (4) comprises bosses (12) for axially maintaining the spring washer (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: SKF France
    Inventors: Frederic Ponson, Thierry Poulle, Beno{circumflex over (i)}t Arnault, Bertrand Collignon, Christophe Houdayer, Filippo Zingariello
  • Patent number: 6170987
    Abstract: A preloading bearing unit mounted in a casing to support an antifriction bearing and the output shaft of a motor, the preloading bearing unit including a bushing mounted on the antifriction bearing, and a hydraulic cylinder assembly controlled to display the bushing, the hydraulic cylinder assembly including first and second miniature hydraulic cylinders alternatively arranged around the bushing, the first and second miniature hydraulic cylinders each having a spring stopped against the bushing, first and second hydraulic fluid delivery pipes connected to the miniature hydraulic cylinders, first and second accumulation chambers for guiding a hydraulic fluid to the first miniature hydraulic cylinders and the miniature hydraulic cylinders respectively. A difference preloading pressure is given to the bushing by turning on the first miniature hydraulic cylinders, the second miniature hydraulic cylinders, or both the first and second miniature hydraulic cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chun-Hung Huang, Yung-Hsian Lai
  • Patent number: 6158896
    Abstract: A play-free radial ball bearing in which the inner bearing ring is constructed in two parts, whereby at least one of the two bearing ring elements (4, 5) is axially and radially movable and the bearing outer ring (6, 23, 25) has a race (2) with a radius that is clearly larger that the radius of the bearing balls (1). Due to the significantly greater osculation of the outer race (2) in comparison to the bearing balls (1), a restricted tipping of the shaft with, at the same time, freedom from play in the bearing, is made possible in connection with the two part movable inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventors: Alexander Zernickel, Rainer Lutz, Herbert Erhart
  • Patent number: 6129454
    Abstract: A single-piece outer race ring 3, a sleeve-like spacer 11, a plurality of first balls 4, a conventional ball bearing unit 7, a stepped-diameter shaft 1 and the like are assembled into a compound bearing assembly by a bearing maker with high accuracy to enable a user to be free from a cumbersome assembling work of rotating portions or cylindrical rotary shaft and its bearing means of a computer and its peripheral devices. In use, the compound bearing assembly is coaxially mounted in the cylindrical rotary shaft and the like at the user's end to rotatably support the cylindrical rotary shaft and the like in the computer and its peripheral devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Minebea Kabushiki-Kaisha
    Inventor: Rikuro Obara
  • Patent number: 6123462
    Abstract: A bearing system includes a housing with first and second relief cuts, and a bearing assembly that includes an inner race and an outer race. An adjust screw contacts a preload spring positioned adjacent the outer race. The preload spring exerts a force on the outer race. The outer race includes a first and second edge, and a connecting portion. The first and second edges are positioned adjacent the first and second relief cuts respectively. The connecting portion contacts a bearing bore surface while the first and second edges of the outer race do not contact the bore surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James R. Crowell
  • Patent number: 6089673
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved vehicle wheel hub and bearing retention system and method for producing the same, the vehicle wheel hub and bearing retention system including a wheel hub, a bearing unit, and a bearing retention and preload device. The wheel hub includes an inboard end, an outboard end, and a main body. The bearing unit is provided onto a bearing seat of the wheel hub. The material of the inboard end of the wheel hub is re-shaped against the bearing retention and preload device to thereby secure the device on the wheel hub and prevent axial and radial movement of said device relative to the wheel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventors: Michael F. Wiacek, Gary L. Koch
  • Patent number: 6070325
    Abstract: In a double-row rolling bearing, there is a uniform relationship between a pre-load applied to the bearing and a pre-load gap formed by elastic transformation of rollers and some parts related to the rollers. Therefore, to measure the pre-load is equivalent to measure the pre-load gap. Then, a pre-load gap is measured at every row of the rollers, and measured values of the pre-load gaps are added together to thereby obtain an entire pre-load gap of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Miyata, Nobuyoshi Murakami
  • Patent number: 6048101
    Abstract: A thrust bearing arrangement for a rotary shaft includes a main bearing mounted on the rotary shaft at a first axial location and an idler bearing mounted on the shaft at a second axial location spaced from the first axial location. Each of the main bearing and the idler bearing has an inner race in contact with the rotary shaft and a floating outer race. A thrust member is disposed between the outer races of the first and second bearings for transmitting axial thrust forces to a machine frame. A spring maintains a preload condition on the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Sullair Corporation
    Inventor: Ole H. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6042273
    Abstract: A machine tool spindle is associated with an adjustable preload mechanism for varying the preload on a bearing set for the spindle the mechanism comprising an annular piston that is selectively pressurized for loading spring(s) carried by a spring retainer that is engageable with the bearing set; and wherein the annular piston is held in an adjusted position by a position locating device including an adjustment member removably supported within a housing for the bearings and selectively engageable with the annular piston; the position locating device having a plurality of adjusted positions selectively engageable with the annular piston for fixing it in one of a plurality of positions for varying the compression of the spring(s) so as to maintain one of a plurality of preloads on the bearing set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignees: Colonial Tool Group Inc., Colonial Tool Sales & Service LLC
    Inventor: Paul Christopher Thrasher
  • Patent number: 6032336
    Abstract: When a roller cylinder of a top roller is installed, it may collide against an outer bearing and damage it. Since the roller cylinder is loosened, when drafting is executed at a high speed, the roller cylinder may vibrate, causing non-uniform drafting. A pre-loading spring 30 is installed between an inner bearing 20 and an outer bearing 21 and on the inner circumferential side. Due to the elastic force of the pressurizing spring 30, inner rings 20b and 21b of the bearings rotate integrally with a shaft 10. When the roller cylinder 12 is installed, if it collides against the outer bearing 21, the pre-loading spring 30 acts as a buffer to prevent damage to the bearings. O-rings 31 and 32 installed between outer rings 20a and 21a of the bearings 20 and 21 fill the gap to prevent the roller cylinder 12 from loosening. As a result, uniform drafting can be executed at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiaki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 6015264
    Abstract: A propeller blade retention assembly for use with a propeller having a hub rotatable about a propeller axis, is disclosed. The assembly includes a blade receiver for mounting the blade to the hub and an internal surface of a hub arm for interfacing the receiver with the hub. The receiver is positioned in the hub arm and is non-integral with the blade and the hub arm internal surface. A retention mechanism is used for retaining the blade receiver to the hub arm while allowing relative rotatable motion therebetween. A preload device is provided for preloading the retention mechanism prior to centrifugal loading during propeller blade operation. The blade is separable from the blade receiver without disturbing the operability of the retention mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Violette, Matthew C. Soule, Thomas G. Corley
  • Patent number: 6010247
    Abstract: A bearing device is used as a bearing for a pivot of a head stack assembly to thereby make a hard disc drive thin. Widths of first and second inner races 12a and 13a are set to be smaller than the widths of first and second outer races 12b and 13b. Even if first and second bearings 12 and 13 (outer races 12b and 13b) are mounted on a shaft 9 in contact with each other, a space S is formed between the first and second inner races 12a and 13a. From this structure, in the case where a pre-pressure is applied to the second inner race 13a, it is possible to adjust the pre-pressure in a wide range. In the prior art, it has been necessary to provide an annular projection or a spacer for keeping a space for application of the pre-pressure. However, the present invention makes possible to dispense with the annular projection or the spacer. Corresponding to this, the width of the bearing device 10 is shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Mouri, Shinichi Mori
  • Patent number: 6003907
    Abstract: A rotating joint for pressure hoses has a plug-in part (1) with a hollow pin (4) that projects into and is sealed against a receiving part (2). The rotating joint also has a rolling bearing, in particular a ball bearing, that has an outer race joined to the receiving part (2) and a inner race joined to the plug-in part (1), as well as two coaxially-arranged elastically biased angular ball bearings (K1 and K2). The angular ball bearings are biased by a thrust collar (21) under pressure, which is slipped onto the hollow pin (4) coaxially to the receiving part (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Stolco Stoltenberg-Lerche GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gunter Gau, Jochen Seelbach
  • Patent number: 6000855
    Abstract: An outer ring spacer for use in a double row rolling bearing unit fitted onto a shaft and comprising inner rings externally secured to the shaft having a pair of spaced apart inner ring raceways, a pair of outer rings having an inner peripheral face formed with outer ring raceways facing respective inner ring raceways, and a plurality of rolling elements provided between the inner ring raceways and outer ring raceways, the outer ring spacer fitted between the outer rings, and comprising a cylindrical spacer body formed with axially opposite parallel end faces abutted against the mutually facing end faces of the outer rings, and a displacement prevention ring internally secured to one axial end of the spacer body, and having a portion protruding from one of the parallel end faces of the spacer body so as to be engaged with the inner peripheral surface of one end portion of the outer rings to prevent the spacer body from being displaced radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Seizo Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 5999373
    Abstract: Apparatus for reducing the mass and the responsive inertia of a bearing cartridge for a disc drive actuator assembly, the bearing cartridge including a stationary shaft, a bearing assembly and a bearing sleeve. The bearing assembly is disposed between, and rigidly attached to, the stationary shaft and the bearing sleeve, to facilitate radial movement of the bearing sleeve relative to the stationary shaft. The disc drive actuator assembly has an actuator rigidly attached to, and supported by, the bearing cartridge. The bearing assembly has an inner race rigidly attached to the stationary shaft, and an outer race rollingly engaging a plurality of roller bearings disposed between the inner and outer races. The outer race has a chamfered edge in a plane between a reference vertical axis and a reference horizontal axis, and the bearing sleeve has an internal taper matingly joining the chamfered edge to provide a miter joint therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David Scott Allsup, Jeffery Don Andress, Nigel Frank Misso
  • Patent number: 5997183
    Abstract: A bearing sleeve assembly for motors includes a stator seat having an axial tube, a supporting member securely mounted in the axial tube, an elastic member securely mounted in the supporting member and having a contacting section supported by an end of the supporting member, and a bearing which bears against the contacting section of the elastic member and rotatably supports a rotor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Alex Horng
  • Patent number: 5988890
    Abstract: A rotor shaft that is supported by a deep groove ball bearing a radial load and a unidirectional thrust load, and by a cylindrical roller bearing for bearing a radial load. Also, a pretension applying means is provided for applying a pretension to the rotor shaft in the same direction as the thrust load which is borne by the deep groove ball bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Uematsu, Tadao Yashiki, Kouichi Akagi
  • Patent number: 5893574
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a bicycle comprises a bearing with a first race rigidly connected to the head tube and a second race provided with a neck portion which can be elastically clamped around the steering tube of the bicycle fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Valentino Campagnolo
  • Patent number: 5860750
    Abstract: In an assembly including preloaded bearings, a sleeve is provided and has an exterior surface and an externally threaded section adjacent to an end of the sleeve. At least two bearings, each having an inner bearing race, an outer bearing race, and a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the inner and outer bearing races, are slidably mounted on the exterior surface of the sleeve. The sleeve further includes a bore extending part-way into the sleeve adjacent to the externally threaded section, the bore defining inner interior surface. A bearing retainer is also provided and includes an internally threaded section engaged with the external threads of the sleeve for urging the inner bearing race of one of the bearings toward the inner bearing race of the other bearing, thereby preloading the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Gerber Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Kuchta, Joseph Vivirito, Peter Hasiuk
  • Patent number: 5826987
    Abstract: An angular contact bearing is mounted within a housing and a shaft is positioned within the bearing such that an annular space is provided between the bearing and the shaft. A mounting ring of elastomeric polymer is positioned over the shaft and against the bearing inner ring such that a portion of the mounting ring is between the bearing inner ring and the shaft, centering the shaft within the bearing and reducing radial free play. The mounting ring is compressed axially, against the bearing, such that the mounting ring deforms and resiliently spreads radially outwardly and provides a preload on the bearing balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Michael D. Beaman
  • Patent number: 5811902
    Abstract: A motor support apparatus is provided which supports an output shaft of a motor used to operate a pump. The motor support apparatus includes a support housing, a bearing chamber formed in said support housing, a bearing member for bearing an output shaft of a motor. The bearing member is disposed within the bearing chamber with a given clearance between itself and an inner wall of the bearing chamber. A spring is provided so as to produce an eccentric spring load acting on the bearing member so as to decrease the given clearance for retaining the bearing member tightly within the bearing chamber in order to suppress mechanical vibrations generated during a motor operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Sato
  • Patent number: 5810483
    Abstract: The invention concerns a spindle unit with a spindle, a casing, antifriction bearings that are prestressed and support the spindles on two places at a distance from each other in a casing, and a centrifugal regulator, which reduces the prestress on the antifriction bearings as the rotational speed increases, as a result of which the centrifugal regulator is produced as a springy, axially expanding bush with resilient arch-like parts between two compression components and each mass on the arch-like parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Inventor: Boris Vites
  • Patent number: 5806989
    Abstract: A compound ball bearing for swing arm unit acomprises a bearing assembly including a spindle 1, a sleeve 2 surrounding the spindle 1, an inner ring fitted on the spindle, with balls 5 and 9 being provided between the spindle 1 and sleeve 2, between the inner ring 6 and sleeve 2. A swing arm 22 is mounted on the sleeve 2. Conventional outer rings are not necessary and the outer diameter of the sleeve can be made smaller than conventional devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Minebea Kabushiki-Kaisha
    Inventors: Rikuro Obara, Katashi Tatsuno
  • Patent number: 5800122
    Abstract: An improved device for adjusting the bearing clearance of a pump is shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, an annular piston is provided adjacent to a bearing assembly, and an elastomeric member is provided adjacent to the piston. The elastomeric member has a plurality of apertures circumferentially spaced around the elastomeric member, a volume control member being provided in each of the apertures. The volume control members are selectively advanced into and retracted from the apertures, the elastomeric member being compressed and expanding in an axial direction when the volume control members are advanced into the apertures, thereby forcing the piston to move toward the bearing assembly. When the volume control members are retracted from the apertures, the elastomeric member compresses in an axial direction, thereby allowing the piston to move away from the bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Toyo Pumps North America Corp.
    Inventor: Urs J. Blattmann
  • Patent number: 5795037
    Abstract: A novel axle nut system is provided on the spindle ends of an axle which mounts a wheel assembly that includes tapered roller bearings. The axle nut system of the present invention includes an adjustment nut, a washer and a retainer member. The adjustment nut is threaded into position having torque applied to it in a controlled manner to achieve specific preload bearing pressure against the outer bearings. Thereafter, the washer is placed into contact with the nut and is rotationally fixed with respect to the axle. Next, the threaded retainer member is rotated into contact with the washer. With the threaded retainer member placed on the axle to prevent any outward movement of either the wheel assembly components or the adjustment nut and washer, the adjustment nut is rotated in the opposite direction by which it was installed until it jams forcibly against the washer and thus, the threaded retainer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Hub Nut Corporation
    Inventor: George Allan Hagelthorn
  • Patent number: 5779369
    Abstract: A preload control apparatus comprising a bearing 16-19 and at least one coned disc spring 26 for exerting a preload on the bearing, one or some or all of the coned disc spring(s) being at least partly made of a shape memory alloy so that the preload on the bearing can be adjusted with changes in temperature of the coned disc spring(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Kitamura Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichiro Kitamura
  • Patent number: 5767598
    Abstract: There is provided a motor and an electronic parts-mounting apparatus incorporating the motor. The motor includes a rotor and a stator. The stator is comprised of a stator core formed of laminate of steel plates and arranged in a manner opposed to the rotor, holding members arranged on opposite ends of the laminate of the steel plates of the stator core, and bolts for fastening the two holding members to each other. The stator core extends to locations at which the bolts extend through the stator core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kano, Kazuhiro Hineno
  • Patent number: 5735666
    Abstract: A system for controlling thrust forces on a thrust bearing in a rotating structure of a gas turbine engine at designated operating points including a device for providing thrust load compensation to the thrust bearing, a control for operating the thrust load compensation device, and a sensor for detecting rotational cage speed of the thrust bearing. The sensor provides a signal to the control when the rotational cage speed of the thrust bearing drops below a specified ratio of the rotational speed for the rotating structure, the signal being indicative of an incipient skid condition for the thrust bearing. The control then causes the thrust load compensation device to provide an additional predetermined load on the thrust bearing when it receives the signal from the sensor so that a resultant load thereon is within a specified load range which extends the life of the thrust bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard P. Johnston
  • Patent number: 5718049
    Abstract: The end surface 2e of the press-fit portion 2c of the axle 2 is machined with high precision to serve as a reference surface for measuring the negative bearing clearance upon completion of the assembly. The inner ring 3 is press-fitted on the press-fit portion 2c of the axle 2 and is fixed in position by the nut 6 screwed on the threaded portion 2d of the axle 2. In this axle bearing assembly, the inner ring 3 abuts against the shoulder portion 2d of the axle 2 with no clearance defined therebetween, and the negative bearing clearance is assured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Motoharu Niki, Yasunori Terada, Nobuyoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5719454
    Abstract: A backing ring has a reduced diameter portion surrounded by a spring which engages the backing ring and a stop to normally keep the stop and backing ring separated by a small distance while maintaining a desired bias on the bearing system which is engaged by the backing ring. Movement of the bearing is limited by the small distance which also limits flexure and therefore improves the fatigue life of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Mickey L. Halsey, Steven J. Holden, Stephen L. Lessie
  • Patent number: 5706580
    Abstract: The end surface 2e of the press-fit portion 2c of the axle 2 is machined with high precision to serve as a reference surface for measuring the negative bearing clearance upon completion of the assembly. The inner ring 3 is press-fitted on the press-fit portion 2c of the axle 2 and is fixed in position by the nut 6 screwed on the threaded portion 2d of the axle 2. In this axle bearing assembly, the inner ring 3 abuts against the shoulder portion 2d of the axle 2 with no clearance defined therebetween, and the negative bearing clearance is assured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Motoharu Niki, Yasunori Terada, Nobuyoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5660484
    Abstract: To locate a bearing axially and concentrically on a shaft, a resiliently compressible assembly is slid along the shaft until its leading edge is restrained (e.g. by contacting a yoke at the end of the shaft), the bearing is slid along the shaft until it abuts the assembly, and a sleeve is slid along the shaft to abut the bearing. Further movement of the sleeve compresses assembly, whereupon three internally sprung fingers of the sleeve snap into corresponding detents in the shaft. Releasing the sleeve permits the assembly to exert a contrary force whereupon the finger ends engage the ends of the detents and provide axial location of the bearing. Internal cone surfaces of the bearing contact a split cone of assembly and an external cone surface of sleeve. The shaft may be part of a vehicle steering column with reach and rake adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Nastech Europe Limited
    Inventor: Richard James Peel
  • Patent number: 5658081
    Abstract: A prestressed adjusting mechanism of a bearing is provided with a first and a second rhombic prism ring which are placed opposite each other with a flexible partitioning ring inserted between them. There are multiple channel holes on the flexible partitioning rings, each containing a steel ball. The adjusting mechanism, after being assembled, is installed in the prestressed arrangement of a bearing. It will generate outward action on both sides by increasing the rotational speed of the spindle. The higher the rotational speed, the larger the reaction that counteracts the prestressed forces of the bearing, whereby, the bearing can sustain a high prestressed force to generate high rigidity and conversely sustains low prestressed force. In this way, the bearing can maintain a relatively longer usage life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chun-Hung Huang, Lin-Chan Tsai