Cage Structure Patents (Class 384/523)
  • Publication number: 20110069918
    Abstract: Provided are a retainer capable of achieving torque reduction, a deep-groove ball bearing with the retainer, and a sealed bearing capable of preventing intrusion of foreign matter into the bearing and capable of sufficient seal torque reduction. The retainer is formed by combination of two annular retaining plates (27A, 27B) each including semispherical swelling portions (26) arranged at predetermined intervals along a circumferential direction. The semispherical swelling portions (26, 26) face each other and form pockets (30) for retaining balls (16). Each of the pockets (30) has ball-facing surfaces each including a ball non-contact portion (31), and a contact area in each of the pockets (30) with respect to each of the balls (16) is reduced by from 15% to 30% in comparison with a contact area with respect to each of the balls (16) without provision of the ball non-contact portion (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Takahiro Wakuda, Katsuaki Sasaki, Shohei Fukama
  • Patent number: 7909513
    Abstract: A groove is formed on one end face side of a cage including a plurality of pockets for holding individually rolling elements which extends circumferentially along a full circumference of the cage about a rotational center thereof and has a bottom portion which communicates individually with the plurality of pockets, and a distal end portion of a nozzle of an oil supply unit is inserted into the groove, whereby the generation of disturbance to airflow and negative pressure in the vicinity of an opening of the nozzle is suppressed when a rolling bearing rotates, so that lubricating oil supplied from the nozzle is allowed to reach the rolling elements in an ensured fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueno, Kazuya Suzuki, Hiroyuki Urano
  • Patent number: 7909588
    Abstract: Portions of the drive system for a piece of rotating equipment are pre-assembled into a subassembly. The subassembly can be held together by a carrier that is fabricated to accept the components in a proper alignment so that the carrier can be installed as a unit. In one embodiment, the carrier becomes a gearbox housing component that is installed, saving the need for individual component alignment. This modular approach allows an assembly having a single part number to apply to a given compressor unit and further allows standardization of air ends of compressors with specific impellers and inlets added to meet requirements of a specific application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Edward S. Czechowski, Robert Small, John R. Battershell, Robert M. Kolodziej
  • Patent number: 7891880
    Abstract: A radial rolling bearing, which has an outer bearing ring, an inner bearing ring, and rollers, which are arranged between the bearing rings and held at uniform distances from one another in a peripheral direction by a bearing cage in individual cage pockets. The rollers are spherical disks that have parallel lateral surfaces which are symmetrically flattened from a basic spherical shape and which roll in groove-type raceways with their faces. The raceways are incorporated into the inner face of the outer bearing ring and the outer face of the inner bearing ring. The rollers are axially guided between the bearing rings via two low-friction line contacts between lateral surfaces and the longitudinal webs of the cage pockets. The rollers are configured to have a defined degree of freedom for self-alignment to the pressure angle of the radial rolling bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Horst Doppling, Andreas Bohr, Rainer Eidloth
  • Patent number: 7828483
    Abstract: An upper surface of an outer ring is disposed axially inwardly of an end surface of a larger-diameter annular portion of a cage, and an outer diameter of the end surface of the larger-diameter annular portion of the cage is larger than an inner diameter of a lower surface of the outer ring. Chamfered portions for facilitating the taking-out of an outer ring assembly from the lower side of a stack of outer ring assemblies are formed respectively at the end surface of the larger-diameter annular portion of the cage and the lower surface of the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Toshirou Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7806017
    Abstract: A ball screw is provided having a ball roller screw (1) and a screw nut (2) arranged thereon, whereby the balls (3) are arranged to endlessly circulate in a ball channel (6) defined by ball tracks (4, 5) on the ball roller screw (1) and the screw nut (2). The ball channel (6) includes a load section (7) wound about the ball roller screw (1), the beginning and end of which are endlessly connected by a load-free return section (8). A minimum of two and a maximum of four balls (3) are housed in a common ball cage (10, 22), the cage pockets (11) of which each house one of the balls (3), whereby the ball cage (10, 22) includes discs (12, 15) at the axial ends thereof and between adjacent balls (3), that engage the ball channels (4, 5), and provided on the sides thereof facing the balls (3) with a concave receptacle (14) for the balls (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jurgen Osterlaenger, Dieter Adler, Manfred Kraus, Ralf Mayer, Jorg Wagner, Jean Walter, Dietmar Rudy
  • Patent number: 7789567
    Abstract: A bearing assembly comprises an inner ring and an outer ring assembly having an upstream face and a downstream face. The outer ring assembly comprises an outer ring rotatably coupled to the inner ring, and a plurality of rolling elements that resides between the inner ring and the outer ring. At least one flow bypass channel extends through the outer ring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Giesler, Brent L. Bristol, Jeffrey D. Grout, Todd C. Garrod, David B. Tornquist
  • Patent number: 7766553
    Abstract: An inventive ball bearing retainer (4) is entirely composed of a resin composition, and has pocket surfaces (6) for retaining balls (5) and projections (8) provided on the pocket surfaces (6) and containing a solid lubricant (CB). A ball bearing (1) incorporates the ball bearing retainer (4). By the effect of the solid lubricant (CB), the projections (8) are less liable to be worn out in a short period particularly when the ball bearing (1) is used in a higher temperature environment. The projections (8) define clearances between the balls (5) and the pocket surfaces (6), making it possible to maintain the effect of preventing noise, increase in the torque of the ball bearing (1), reduction of the service life of a lubricant and the like for a longer period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Setsuo Nagai, Kazuki Higashida, Takeshi Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20100181854
    Abstract: A method is provided for supporting rotatable devices, particularly a medical scanner having an inner ring and an outer ring. According to the invention, the inner ring and outer ring are guided without contact in the axial and/or radial direction by the magnetic field of electromagnets, and the distance between them is monitored and controlled by means of distance sensors. For a bearing implementing said method according to the invention, the outer ring is made in multiple parts and has a U-shaped cross section that is open to the inside in the assembled state, into which the inner ring (1, 10, 11) extends, and electromagnets and distance sensors are disposed in the axially and radially opposite areas of the inner ring or outer ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Uwe-Otto Breucker, Wolfgang Claus, Jörg Rollmann, Freidrich Löser, Qinghua Zheng, Markus Bauer
  • Publication number: 20100183256
    Abstract: When an outer diameter of an outer ring 4 is designated as D, an inner diameter of an inner ring 2 is designated as d, and a pitch circle diameter of respective balls 6 is designated as dm, a relationship of ((D+d)/2×0.85?dm?(D+d)/2×0.97 is satisfied. Further, when a diameter of the respective balls 6 is designated as Da, a axial width of a ball bearing is designated as B, a distance between centers of respective adjacent balls 6 in a circumferential direction is designated as L, and a sectional height of the ball bearing calculated by a relationship of H=(D?d)/2 is designated as H, all of relationships of 0.60?Da/H?0.75, and 0.58?Da/B?0.85, and 1.03Da?L?1.25Da are satisfied. Thereby, a structure capable of reducing rotational torque is realized without sacrificing durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Kimura, Mikiko Shirai, Teruaki Ootani
  • Publication number: 20100172605
    Abstract: A rolling bearing device, which has a first bearing ring, a second bearing ring, rolling bodies in a pathway region that is defined between the two bearing rings, a cage device for separating the rolling bodies, and a sensor system for generating a sensor signal relating to the relative rotation of the inner ring in relation to the outer ring. The sensor system is embodied in such a way that the sensor signal is collected on the basis of an interaction effect between a signal tapping element and a structure rotating with the cage device. Thus, it is advantageously possible to create rolling bearing devices which have an integrated sensor system and outer dimensions which correspond essentially to the standard outer dimensions for such rolling bearing devices. Moreover, standard rolling bearings can be modified to form inventive rolling bearings by replacement of the bearing sealing ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Michael Pausch, Manfred Fuchs, Frank Benkert
  • Publication number: 20100142874
    Abstract: A cage 4 for a ball bearing comprising a body 5 of generally annular shape and clamps 6, the body 5 comprising a heel 7 of substantially annular shape and a substantially axial portion 8 being connected to the heel 7 and wherein recesses 9 are arranged for the balls 3, the substantially axial portion 8 supporting said clamps 6 on the side axially opposite to the heel 7, the cage 4 comprising an axial partition 14 placed between the recesses 9 and extending axially from the end of the heel 7 opposite to the clamps 6 toward the clamps 6 while radially delimiting external free spaces 16 and internal free spaces 15 situated radially on either side of said partition 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Armel Louis Doyer, Alexandre Manceau, Frank Berens, Jos Holsnijders, Joop Vree
  • Publication number: 20100102496
    Abstract: A rotary table device includes a hollow motor drive source, a table rotated thereby, and a rotary bearing supporting the table. The rotary bearing is provided an outer race having an inner surface to which a rolling surface is formed, an inner race having an outer peripheral surface to which a rolling surface opposing to the rolling surface of the outer race is formed, and a plurality of rolling members disposed in a rolling passage formed by the rolling surface of the outer race and the rolling surface of the inner race, and a cooling medium passage (?, ?) is formed so as to be adjacent to either one of the inner race and outer race constituting a rotational driving side. According to the structure mentioned above, a rotary bearing and a rotary table device capable of achieving suitable cooling effect can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Taniguchi, Toshiya Tanaka, Toshiyuki Aso
  • Publication number: 20100092120
    Abstract: A bearing is provided having a first race, a second race and one or more rolling elements. The bearing includes an alternate load path for extreme loads, and the alternate load path is formed between the first race and the second race. At least a portion of the extreme loads is diverted away from the rolling elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Jacob J. Nies, Bharat S. Bagepalli
  • Publication number: 20100061673
    Abstract: In a grease filled bearing for a machine such as a turbo molecular pump that rotates at high speed, objects arc to prevent grease retained in an inner circumferential part of a ball retainer from being forced out to the outside of the bearing due to centrifugal force, thereby achieving extension of the operational life of the bearing, and preventing occurrence of rotational mass unbalance due to the grease forced out. A retainer (1) of a ball bearing includes a main body (1A) having a circular annular, shape, and plural circular pockets (1a) for, retaining balls (4) therein that extend through the main body (1A) in a radial direction, wherein intermediate parts between adjacent pockets (1a) in an inner circumferential surface of the main body (1A) define recesses (1b) for holding grease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventor: Masashi Iguchi
  • Patent number: 7674045
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cage for inclined ball bearings with adjacent ball pockets arranged on the circumferential side around a rotational axis of the cage, comprising ribs between lateral walls. Each rib extends in the axial direction from one of the lands and connects two of the lateral walls together on the circumferential side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Alexander Haepp
  • Publication number: 20100027930
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine bearing cage assembly includes: a first bearing cage having: an annular first bearing support ring; an annular first mounting flange; and an annular array of axially-extending first spring arms interconnecting the first bearing support ring and the first mounting flange, the first spring arms defining an outer diameter; and a second bearing cage having: an annular second bearing support ring; an annular second mounting ring, the second mounting ring defining an inner diameter greater that the outer diameter; and an annular array of axially-extending second spring arms interconnecting the second bearing support ring and the second mounting ring, the second spring arms defining spaces therebetween. The bearing cages are sized such that the first bearing cage can be received within the second bearing cage. The spaces are positioned to receive the first spring arms, permitting independent flexing motion of the first and second spring arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ray Harris Kinnaird, Ning Fang
  • Publication number: 20100021098
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cage for a rolling bearing, in particular for a ball bearing, to a rolling bearing with a cage and to the use of a cage in a high-speed rolling bearing with a characteristic speed value n×dm>1,000,000 mm/min, in particular for industrial spindle-bearing applications and in the medical sector, in particular in dental technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: GEBRUDER REINFURT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Herbert Niedermeier, Dieter Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20090290826
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rolling element bearing comprising a cage with at least one first group of guide pockets in which rolling bodies are guided with a certain play. According to the invention, the degree of play is different at least in a first guide pocket of the first group from the degree of play in a second guide pocket of said first group of guide pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Alfred Pecher, Karl Bywalez, Joachim Schleifenbaum
  • Patent number: 7597481
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing roller bearing, in particular, a ball bearing for support and working roller bearings on roller stands, comprising an axially multi-part outer bearing ring and an axially multipart inner bearing ring and a number of rolling bodies rolling on the running tracks in four rows between the bearing rings. The rolling bodies are retained in each row at an equal separation from each other in the circumferential direction by means of a bearing cage and the bearing chamber, formed between the outer bearing ring and the inner bearing ring, is sealed at both axial ends against the ingress of fluids and dirt by annular seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Adolf Scherpf
  • Patent number: 7594759
    Abstract: To provide a oblique contact double ball bearing and a pre-load adding method for the ball bearing capable of easily adding the pre-load by performing adjustment for adding the pre-load in a wide adjustment range. In this oblique contact double ball bearing, clearances between balls and raceways and on one row are made different from clearances between balls and raceways on the other row so as to apply a thrust load to inner and outer rings, and add the pre-load to the inner and outer rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kawaguchi, Kiyoshi Ogino
  • Publication number: 20090180727
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fan including a stator and a rotor coupled to the stator. The stator has a base and a bearing disposed inside the base. The rotor has a shaft supported by the bearing. Furthermore, the shaft has a concave structure formed on a surface thereof, or the bearing has a groove structure formed on a surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Ah-Yee SHU, Hao-Ming CHEN, Chui-Hsien CHIU, Chi-Hao HSIEH, Ching-Chuang MAI
  • Publication number: 20090148087
    Abstract: There is provided a rolling bearing including an inner ring having an inner ring raceway surface, an outer ring having an outer ring raceway surface and a shoulder portion formed on one axial side of the outer ring raceway surface, a plurality of rolling elements which roll between the inner ring raceway surface and the outer ring raceway surface, and a cage adapted to hold the plurality of rolling elements at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction and having a guided surface which confronts the shoulder portion of the outer ring in such a manner as to be brought into sliding contact therewith. The rotation of the cage is guided through sliding contact of the guided surface of the cage with a guiding surface of the shoulder portion of the outer ring. A guiding space which is a radial space between the guiding surface of the shoulder portion of the outer ring and the guided surface of the cage is made to increase as approaching the rolling elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Suzuki, Naoki Tani, Junji Murata, Kazuyoshi Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 7524116
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cage for tapered ball bearings. Said cage comprises adjacent ball bearing pockets that are arranged over the periphery about a rotational axis of the cage, in addition to elastically deformable retaining lugs that are located on one of the lateral walls. In said cage, the flanks of the retaining lugs run obliquely in relation to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Alexander Haepp
  • Patent number: 7507028
    Abstract: A bearing assembly and method includes a two-piece ball bearing retainer. The retainer has a first set of fluid passage apertures penetrating into ball bearing sockets, and has a supplemental set of fluid passage apertures penetrating from one side of the retainer to the other. The two halves can be snap fit together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen L. Markle
  • Publication number: 20090034896
    Abstract: A bearing retainer having an inner portion, an outer portion spaced apart from said inner portion, and an intermediate portion connecting the inner portion and the outer portion, such that the inner portion and the outer portion are radially spaced apart and define a space therebetween, and a contact surface on at least one of the inner portion and the outer portion for engaging a component of a bearing assembly disposed in the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Kenneth Lee Fisher, Richard Walker Nicholson, Mark Hopper, Gary Paul Moscarino, Steven Alan Ross, Michael Slusher
  • Publication number: 20080285904
    Abstract: A concave surface 60 is formed in an outer peripheral surface of each of pillar portions 26 of a cage 40. A plurality of recesses 42, 43, 52 and 53 are formed in outer peripheral surfaces of annular portions 24 and 25 of the cage 40. There are provided passageways 46, 47, 56 and 57 communicating respectively with the recesses 42, 43, 52 and 53. An axially-outer end of each of the passageways 46, 47, 56 and 57 is open to an axial inner end face of the annular portion 24, 25 or to the concave surface 60 of the pillar portion 26.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Setsuo Nagai
  • Patent number: 7441959
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention prevent trouble caused by an increase in viscosity of grease generated when a ball bearing operates at a low temperature, and fretting that an inner ring and/or an outer ring comes in contact with balls to produce wear when vibration is applied thereto. In one embodiment, a ball bearing is configured such that a plurality of balls are arranged between an outer ring and an inner ring. Grease is filled between the balls, the inner ring and the outer ring. A holder is provided with a spring plate, and an extreme end thereof is always in contact with the balls. The spring plate is formed of a sufficiently softer material than the balls so as not to damage the balls. The mounted direction is one along the direction in which the balls are desired to be rotated. Appropriate spring pressurization can be applied to the balls at an angle defined by the holder and the spring plate in the root at which the holder is attached to the spring plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Hanada, Masaru Muranishi, Yuji Ishima
  • Publication number: 20080193070
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roller bearing with conical roller bodies (4), arranged between inner (1) and outer rings (2) and a cage with an annular sectional body (5) and an annular deflector body (10) for the body (5) to each transverse side, each deflector (10) comprising internal (11) and external (12) radial projections, the free end of each projection (11, 12) bering arranged opposing and at a separation from the corresponding ring (1, 2) such that the bearing has functional axial and radial play (13) between the projections (11, 12) and the rings (1, 2), Said play is such as to permit the passage of a bearing librication fluid and to form an obstacle to the passage of solid particules. The invention further relates to a cage for assembly in such a roller bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: S.N.R. ROULEMENTS
    Inventors: Stepahne Beluffi, Julien Berthier, Sandrine Lornage, Sabine Delafosse, Gerard Mermoud, Christophe Rimoux
  • Publication number: 20080187263
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roller bearing, with an inner running ring, an outer running ring, several roller bodies, arranged between the running rings and guided in a bearing cage, whereby the bearing cage comprises circumferential evenly distributed bearing pockets which are essentially axially and circumferentially enclosed, and each of which contains a roller body. According to the invention, the operational characteristics of the roller bearing may be improved whereby on each bearing pocket the bearing cage comprises at least one passive positioning element by means of which the pocket play of the corresponding roller body may be altered due to a temperature-dependent shape change of the positioning element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Joerg Spielfeld, Stefan Glueck
  • Patent number: 7404675
    Abstract: A retainer for a ball bearing formed in a generally annular shape and having a plurality of pockets arranged in a circumferential direction, respectively, to rollably hold a plurality of balls along a pitch circle, respectively, the pockets each having an inner peripheral surface comprising a radially inner section which is located inward of the pitch circle of the balls in the radial direction of the retainer, and has an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the balls, such that the gap between the radially inner section of the inner peripheral surface of the pockets and the rolling surface of the balls gradually increases toward the opening of the pockets on the inner side in the radial direction of the retainer, and that the maximum inscribing circle of the opening of the pockets on the outer side in the radial direction of the retainer has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Fusasuke Gotoh
  • Publication number: 20080159676
    Abstract: An inventive ball bearing retainer (4) is entirely composed of a resin composition, and has pocket surfaces (6) for retaining balls (5) and projections (8) provided on the pocket surfaces (6) and containing a solid lubricant (CB). A ball bearing (1) incorporates the ball bearing retainer (4). By the effect of the solid lubricant (CB), the projections (8) are less liable to be worn out in a short period particularly when the ball bearing (1) is used in a higher temperature environment. The projections (8) define clearances between the balls (5) and the pocket surfaces (6), making it possible to maintain the effect of preventing noise, increase in the torque of the ball bearing (1), reduction of the service life of a lubricant and the like for a longer period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Setsuo Nagai, Kazuki Higashida, Takeshi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 7380990
    Abstract: A bearing comprises a cage which is provided on a circumference of a rotary shaft to hold elements rotating in an oil. A guide unit is provided on the cage to feed the oil in an axial direction or a radial direction of the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masakuni Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7364365
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for retaining bearing balls in a bearing assembly. For example, a cage assembly may comprise an annular cage having a plurality of pockets in which to snap-in bearing balls via openings having a width less than the diameter of the bearing balls. A retainer ring for the cage may have an inner diameter that is equal to the inner diameter of the cage. The cage assembly may comprise a plurality of cage webs, wherein each cage web is located between two adjacent pockets, and each cage web may be tapered (either radially, axially, or both radially and axially). The plurality of cage webs may be tapered such that the cage webs are tapered towards a distal end of each cage web and away from a proximal end of each cage web. An outer land may pilot the bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis P. Begin
  • Patent number: 7347626
    Abstract: A retainer for holding bearings within a shaft bearing has C-shaped pockets for holding the bearings. Between the pockets are connecting portions, which are close to the openings of the pockets. The rear sides of adjacent pockets and the rear side of the connecting portion for the adjacent pockets form a concave site that is deeply gouged into the retainer. The bottom of the concave site is closer to the openings than the bottom of the pockets, thereby allowing base oil from grease in the concave site to better migrate onto the bearings and so lubricate the shaft bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20070292064
    Abstract: A cage includes a cage body in an annular shape which is formed with a plurality of pockets for receiving rolling elements, an oil containing member in an annular shape which is attached to an inner peripheral surface of the cage body and formed of material capable of impregnating lubricating oil, and an applying member for applying the lubricating oil in the oil containing member to an inner ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinji Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7258492
    Abstract: A self-locking structure of a split roller bearing cage includes recesses, locker plates and locking projections. The recesses are defined in outer circumferential surfaces of opposite joint ends of two semicircular split roller bearing cage half-parts along horizontally inscribed tangential lines, that meet an outer circumference of the annular split roller bearing cage and intersect perpendicular with a split center axis of the annular split roller bearing cage. Recesses have widths and depths suitable to receive locker plates. The locker plates are horizontally attached to bottoms of the recesses defined in opposite joint ends of one of the cage half-parts. Locking projections are formed at bottoms of other recesses defined in opposite joint ends of the other cage half-parts to be coupled with respective locker plates. The two cage half-parts are aligned and engaged at their joint ends, forming a full circle. The locker plates can be automatically coupled to the locking projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventor: Suk Tae Yoon
  • Patent number: 7244065
    Abstract: There is provided a wheel support bearing assembly (1) utilizing a dual row angular ball bearing. The bearing assembly (1) includes two ball retainers (5) for retaining corresponding rows of balls (4). One or both of the retainers (5) is so designed that the neighboring balls (4) can adjoin directly in a non-contact fashion relative to each other on a pitch circle PCD of the row of the balls (4). For example, the ball retainer (5) is of a generally comb-shape having a plurality of pillars (5b) each formed with a throughhole (13) aligned on the pitch circle PCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Masuo Takaki, Kazuhiko Hozumi
  • Patent number: 7171868
    Abstract: A bearing assembly which spaces bearing elements in an unequal relationship from one bearing element pocket to the next. The spacing minimizes the likelihood that the bearing elements will rest in the exact same location on an inner and outer race to reduce the potential for false brinelling. The net result is a decreased depth of false brinelling in any one location and an increased bearing life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buckman, Michael F. Mullen
  • Patent number: 7121729
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for reducing vibration in bearings. There are provided first and second bearing rings with races, rotating members rollingly engaging both first and second bearing races, a cage for aligning the rotating members between the first and second bearing races, and vibration reduction means coupled to the cage. The vibration reduction means preferably comprises one or more resonant spring-mass combinations mounted in or on the cage. Damping means is preferably included with the resonant spring-mass combinations. The resonant frequencies of the unmodified bearing cage are first determined and then the spring-mass combinations tuned so that the spring-mass combinations when attached to the cage absorb vibrational energy that would otherwise excite cage vibrations. By selecting the type of spring-mass combination different vibrational modes can be suppressed and/or controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Davis, Dennis W. Smith
  • Patent number: 7059777
    Abstract: An assembly for a ball bearing with double raceway assembled in an outer ring member provided with double row raceway surfaces apart from each other in an axial direction from one side in an axial direction, on an inner peripheral surface includes an inner ring member provided with double raceway surfaces apart from each other in an axial direction in correspondence to the double raceway surfaces on an outer peripheral surface, double row cages arranged in respective outer diameter sides of the double raceway surfaces of the inner ring member, and a plurality of ball rows respectively held by the double rows cages. The inner ring member is set to be non-separable from the respective cages and the respective ball rows, and can be assembled in the outer ring member from one side in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kawaguchi, Hideo Ueda, Motoshi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 7044645
    Abstract: A retainer having an annular body with a plurality of pockets. Each pocket has a pair of corner portions that form an opening. The pockets have a spherical inside surface and a pair of tapered surfaces. Alternatively, the pockets can have a spherical inside surface and at least two pairs of tapered surfaces. The geometry of the pockets including the corner portions has rotational symmetry. The retainer improves lubricant retention, and reduces vibration, noise and non-repeating run out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Minebea Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7033081
    Abstract: A ball bearing in which an annular cage with a plurality of pockets formed through the annular cage is incorporated between inner and outer rings, a ball is housed in each pocket, the annular cage is guided by the outer ring, and a relationship between a radial clearance (guide clearance) ? of the annular cage with respect to the outer ring and an axial clearance (pocket clearance) ? of an inner wall face of the pocket with respect to the ball is set at ???.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Tada
  • Patent number: 7033082
    Abstract: An angular contact ball bearing includes an outer ring having an outer ring race formed on an inner surface thereof, an inner ring having an inner ring race provided on the outer surface thereof, a plurality of rolling elements provided between the outer ring and the inner ring, an annular cage for retaining the rolling elements, and seals provided on openings between the respective ends of the inner and outer rings. The cage is made of a synthetic resin material and is supported through the guide of the rolling elements. The cage includes a plurality of cylindrical pockets arranged peripherally for retaining the rolling elements and a reduced diameter portion formed at ends of the pocket for regulating the radial movement of the cage while being in contact with the rolling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yakura, Takaaki Anzai, Yasushi Morita, Naoki Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 7029181
    Abstract: A rolling bearing lubricated with a grease includes an outer ring, an inner ring, a plurality of rolling elements disposed between respective rolling raceway tracks of the outer ring and the inner ring, and a retainer having a plurality of pockets for locking the rolling elements to freely roll and formed of resin material. In the rolling bearing, the radial clearance gap ratio of the pockets of the retainer is set to 0??r/Da?0.09, and the axial clearance gap ratio of the pockets is set to 0??a/Da?0.06 when the kinematic viscosity of base oil at 40° C. of the grease is 10 to 40 mm2/sec, being set to 0??a/Da?0.05 when the kinematic viscosity of base oil is 10 to 90 mm2/sec, being set to 0??a/Da?0.025 when the kinematic viscosity of base oil is 10 to 160 mm2/sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Terada, Kenji Takei, Michiharu Naka
  • Patent number: 7025391
    Abstract: A non-permeable pipe connector structure, the design of which effectively prevents external material (such as vapor and miscellaneous substances, etc.) intrusion. To obstruct the intrusion of external matter into the pipe connector, a ball bearing holder is disposed at the pipe connector, enabling even greater ball bearing durability and, furthermore, free rotation. A protective flange is disposed as the bottom surface of the ball bearing holder such that when the coupling nipple and the connector base are fastened together, the protective flange effectively blocks external matter, thereby precluding entry to avert subsequent damage to the bearings. Furthermore, a rubber sealing ring sleeved onto the annular groove prevents vaporous or acid and alkaline substance intrusion into the bearings, and has safe defensive effectiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Inventor: Wen-Chin Shu
  • Patent number: 6969235
    Abstract: An air turbine starter for use in aircraft or other gas turbine engine applications. In a particular embodiment, the air turbine starter has a thrust bearing having an outer ring, an inner ring, a cage and balls. The outer ring has a first shoulder, a second shoulder and a race surface therebetween to receive the balls. The second shoulder is smaller than the first shoulder. The orientation of the cage is such that the pilot of the cage is aligned to the first shoulder of the outer ring. The raceway curvature of the inner ring, the internal clearance, and clearance between the pilot and outer ring are all increased. An improved thrust bearing is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Feest
  • Patent number: 6896415
    Abstract: In a bearing apparatus which is composed of two bearings each including a crown-shaped retainer and in which a lubricant is filled into its raceways, a preload is applied from the retainer pocket-opening side end face of an inner ring, and also a preload is applied from the retainer counter-pocket-opening side end face of an outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: NSK, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishiwada, Mamoru Aoki, Seizou Miyazaki, Taikou Nawamoto, Hirotoshi Aramaki
  • Patent number: 6843604
    Abstract: The designing of an annular integral type is established by forming a cage of a resin material that satisfies the condition (a) that the ratio of its linear expansion coefficient to that of bearing steel is not more than 2 or the condition (b) that its water absorption percentage is not more than 0.5%, or both conditions (a) and (b), thereby preventing the occurrence of abnormal sounds by stabilizing the behavior of a segment type cage for an ultrathin-walled rolling bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kengo Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 6837624
    Abstract: A ball bearing which includes a cage which defines recesses for receiving balls in a single row. The cage is in the form of a ring obtained by casting or machining and is intended to be interposed between an inner ring and an outer ring of the bearing. The cage includes recesses of a first group each having an opening for positioning a ball located on a first side of the cage, while recesses of a second group each have an opening for positioning a ball located on a second side of the cage, opposite the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Sarma
    Inventors: Michel Buard, Norbert Gabert