Assembling Means Patents (Class 384/537)
  • Patent number: 6485187
    Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly for supporting a wheel is provided. The assembly includes a spindle defining a rotational axis and a support member for supporting the spindle. A wheel hub has a flange for securing the wheel thereto. The wheel hub is supported on the spindle and is rotatable about the rotational axis. A bearing assembly has first and second bearing members in spaced relationship from one another with a plurality of bearings interposed between the bearing members to permit relative rotation between the bearing members about the rotational axis. The first bearing member is arranged adjacent to the spindle and the second bearing member is arranged adjacent to either the wheel hub or the support member. An inner surface of the first bearing member has an annular counterbore. The spindle is deformed into the counterbore to axially secure the first bearing member to the spindle and prevent relative rotation between the spindle and the first bearing member about the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Eugene Meeker, Richard Allen Scheufler, Jr., George Leonard Hurrell, II, Scott A. Maddox, Christopher J. Zuck
  • Publication number: 20020172444
    Abstract: A bearing apparatus comprises a hollow shaft provided around its outer peripheral surface with a bearing fitting region, and a rolling bearing having an inner ring fitted around the bearing fitting region of the hollow shaft. A shaft end of the hollow shaft is bent outwardly in a diametrical direction, thereby being caulkd on an outer end surface of the inner ring of the rolling bearing. The bearing fitting region has a hardened layer in its region from an inner end surface corresponding position of the inner ring of the rolling bearing to a portion before an outer end surface corresponding position, and has a non-hardened layer in its region from the outer end surface corresponding position of the inner ring to the shaft end of the hollow shaft. A position of a caulkd side end portion of the hardened layer is defined based on a predetermined relational expression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Toda, Masahiro Inoue, Kenji Takahashi, Teruyuki Kawatani, Shinichirou Kashiwagi, Teruyuki Wakisaka, Tadashi Mitarai
  • Publication number: 20020172443
    Abstract: A rolling bearing unit for a swing arm comprises a pivot, a pair of rolling bearings for rotatably supporting the pivot with respect to a stationary shaft, and an E block for the swing arm connected to the pivot, the E block having ends at least one of which is provided with an axially extending lip section, and the lip section being bent e.g. at three locations to be crimped against the end of the pivot for connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Muraki, Kenju Takei, Norihiro Aoki, Norikazu Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 6481897
    Abstract: An annular casing partially encloses the outer race of a pair of the angular contact bearings. The casing is split along a radial plane into two casing halves, each casing half being molded of a polymer. The two casing halves are retained axially such that relative axial movement of the angular contact bearings is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. McLarty, Walter Waskiewicz
  • Patent number: 6478471
    Abstract: A cylindrical portion 10 is not quenched, and its hardness of a cylindrical portion 10 is set at Hv200 to 300. An average cross sectional area of the crystal particle in this portion is set to be within 0.3 mm2. Accordingly, when a caulking portion is formed by expanding the cylindrical portion 10b to an inner ring 3 to a hub 2b made of carbon steel, cracks or the like are not formed in the resultant caulking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohide Ishida, Hiroya Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20020164101
    Abstract: Each end of a roller is defined by a stub shaft that is non-circular in cross section and supported from a side wall for rotation by a ball bearing having an inner race containing a mounting hole that is shaped complementary to, and located on, the stub shaft. The inner race is clamped from moving axially or radially relative to the shaft, thereby preventing the bearing from knocking against the stub shaft during operation. According to one embodiment of the invention, the outer race of the bearing is mounted within a complementary shaped bore of a sleeve that has a cylindrical exterior surface and is, in turn, mounted for axial movement in a cylindrical bore of a bearing housing that is mounted to the side wall by the agency of a bearing support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Merlyn Duane Bass, Henry Dennis Anstey, Shawn Wayne Poggemiller, William Albert Ardueser
  • Publication number: 20020141675
    Abstract: Bearing arrangements are provided utilizing retention lips, enlarged retaining washers, or clearance lips to retain a bearing located in an engine in the bearing's housing in the event of bearing failure. Also provided are methods of utilizing retention lips, enlarged retaining washers, or clearance lips to retain a bearing race within a bearing housing in the event of bearing failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Michael M. Garcia, Mark S. Schuck
  • Publication number: 20020131661
    Abstract: A bearing assembly wherein the inner diameter of the slotted compressible annular locking collar is provided with a protrusion which extends radially inwardly, and finger extensions of the inner ring are provided with a recessed groove which extends at least partially along the collective outer annular surface of the finger extensions. When the locking collar is disposed about the finger extensions of the inner ring, the protrusion is disposed within the recessed groove to retain the locking collar on the inner ring. The inner ring finger extensions and the locking collar are relatively sized such that when they are in their free states, the inner diameter of the protrusion is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the recessed groove, such that the collar may be snapped over the finger extensions and into proper position on the inner ring prior to installation on a shaft. The protrusion may be an integrally formed part of the locking collar or a separate resilient member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: Emerson Power Transmission Manufacturing L.P.
    Inventors: James P. Johnson, Eric Puleo, Kevin Feerick
  • Patent number: 6443622
    Abstract: A hub (2) includes a spindle (14) which projects through a housing (4) and rotates relative to the housing (4) on a bearing (6) that is located between the spindle (14) and the housing (4). The bearing (6) has two sets of raceways (28, 40) that are oblique to the axis x, and in addition rolling elements (36) arranged in two rows between the sets of raceways (28, 40). The inner raceways (28) that fit around the spindle (14) and have back faces (32), with the back face (32) for one of the races (26) being against a shoulder (18) from which the spindle (14) projects. Initially, the end of the spindle (14) projects straight beyond the back face (32) of the outer race—indeed, so that the races (26) can be installed over the spindle (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Alan Charles Webb, Peter Holland, Peter Standring, Douglas H. Smith, Larry L. Bahney
  • Publication number: 20020118901
    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 inner 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 inner 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: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Takamizawa, Daijiro Kitahara, Seizo Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6439775
    Abstract: A compressor bearing assembly for use in a compressor includes an anti-friction rotation bearing and a compressor component. The anti-friction rotation bearing has a first and a second side. The compressor component has a bearing press fitting hole. The bearing press fitting hole has a mouth and a bottom and is formed in the compressor component and is adapted to receive a first side of a rotation bearing. The bearing press fitting hole has a first inner diameter at its mouth and a second inner diameter in the vicinity of its bottom. The first inner diameter is less than the second inner diameter. The structure for the compressor bearing in this invention may strongly and uniformly fix the rotation bearing. Further, this structure prevents the rotation bearing from slating within the pressing hole and prevents undesirable adherence between the rotation bearing and the press fitting hole. As a result, the durability of the rotation bearing and the shaft are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Ito
  • Publication number: 20020114551
    Abstract: A precision spindle unit for low friction performance includes a tubular housing surrounding a shaft, and first and second rolling bearings mounted on the shaft within the housing. The first bearing is axially arrested between the flange of a locking washer fixed to the shaft and a shoulder on the shaft. A second locking washer is fitted to the shaft, and a resilient member is provided between the second locking washer and a side of the inner race ring of the second bearing. The axially inwardly facing side of the outer race ring of the second bearing engages an inwardly projecting shoulder in the housing, with the second bearing being biased between the resilient member and the inwardly projecting shoulder. The locking washers define a slot seal at each axial end of the housing to provide a seal at the outwardly facing sides of the first and second bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Lars Andren, Folke Ostling, Maurice Richard
  • Patent number: 6422656
    Abstract: A molded wheel and bearing assembly includes two bearings in a molded housing forming a bearing assembly. The bearing assembly is molded into the hub of a caster wheel. The caster wheel is made by molding a hub around the bearing assembly, then molding a tread around the hub. No assembly of individual elements into the wheel is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Standex International
    Inventors: Thomas E. Denner, Robert Gosselin
  • Patent number: 6412985
    Abstract: A flanged ring for fixing a bearing in place at least axially with respect to a machine component is in the form of a ring-shaped sheet metal element provided with a break at least at one place on the circumference of the annular metal element. The break defines two adjacently positioned end regions of the annular metal element and these end regions are adapted to be permanently connected to one another by way of an interlocking connection. The interlocking connection can be constituted by a portion of one end region extending towards or being punched out towards the other end region. Alternatively, the interlocking connection can be provided by a connecting element (e.g., a rivet) that extends through a bore in each of the end regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Schweitzer, Robert Pollmann
  • Publication number: 20020081051
    Abstract: A bearing device in which a rolling bearing is fitted on one axial end of a shaft and in which the one axial end of the shaft is caulked to fix the rolling bearing while preventing the same from coming out. The shape of the outer end face of the caulked portion is devised to maximize the resistance to the coming-out by the caulked portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichirou Kashiwagi, Naoki Morimura, Kazutoshi Toda, Tadashi Mitarai, Nobuyoshi Murakami
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6406188
    Abstract: The bearing bush employed is divided into a main and a sub bearing bushes which are removable when filling the bearing balls into the bearing grooves so as to facilitate assembly work, moreover, weakening of preload on the preloaded ring can be compensated by adjusting the thickness of the preloaded ring by means of grinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Huang-Ming Lin, Slady Hsu
  • Patent number: 6398419
    Abstract: A bearing device in which a rolling bearing is fitted on one axial end of a shaft and in which the one axial end of the shaft is caulked to fix the rolling bearing while preventing the same from coming out. The shape of the outer end face of the caulked portion is devised to maximize the resistance to the coming-out by the caulked portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichirou Kashiwagi, Naoki Morimura, Kazutoshi Toda, Tadashi Mitarai, Nobuyoshi Murakami
  • 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: 6379051
    Abstract: An annular ring used as either the outer race or the bearing race in a roller includes at least one annular recess in which is disposed an annular reinforcement body. The reinforcement body subjects the region of the annular ring radially inside the reinforcement body to mechanical stresses. The side of the reinforcement body oriented toward this region is materially joined or bonded to the ring. The annular reinforcement body preferably possesses an internal radius that is smaller than the internal radius of the recess and the reinforcement body press-fitted into the recess. According to one embodiment, the reinforcement body is poured in liquid form into the recess. The shrinkage of the reinforcement body that occurs during the cooling phase after solidification produces stresses as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Horn, Hans-Jürgen Liesegang, Klemens Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6379050
    Abstract: In a vehicle wheel hub bearing unit the bearing forms a rotating radial flange (11) adapted for securing to a radial flange (12) of a disc or drum brake member and rotate fixedly therewith. The brake flange (12) is located in the same radial plane of the bearing flange (11) and secured directly to the peripheral portion thereof. Radial bulk of the bearing assembly is reduced and deformation of the bearing races and braking surface is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: SKF Industries S.P.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Bertetti, Mauro Picca, Fabrizio Iarrera
  • 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: 6367885
    Abstract: A molded wheel and bearing assembly includes two butt-out bearings in a molded housing forming a bearing assembly. The bearing assembly is molded into the hub of a caster wheel. The caster wheel is made by molding a hub around the bearing assembly, then molding a tread around the hub. No assembly of individual elements into the wheel is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Standex International Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Denner, Robert Gosselin
  • Publication number: 20020037122
    Abstract: An annular casing partially encloses the outer race of a pair of the angular contact bearings. The casing is split along a radial plane into two casing halves, each casing half being molded of a polymer. The two casing halves are retained axially such that relative axial movement of the angular contact bearings is limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Applicant: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. McLarty, Walter Waskiewicz
  • Publication number: 20020009248
    Abstract: A compressor bearing assembly for use in a compressor comprises an anti-friction rotation bearing and a compressor component. The anti-friction rotation bearing has a first and second side. The compressor component has a bearing press fitting hole. The bearing press fitting hole has a mouth and a bottom and is formed in the compressor component and is adapted to receive a first side of a rotation bearing. The bearing press fitting hole has a first inner diameter at its mouth and a second inner diameter in the vicinity of its bottom. The first inner diameter is less than said second inner diameter. The structure for the compressor bearing in this invention may strongly and uniformly fixes the rotation bearing. Further, this structure prevents the rotation bearing from slanting within the pressing hole and prevents undesirable adherence between the rotation bearing and the press fitting hole. As a result, the durability of the rotation bearing and the shaft are improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventor: Shigeru Ito
  • Publication number: 20020006239
    Abstract: A bearing is mounted to a hollow shaft provided to a hub wheel. A shaft end of the hollow shaft is deformed radially outward and caulked to an outer end face of an inner ring of the bearing. Between a first area in which a spline portion is formed and a second area in which a caulked portion is formed between a bending starting point for bending the shaft end radially outward and an end face of the shaft end on an inner peripheral face of the hollow shaft, a third area for suppressing deformation of the inner peripheral face of the hollow shaft caused by the caulking is formed. The third area cushions deformation in the first area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Applicant: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Toda, Teruyuki Wakisaka, Kenji Takahashi, Teruyuki Kawatani, Shinichirou Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 6338578
    Abstract: A retaining arrangement is provided for retaining a bearing around a stub shaft having a machined cavity and which includes a ring forming a stop for the bearing nut and a locking piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation “Snecma”
    Inventors: Danielle Christiane Roberte Adde, Jean-Louis Bertrand, Gérard Jean Lavigne, Olivier Richard Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 6336747
    Abstract: A caulked portion is formed by plastic deformation of a cylindrical portion which is formed at the inner end of a shaft member and is reduced in thickness toward the leading end in a diametrical outward direction. The force required to form the caulked portion is reduced, and the caulked portion is less susceptible to damage. Further, the force of the caulked portion for supporting the inner ring is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sawai, Takafumi Kuwano, Yoshifumi Hirano
  • Patent number: 6336748
    Abstract: A bearing assembly wherein the inner diameter of the slotted compressible annular locking collar is provided with a protrusion which extends radially inwardly, and finger extensions of the inner ring are provided with a recessed groove which extends at least partially along the collective outer annular surface of the finger extensions. When the locking collar is disposed about the finger extensions of the inner ring, the protrusion is disposed within the recessed groove to retain the locking collar on the inner ring. The inner ring finger extensions and the locking collar are relatively sized such that when they are in their free states, the inner diameter of the protrusion is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the recessed groove, such that the collar may be snapped over the finger extensions and into proper position on the inner ring prior to installation on a shaft. The protrusion may be an integrally formed part of the locking collar or a separate resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Emerson Power Transmission Manufacturing, L.P.
    Inventors: James P. Johnson, Eric Puleo, Kevin Feerick
  • Patent number: 6322254
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a threaded drive, includes two grooved ball bearings arranged in side-by-side disposition and suited to one another for adjustment of a desired prestress, and a restraining element which holds the grooved ball bearings in place and is provided with a flange, directed radially outwards, for attachment to a housing. The restraining member is formed by a sleeve, made through a process without material removal, and has one end provided with a radially inwardly directed projection for embracing an end face of the grooved ball bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: INA Wälzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventors: Reinhard Schwinghammer, Jürgen Hilbinger
  • Patent number: 6322253
    Abstract: A motor vehicle wheel hub bearing comprises an outer race to be mounted in a cylindrical seat formed in a suspension strut and fixed in the seat by cold rolling. The outer race has an outer cylindrical surface to be fitted into the seat. The cylindrical surface extends over the whole axial dimension of the outer race and has a greater axial dimension than that of the strut. The two axially opposite ends of the cylindrical surface comprise respective axial tubular projections adapted to be deformed radially outwardly by cold forming towards respective opposite lateral surfaces of the strut so as to fix the bearing to the strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: SKF Industrie S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mauro Picca
  • Publication number: 20010043768
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bearing assembly (10) with a locking collar (27) and provides a singular means for locking a bearing assembly onto a rotatable shaft (41). The bearing assembly (10) made in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes an outer bearing race member (18) and an inner bearing race member (12). The inner bearing member (12) has an inside diameter and an axial extension (25). A locking collar (27) is provided having a larger inside diameter (32) and a smaller inside diameter (34). A gap (35) is positioned circumferentially in the locking collar (27), the gap defining opposed separated planes (26, 28) cutting approximately radially through the locking collar. The locking collar (27) can be slidably fitted over the axial extension (25) with the smaller inside diameter (34) of the locking collar positioned at the furthest extent of the axial extension (25). A fastener (46) is provided for compressing the gap (23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventor: Masaki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6318900
    Abstract: A one-piece ball bearing mounting member 16 is provided for mounting a ball bearing in a housing. The mounting member includes a ring member 18. Tolerance take-up structure 22 extends from the ring member 18 in one direction and is constructed and arranged to engage at least a portion of a periphery of a ball bearing. At least a portion of the tolerance take-up structure 22 is resilient so that when inserted into the housing the resilient portion contacts a wall of the housing to take-up tolerances between the periphery of the ball bearing and the wall of the housing. A retaining structure 34 extends from the ring member 18 in a direction opposite the one direction. The retaining structure 34 is constructed and arranged 1) to permit insertion of the ball bearing mounting member into the housing in an insertion direction, and 2) to prevent movement of the ball bearing mounting member from the housing in a direction opposite the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: John Delbert Bere, Stefan Zenon Smorowski
  • Patent number: 6315457
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a vehicle hub comprises rolling elements (9, 10) which are in rolling contact with at least one inner raceway (2) and outer raceway (1), of respectively an inner ring member and an outer ring member, one of which ring members comprises two bearing rings (3, 4) which are interconnected by means of a mounting sleeve (14) for preloading the rolling elements in axial direction between the raceways. The bearing rings (3, 4) are bonded to the sleeve (14) by means of glueing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: SKF Engineering and Research Centre B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrikus Jan Kapaan, Johannes Franciscus Sanden, Jesko-Henning Tanke, Norbert Huhn
  • Patent number: 6312160
    Abstract: A bearing construction for a drive shaft in which a spindle is disposed internally of an axle bearing of a wheel. An outer joint of the drive shaft is disposed internally of the spindle, and drive force from an engine is transmitted to the wheel through the outer joint. A bearing diametrally supporting the outer joint is provided between the spindle and the outer joint, and a washer is axially press-fitted on the outer joint axially between the spindle and a part of the outer joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6309109
    Abstract: A bearing assembly with at least one row of balls is disclosed. The bearing assembly has a shaft tube, at least one pair of bearing covers pressed onto the shaft tube, a concave surface formed in facing sides of each of the bearing covers, a row of balls received in the corresponding concave surfaces of the pair of bearing covers and a race arranged on the outer periphery of the row of balls to receive them. The bearing assembly can be arranged with multiple rows of balls to improve the ability to bear a large load between the rotating and stationary members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: William Chuang
  • Publication number: 20010031106
    Abstract: A reliable bearing wheel assembly comprising a shaft, an inner race, an outer race, and rollers or other bearing elements between the inner and outer races, wherein the inner race is reliably prevented from both rotating and moving axially relative to the shaft, even when there is bearing failure. A first pair of axially extending grooves are provided in the outer surface of an end portion of the shaft and in the inner surface of the inner race respectively which in combination define a first keyway. A second pair of axially extending grooves are provided in the outer surface of the shaft end portion and in the inner surface of the inner race respectively which in combination define a second keyway. A first key is received in the first keyway. A fastener having a threaded shank portion threadedly engages a threaded bore which extends axially in the shaft end portion. A head portion of the fastener engages the inner race and at least partially covers the first keyway to block escape of the first key therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventor: Ronald L. Plesh
  • Patent number: 6299358
    Abstract: Ultraviolet-transparent seals, flange, and sleeve assemblies are used in actuator pivot cartridges for hard disk drives to cure adhesive located inside the pivot housing. The assemblies are formed from silica glass, polymers, or other suitable materials, and focus UV light into hard to reach, high aspect ratio areas between the pivot bearings, sleeve, and shaft. Some of the assemblies use transparent components with convex or fresnel lenses formed into their geometry. With these designs, UV light can enter the pivots axially and/or radially to reach and cure the adhesive regardless of its location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Walter Lloyd Prater, Eric Martin Albertson
  • Patent number: 6299360
    Abstract: A hub assembly includes a hub having a spindle with a flange and a shoulder at one end of the spindle and a formed end turned outwardly at the other end of the spindle. In addition, the hub assembly includes a bearing having two cones set end to end and an outer race in the form of a housing located around the cones, and tapered rollers arranged in two rows between the outer race and cones. Initially the formed end of the spindle exists as an axially directed end portion of the spindle. The bearing is installed over this end portion and moved further along the spindle to bring the back face of one of its cones against the shoulder on the flange. The back face of the other cone lies at the end of a spline that leads out to the end portion on the spindle. A coupler ring having exterior and interior splines is installed over the spindle end porotion with its interior spline engaged with the spindle spline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: John d. Dougherty, Peter Holland
  • Patent number: 6299359
    Abstract: A bearing assembly (10) with a locking collar (27) and provides a singular means for locking a bearing assembly onto a rotatable shaft (41). The bearing assembly (10) made in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes an outer bearing race member (18) and an inner bearing race member (12). The inner bearing member (12) has an inside diameter and an axial extension (25). A locking collar (27) is provided having a larger inside diameter (32) and a smaller inside diameter (34). A gap (23) is positioned circumferentially in the locking collar (27), the gap defining opposed separated planes (26, 28) cutting approximately radially through the locking collar. The locking collar (27) can be slidably fitted over the axial extension (25) with the smaller inside diameter (34) of the locking collar positioned at the furthest extent of the axial extension (25). A fastener (46) is provided for compressing the gap (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: AMI Bearings, Inc.
    Inventor: Masaki Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20010022871
    Abstract: A method for fixing at least one bearing in place in a bearing retainer involves positioning the bearing in the depression, providing an elastic element which acts in the axial direction on the bearing either before or after the bearing is positioned in the depression so that the elastic element is supported on the bearing in a first axial direction, and deforming a partial area of the bearing retainer so that the deformed partial area of the bearing retainer supports the elastic element in a second axial direction which extends opposite the first axial direction. A bearing arrangement produced according to the present invention includes a bearing retainer having at least one depression in which is positioned a bearing, with a portion of the bearing retainer overlapping a portion of the bearing to form an interlocking connection between the bearing retainer and the bearing in an axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Burkhard Buchheim, Berthold Beyfuss, Helmut Hauck, Peter Horling
  • Patent number: 6287013
    Abstract: A chiplessly made angular contact bearing comprising an outer ring (1) and an inner ring (5) is configured as a self-retaining unit by the fact that the inner ring (5) comprises uniformly spaced resilient retaining tabs (10) which, as viewed in longitudinal cross-section, comprise two sections (11, 12) that are disposed angularly relative to each other and separated by a vertex (13), the diameter of the retaining tabs (10) is largest at the vertex (13) and the diameter of the axially outer section (11) of the retaining tabs (10) is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer ring (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler
    Inventors: Peter Loncar, Reinhold Nutzel
  • Publication number: 20010019639
    Abstract: In a bearing device in which a free end of a shaft body to which a rolling bearing is mounted is bent outward in its radial direction into a shape to be pushed against an end face of an inner ring of the rolling bearing so as to prevent the rolling bearing from falling out, a raceway surface of the inner ring of the rolling bearing is subjected to hardening treatment, and other portion of the inner ring is made of row material which is not hardened. With this arrangement, the caulked portion formed by the caulking plastically deforms the relatively soft inner peripheral corner of the inner ring and as a result, the caulked portion and the inner peripheral corner are adhered to each other strongly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Applicant: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Toda, Masaru Deguchi, Shinichirou Kashiwaki, Tadashi Mitarai, Tomohiro Ishii, Daisaku Tomita
  • Patent number: 6283638
    Abstract: These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by inserting electrically conductive rings and a bearing into a mold before a slip ring body is injection molded. During the injection molding process, the rings and the bearing are partially encapsulated by the injected plastic and retained. Plastic is prevented from entering the race of the bearing by using a pair of additional plastic inserts which prevent plastic from entering the bearing race. When the injected plastic cools, the plastic shrinks and compresses the bearing thereby preventing axial movement. Wires attached to the rings are also encapsulated by the plastic material during the injection molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry O. Feuer, Jr., Donald L. Grissom, Thomas H. Beeken
  • Patent number: 6276838
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft and hub connection for securing bearings, in particular ball bearings (12), on a shaft (10). The proposal is made that the hub part (14) of the bearing (12) encompassing the shaft (10) have at least one axial surface (20), against which a projection (24, 30) rests, which is produced from the shaft (10) by means of plastic deformation and prevents an axial movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Detlef Lauk, Lothar Fauth, Ernst Fischer, Hansjoerg Karcher, Juergen Herp, Erik Maurer, Richard Hurst, Anton Waibel, Andreas Wiegert
  • Publication number: 20010012418
    Abstract: A method for fixing at least one bearing in a depression of a bearing retainer involves deforming a portion of the bearing retainer to cause a portion of the bearing retainer to form an overlapping connection of the bearing which axially retains the bearing in the depression. In the first stage of the two-stage deformation process, a first partial area of the bearing retainer is deformed compress the material forming the bearing retainer. In the second stage of the deformation process, a second partial area of the bearing retainer is deformed to form the overlapping connection, in the axial direction, between the bearing and the bearing retainer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventors: Burkhard Buchheim, Berthold Beyfub, Helmut Hauck, Peter Horling
  • Patent number: 6270260
    Abstract: An anti-rotational bearing assembly including a bearing positioned in a bearing bore of a bearing hub and a bearing cap connected to the bearing. The bearing cap including a projecting portion which abuts a boss extending from the bearing hub to prevent rotation of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: A.O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: David W. Hale
  • Publication number: 20010010738
    Abstract: A bearing assembly wherein the inner diameter of the slotted compressible annular locking collar is provided with a protrusion which extends radially inwardly, and finger extensions of the inner ring are provided with a recessed groove which extends at least partially along the collective outer annular surface of the finger extensions. When the locking collar is disposed about the finger extensions of the inner ring, the protrusion is disposed within the recessed groove to retain the locking collar on the inner ring. The inner ring finger extensions and the locking collar are relatively sized such that when they are in their free states, the inner diameter of the protrusion is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the recessed groove, such that the collar may be snapped over the finger extensions and into proper position on the inner ring prior to installation on a shaft. The protrusion may be an integrally formed part of the locking collar or a separate resilient member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Emerson Power Transmission Corp.
    Inventors: James P. Johnson, Eric Puleo, Kevin Feerick