# US 11,441,604 B1 · Rapid movement loader slot bearing suitable for use on munitions deployment structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,604 B1 - Document ID: US11441604B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/002,050 - Filed: 2020-08-25 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-11 - Assignees: Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc. - Applicants: Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc. - Inventors: Scott McNeil; Ben Anderson; Jackson Sarneski-Hayes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441604B1 ## CPC - F16C 11/0614: {the female part of the joint being open on two sides} - F16C 23/045: {for radial load mainly, e.g. radial spherical plain bearings} - F16C 11/0685: {Manufacture of ball-joints and parts thereof, e.g. assembly of ball-joints} - F16C 33/1095: {with solids as lubricant, e.g. dry coatings, powder} - F16C 2202/04: Hardness - F16C 2204/00: Metallic materials; Alloys (alloys in general C22C; F16C2206/00 takes precedence) - F16C 2204/72: with nickel as further constituent, e.g. stainless steel - F16C 2240/60: Thickness, e.g. thickness of coatings - F16C 2300/42: corrosive, i.e. with aggressive media or harsh conditions - F16C 2326/43: Aeroplanes; Helicopters - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A loader slot bearing includes an annular housing having first and second axial surfaces and an interior area extending therebetween. The interior area has a first inner surface that extends between the first and second axial surfaces. A portion of the inner surface is a first bearing surface that has a spherical contour. A slot extends partially into the first inner surface from the first axial surface. The slot has a first width. The annular housing is manufactured from a precipitation hardened corrosion resistant stainless steel. The loader slot bearing includes a truncated ball that is positioned in the slot and rotated so that the truncated ball is rotatably retained by the first bearing surface. The truncated ball is angularly misalignable relative to the housing and is manufactured from a 440C stainless steel. A dry lubricant is applied to the spherical exterior surface of the truncated ball. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A loader slot bearing comprising: an annular housing having a first axial surface, a second axial surface and an interior area extending between the first axial surface and the second axial surface, the interior area being defined by a first inner surface that extends between the first axial surface and the second axial surface, a portion of the first inner surface being a first bearing surface having a spherical contour and a first surface hardness of 28 to 37 Rockwell C (HRC 28-37), a slot extending partially into the first inner surface from the first axial surface, the slot having a first width extending in a direction parallel to the first axial surface, and the annular housing being manufactured from a precipitation hardened corrosion resistant stainless steel; a truncated ball having a spherical exterior surface extending a second width between a third axial surface and a fourth axial surface, the second width being less than the first width, the truncated ball being positioned in the slot and rotated so that the truncated ball is rotatably retained by the first bearing surface, the truncated ball being angularly misalignable relative to the housing, the truncated ball being manufactured from a 440C stainless steel per AMS 5630, the spherical exterior surface of the truncated ball having a second surface hardness of 55 to 62 Rockwell C (HRC 55-62); and a dry lubricant applied to the spherical exterior surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The loader slot bearing of claim 1, wherein the precipitation hardened corrosion resistant stainless steel is 17-4PH stainless steel pursuant to AMS 5643. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The loader slot bearing of claim 2, wherein the 17-4PH stainless steel is in a condition H1150 heat treatment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The loader slot bearing of claim 1, wherein the precipitation hardened corrosion resistant stainless steel is 15-5PH stainless steel pursuant to AMS5659. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The loader slot bearing of claim 1, wherein the truncated ball has a cylindrical bore extending between the third axial surface and the fourth axial surface, the bore being defined by a second inner surface; and a pin having a cylindrical exterior surface, the pin extending through the cylindrical bore and the truncated ball being rotatable relative to the pin when frictional forces between the second inner surface and the cylindrical exterior surface is below a threshold level; and wherein when the frictional forces exceed the threshold level, the pin and truncated ball lock together and are rotatable together, relative to the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The loader slot bearing of claim 5, wherein the pin is solid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The loader slot bearing of claim 5, wherein the cylindrical exterior surface defines a first outside diameter and the bore of the truncated ball has a first inside diameter that is at least 0.00254 to 0.04826 mm greater than the first outside diameter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The loader slot bearing of claim 5, further comprising a shaft extending from and integral with the annular housing thereby forming a rod end, and wherein: the first bearing surface and the housing are a dampening feature to dampen impact loads received by the loader slot bearing, the truncated ball having the hardness of HRC 55-62 is retained by the first bearing surface having the hardness of HRC 28-37, and the housing, the truncated ball and the pin move relative to one another, wherein when accelerations or impact loads during mechanism deployment are up to about 4G, the truncated ball continues to be retained by the first bearing surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The loader slot bearing of claim 8, wherein the shaft is integral with a support frame or is secured to the support frame with at least one fastener. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The loader slot bearing of claim 1, wherein the dry lubricant comprises a molybdenum disulfide material in a binder. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The loader slot bearing of claim 1, wherein the dry lubricant is of a maximum thickness of 0.0127 mm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The loader slot bearing of claim 1, wherein the spherical exterior surface of the truncated ball is defined by an outside diameter, the housing defines a third width between the first axial surface and the second axial surface and wherein a ratio of the third width to the outside diameter is about 0.35 to 0.50. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The loader slot bearing of claim 1, further comprising a shaft extending from and integral with the annular housing thereby forming a rod end, and wherein: the first bearing surface and the housing are a dampening feature to dampen impact loads received by the loader slot bearing, the truncated ball having the hardness of HRC 55-62 is retained by the first bearing surface having the hardness of HRC 28-37, and the housing and the truncated ball move relative to one another, wherein when accelerations or impact loads during mechanism deployment are up to about 4G, the truncated ball continues to be retained by the first bearing surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The loader slot bearing of claim 13, wherein the shaft is integral with a support frame or is secured to the support frame with at least one fastener. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The loader slot bearing of claim 1, wherein the loader slot bearing is manufactured from a bar stock or cast form of the precipitation hardened corrosion resistant stainless steel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The loader slot bearing of claim 1, wherein the truncated ball is dropped in or forced fit in to the interior area of the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The loader slot bearing of claim 1, wherein the slot is milled or broached all the way through the housing and the truncated ball is dropped in to the interior area of the housing through the slot.