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US 12,158,181 B2Granted
Cageless bearing and transmission
AssigneeThe Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
InventorMark Yim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one example, a bearing or transmission has an outer race that extends circumferentially about a central axis. An inner race is disposed within the outer race and extends circumferentially about the central axis so as to be coaxial with the outer race. A plurality of load-bearing rolling elements are disposed between the inner race and the outer race, and are spaced circumferentially from one another so as to not contact one another. A plurality of separator rolling elements are disposed within the outer race. Each separator rolling element is disposed between a respective pair of the load-bearing rolling elements such that the separator rolling element is in rolling contact with the load-bearing rolling elements of the respective pair. The load-bearing and separator rolling elements form a contiguous ring.
Claims25
An apparatus comprising:
- an outer race that extends circumferentially about a central axis, the outer race comprising an outer wall and an inner wall each extending circumferentially about the central axis;
- an inner race that is disposed within the outer race and that extends circumferentially about the central axis so as to be coaxial with the outer race;
- a plurality of load-bearing rolling elements disposed between the inner race and the outer race, spaced circumferentially from one another so as to not contact one another, and in contact with the inner race and the outer wall of the outer race;
- and
- a plurality of separator rolling elements, wherein each separator rolling element is disposed between a respective pair of the load-bearing rolling elements such that the separator rolling element is in rolling contact with the load-bearing rolling elements of the respective pair and the inner wall of the outer race, wherein the inner wall of the outer race defines a recess such that a central portion of the recess is free of contact with each separator rolling element, wherein the separator rolling elements each have a geometric center that is disposed on a first circle, and the load-bearing rolling elements each have a geometric center that is disposed on a second circle that has a larger diameter than the first circle.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- an outer race that extends circumferentially about a central axis, wherein the outer race comprises a curved inner wall and a curved outer wall, each extending circumferentially about the central axis, the curved inner wall spaced radially inward from the curved outer wall so as to define a channel between the curved inner wall and the curved outer wall, and wherein the outer race further comprises an end wall that extends at a first end of the curved inner wall to a first end of the curved outer wall, wherein the end wall further defines the channel;
- an inner race that is disposed within the outer race and that extends circumferentially about the central axis so as to be coaxial with the outer race;
- a plurality of load-bearing rolling elements disposed between the inner race and the outer race, and spaced circumferentially from one another so as to not contact one another;
- and
- a plurality of separator rolling elements, wherein each separator rolling element is disposed between a respective pair of the load-bear rolling elements such that the separator rolling element is in rolling contact with the load-bearing rolling elements of the respective pair, wherein the plurality of separator rolling elements are further disposed such that during relative motion between the inner race and the outer race, a surface velocity for each separator rolling element matches a surface velocity of each of the load bearing elements, and wherein the curved inner wall of the outer race defines a recess such that central portion of the recess is free of contact with each separator rolling element.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- an outer race that extends circumferentially about a central axis, the outer race comprising an outer wall and an inner wall each extending circumferentially about the central axis;
- an inner race that is disposed within the outer race and that extends circumferentially about the central axis so as to be coaxial with the outer race;
- a plurality of load-bearing rolling elements disposed between the inner race and the outer race, spaced circumferentially from one another so as to not contact one another, and in contact with the inner race and the outer wall of the outer race;
- and
- a plurality of separator rolling elements, wherein each separator rolling element is disposed between a respective pair of the load-bearing rolling elements such that the separator rolling element is in rolling contact with the load-bearing rolling elements of the respective pair and the inner wall of the outer race, wherein the inner wall of the outer race defines a recess such that a central portion of the recess is free of contact with each separator rolling element, wherein:
- the separator rolling elements each have a geometric center that is disposed on a first circle, and the load-bearing rolling elements each have a geometric center that is disposed on a second circle that has a larger diameter than the first circle;
- wherein each of the load-bearing rolling elements and the separator rolling elements has a spherical shape;
- and
- wherein each load-bearing rolling element has only two points of contact with at least one of the outer race and the inner race.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.