Asymmetric drag force bearings
AssigneeSeescan, Inc.
InventorsJames F. Kleyn, Eric M. Chapman, Mark S. Olsson, Michael E. Turgeon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An asymmetric bearing device automatically decreases, without the need for manual adjustment, an amount of friction exerted against rotation of a drum or other mechanism upon reversal of the direction of rotation of the drum.
Claims14
An asymmetric bearing device, comprising:
- a first race;
- a second race;
- and
- a cog assembly disposed between the first race and the second race, wherein the cog assembly provides a first friction level between the first and second race during a rotation of the asymmetric bearing device in a first direction, and a second friction level between the first and second race during a rotation of the asymmetric bearing device in a second direction.
An asymmetric bearing device for deploying and retrieving a cable on a storage drum, wherein the asymmetric bearing device provides a first friction level upon deployment of the cable from the storage drum and a second, lower friction level upon retrieval of the cable onto the storage drum, and wherein the asymmetric bearing device automatically switches between the first friction level and the second friction level upon change in a rotational direction of the storage drum
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.