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US 4,382,639 AGranted
Bi-directional thrust and radial ball bearing
AssigneeThe Torrington Company
InventorMichael J. McGuffie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The ball bearing comprises a pressed metal cup in which are loosely-mounted axially-spaced, pressed metal thrust washers which contact a plurality of balls. The thicknesses of the thrust washers and the diameter of the balls are chosen so that an axial clearance between the metal cup and a thrust washer is provided when the other thrust race engages the cup and the balls are in contact with both thrust washers.
Claims3
A bi-directional thrust and radial ball bearing comprising:
- a pressed metal cup having a first end flange and a second end flange, a first pressed metal, annular thrust washer and a second pressed metal annular thrust washer axially spaced from said first thrust washer and loosely retained in the metal cup by the end flanges;
- and a plurality of balls adapted to be contacted by the annular thrust washers, the diameter of each ball and the thicknesses of the thrust washers being such that an axial force in one axial direction causes the first thrust washer to press the balls against the second thrust washer, which, in turn, is pressed against said second metal cup end flange to form an axial clearance between said first metal cup end flange and the first thrust washer, and an axial force in the other axial direction causes the second thrust washer to press the balls against the first thrust washer, which, in turn is pressed against said first metal cup end flange to form an axial clearance between said second metal cup end flange and the second thrust washer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.