# US 5,344,240 A · Bearing system for automotive alternators

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- Number: US 5,344,240 A
- Document ID: US5344240A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/875,965
- Filed: 1992-04-29
- Granted: 1994-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 1992-04-29
- Inventors: Tommy T. Tatro; Donnie W. Duncan; Robert S. Tatro
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5344240A

## CPC

- F16C 33/58: Raceways; Race rings
- F16C 35/077: between housing and outer race ring
- Y10T 29/49009: Dynamoelectric machine
- Y10T 29/49011: Commutator or slip ring assembly
- Y10T 29/49638: Repairing
- Y10T 29/49696: Mounting
- Y10T 29/4973: Replacing of defective part
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A bearing system for automotive alternators comprising a draw cup needle bearing, a bearing journal or spacer to accommodate this needle bearing onto the alternator shaft, and a bearing sleeve to fix the bearing system into the alternator housing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An improved bearing system for use in an alternator having an external housing with a support hole, comprising:
a shaft;
a bearing journal positioned on the end of the shaft;
a bearing having an inner surface and an outer surface wherein the inner surface is fit over the bearing journal;
a bearing sleeve having a guide fixed to the alternator housing;
said bearing sleeve extends through the support hole in the external housing such that the guide extends beyond the external housing;
the bearing journal is fitted into the bearing so that the bearing outer surface is in contact with the bearing sleeve fixed in the alternator housing.

### Claim 2

A bearing system, comprising:
a bearing journal;
a needle bearing having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a bottom such that the bearing journal is fitted into the inner surface of the needle bearing and extends to said bottom;
a bearing sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface such that the outer surface of the needle bearing is fit into the inner surface of the bearing sleeve and is of the same length as the inner surface of the bearing sleeve.

### Claim 3

An improved bearing system, comprising:
an automotive alternator having an external housing and a shaft;
said external housing having a support hole therein such that said shaft extends into said support hole;
a bearing journal having an internal diameter of a size to receive said shaft;
said bearing journal being secured to said shaft such that said bearing journal rotates with said shaft;
a draw cup needle bearing having a length x, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a bottom;
a bearing sleeve having a length x, a first end, a second end, a guide;
said bearing sleeve being secured in said support hole in said external housing such that said guide extends beyond said external housing on said first end of said bearing sleeve and is flush with said external housing on said second end of said bearing sleeve;
said bearing sleeve having the same length x as said draw cup needle bearing;
said outer surface of said draw cup needle bearing is fit into said inner surface of said bearing sleeve;
said bearing journal is fit into said inner surface of said draw cup needle bearing and extends to said bottom.