# US 5,346,317 A · Horizontal bearing arrangement with controlled drag

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- Number: US 5,346,317 A
- Document ID: US5346317A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/104,959
- Filed: 1993-08-09
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1993-08-09
- Assignees: ITT Corporation
- Inventors: Jack L. Williams
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346317A

## CPC

- F21V 21/30: Pivoted housings or frames
- F16C 19/10: for axial load mainly
- F16C 33/3843: {formed as one-piece cages, i.e. monoblock cages}
- F16M 11/10: around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)}
- F16M 11/18: with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
- F16M 11/2014: {around a vertical axis (F16M11/2035 takes precedence)}
- F16M 2200/08: Foot or support base
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS

## Abstract

A cage with bearing balls' confined therein is interposed between a plate and a planar platform, to accommodate rotation of the plate, and an electrically-powered device, such as a searchlight, can be fastened to the plate for rotation therewith. A disk, with a plurality of radially-extending fingers, is secured to the platform and is in biasingly restraint of the plate to (a) inhibit an unwarrantedly free rotation of the plate, i.e, to impose a controlled drag on the plate rotation, and (b) to enable the inverted operation of the overall combination.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A horizontal bearing arrangement, for (a) coupling thereto, and (b) rotatably supporting, an electrically-powered device, comprising:
a generally annular base;
said base having a substantially planar platform and annular groove formed thereon;
a plate surmounting said platform, having an annular trough formed therein;
said groove and trough are in mutually confronting alignment;
a plurality of rolling elements, interposed between and rollingly engaged within said trough of said platform and said groove of said plate, for accommodating rotation of said plate relative to said platform; and
restraining means coupled to said base, and surmounting said plate, for restraining rotation of said plate, and said restraining means comprising a disk with radially-extending limbs for biasingly engaging said plate and for imposing a controlled drag on the plate rotation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A horizontal bearing arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein:
said plate has an annular rib formed thereon; and
said limbs engage and traverse said rib.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A horizontal bearing arrangement, according to claim 2, wherein:
said trough and said rib have a common diameter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A horizontal bearing arrangement, according to claim 2, wherein: said rib terminates in a flat land.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A horizontal bearing arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein:
said plate overhangs said platform.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A horizontal bearing arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein:
said base has a hollow shaft which extends centrally thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A horizontal bearing arrangement, according to claim 1, further including:
an annulus interposed between said platform and said plate;
said annulus has a plurality of holes formed therein;
said rolling elements are bearing balls; and
said bearing balls are confined within said holes.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A horizontal bearing arrangement, according to claim 7, wherein:
said annulus and said plate have a common inside diameter.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A horizontal bearing arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein:
said disk further has a central, annular hub;
said hub has a plurality of tapped holes formed therein;
said platform has a plurality of apertures formed therein which align with said tapped holes; and further including
fasteners in penetration of said apertures and secured in said tapped holes fastening said disk to said platform.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A horizontal bearing arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein:
said plate has fastener holes formed therein for receiving fasteners for coupling of an electrically-powered device thereto.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A horizontal bearing arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein:
said base has means extending therefrom for confining electrical conduit therewithin.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A horizontal bearing arrangement, according to claim 11, wherein:
said conduit confining means comprises an upstanding, hollow shaft.