# US 6,280,092 B1 · Thrust bearing to be used in a contaminated environment

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- Number: US 6,280,092 B1
- Document ID: US6280092B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 08/889,562
- Filed: 1997-07-08
- Granted: 2001-08-28
- Earliest claimed: 1993-05-11
- Inventors: Alan L. Backus; Ronald M. Popeil
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6280092B1

## CPC

- F16C 17/04: for axial load only
- A21C 1/06: with horizontally-mounted mixing or kneading tools; Worm {or screw} mixers
- A21C 1/14: Structural elements of mixing or kneading machines; {Parts; Accessories}
- A21C 1/144: {Discharge mechanisms}
- A21C 1/149: {Receptacles, e.g. provided with means for carrying or guiding fluids, e.g. coolants}
- A21C 3/04: Dough-extruding machines {; Hoppers with moving elements, e.g. rollers or belts as wall elements for drawing the dough}
- A21C 11/20: with worms
- A47J 9/005: {combined with extrusion or molding}
- B01F 27/70: with paddles, blades or arms
- B01F 35/512: characterised by surface properties, e.g. coated or rough
- B01F 35/752: {with arrangements for converting the mechanism from mixing to discharging, e.g. by either guiding a mixture back into a receptacle or discharging it}
- B01F 35/754551: {using helical screws}
- F16C 33/08: Attachment of brasses, bushes or linings to the bearing housing
- F16C 2314/00: Personal or domestic articles, e.g. household appliances such as washing machines, dryers
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- A21C: MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR MAKING OR PROCESSING DOUGHS; HANDLING BAKED ARTICLES MADE FROM DOUGH
- A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)

## Abstract

A simplified trust bearing to be used in a dry powder contaminated environment such as a pasta maker, with the bearing comprising two plates contacting each other face-to-face and through such face-to-face contact transmitting an axial thrust load.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thrust bearing device in combination with a pasta maker or other dry powder contaminated environment comprising:
a cavity for receipt of dry powder materials;
a rotating shaft carrying an axial thrust load extending into said cavity;
a first plate coupled to and rotating with said rotating shaft and said first plate receiving said axial thrust load, and said first plate exposed to dry powder materials in said cavity; and
a second plate in said cavity which does not rotate with said rotating shaft having a face contacting a face of said first plate, said second plate also exposed to dry powder materials in said cavity, whereby said thrust bearing device may support said axial thrust load while being exposed to dry powder materials through face-to-face contact between said plates; and
wherein either the first plate or the second plate includes a concentric depression.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The thrust bearing device of claim 1 further including at least said first plate or said second plate having depressions in its face configured to receive dry powder material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The thrust bearing device of claim 2 wherein said depressions are concentric and plural.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The trust bearing device of claim 1 wherein the plate that includes the concentric depression includes a plurality of concentric depressions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The thrust bearing device of claim 1 wherein both the first plate and the second plate include a concentric depression.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The thrust bearing device of claim 1 wherein both the first plate and the second plate include a plurality of concentric depression.