# US 7,407,328 B2 · Deformable bearing housing

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- Number: US 7,407,328 B2
- Document ID: US7407328B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/527,542
- Filed: 2003-10-13
- Published: 2006-06-15
- Granted: 2008-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2002-10-15
- Assignees: Minebea Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Steven A. Essam
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407328B2

## CPC

- F16C 23/045: {for radial load mainly, e.g. radial spherical plain bearings}
- F16C 11/0623: {Construction or details of the socket member}
- F16C 33/14: Special methods of manufacture; Running-in
- F16C 2220/40: by deformation without removing material
- Y10T 29/49652: Die-press shaping
- 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 housing to receive and be deformed around a ball having a predetermined radius R to form a bearing, an inner surface of the bearing housing being generally cup-shaped, having at least approximately circular symmetry around a central axis, and comprising: a cup portion of the radius R shaped to seat closely a first portion of a ball of radius R placed in the bearing housing; and a conforming portion lying in the plane which is perpendicular to the central axis and contains the centre of curvature of the cup portion, there being a clearance between the conforming portion and a second portion of the ball, the clearance being greater than any clearance between the cup portion and the first portion of the ball, the bearing housing being shaped such that, when the bearing housing is deformed around a ball having radius R to form a bearing, the bearing housing is deformed so that the conforming portion matches closely the shape of the second portion of the ball.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bearing housing to receive and be deformed around, in use, a ball having a predetermined radius R to form a bearing, the bearing housing having approximately circular symmetry around a central axis, and comprising:
a cup portion having a centre of curvature of approximately the radius R and thereby shaped to seat closely, in use, a first portion of the ball placed in the bearing housing;
an upstanding wall portion having a concave inner surface and extending from the cup portion, the inner surface including a conforming portion lying about a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis and that contains the centre of curvature of the cup portion, there being a first clearance between the conforming portion and the equator region of the ball, the first clearance being greater than a second clearance between the cup portion and the first portion of the ball,
the bearing housing being shaped such that, when the bearing housing is deformed around the ball to form a bearing, in use, the bearing housing is deformed so that the inner surface matches closely the shape of the ball.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A bearing housing according to claim 1, wherein the radius of the arc of the concave inner surface is greater than the radius R.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A bearing housing according to claim 2, wherein the radius of the arc of the concave inner surface is at least double the radius R.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A bearing housing according to claim 1, wherein the distance from the central axis to a free end of the upstanding wall portion is substantially equal to the radius R.

### Claim 5

A bearing housing according to any preceding claim, deformed around the ball thereby to define a bearing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A bearing housing according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the upstanding wall portion is provided with a series of arcs which each define a respective concave part of the inner surface.

### Claim 7

A method of manufacturing a bearing, comprising the steps of:
providing a bearing housing having approximately circular symmetry around a central axis, and comprising:
a cup portion having a centre of curvature of approximately the radius R, thereby shaped to seat closely a first portion of a ball of radius R placed in the bearing housing;
an upstanding wall portion having a concave inner surface and extending from the cup portion, the inner surface including a conforming portion lying about a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis and that contains the centre of curvature of the cup portion, there being a first clearance between the conforming portion and the equator region of the ball, the first clearance being greater than a second clearance between the cup portion and the first portion of the ball;
placing a ball having substantially the radius R in the bearing housing; and deforming the bearing housing around the ball in such a way that the inner surface matches closely the shape of the ball.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the radius of the arc of the concave inner surface is greater than the radius R.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A method according to claim 8, wherein the radius of the arc of the concave inner surface is at least double the radius R.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the step of providing a bearing housing comprises providing a bearing housing wherein the distance from the central axis to a free end point of the upstanding wall portion is substantially equal to the radius R.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the concave inner surface is provided with a series of arcs which each defines a respective concave part of the inner surface.