US3179478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball bearing and retainer therefor
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1963-02-11
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Granted: 1965-04-20
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Expires: 1983-02-11
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Vincent J Readdy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:53
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C19/00; F16C19/02; F16C19/14; F16C19/16; F16C19/163; F16C33/00; F16C33/30; F16C33/38; F16C33/3806; F16C33/3837; F16C33/3843; F16C33/3856; F16C33/66; F16C33/6637; F16C33/6681; F16C2370/00; F16C33/58; F16C33/581
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
IN A BALL BEARING OF THE FORM WHEREIN A PLURALITY OF BALLS IS CONSTRAINED BY A RETAINER RING TO ROTATE ON A CIRCULAR TRACK BETWEEN INNER AND OUTER BALL RACES, SAID OUTER BALL RACE HAVING A GROOVE CONFORMING TO THE CONTOUR OF SAID BALLS, AND ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID GROOVE A LAND UPON WHICH SAID RETAINER RING RIDES BY HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION; SAID BALLS BEING MAINTAINED IN SPACED APART ALIGNMENT BY A PLURALITY OF BALL POCKETS AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID RING; AN IMPROVED RETAINER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT ITS OUTER-MOST PORTION IS MODIFIED BY SPIRAL GROOVES DIRECTED TOWARD THE BALL PATH IN THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID RETAINER RING AND PROPORTINOED TO GENERATE HYDRAULIC FORCES SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE CENTRIFUGAL MIGRATION OF OIL IN SAID BEARING, AND FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID RETAINER IS OF GREATEST DIAMETER IN THE PLANE OF SAID BALL PATH SLOPING TO LESSER DIAMETERS AT THE ENDS OF SAID RETAINER.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
IN A BALL BEARING OF THE FORM WHEREIN A PLURALITY OF BALLS IS CONSTRAINED BY A RETAINER RING TO ROTATE ON A CIRCULAR TRACK BETWEEN INNER AND OUTER BALL RACES, SAID OUTER BALL RACE HAVING A GROOVE CONFORMING TO THE CONTOUR OF SAID BALLS, AND ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID GROOVE A LAND UPON WHICH SAID RETAINER RING RIDES BY HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION; SAID BALLS BEING MAINTAINED IN SPACED APART ALIGNMENT BY A PLURALITY OF BALL POCKETS AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID RING; AN IMPROVED RETAINER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT ITS OUTER-MOST PORTION IS MODIFIED BY SPIRAL GROOVES DIRECTED TOWARD THE BALL PATH IN THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID RETAINER RING AND PROPORTINOED TO GENERATE HYDRAULIC FORCES SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE CENTRIFUGAL MIGRATION OF OIL IN SAID BEARING, AND FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID RETAINER IS OF GREATEST DIAMETER IN THE PLANE OF SAID BALL PATH SLOPING TO LESSER DIAMETERS AT THE ENDS OF SAID RETAINER.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1968-04-19 | 1968-10-19 | 1969-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1972-04-19 | 1972-10-19 | 1973-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1976-04-19 | 1976-10-19 | 1977-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |