Shaft support and damping means for eddy current instrument

Claim 1

IN AN EDDY CURRENT INSTRUMENT, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING, A FRAME, A FIRST SHAFT, SPACED ANNULAR BEARING INSERTS OF PLASTIC MATERIAL RECEIVED OVER THE SHAFT SUPPORTED BY THE FRAME TO SUPPORT THE SHAFT FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO THE FRAME, SAID BEARING INSERTS BEING SPACED APART AT THEIR ADJACENT ENDS TO DEFINE THEREBETWEEN ADJACENT THE SHAFT AND ANNULAR RESERVOIR FOR HOLDING A LUBRICANT FOR LUBRICATING THE FIRST SHAFT, A SECOND SHAFT, SPACED BERAING ELEMENTS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE SECOND SHAFT FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO THE FRAME, COMPLEMENTARY EDDY ELEMENTS SUPPORTED NONROTATABLY ON THE FIRST AND SECOND SHAFTS, RESPECTIVELY, OPERABLE TO ROTATE THEREWITH AND TO FORM AN EDDY TORQUE TRANSMISSION LINK BETWEEN THE SHAFTS, AND VISCOUS DAMPING MEANS BETWEEN THE FRAME AND THE SECOND SHAFT OPERABLE TO DAMPEN OSCILLATION OF THE SECOND SHAFT RELATIVE TO THE FRAME, SAID VISCOUS DAMPING MEANS INCLUDING OEN OF THE BEARING ELEMENTS FOR THE SECOND SHAFT BEING OF PLASTIC FABRICATED TO A CUP-SHAPED CONTOUR HAVING ITS SIDE WALLS EXTENDED OVER BUT SPACED FROM THE SECOND SHAFT ANNULARLY THEREOF, A CUP-SHAPED MEMBER SECURED TO THE SECOND SHAFT AND THAVING ITS SIDE WALLS IN TELESCOPING RELATIONSHIP WITH BUT SPACED FROM THE SIDE WALLS OF THE ONE BEARING ELEMENT, AND A VISCOUS SILICONE FLUID FILLING THE ANNULAR CHAMBER BETWEEN THE OVERLAPPING SIDE WALLS.