US3799629A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bearings with composite surfaces
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-25
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1991-06-25
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is concerned with plain bearings, i.e. those bearings which have complementary running surfaces. It is deemed to be applicable with special advantage to spherical bearings or others having concave/convex or conical surfaces, such as are particularly useful with magnetically sustained rotating bodies.
Inventors
- 👤 N Laing
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:08
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C33/00; F16C33/02; F16C33/04; F16C33/06; F16C33/10; F16C33/1025; F16C33/106; F16C33/107; F16C17/00; F16C17/04; F16C17/08; F16C17/10; F16C17/102; F16C17/105; F16C23/00; F16C23/02; F16C23/04; F16C33/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49636; Y10T29/49639; Y10T29/49643; Y10T29/49647; Y10T29/49648; Y10T29/49657
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A first bearing element of a hydrodynamic bearing assembly comprising first and second bearing elements having complementary bearing surfaces adapted to engage each other when the bearing is at rest and adapted to be supported relative to each other by a hydrodynamic pressure film when said bearing assembly is running, the improvement comprising in that the bearing surface of said first element has circumferentially spaced grooves thereon for forming said hydrodynamic pressure film where the bottom of said grooves comprises an erodable material which is subjected to erosion by hydrodynamic forces, and in that the portion of said bearing surface between said grooves comprises a wearable material having greater erosion resistant properties than said erodable material whereby during operation of said bearing assembly the bottom of said grooves will erode away at a greater rate under the influence of hydrodynamic forces than the wearable material comprising said first bearing surface will erode away or wear away due to contact with the bearing surface of said second element thereby maintaining the depth of said gooves independent of wear of said first bearing surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A first bearing element of a hydrodynamic bearing assembly comprising first and second bearing elements having complementary bearing surfaces adapted to engage each other when the bearing is at rest and adapted to be supported relative to each other by a hydrodynamic pressure film when said bearing assembly is running, the improvement comprising in that the bearing surface of said first element has circumferentially spaced grooves thereon for forming said hydrodynamic pressure film where the bottom of said grooves comprises an erodable material which is subjected to erosion by hydrodynamic forces, and in that the portion of said bearing surface between said grooves comprises a wearable material having greater erosion resistant properties than said erodable material whereby during operation of said bearing assembly the bottom of said grooves will erode away at a greater rate under the influence of hydrodynamic forces than the wearable material comprising said first bearing surface will erode away or wear away due to contact with the bearing surface of said second element thereby maintaining the depth of said gooves independent of wear of said first bearing surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A first bearing element according to claim 1 wherein said first bearing surface is spherical and wherein said grooves are in the configuration of meridians.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A first bearing element according to claim 1 wherein said first bearing surface is spherical and wherein said grooves extend helically with respect to said first bearing surface.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of making a surface on a bearing element wherein said surface comprises a first material and grooves in said surface where the bottom of each groove comprises a second material, Comprising the steps of forming on a surface of revolution circumferentially alternatively spaced areas of a first material, providing a second material in the spaces between the areas of said first material where said second material has less erosion resistance than said first material, and subjecting said second material to an erosion process to remove portions of said second material to a level below said first material whereby grooves are formed in said surface.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of making a surface on a bearing element wherein said surface comprises a first material and grooves in said surface where the bottom of each groove comprises a second material, Comprising the steps of forming on a surface of revolution circumferentially alternatively spaced areas of a first material, providing a second material in the spaces between the areas of said first material where said second material has less erosion resistance than said first material, and subjecting said second material to an erosion process to remove portions of said second material to a level below said first material whereby grooves are formed in said surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said erosion process comprises an abrasive treatment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said erosive process comprises a chemical treatment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said second material prior to the erosion process is in the form of a ring having spherical shaped helical arms extending therefrom and where the steps of forming the surface includes positioning said ring and attached helical arms into a chamber formed between convex and concave shaped matching mold members and introducing said first material in molten form into said chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |