Universal bearing assembly

Claim 2

In a universal bearing assembly; a housing having an axial bore; a tubular coupling within the bore of said housing; antifriction bearings disposed in spaced relationship within the bore of said housing, said bearings being disposed about said tubular coupling but not in contact with it; retainer means on each end of said tubular coupling in bearing engagement with an adjacent one of said antifriction bearings and operable to maintain said bearings and said tubular coupling in coaxial operative position within the bore of said housing.

Claim 3

A universal bearing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said retainer means on each end of said tubular coupling are nuts having threaded bores, and said tubular coupling has each end thereof constructed and arranged to threadedly receive said threaded nuts.

Claim 4

In an antifriction bearing; a first race having an annular tapered outer portion, an annular tapered inner portion and an annular flat portion interconnecting an annular edge of said outer portion to an annular edge of said inner portion; a second race having an annular tapered outer portion, an annular tapered inner portion and an annular flat portion interconnecting an annular edge of said outer portion to an annular edge of said inner portion, said first and second races being of substantially identical configuration so as to be interchangeable; and a plurality of balls disposed between said races in position to engage with a plurality of opposed surfaces of said first and second races.

Claim 5

In an antifriction bearing; a first race having an annular tapered outer portion, an annular tapered inner portion and an annular flat portion interconnecting an annular edge of said outer portion to an annular edge of said inner portion; a second race having an annular tapered outer portion, an annular tapered inner portion and an annular flat portion interconnecting an annular edge of said outer portion to an annular edge of said inner portion, said first and second races being of substantially identical configuration so as to be interchangeable; and a plurality of balls disposed between said races in position to engage with a plurality of opposed surfaces of said first and second races.

Claim 6

In a bearing for radial and thrust loads; a first race comprising a stamping having a first portion formed as a frustum of a cone and a second portion formed as a frustum of a smaller cone, said first and second portions being disposed in coaxial stepped relationship; said stamping presenting bearing surface on each side thereof; a second race comprising a stamping having a first portion formed as a frustum of a cone and a second portion formed as a frustum of a smaller cone, said first and second portions being disposed in coaxial stepped relationship, said stamping presenting bearing surfaces on each side thereof; and, a plurality of balls disposed between said first and second races in engagement with two intersecting surfaces on each of said races, said bearing surfaces of each of said races being diametrically opposite to each other, whereby the positions of said first and second races may be interchanged to present unworn bearing surfaces for the balls to roll on.

Claim 7

In a bearing for radial and thrust loads; a first race comprising a stamping having a first portion formed as a frustum of a cone and a second portion formed as a frustum of a smaller cone, said first and second portions being disposed in coaxial stepped relationship; said stamping presenting bearing surface on each side thereof; a second race comprising a stamping having a first portion formed as a frustum of a cone and a second portion formed as a frustum of a smaller cone, said first and second portions being disposed in coaxial stepped relationship, said stamping presenting bearing surfaces on each side thereof; and, a plurality of balls disposed between said first and second races in engagement with two intersecting surfaces on each of said races, said bearing surfaces of each of said races being diametrically opposite to each other, whereby the positions of said first and second races may be interchanged to present unworn bearing surfaces for the balls to roll on.

Claim 8

A bearing for radial and thrust loads comprising: a circular first race having an axial opening and a circular second race having an axial opening, said races being disposed in spaced apart coaxial relationship, said first and second races being constructed and arranged in a manner to have identical configurations, said races each having at least two bearing surfaces; and, a plurality of balls disposed between said first and second races in position to engage with the bearing surfaces of said first and second races in a manner that imaginary lines which are parallel to the axes of said races will pass through associated axes of said balls and through a bearing surface of each of said races at an angle normal to bearing surface, and also other imagiNary lines which intersect the axes of said races will pass through the center associated ones of said balls and through the other bearing surface of each of said races at an angle normal to the bearing surface.

Claim 9

A bearing for radial and thrust loads comprising: a circular first race having an axial opening and a circular second race having an axial opening, said races being disposed in spaced apart coaxial relationship, said first and second races being constructed and arranged in a manner to have identical configurations, said races each having at least two bearing surfaces; and, a plurality of balls disposed between said first and second races in position to engage with the bearing surfaces of said first and second races in a manner that imaginary lines which are parallel to the axes of said races will pass through associated axes of said balls and through a bearing surface of each of said races at an angle normal to bearing surface, and also other imagiNary lines which intersect the axes of said races will pass through the center associated ones of said balls and through the other bearing surface of each of said races at an angle normal to the bearing surface.

Claim 10

In a universal bearing assembly; a housing having an axial bore; a tubular coupling within the bore of said housing; a pair of antifriction bearings disposed in spaced relationship within the bore of said housing and arranged therein about said tubular coupling but not in contact with it, said bearings each comprising a pair of races of identical configuration, each of said races presenting identical front and rear bearing surfaces whereby either race may be used as the inner or outer race of a bearing; a plurality of balls disposed between said races of each of said bearings; and, retainer means adjustably secured on each end of said tubular coupling in engagement with an adjacent one of said antifriction bearings and operable to maintain said bearings and said tubular coupling in coaxial operative position within the bore of said housing.

Claim 11

In a universal bearing assembly; a housing having an axial bore; a tubular coupling within the bore of said housing; a pair of antifriction bearings disposed in spaced relationship within the bore of said housing and arranged therein about said tubular coupling but not in contact with it, said bearings each comprising a pair of races of identical configuration, each of said races presenting identical front and rear bearing surfaces whereby either race may be used as the inner or outer race of a bearing; a plurality of balls disposed between said races of each of said bearings; and, retainer means adjustably secured on each end of said tubular coupling in engagement with an adjacent one of said antifriction bearings and operable to maintain said bearings and said tubular coupling in coaxial operative position within the bore of said housing.

Claim 12

A bearing according to claim 6 wherein said races and said balls are of a stainless steel material.