US3934953A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shaft bearing and method of assembling the same
Assignee: Reliance Electric Co
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Filing: 1974-05-03
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Granted: 1976-01-27
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Expires: 1994-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A shaft bearing including a bearing insert and a housing constructed of plastic and having a body and a retainer for the bearing insert, the plastic housing body and the retainer being integrally joined by an ultrasonic vibration method to fuse the interface between the two parts to form a unitary housing structure and secure the bearing insert in place in the bearing housing. The invention includes the method of assembling the plastic housing parts and bearing insert, and welding the housing body and the retainer by ultrasonic vibration to secure the bearing insert in place in the housing and conform the internal surface of the body and retainer to the adjacent external surface of the bearing insert.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Tooley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:07
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C35/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49636; Y10T29/49696
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A shaft bearing comprising a housing having a body with a cavity therein, a bearing insert seating in said cavity for journalling a shaft, a retainer for seating on said body for securing said bearing insert in place in said housing, said body and said retainer being constructed of a plastic material joined together at their interface by ultrasonic vibration, forming an integral body retainer structure with the bearing insert entrapped in said body cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A shaft bearing comprising a housing having a body with a cavity therein, a bearing insert seating in said cavity for journalling a shaft, a retainer for seating on said body for securing said bearing insert in place in said housing, said body and said retainer being constructed of a plastic material joined together at their interface by ultrasonic vibration, forming an integral body retainer structure with the bearing insert entrapped in said body cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A shaft bearing as defined in claim 1 in which said body and retainer are constructed of thermoplastic material and said body and retainer are fused together at their interface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A shaft bearing as defined in claim 1 in which said body and retainer are constructed of a thermoplastic polyester and a chemical bond retains said body and retainer permanently together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A shaft bearing as defined in claim 1 in which the outer surface of the insert is of a spherical shape and the inner surfaces of said body and retainer are in contact with said insert and are of spherical shape after said body and retainer have been joined together at their interface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A shaft bearing as defined in claim 2 in which the outer surface of the insert is of a spherical shape and the inner surfaces of said body and retainer are in contact with said insert and are of spherical shape after said body and retainer have been joined together at their interface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A shaft bearing as defined in claim 1 in which said housing body is provided with flanges containing holes for anchoring screws.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A shaft bearing as defined in claim 6 in which a metal sleeve is disposed in the holes in said flanges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A shaft bearing as defined in claim 1 in which the external surface of the outer race is arcuate in cross section and the inner surface of said body and retainer engaged by said bearing insert is arcuate in cross section of the same configuration as the external surface of said outer race.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A shaft bearing as defined in claim 2 in which the external surface of the outer race is arcuate in cross section and the inner surface of said body and retainer engaged by said bearing insert is arcuate in cross section of the same configuration as the external surface of said outer race.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of constructing a bearing assembly, comprising forming a housing body of thermoplastic material with a cavity therein for receiving a bearing insert, forming a retainer of thermoplastic material, seating a bearing insert in said cavity seating said retainer on said body to hold said insert in said cavity, and subjecting said body and retainer to ultrasonic vibration to secure said body and retainer together and conforming the inner surfaces of said body and retainer to the adjacent outer surface of said insert.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of constructing a bearing assembly, comprising forming a housing body of thermoplastic material with a cavity therein for receiving a bearing insert, forming a retainer of thermoplastic material, seating a bearing insert in said cavity seating said retainer on said body to hold said insert in said cavity, and subjecting said body and retainer to ultrasonic vibration to secure said body and retainer together and conforming the inner surfaces of said body and retainer to the adjacent outer surface of said insert.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of constructing a bearing assembly as defined in claim 10 in which said body and said retainer are welded at their interface by said ultrasonic vibration to produce a bond between said body and retainer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of constructing a bearing assembly as defined in claim 10 in which said thermoplastic material is a polyester and said body and said retainer are fused at their interface to produce a chemical bond between said body and retainer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of constructing a bearing assembly as defined in claim 11 in which said bearing insert is secured in the housing cavity when said body and said retainer are welded by the fusion of the plastic material at the interface between said body and said retainer during welding by said ultrasonic vibration.
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) | 1979-01-26 | 1979-07-28 | 1980-01-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-26 | 1983-07-28 | 1984-01-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-26 | 1987-07-28 | 1988-01-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |