Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings having a generally annular outer race of molded and sintered metal powder, a cooperative inner race within an opening defined by the outer race and a plurality of ball bearings entrapped in a raceway formed by the inner and outer races comprising: a. forming a generally annular outer race preform of molded and sintered metal powder, said preform having substantially concentric inner and outer annular faces, the said inner annular face having radially inwardly disposed first ball bearing entrapment means, and a side face joining said inner and outer annular faces, said side face having a generally annular wedge-shaped flange substantially concentric with the inner and outer annular faces, the wall of said flange distal to said opening being straight from top to bottom and inclined radially inwardly toward said opening: b. positioning the inner race within said opening; c. positioning a plurality of ball bearings intermediate the inner and outer race; d. the ball bearings being entrapped on one side by said first entrapment means on the outer race; and e. engaging a deforming tool having a flat working face against the wedge-shaped flange deforming at least a portion of said flange radially inwardly to generate an entrapment from the deformed portion which entraps the ball bearings between the inner and outer races on the side of the preform opposite the said first entrapment means of the outer race.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
236 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings having a generally annular outer race of molded and sintered metal powder, a cooperative inner race within an opening defined by the outer race and a plurality of ball bearings entrapped in a raceway formed by the inner and outer races comprising: a. forming a generally annular outer race preform of molded and sintered metal powder, said preform having substantially concentric inner and outer annular faces, the said inner annular face having radially inwardly disposed first ball bearing entrapment means, and a side face joining said inner and outer annular faces, said side face having a generally annular wedge-shaped flange substantially concentric with the inner and outer annular faces, the wall of said flange distal to said opening being straight from top to bottom and inclined radially inwardly toward said opening: b. positioning the inner race within said opening; c. positioning a plurality of ball bearings intermediate the inner and outer race; d. the ball bearings being entrapped on one side by said first entrapment means on the outer race; and e. engaging a deforming tool having a flat working face against the wedge-shaped flange deforming at least a portion of said flange radially inwardly to generate an entrapment from the deformed portion which entraps the ball bearings between the inner and outer races on the side of the preform opposite the said first entrapment means of the outer race.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 1 in which b. said portion of said flange is deformed by advancing the working face of the deforming tool against the flange generally parallel to the axis of the opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 2 in which, b. the said working face of the deforming tool is disposed at an angle of approximately 5° to 25° to said side face.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 3 in which b. the said deforming tool is advanced a predetermined distance after engaging said flange.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the method in accordance with claim 1 and b. tempering at least the outer race preform after said deforming to achieve an ultimate tensile strength of at least approximately 74,000 psi.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 1 in which b. said preform has been sintered to a density of approximately 6.8 to 7.2 grams per cubic centimeter prior to said deforming.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 6 in which b. said preform has been sintered to a hardness of from approximately Rb 20 to Rb 40 prior to said deforming.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 1 in which b. said preform has a composition of from approximately 97% to 99.4% iron and approximately 0.60% to 1.00% carbon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 1 in which b. the said preform has been sintered to a tensile strength of approximately 44,000 psi and a yield point of approximately 28,000 psi before deforming.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 1 in which b. the said first ball bearing entrapment means is a radially inwardly disposed curvilinear portion on said inner annular face of the outer race.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 3 and b. tempering at least the outer race preform after said deforming to achieve an ultimate tensile strength of approximately at least 74,000 psi.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 11 and b. sintering the said preform to achieve a density of approximately 6.8 to 7.2 grams per cubic centimeter before deforming.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 12 and b. sintering the said preform to achieve a tensile strength of approximately 44,000 psi and a yield point of approximately 28,000 psi.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 13 in which b. the said preform has a composition of from approximately 97% to 99.4% iron and approximately 0.60% to 1.00% carbon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 1 in which b. the said side face of the outer race is provided with a groove generally concentric to the opening, c. the said wedge shaped flange being that portion of the outer race intermediate the groove and the opening.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 15 in which b. said portion of said flange is deformed by advancing the working face of the deforming tool against the flange generally parallel to the axis of the opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method form manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 16 in which b. the said working wall of the deforming tool is disposed at an angle of approximately 5° to 25° to said side face.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 17 in which b. the said deforming tool is advanced a predetermined distance after engaging said flange.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the method in accordance with claim 15 and b. tempering at least the outer race preform after said deforming to achieve an ultimate tensile strength of at least approximately 74,000 psi.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 15 in which b. said preform has been sintered to a density of approximately 6.8 to 7.2 grams per cubic centimeter prior to said deforming.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 20 in which b. said preform has been sintered to a hardness of from approximately Rb 20 to Rb 40 prior to said deforming.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 15 in which b. said preform has a composition of from approximately 97% to 99.4% iron and approximately 0.60% to 1.00% carbon.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 15 in which b. the said preform has been sintered to a tensile strength of approximately 44,000 psi and a yield point of approximately 28,000 psi before deforming.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 15 and b. deforming said portion of said flange by engaging and advancing a deforming tool having a working wall straight from side to side generally parallel to the axis of said opening said working face of said deforming tool being disposed at an angle of approximately 5° to 25° from the plane of said side face upwardly toward the axis of the said opening.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 24 and b. tempering at least the outer race preform after said deforming to achieve an ultimate tensile strength of approximately at least 74,000 psi.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 25 and b. sintering the said preform to achieve a density of approximately 6.8 to 7.2 grams per cubic centimeter before deforming.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 26 and b. sintering the said preform to achieve a tensile strength of approximately 44,000 psi and a yield point of approximately 28,000 psi.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method for manufacturing ball bearings comprising: a. the procedure in accordance with claim 27 in which b. the said preform has a composition of from approximately 97% to 99.4% iron and approximately 0.60% to 1.00% carbon.