Compliantly mountable turbine cartridge assembly for gas-driven dental handpiece

Claim 2

A dental handpiece comprising a gas-driven motor, said motor including a housing and a turbine cartridge assembly within said housing, said housing defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall and by a pair of oppositely disposed end walls transverse to said side wall, said housing having turbine cartridge assembly support means located on portions of said walls for supporting said turbine cartridge assembly, said turbine cartridge assembly removably positionable as a unitary assembly within said housing, said turbine cartridge assembly comprising: a rotor shaft having a plurality of vanes thereon, said rotor shaft having an axis of rotation substantially coincident with the axis of said substantially cylindrical side wall of said housing; a first bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race; a second bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race of said second bearing assembly; radial support means associated with each of said first and second bearing assemblies, said radial support means providing radial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon said substantially cylindrical side wall of said housing; rigid axial support means connected to said outer race of said first bearing assembly for axially supporting said first bearing assembly outer race upon said turbine cartridge support means of said housing; bearing pre-load means comprising flexible axial support means associated with said outer race of said second bearing assembly for yieldingly supporting said outer race upon said turbine cartridge support means of said housing; first retaining means for retaining said radial support means upon said outer race of said first bearing assembly, said first retaining means preventing movement of said radial support means in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes; and second retaining means for retaining said radial support means and said flexible axial support means upon said outer race of said second bearing assembly, said second retaining means preventing movement of said radial support means and said flexible support means in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes; whereby said rigid axial support means and said flexible axial support means coact with turbine cartridge support means of said housing to provide axial pre-loading of said first and second bearing assemblies when said turbine cartridge assembly is operatively positioned within said housing.

Claim 3

The dental handpiece of claim 1 wherein said radial support means comprises an outer wall on each of said bearing assembly outer races, said outer wall facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; and a ring of resilient material frictionally engaged about a circumferential portion of said outer race outer wall of each of said bearing assemblies, said ring having an outer diameter sufficient to provide a compression fit between said outer race outer wall and a portion of said housing side wall when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within said housing.

Claim 4

The dental handpiece of claim 2 wherein said ring of resilient material is an O-ring fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene elastomer, fluorocarbon elastomer, ethylene propylene elastomer and butadiene/acrylonitrile elastomer.

Claim 5

The dental handpiece of claim 1 wherein said rigid axial support means comprises a flange connected to said outer race of said first bearing assembly, said flange having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to provide axial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon a portion of said housing end wall adjacent said first bearing assembly.

Claim 6

The dental handpiece of claim 1 wherein said rigid axial support means comprises: a flange connected to said outer race of said first bearing assembly, said flange extending radially outwardly from said outer race; and a substantially flat washer interposed between said flange on said first bearing assembly outer race and said turbine cartridge support means of said housing, said flat washer having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of said radially extending flange, and having an outer diameter of sufficient dimension so that said flat washer supports said outer race upon turbine cartridge assembly support means located on an end wall portion of said housing adjacent said first bearing assembly.

Claim 7

The dental handpiece of claim 1 wherein said rigid axial support means comprises an outer wall on said first bearing assembly outer race, said outer wall facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; a groove running circumferentially about said outer race outer wall, said groove lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotor shaft; a spring-like snap ring retained within said groove, said snap ring forming a shoulder extending radially outwardly of said outer race outer wall, said shoulder having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to provide rigid axial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon one of said end walls of said housing.

Claim 8

The dental handpiece of claim 1 wherein said flexible axial support means comprises a flange connected to said outer race of said second bearing assembly, said flange extending radially outwardly from said outer race, and a resilient spacer member interposed between said flange on said second bearing assembly outer race and a portion of said housing end wall adjacent said second bearing assembly, said spacer member having spring-like resilience adapted to transmit a controlled compression force between said second bearing assembly outer race and said housing end wall.

Claim 9

The dental handpiece of claim 7 wherein said resilient spacer member is a ring-like spring washer.

Claim 10

The dental handpiece of claim 8 wherein said ring-like spring washer has a spring constant sufficient to provide a pre-load to each of said bearing assemblies in the range of about 0.5 to about 1.5 pounds when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within said housing.

Claim 11

The dental handpiece of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second retaining means comprises: an outer wall on each of said bearing assembly outer races, each of said outer walls facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; a groove running circumferentially about each of said outer race outer walls, each of said grooves lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotor shaft; a spring-like snap ring retained within each of said groove by the spring bias of each of said snap rings, each of said snap rings forming an annular-shaped collar extending radially outwardly of each of said outer race outer walls, each of said collars having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to retard movement of said radial support means or said flexible support means, or both, in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes.

Claim 12

The dental handpiece of claim 1 further including a bore within said rotor shaft, said bore having an axis substantially coincident with the axis of said rotor shaft, said rotor shaft having a threaded portion along a wall portion of said bore, and a collet having adjustable jaws for gripping a work tool, said collet having a threaded portion on an outer wall portion thereof for threadably engaging said threaded portion of said rotor shaft.

Claim 13

A turbine cartridge assembly removably positionable within a housing of a gas-driven motor of a dental handpiece wherein the housing is defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall and by a pair of oppositely disposed end walls transverse to said side wall, and includes turbine cartridge assembly support means located on portions of the end walls of the housing; said turbine cartridge assembly comprising: a rotor shaft having a plurality of vanes thereon, said rotor shaft defining an axis of rotation; a first bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race; a second bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race of said second bearing assembly; radial support means associated with each of said first and second bearing assemblies, said radial support means providing radial support for said turbine cartridge assembly when in contact with the substantially cylindrical side wall of the housing, when said turbine cartridge assembly is operatively positioned within the housing of the handpiece; means for yieldingly coacting with the turbine cartridge assembly support means of the housing of the handpiece for axially pre-loading said first and said second bearing assemblies when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within the housing, said means for yieldingly coacting with said turbine cartridge support means comprising a ring-like spring washer retained about the outer race of at least one of said first and second bearing assemblies, said spring washer having a spring constant sufficient to provide a static pre-load to said bearing assemblies in the range of about 0.5 to about 1.5 pounds, when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within a handpiece housing with the spring washer interposed between said bearing assembly outer race and the turbine cartridge support means of the housing, said turbine cartridge assembly being adapted for placement in, and removal from, the housing as a unitary assembly.

Claim 14

A turbine cartridge assembly removably positionable within a housing of a gas-driven motor of a dental handpiece wherein the housing is defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall and by a pair of oppositely disposed end walls transverse to said side wall, and includes turbine cartridge assembly support means located on portions of the end walls of the housing; said turbine cartridge assembly comprising: a rotor shaft having a plurality of vanes thereon, said rotor shaft defining an axis of rotation; a first bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race; a second bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race of said second bearing assembly; radial support means associated with each of said first and second bearing assemblies, said radial support means providing radial support for said turbine cartridge assembly when in contact with the substantially cylindrical side wall of the housing, when said turbine cartridge assembly is operatively positioned within the housing of the handpiece; means for yieldingly coacting with the turbine cartridge assembly support means of the housing of the handpiece for axially pre-loading said first and said second bearing assemblies when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within the housing, said means for yieldingly coacting with said turbine cartridge support means comprising a ring-like spring washer retained about the outer race of at least one of said first and second bearing assemblies, said spring washer having a spring constant sufficient to provide a static pre-load to said bearing assemblies in the range of about 0.5 to about 1.5 pounds, when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within a handpiece housing with the spring washer interposed between said bearing assembly outer race and the turbine cartridge support means of the housing, said turbine cartridge assembly being adapted for placement in, and removal from, the housing as a unitary assembly.

Claim 15

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 12 wherein said radial support means comprises an outer wall on each of said bearing assembly outer races, each of said outer walls facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; and a ring of resilient material frictionally engaged about a circumferential portion of each of said outer race outer walls of each of said bearing assemblies, each of said rings having an outer diameter sufficient to provide a compression fit between each of said outer race outer walls and an adjacent portion of a handpiece housing side wall when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within the housing.

Claim 16

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 13 wherein said ring of resilient material is an O-ring fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene elastomer, fluorocarbon elastomer, ethylenepropylene elastomer and butadiene/acrylonitrile elastomer.

Claim 17

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 12 further including rigid axial support means comprising a flange connected to said outer race of said first bearing assembly, said flange having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to provide axial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon a portion of a handpiece housing end wall when said turbine cartridge assembly is removably positioned within a handpiece housing.

Claim 18

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 12 further including rigid axial support means comprising: a flange connected to said outer race of said first bearing assembly, said flange extending radially outwardly from said outer race; and a substantially flat washer between said flange of said first bearing assembly outer race and said radial support means, said flat washer having an inner diameter smaller that the outer diameter of said radially extending flange, and having an outer diameter of sufficient dimension so that said flat washer supports said outer race upon turbine cartridge assembly support means of a handpiece housing when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within the housing.

Claim 19

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 12 further including rigid axial support means comprising: an outer wall on each of said bearing assembly outer races, each of said outer walls facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; a groove running circumferentially about each of said outer race outer walls, each of said grooves lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotor shaft; a spring-like snap ring retained within each of said grooves, each of said snap rings forming a shoulder extending radially outwardly of each of said outer race outer walls, each of said shoulders having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to provide axial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon an adjacent end wall of a handpiece housing.

Claim 20

A turbine cartridge assembly removably positionable within a housing of a gas-driven motor of a dental handpiece wherein the housing is defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall and by a pair of oppositely disposed end walls transverse to said wall, and includes turbine cartridge assembly support means located on portions of said end walls of said housing; said turbine cartridge assembly comprising: a rotor shaft having a plurality of vanes thereon, said rotor shaft defining an axis of rotation; a first bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race; a second bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race of said second bearing assembly; radial support means associated with each of said first and second bearing assemblies, said radial support means providing radial support for said turbine cartridge assembly when in contact with the substantially cylindrical side wall of a handpiece housing; bearing pre-load means associated with at least one of said bearing assembly outer races for yieldingly coacting with the turbine cartridge assembly support means in the housing of the handpiece for axially pre-loading said first and said second bearing assemblies when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within the housing, said turbine cartridge assembly being adapted for placement in, and removal from, the housing as a unitary assembly; retaining means mounted on each of said bearing assembly outer races for preventing movement of said radial support means or said means for yieldingly coacting with the housing turbine cartridge assembly support means or both in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes.

Claim 21

A turbine cartridge assembly removably positionable within a housing of a gas-driven motor of a dental handpiece wherein the housing is defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall and by a pair of oppositely disposed end walls transverse to said wall, and includes turbine cartridge assembly support means located on portions of said end walls of said housing; said turbine cartridge assembly comprising: a rotor shaft having a plurality of vanes thereon, said rotor shaft defining an axis of rotation; a first bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race; a second bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race of said second bearing assembly; radial support means associated with each of said first and second bearing assemblies, said radial support means providing radial support for said turbine cartridge assembly when in contact with the substantially cylindrical side wall of a handpiece housing; bearing pre-load means associated with at least one of said bearing assembly outer races for yieldingly coacting with the turbine cartridge assembly support means in the housing of the handpiece for axially pre-loading said first and said second bearing assemblies when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within the housing, said turbine cartridge assembly being adapted for placement in, and removal from, the housing as a unitary assembly; retaining means mounted on each of said bearing assembly outer races for preventing movement of said radial support means or said means for yieldingly coacting with the housing turbine cartridge assembly support means or both in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes.

Claim 22

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 18 wherein said radial support means comprises an outer wall on each of said bearing assembly outer races, each of said outer walls facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; and a ring of resilient material frictionally engaged about a circumferential portion of each of said outer race walls of each of said first and second bearing assemblies, each of said rings having an outer diameter sufficient to provide a compression fit between each of said outer race outer walls and an adjacent portion of a handpiece housing side wall when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within the housing.

Claim 23

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 19 wherein said ring of resilient material is an O-ring fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene elastomer, fluorocarbon elastomer, ethylenepropylene elastomer and butadiene/acrylonitrile elastomer.

Claim 24

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 18 further including rigid axial support means comprising a flange connected to said outer race of said first bearing assembly, said flange having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to provide axial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon a portion of a handpiece housing end wall when said turbine cartridge assembly is removably positioned within a handpiece housing.

Claim 25

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 18 further including a rigid axial support means comprising: a flange connected to said outer race of said first bearing assembly, said flange extending radially outwardly from said outer race; and a substantially flat washer between said flange on said first bearing assembly outer race and said radial support means, said flat washer having an inner diameter smaller that the outer diameter of said radially extending flange, and having an outer diameter of sufficient dimension so that said flat washer supports said outer race upon turbine cartridge assembly support means of a handpiece housing when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within the housing.

Claim 26

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 18 further including rigid axial support means comprising: an outer wall on each of said first and second bearing assembly outer races, each of said outer walls facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; a groove running circumferentially about each of said outer race outer walls, each of said grooves lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotor shaft; a spring-like snap ring retained within each of said grooves, each of said snap rings forming a shoulder extending radially outwardly of each of said outer race outer walls, each of shoulders having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to provide axial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon an adjacent end wall of a handpiece housing when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within the housing.

Claim 27

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 18 wherein said means for yieldingly coacting with turbine cartridge support means of a handpiece housing comprises a resilient spacer member retained about said outer race of at least one of said first and second bearing assemblies, said spacer member adapted to transmit a controlled compression force between said outer race and the turbine cartridge assembly support means of the housing, so as to urge said outer race in a axial direction, toward said rotor vanes.

Claim 28

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 24 wherein said resilient spacer member is a ring-like spring washer.

Claim 29

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 25 wherein said ring-like spring washer has a spring constant sufficient to provide a static pre-load to said bearing assemblies in the range of about 0.5 to about 1.5 pounds, when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within a handpiece housing with the spring washer interposed between said bearing assembly outer race and turbine cartridge support means of the housing.

Claim 30

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 18 wherein said means for yieldingly coacting with turbine cartridge support means of a handpiece housing comprises: a first resilient spacer and member retained about said outer race of said first bearing assembly, said first spacer member adapted to transmit a controlled compression force between said outer race of said first bearing assembly and an adjacent portion of the turbine cartridge assembly support means of the housing; a second resilient spacer member retained about said outer race of said second bearing assembly said second spacer member adapted to transmit a controlled compression force between said outer race of said second bearing assembly and an adjacent portion of the turbine cartridge assembly support means of the housing; wherein said first and second spacer members cooperate with the turbine cartridge support means of the housing to provide axial pre-loading of said first and second bearing assemblies.

Claim 31

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 27 wherein each of said resilient spacer member is a ring-like spring washer.

Claim 32

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 28 wherein said ring-like spring washers have spring constants sufficient to provide a static pre-load to said bearing assemblies in the range of about 0.5 to about 1.5 pounds, when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within a handpiece housing with said spring washer interposed between said bearing assembly outer races and the turbine cartridge support means of the housing.

Claim 33

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 18 wherein said retaining means comprises: an outer wall on each of said first and second bearing assembly outer races, each of said outer walls facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; a groove running circumferentially about each of said outer race outer walls, each of said grooves lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotor shaft; a spring-like snap ring retained within each of said grooves by the spring bias of each of said snap rings, each of said snap rings forming an annular-shaped collar extending radially outwardly of each of said outer race outer walls, each of said collars having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to retard movement of said radial support means and said flexible support means in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes.

Claim 34

A dental handpiece comprising a gas-driven motor, said motor including a housing and a turbine cartridge assembly within said housing, said housing defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall and by a pair of oppositely disposed end walls transverse to said side wall, said housing having turbine cartridge assembly support means located on portions of said end walls for supporting said turbine cartridge assembly, said turbine cartridge assembly removably positionable as a unitary assembly within said housing, said turbine cartridge assembly comprising: a rotor shaft having a plurality of vanes thereon, said rotor shaft having an axis of rotation substantially coincident with the axis of said substantially cylindrical side wall of said housing; a first bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race; a second bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race of said second bearing assembly; radial support means associated with each of said first and second bearing assemblies, said radial support means comprising a resilient member interposed between each of said bearing assemblies and an adjacent portion of said housing side wall for providing radial support for said turbine cartridge assembly when in contact with said substantially cylindrical side wall of said housing; rigid axial support means connected to each of said outer races of said first and second bearing assemblies for axially supporting said outer races upon said turbine cartridge support means of said housing; and

Claim 35

A dental handpiece comprising a gas-driven motor, said motor including a housing and a turbine cartridge assembly within said housing, said housing defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall and by a pair of oppositely disposed end walls transverse to said side wall, said housing having turbine cartridge assembly support means located on portions of said end walls for supporting said turbine cartridge assembly, said turbine cartridge assembly removably positionable as a unitary assembly within said housing, said turbine cartridge assembly comprising: a rotor shaft having a plurality of vanes thereon, said rotor shaft having an axis of rotation substantially coincident with the axis of said substantially cylindrical side wall of said housing; a first bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race; a second bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race of said second bearing assembly; radial support means associated with each of said first and second bearing assemblies, said radial support means comprising a resilient member interposed between each of said bearing assemblies and an adjacent portion of said housing side wall for providing radial support for said turbine cartridge assembly when in contact with said substantially cylindrical side wall of said housing; rigid axial support means connected to each of said outer races of said first and second bearing assemblies for axially supporting said outer races upon said turbine cartridge support means of said housing; and

Claim 36

retaining means associated with each of said bearing assembly outer races for retaining said radial support means upon said turbine cartridge assembly and preventing movement of said radial support means in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes during removal, or insertion, of said turbine cartridge assembly from, or in, said motor housing.

Claim 37

retaining means associated with each of said bearing assembly outer races for retaining said radial support means upon said turbine cartridge assembly and preventing movement of said radial support means in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes during removal, or insertion, of said turbine cartridge assembly from, or in, said motor housing.

Claim 38

The dental handpiece of claim 31 wherein said radial support means comprises an outer wall on each of said first and second bearing assembly outer races, each of said outer walls facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; and each of said resilient members comprise a ring of resilient material frictionally engaged about a circumferential portion of each of said outer race outer walls of each of said first and second bearing assemblies, each of said rings having an outer diameter sufficient to provide a compression fit between each of said outer race outer walls and an adjacent portion of said housing side wall when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within said housing.

Claim 39

The dental handpiece of claim 32 wherein said ring of resilient material is an O-ring fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene elastomer, fluorocarbon elastomer, ethylenepropylene elastomer and butadiene/acrylonitrile elastomer.

Claim 40

The dental handpiece of claim 31 wherein said rigid axial support means comprises a flange connected to each of said outer races of said first and second bearing assemblies, each of said flanges having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to provide axial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon a portion of said housing end wall.

Claim 41

The dental handpiece of claim 31 wherein said rigid axial support means comprises: a flange connected to each of said outer races of said first and second bearing assemblies, each of said flanges extending radially outwardly from each of said outer races; and a substantially flat washer interposed between each of said flanges on each of said bearing assembly outer races and an adjacent portion of said turbine cartridge support means of said housing, each of said flat washers having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of said radially extending flange adjacent to said washer, and having an outer diameter of sufficient dimension so that said flat washers support each of said outer races upon turbine cartridge assembly support means located on wall portions of the housing.

Claim 42

The dental handpiece of claim 31 wherein said rigid axial support means comprises an outer wall on each of said bearing assembly outer races, each of said outer walls facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; a groove running circumferentially about each of said outer race outer walls, each of said grooves lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotor shaft; a spring-like snap ring retained within each of said grooves, each of said snap rings forming a shoulder extending radially outwardly of each of said outer race outer walls, each of said shoulder having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to provide axial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon one of said end walls of said housing.

Claim 43

The dental handpiece of claim 31 wherein each of said retaining means comprises: an outer wall of each of said bearing assembly outer races, each of said outer walls facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; a groove running circumferentially about each of said outer race outer walls, each of said grooves lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotor shaft; a spring-like snap ring retained within each of said grooves by the spring bias of each of said snap rings, each of said snap ring forming an annular-shaped collar extending radially outwardly of each of said outer race outer walls, each of said collars having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to retard movement of said radial support means or said flexible support means, or both, in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes.

Claim 44

A turbine cartridge assembly removably positionable within a housing of a gas-driven motor of a dental handpiece wherein the housing is defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall and by a pair of oppositely disposed end walls transverse to said said wall, and includes turbine cartridge assembly support means located on portions of said end walls of said housing; said turbine cartridge assembly comprising: a rotor shaft having a plurality of vanes thereon, said rotor shaft defining an axis of rotation; a first bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race; a second bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race of said second bearing assembly; radial support means associated with each of said first and second bearing assemblies, said radial support means providing radial support for said turbine cartridge assembly when in contact with the substantially cylindrical side wall of a handpiece housing; retaining means mounted on each of said bearing assembly outer races for preventing movement of said radial support means in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes during removal, or insertion, of said turbine cartridge assembly from, or in, said motor housing.

Claim 45

A turbine cartridge assembly removably positionable within a housing of a gas-driven motor of a dental handpiece wherein the housing is defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall and by a pair of oppositely disposed end walls transverse to said said wall, and includes turbine cartridge assembly support means located on portions of said end walls of said housing; said turbine cartridge assembly comprising: a rotor shaft having a plurality of vanes thereon, said rotor shaft defining an axis of rotation; a first bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race; a second bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race of said second bearing assembly; radial support means associated with each of said first and second bearing assemblies, said radial support means providing radial support for said turbine cartridge assembly when in contact with the substantially cylindrical side wall of a handpiece housing; retaining means mounted on each of said bearing assembly outer races for preventing movement of said radial support means in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes during removal, or insertion, of said turbine cartridge assembly from, or in, said motor housing.

Claim 46

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 38 wherein said radial support means comprises an outer wall on each of said bearing assembly outer races, each of said outer walls facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; and a ring of resilient material frictionally engaged about a circumferential portion of each of said outer race outer walls of each of said first and second bearing assemblies, each of said rings having an outer diameter sufficient to provide a compression fit between each of said outer race outer walls and an adjacent portion of a handpiece housing side wall when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within the housing.

Claim 47

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 39 wherein said ring of resilient material is an O-ring fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene elastomer, fluorocarbon elastomer, ethylenepropylene elastomer and butadiene/acrylonitrile elastomer.

Claim 48

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 38 further including rigid axial support means comprising a flange connected to each of said outer races of said first and second bearing assemblies, each of said flanges having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to provide axial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon portions of handpiece housing end walls when said turbine cartridge assembly is removably positioned within a handpiece housing.

Claim 49

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 38 further including rigid axial support means comprising: a flange connected to each of said outer race of said first and second bearing assemblies, each of said flanges extending radially outwardly from each of said outer races; and a substantially flat washer between each of said flanges of said first and second bearing assembly outer races and said associated radial support means, each of said flat washers having an inner diameter smaller that the outer diameter of said radially extending flange, and having an outer diameter of sufficient dimension so that each of said flat washers supports said outer race adjacent said flat washer upon turbine cartridge assembly support means of a handpiece housing when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within the housing.

Claim 50

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 38 further including rigid axial support means comprising: an outer wall on each of said bearing assembly outer races, each of said outer wall facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; a groove running circumferentially about each of said outer race outer walls, each of said grooves lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotor shaft; a spring-like snap ring retained within each of said groove by the spring bias of each of said snap rings, each of said snap rings forming a shoulder extending radially outwardly of each of said outer race outer walls, said shoulders having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to provide axial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon an adjacent end wall of a handpiece housing.

Claim 51

The turbine cartridge assembly of claim 38 wherein said retaining means comprises: an outer wall on each of said bearing assembly outer races, each of said outer walls facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft; a groove running circumferentially about each of said outer race outer walls, each of said grooves lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotor shaft; a spring-like snap ring retained within each of said grooves by the spring bias of each of said snap rings, each of said snap rings forming an annular-shaped collar extending radially outwardly of each of said outer race outer walls, each of said collars having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to retain said radial support means upon said turbine cartridge assembly.

Claim 52

A dental handpiece comprising a gas-driven motor, said motor including a housing and a turbine cartridge assembly within said housing, said housing defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall and by a pair of oppositely disposed end walls transverse to said side wall, said housing having turbine cartridge assembly support means located on portions of said end walls for supporting said turbine cartridge assembly, said turbine cartridge assembly removably positionable as a unitary assembly within said housing, said turbine cartridge assembly comprising: a rotor shaft having a plurality of vanes thereon, said rotor shaft having an axis of rotation substantially coincident with the axis of said substantially cylindrical side wall of said housing; a first bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race having an outer wall facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race; a second bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race having an outer wall facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race of said second bearing assembly; a flange connected to each of said outer race outer walls, said flange extending radially outwardly from said outer race; a substantially flat washer interposed between said flange on said first bearing assembly outer race and said turbine cartridge support means of said housing, said flat washer having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of said radially extending flange, and having an outer diameter of sufficient dimension so that said flat washer supports said outer race upon said turbine cartridge assembly support means of said housing; a ring of resilient material frictionally engaged about a circumferential portion of said outer race outer wall of each of said bearing assemblies to provide radial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon said motor housing side wall, said ring having an outer diameter sufficient to provide a compression fit between said outer race outer wall and a portion of said housing side wall; a groove running circumferentially about said outer race outer wall of each of said bearing assemblies, said groove lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotor shaft; a spring-like snap ring retained within each of said grooves by the spring bias of said snap ring, said snap ring forming an annular-shaped collar extending radially outwardly of said outer race outer wall, each of said collars having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to retain said flat washer and said ring of resilient material upon each of said turbine cartridge assembly outer race outer walls in cooperation, respectively, with said flange of each of said bearing assembly outer race outer walls; and a resilient spacer ring interposed between said flange and said flat washer of said second bearing assembly outer race, said spacer ring having a spring-like resilience adapted to transmit a controlled compression force between said outer race and a portion of said housing end wall adjacent said second bearing assembly so as to provide axial pre-loading of said first and second bearing assemblies within said motor housing.

Claim 53

A dental handpiece comprising a gas-driven motor, said motor including a housing and a turbine cartridge assembly within said housing, said housing defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall and by a pair of oppositely disposed end walls transverse to said side wall, said housing having turbine cartridge assembly support means located on portions of said end walls for supporting said turbine cartridge assembly, said turbine cartridge assembly removably positionable as a unitary assembly within said housing, said turbine cartridge assembly comprising: a rotor shaft having a plurality of vanes thereon, said rotor shaft having an axis of rotation substantially coincident with the axis of said substantially cylindrical side wall of said housing; a first bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race having an outer wall facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race; a second bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race having an outer wall facing radially outwardly of the axis of said rotor shaft, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race of said second bearing assembly; a flange connected to each of said outer race outer walls, said flange extending radially outwardly from said outer race; a substantially flat washer interposed between said flange on said first bearing assembly outer race and said turbine cartridge support means of said housing, said flat washer having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of said radially extending flange, and having an outer diameter of sufficient dimension so that said flat washer supports said outer race upon said turbine cartridge assembly support means of said housing; a ring of resilient material frictionally engaged about a circumferential portion of said outer race outer wall of each of said bearing assemblies to provide radial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon said motor housing side wall, said ring having an outer diameter sufficient to provide a compression fit between said outer race outer wall and a portion of said housing side wall; a groove running circumferentially about said outer race outer wall of each of said bearing assemblies, said groove lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotor shaft; a spring-like snap ring retained within each of said grooves by the spring bias of said snap ring, said snap ring forming an annular-shaped collar extending radially outwardly of said outer race outer wall, each of said collars having an outer diameter in the radial direction sufficient to retain said flat washer and said ring of resilient material upon each of said turbine cartridge assembly outer race outer walls in cooperation, respectively, with said flange of each of said bearing assembly outer race outer walls; and a resilient spacer ring interposed between said flange and said flat washer of said second bearing assembly outer race, said spacer ring having a spring-like resilience adapted to transmit a controlled compression force between said outer race and a portion of said housing end wall adjacent said second bearing assembly so as to provide axial pre-loading of said first and second bearing assemblies within said motor housing.

Claim 54

The dental handpiece of claim 45 wherein said ring of resilient material is an O-ring fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene elastomer, fluorocarbon elastomer, ethylenepropylene elastomer and butadiene/acrylonitrile elastomer.

Claim 55

The dental handpiece of claim 45 wherein said resilient spacer ring is a spring washer.

Claim 56

The dental handpiece of claim 47 wherein said spring washer has a spring constant sufficient to provide a static pre-load to said bearing assemblies in the range of about 0.5 to about 1.5 pounds, when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within said housing.

Claim 57

The dental handpiece of claim 45 further comprising a resilient spacer ring interposed between said flange and said flat washer of said first bearing assembly outer race, said spacer ring having a spring-like resilience adapted to transmit a controlled compression force between said first bearing assembly outer race and a portion of said housing end wall adjacent said first bearing assembly so as to provide axial pre-loading of said first and second bearing assemblies within said motor housing in cooperation with said resilient spacer ring of said second bearing assembly.

Claim 58

The dental handpiece of claim 49 wherein each of said spacer rings of said first and second beaing assemblies is a spring washer.

Claim 59

The dental handpiece of claim 50 wherein said spring washers have spring constants sufficient to provide static pre-loading to said first and second bearing assemblies in the range of about 0.5 to about 1.5 pounds, when said turbine cartridge assembly is operably positioned within said housing.

Claim 60

A dental handpiece comprising a gas-driven motor, said motor including a housing and a turbine cartridge assembly within said housing, said housing defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall and by a pair of oppositely disposed end walls transverse to said side wall, said housing having turbine cartridge assembly support means located on portions of said walls for supporting said turbine cartridge assembly, said turbine cartridge assembly removably positionable as a unitary assembly within said housing, said turbine cartridge assembly comprising: a rotor shaft having a plurality of vanes thereon, said rotor shaft having an axis of rotation substantially coincident with the axis of said substantially cylindrical side wall of said housing; a first bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race; a second bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race of said second bearing assembly; radial support means associated with each of said first and second bearing assemblies, said radial support means providing radial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon said substantially cylindrical side wall of said housing; bearing pre-load means comprising flexible axial support means associated with each of said outer races of said first and second bearing assemblies for yieldingly supporting said outer races upon said turbine cartridge support means of said housing; first retaining means for retaining said radial support means and said flexible axial support means upon said outer race of said first bearing assembly, said first retaining means preventing movement of said radial support means in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes; and second retaining means for retaining said radial support means and said flexible axial support means upon said outer race of said second bearing assembly, said second retaining means preventing movement of said radial support means and said flexible support means in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes; whereby said flexible axial support means coact with turbine cartridge support means of said housing to provide axial pre-loading of said first and second bearing assemblies when said turbine cartridge assembly is operatively positioned within said housing.

Claim 61

A dental handpiece comprising a gas-driven motor, said motor including a housing and a turbine cartridge assembly within said housing, said housing defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall and by a pair of oppositely disposed end walls transverse to said side wall, said housing having turbine cartridge assembly support means located on portions of said walls for supporting said turbine cartridge assembly, said turbine cartridge assembly removably positionable as a unitary assembly within said housing, said turbine cartridge assembly comprising: a rotor shaft having a plurality of vanes thereon, said rotor shaft having an axis of rotation substantially coincident with the axis of said substantially cylindrical side wall of said housing; a first bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race; a second bearing assembly comprising an inner race fixed to said rotor shaft, an outer race, and a plurality of movable bearing elements frictionally engaged with and confined between said inner race and said outer race of said second bearing assembly; radial support means associated with each of said first and second bearing assemblies, said radial support means providing radial support for said turbine cartridge assembly upon said substantially cylindrical side wall of said housing; bearing pre-load means comprising flexible axial support means associated with each of said outer races of said first and second bearing assemblies for yieldingly supporting said outer races upon said turbine cartridge support means of said housing; first retaining means for retaining said radial support means and said flexible axial support means upon said outer race of said first bearing assembly, said first retaining means preventing movement of said radial support means in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes; and second retaining means for retaining said radial support means and said flexible axial support means upon said outer race of said second bearing assembly, said second retaining means preventing movement of said radial support means and said flexible support means in an axial direction away from said rotor shaft vanes; whereby said flexible axial support means coact with turbine cartridge support means of said housing to provide axial pre-loading of said first and second bearing assemblies when said turbine cartridge assembly is operatively positioned within said housing.