Self-centering bearing

Claim 2

A self-centering bearing assembly, comprising: bearing support means; a floating bearing supported by the bearing support means, said bearing including a pair of races and means restraining relative axial movement of the races with respect to one another; and cooperating shoulders on the bearing support means and one of the bearing races limiting the radial movement of the bearing and limiting the rotary movement of said one bearing race with respect to the bearing support means, said shoulders being the sole means limiting the radial movement of the bearing.

Claim 3

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the bearing support means includes a sleeve extending at least partially through the bearing.

Claim 4

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the bearing support means includes an annular flange positioned adjacent said one bearing race, said shoulders on the bearing support means being on said flange.

Claim 5

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said races are annular in configuration and are arrayed in axially spaced relation with respect to one another.

Claim 6

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said shoulders are provided by means on one of the adjacent surfaces of said one bearing race and said flange for engaging the other of the adjacent surfaces of said one bearing race and said flange.

Claim 7

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said shoulders are provided by cooperating pins and slots on and in the adjacent surfaces of said one bearing race and said flange.

Claim 8

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein there are two of said pins and two of said slots.

Claim 9

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said pins are diametrically opposed.

Claim 10

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said pins project axially from said flange.

Claim 11

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said means restraining axial movement of the bearing races comprises a closure cup encircling the bearing races having one end thereof secured to the race remote from said flange and having the opposite end thereof overlapping said flange.

Claim 12

A bearing assembly as in claim 3 wherein said races are annular in configuration and are arrayed in a substantially concentric relation with respect to one another.

Claim 13

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said shoulders are provided by means on one of the adjacent surface of said one bearing race and said flange for engaging the other of the adjacent surfaces of said one bearing race and said flange.

Claim 14

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said shoulders are provided by cooperating pins and slots on and in the adjacent surfaces of said one bearing race and said flange.

Claim 15

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein there are two of said pins and two of said slots.

Claim 16

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein said pins are diametrically opposed.

Claim 17

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein said pins project axially from said flange.

Claim 18

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said means restraining axial movement of the bearing races comprises a closure cup encircling the bearing races having one end thereof secured to the race remote from said flange and having the opposite end thereof overlapping said flange.

Claim 19

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein a cavity is formed in the bearing support means to receive the bearing.

Claim 20

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein the bearing support means includes a ring positioned adjacent said one bearing race, said shoulders on the bearing support means being on said ring.

Claim 21

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 19 wherein said races are annular in configuration and are arrayed in axially spaced relation with respect to one another.

Claim 22

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 20 wherein said shoulders are provided by means on one of the adjacent surfaces of said bearing race and said ring for engaging the other of the adjacent surfaces of said bearing race and said flange.

Claim 23

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 21 wherein said shoulders are provided by cooperating pins and slots on and in the adjacent surfaces of said one bearing race and said flange.

Claim 24

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 22 wherein there are two of said pins and two of said slots.

Claim 25

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 23 wherein said pins are diametrically opposed.

Claim 26

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 23 wherein said pins project axially from said ring.

Claim 27

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 20 wherein said means restraining axial movement of the bearing races comprises a closure cup encircling the bearing races having one end thereof secured to the bearing support means and having the opposite end thereof extending radially inwardly at the mouth of said cavity to overlap the bearing.

Claim 28

A bearing assembly as in claim 19 wherein said races are annular in configuration and are arrayed in a substantially concentric relation with respect to one another.

Claim 29

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 27 wherein said shoulders are provided by means on one of the adjacent surface of said one bearing race and said ring for engaging the other of the adjacent surfaces of said one bearing race and said flange.

Claim 30

A bearing race as defined in claim 28 wherein said shoulders are provided by cooperating pins and slots on and in the adjacent surfaces of said one bearing race and said ring.

Claim 31

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 29 wherein there are two of said pins and two of said slots.

Claim 32

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 30 wherein said pins are diametrically opposed.

Claim 33

A bearing as defined in claim 30 wherein said pins project axially from said ring.

Claim 34

A bearing assembly as defined in claim 27 wherein said means restraining axial movement of the bearing races comprises a closure cup and circling the bearing races having one end thereof secured to the bearing support means and having the opposite end thereof extending radially inwardly at the mouth of said cavity to overlap the bearing.

Claim 35

A self-centering bearing assembly, comprising: a supporting sleeve; a ring fixedly secured around the sleeve having an annular flange portion; a first annular bearing race around the sleeve having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the sleeve in substantially free sliding engagement with one face of said flange for substantially free radial movement and having a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the face thereof facing said flange; a second annular bearing race surrounding said sleeve having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of said sleeve and positioned in axial alignment with the first bearing race; a plurality of ball bearings between said races; a closure cup surrounding said races having one end secured to the second bearing race and its opposite end turned radially inward in close proximity to the face of said flange remote from the first bearing race; and a pair of pins projecting from the face of said flange adjacent the first bearing race extending into said slots to limit the radial movement and rotary movement of the first bearing race.

Claim 36

A self-centering bearing assembly, comprising: a supporting sleeve; a ring fixedly secured around the sleeve having an annular flange portion; a first annular bearing race around the sleeve having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the sleeve in substantially free sliding engagement with one face of said flange for substantially free radial movement and having a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the face thereof facing said flange; a second annular bearing race surrounding said sleeve having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of said sleeve and positioned in axial alignment with the first bearing race; a plurality of ball bearings between said races; a closure cup surrounding said races having one end secured to the second bearing race and its opposite end turned radially inward in close proximity to the face of said flange remote from the first bearing race; and a pair of pins projecting from the face of said flange adjacent the first bearing race extending into said slots to limit the radial movement and rotary movement of the first bearing race.

Claim 37

A self-centering bearing assembly, comprising: a supporting sleeve; a ring fixedly secured around the sleeve having an annular flange portion; first annular bearing race around the sleeve having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the sleeve in substantially free sliding engagement with one face of said flange for substantially free radial movement and having a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the face thereof facing said flange; a second annular bearing race surrounding said sleeve having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of said first annular bearing race and positioned in concentric alignment with the first bearing race; a plurality of ball bearings between said races; a closure cup surrounding said races having one end secured to the second bearing race and its opposite end turned radially inward in close proximity to the face of said flange remote from the first bearing race; and a pair of pins projecting from the face of said flange adjacent the first bearing race extending into said slots to limit the radial movement and rotary movement of the first bearing race.

Claim 38

A self-centering bearing assembly, comprising: a supporting sleeve; a ring fixedly secured around the sleeve having an annular flange portion; first annular bearing race around the sleeve having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the sleeve in substantially free sliding engagement with one face of said flange for substantially free radial movement and having a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the face thereof facing said flange; a second annular bearing race surrounding said sleeve having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of said first annular bearing race and positioned in concentric alignment with the first bearing race; a plurality of ball bearings between said races; a closure cup surrounding said races having one end secured to the second bearing race and its opposite end turned radially inward in close proximity to the face of said flange remote from the first bearing race; and a pair of pins projecting from the face of said flange adjacent the first bearing race extending into said slots to limit the radial movement and rotary movement of the first bearing race.

Claim 39

A self-centering bearing assembly, comprising: supporting means having a cavity formed therein; a ring fixedly secured within said cavity; a first annular bearing race within said cavity having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said cavity in substantially free sliding engagement with one face of said ring for substantially radial movement and having a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the face thereof facing said ring; a second annular bearing race having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said cavity and positioned in axial alignment with the first bearing race, the second annular bearing race positioned at the mouth of said cavity to enclose the first annular bearing race and said ring within said cavity; a plurality of ball bearings between said races; a closure cup surrounding said races having one end secured to said supporting means and its opposite end turned radially inward in close proximity to the face of said second bearing race facing outwardly of said cavity; and a pair of pins projecting from the face of said ring adjacent the first bearing race extending into said slots to limit the radial movement and rotary movement of the first bearing race.

Claim 40

A self-centering bearing assembly, comprising: supporting means having a cavity formed therein; a ring fixedly secured within said cavity; a first annular bearing race within said cavity having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said cavity in substantially free sliding engagement with one face of said ring for substantially radial movement and having a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the face thereof facing said ring; a second annular bearing race having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said cavity and positioned in axial alignment with the first bearing race, the second annular bearing race positioned at the mouth of said cavity to enclose the first annular bearing race and said ring within said cavity; a plurality of ball bearings between said races; a closure cup surrounding said races having one end secured to said supporting means and its opposite end turned radially inward in close proximity to the face of said second bearing race facing outwardly of said cavity; and a pair of pins projecting from the face of said ring adjacent the first bearing race extending into said slots to limit the radial movement and rotary movement of the first bearing race.

Claim 41

A self-centering bearing assembly, comprising: supporting means having a cavity formed therein; a ring fixedly secured within said cavity; a first annular bearing race within said cavity having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said cavity in substantially free sliding engagement with one face of said ring for substantially radial movement and having a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the face thereof facing said ring; a second annular bearing race having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first annular bearing race positioned in concentric alignment with said first bearing race, the second annular bearing race positioned at the mouth of said cavity; a plurality of ball bearings between said races; a closure cup surrounding said races and having one end secured to said bearing support means and its opposite end turned radially inward in close proximity to the outermost face of said second annular bearing race with respect to said cavity; and a pair of pins projecting from the face of said flange adjacent the first bearing race extending into said slots to limit the radial movement and rotary movement of the first bearing race.

Claim 42

A self-centering bearing assembly, comprising: supporting means having a cavity formed therein; a ring fixedly secured within said cavity; a first annular bearing race within said cavity having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said cavity in substantially free sliding engagement with one face of said ring for substantially radial movement and having a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the face thereof facing said ring; a second annular bearing race having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first annular bearing race positioned in concentric alignment with said first bearing race, the second annular bearing race positioned at the mouth of said cavity; a plurality of ball bearings between said races; a closure cup surrounding said races and having one end secured to said bearing support means and its opposite end turned radially inward in close proximity to the outermost face of said second annular bearing race with respect to said cavity; and a pair of pins projecting from the face of said flange adjacent the first bearing race extending into said slots to limit the radial movement and rotary movement of the first bearing race.