US4699525A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thrust bearing
Assignee: Ebara Corp
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Filing: 1986-07-10
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Granted: 1987-10-13
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Expires: 2006-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A thrust bearing adapted to be rotated reversibly in the normal and opposite directions comprises two flat disc elements disposed in face-to-face contact, one of the elements being provided with spiral grooves on its opposite side surfaces, one of which is reverse to the other with respect to the spiral directions, both elements having a dent formed centrally on their opposing surfaces, respectively, to form a small space in combination in which a core member of sphere is installed with a small clearance between the surfaces of the small space and the core member.
Inventors
- 👤 Shotaro Mizobuchi
- 👤 Yoshikazu Kimura
- 👤 Katusmi Sasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:34
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C19/00; F16C33/00; F16C33/02; F16C33/04; F16C33/06; F16C33/10; F16C33/1025; F16C33/106; F16C33/107; F16C17/00; F16C17/04; F16C17/045; F16C17/12; F16C17/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A thrust bearing comprising: a spiral element made of hard material in a disc form having flat and parallel surfaces on its opposite sides, a spiral groove pattern being formed on each of said flat surfaces so that the spiral direction of the pattern on one side is reverse to that on the other side, a dent being centrally formed at least on one of said surfaces; a sliding surface element made of hard material and formed as a disc having a flat surface with a central dent adapted to form a small space in combination with said dent of said spiral element when both flat surfaces having dents are mated; and a core member to be disposed within said small space formed by said dents, the core member being dimensioned to be loosely received within said small space so that the flat surfaces having said dents are intimately mated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A thrust bearing comprising: a spiral element made of hard material in a disc form having flat and parallel surfaces on its opposite sides, a spiral groove pattern being formed on each of said flat surfaces so that the spiral direction of the pattern on one side is reverse to that on the other side, a dent being centrally formed at least on one of said surfaces; a sliding surface element made of hard material and formed as a disc having a flat surface with a central dent adapted to form a small space in combination with said dent of said spiral element when both flat surfaces having dents are mated; and a core member to be disposed within said small space formed by said dents, the core member being dimensioned to be loosely received within said small space so that the flat surfaces having said dents are intimately mated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A thrust bearing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hard material is ceramics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A thrust bearing as claimed in claim 2 wherein said ceramics is silicon carbide or silicon nitride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A thrust bearing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said core member is a sphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A thrust bearing as claimed in claim 4 wherein said dents are formed in a semi-spherical shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A thrust bearing as claimed in claim 4 wherein said dents are formed in a conical shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thrust bearing as claimed in claim 4 wherein said dents are formed as a cylindrical blind hole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
183 words
A thrust bearing comprising: a plurality of spiral elements, each of said spiral elements made of hard material in a disc form having a flat and parallel surface and a central dent on opposite sides thereof, a spiral groove pattern being formed in each of said flat surfaces so that the spiral direction of the pattern on one of the surfaces is reverse to that on the other surface; a plurality of sliding surface elements each of which is made of hard material and provided with a flat and parallel surface and a central dent on opposite sides thereof, said sliding surface elements and said spiral elements being alternately stacked upon each other in the axial direction such that a small space is formed at each interface between the different elements by said dents on said different elements having their respective flat surfaces mated with each other; and a sphere so disposed within each of said small spaces that a clearance is left between the surface of said small space and the sphere while relative radial displacement between the opposing elements is prevented.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
183 words
A thrust bearing comprising: a plurality of spiral elements, each of said spiral elements made of hard material in a disc form having a flat and parallel surface and a central dent on opposite sides thereof, a spiral groove pattern being formed in each of said flat surfaces so that the spiral direction of the pattern on one of the surfaces is reverse to that on the other surface; a plurality of sliding surface elements each of which is made of hard material and provided with a flat and parallel surface and a central dent on opposite sides thereof, said sliding surface elements and said spiral elements being alternately stacked upon each other in the axial direction such that a small space is formed at each interface between the different elements by said dents on said different elements having their respective flat surfaces mated with each other; and a sphere so disposed within each of said small spaces that a clearance is left between the surface of said small space and the sphere while relative radial displacement between the opposing elements is prevented.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thrust bearing as claimed in claim 8 wherein said sphere is eliminated at one of said small spaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thrust bearing as claimed in claim 8 wherein the axially opposite end surfaces of said stacked elements are left flat without dents.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A thrust bearing as claimed in claim 8 wherein said hard material is ceramics.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A thrust bearing as claimed in claim 11 wherein said ceramics is silicon carbide or silicon nitride.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-10-12 | 1991-04-13 | 1991-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-10-12 | 1995-04-13 | 1995-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-10-12 | 1999-04-13 | 1999-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |