Bearing system for a rotating shaft
First Claim
1. A bearing system for a rotating shaft having an axial pitch, comprising(a) a bearing comprising (i) an opening having at least one bearing surface, and (ii) a flange projecting radially from a hub, (b) a bearing bracket comprising a receptacle for mounting the bearing on the bracket, the receptacle being dimensioned to support the bearing with a clearance between the hub of the bearing and the receptacle, and (c) a rotation lock cooperating between the bearing and the receptacle to restrain the bearing against substantial rotation relative to the bracket, whereby when the shaft is disposed through the bearing and the shaft rotates against the bearing surface, the clearance between the hub of the bearing and the bearing receptacle enables the bearing to shift to accommodate deviations in the axial pitch of the shaft.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A floating bearing system comprising a bearing supported in a clearance fit within a bearing bracket, for example for use in fractional horsepower shaded pole type electric motors. The bearing system is self aligning, to compensate for deviations in the axial alignment of the rotor shaft. A rotation lock restrains the bearing against rotation within the bearing receptacle while allowing the bearing to settle into proper alignment with the rotor shaft by automatically shifting the pitch of the axis of the bearing. In the preferred embodiment the bracket is composed of an engineering plastic and the bearing is composed of a high performance plastic polymer, so that the bearing system is non-lubricating. In the preferred embodiment the bearing bracket is provided with retaining fingers which hold the bearing in place during the assembly and working life of the motor.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A bearing system for a rotating shaft having an axial pitch, comprising
(a) a bearing comprising (i) an opening having at least one bearing surface, and (ii) a flange projecting radially from a hub, (b) a bearing bracket comprising a receptacle for mounting the bearing on the bracket, the receptacle being dimensioned to support the bearing with a clearance between the hub of the bearing and the receptacle, and (c) a rotation lock cooperating between the bearing and the receptacle to restrain the bearing against substantial rotation relative to the bracket, whereby when the shaft is disposed through the bearing and the shaft rotates against the bearing surface, the clearance between the hub of the bearing and the bearing receptacle enables the bearing to shift to accommodate deviations in the axial pitch of the shaft.
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13. A fractional horsepower motor, comprising
a rotor rotationally disposed in a stator, stator windings disposed about the stator for driving the rotor, and a rotating shaft, having an axial pitch, rotationally fixed to the rotor, and a bearing system comprising a bearing having an opening with at least one bearing surface, and a flange projecting radially from a hub, disposed in a bearing receptacle supported by a bearing bracket, the receptacle being dimensioned to support the bearing with a clearance between the hub of the bearing and the receptacle, and a rotation lock cooperating between the bearing and the receptacle to restrain the bearing against substantial rotation relative to the bracket, whereby when the shaft is disposed through the bearing and the shaft rotates against the bearing surface, the clearance between the hub of the bearing and the bearing receptacle enables the bearing to shift to accommodate deviations in the axial pitch of the shaft.
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22. In combination, a bearing and a bearing bracket,
the bearing being composed of plastic and comprising a flange projecting radially from a hub, the bearing further comprising an opening having at least one bearing surface and a first component of a rotation lock, and the bearing bracket comprising a receptacle for mounting the bearing on the bracket, dimensioned to support the bearing with a clearance between the hub of the bearing and the receptacle, the bearing bracket further comprising a second component of a rotation lock such that the first component cooperates with the second component to restrain the bearing against substantial rotation relative to the bracket, whereby when a shaft having an axial pitch is disposed through the bearing and rotates against the bearing surface, the clearance between the hub of the bearing and the bearing receptacle enables the bearing to shift to accommodate deviations in the axial pitch of the shaft.
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23. A bearing system for a rotating shaft having an axial pitch, comprising
(a) a bearing comprising (i) an opening having a bearing surface, and (ii) a flange projecting radially from a hub, (b) a bearing bracket comprising a receptacle for mounting the bearing on the bracket, the hub of the bearing being aligned with the receptacle, the bearing bracket further comprising a bearing retainer having at least one retaining finger projecting from the bearing bracket about the receptacle for retaining the bearing in the recptacle, said retaining finger comprising an arm supported by a spring loop; - and
(c) means for enabling the bearing to shift within the receptacle to accommodate deviations in the axial pitch of the shaft when the shaft is disposed through the opening in the bearing. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification