Thinkom Solutions, Inc.

Atec Corporation

Anh Tran

Jason Woolman

Dan Roman

A large thrust ball bearing, retainer, and raceways, using a surface treatment such as hard anodize, lowers the friction and wear. The retainer, molded in synthetic resin with self-lubricated material reinforced with carbon fiber such as MoS, and PTPE, eliminates the thermal viscosity. Multi-segment retainers, each with an inner race-guided configuration, an alternative ball pocket cross-section design with a slotted configuration, reduce the thermal effects, improve the producibility of the retainer, and reduce the manufacturing cost. The pocket design with an oval cross-section instead of a circular cross-section also reduces the localized thermal-induced effect which would otherwise result in a pinching condition between the ball and the retainer. The alternative slotted retainer pocket design increases the compliance between ball/pocket interfaces, which helps to reduce the dynamic effects. The ends of the retainer segments are designed to reduce the interactive transferring, circumferential force between two adjacent segments.

Synthetic resin retainer for large thrust ball bearings with dry-lubricant and wet-lubricant management systems

A bearing for providing rotation of at least one intermediate part relative to a first part and a second part includes a first bearing race formed in the first part, the first bearing race having a raceway corresponding to a first diameter, and a second bearing race and a third bearing race formed in the at least one intermediate part, the second bearing race and third bearing race having a raceway corresponding to a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is different from the second diameter. Further, a fourth bearing race is formed in the second part, the fourth bearing race having a raceway corresponding to the first diameter. A first plurality of roller elements are arranged between the first raceway and the second raceway, and a second plurality of roller elements are arranged between the third raceway and the fourth raceway.

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Cypress, CA, United States of America

Anh Tran