Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation

Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc.

David Ineson

Alois Christiaens

William J Loxsom

John H Cowles, Jr

Charles Condon, Iii

Philip Smith

David L Childs

Howard France

Charles E Condon Iii

A maintenance-free bearing system having self-lubricating features, seals, grooves and slots for use in a cushion hitch assembly for a hitch pull scraper vehicle. An interconnected bearing linkage system having two or more horizontal two-axis combined journal and thrust bearings with self-lubricating liners therein, two or more vertical single-axis sleeve bearings with self-lubricating liners therein and one or more vertical thrust bearing with self-lubricating liners therein, that cooperate with one another to accommodate vertical and horizontal angular movement relative to one another. The vertical thrust bearings incorporate an outer seal assembly and/or an inner seal assembly with a tapered configuration that improves retention of the seal assembly during rotation.

Bearing system with self-lubrication features, seals, grooves and slots for maintenance-free operation

A magnetic device having a stator assembly having a magnetic flux return path comprising at least a pair of pole plates located a fixed distance apart from each other and at least one flux return strip pressed between each pair of spaced apart pole plates, and a rotor assembly having permanent magnetic material and being disposed for rotation relative to the stator assembly. Use of the flux return strip eliminates the need for a housing of ferrous material to complete the flux return path and facilitates flexible design of light-weight non-metallic housings and mounting systems or integral mounting to mating components.

Magnetic device with flux return strip

A magnetic device having a stator assembly having a magnetic flux return path comprising at least a pair of pole plates located a fixed distance apart from each other and at least one flux return strip between each pair of spaced apart pole plates, and a rotor assembly having permanent magnetic material and being disposed for rotation relative to the stator assembly. The device further includes an electrical connector. Use of the flux return strip facilitates flexible design of the electrical connector for integral mounting of the device to mating components or flexible design of light-weight non-metallic housings and mounting Systems for mounting of the device to mating components.

Magnetic device with spaced apart pole plates, flux return strip and electrical connector having integral mounting

This invention offers advantages over the prior art by providing a simple, inexpensive mechanism and method for reducing the shock load on the drive of a rotary or linear actuator when the motion of the actuator output shaft is slowed, even to the point of stopping. This is referred to as bringing the actuator to a &ldquo;soft stop.&rdquo; This invention uses a single spring wherein the spring may be a torsion, ribbon or compression spring. The mechanism generally includes a spring, a spring cup and a drive cup. When the motion of the output shaft is slowed or reaches its limit of travel, the spring begins to store energy and brings the drive cup to a soft stop.

Growing community of inventors

Oakville, CT, United States of America

David Ineson