The Torrington Company

Dean E Johnston

Richard L Alling

Chander Prakash Bhateja

Charles W Shattuck

Charles E Condon, Jr

An annular band fits over a thrust washer of a thrust bearing. At least one but preferably a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending protrusions are provided on the annular band. The protrusions are adapted to provide an interference fit between the thrust washer and the support such as a housing on which the thrust washer is mounted.

Thrust washer retaining band

The separator is a single integral annular member with an inclined annular wall interconnecting a radially inner annular flange which extends in one longitudinal direction and a radially outer annular flange extending on the opposite side of the inclined wall in the opposite longitudinal direction from the inner annular flange. The new roller thrust bearing comprises the single integral separator between two thrust races.

Thrust bearing and separator

The cageless thrust bearing with unguided cylindrical rollers comprises a pair of thrust bearing races with axially separated flat thrust raceways. Cylindrical rollers all having the same diameter are located between the separated flat thrust raceways. The spacing of the rollers is such that the rollers become radially aligned in the bearing under a rotating thrust load, without side or end guidance of the rollers.

Cageless thrust bearing with unguided rollers

The separator ring to be used with thrust bearings is an annular member with a plurality of circumferentially separated roller engaging portions. The rollers have outer ends constructed to mate with the roller end engaging portions of the annular member. The roller engaging portions on the annular member may be protrusions extending radially inwardly toward the axis of the bearing with the rollers having depressions on the outer ends for receiving the protrusions or alternatively, the roller engaging portions may be radially outwardly extending depressions with the rollers having outer surfaces which fit into the depressions.

Separator ring for retaining rollers in a thrust bearing

The new thrust washer includes an inner flange with circumferentially spaced cutouts. The washer is formed from flat strip steel. A circular hole and a plurality of cutouts extending from the circumference of the circular hole are made in the flat strip steel. The circular hole and cutouts may be made consecutively or simultaneously. A forming tool forms the inner flange.

Growing community of inventors

Thomaston, CT, United States of America

Dean E Johnston