The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 02, 1990
Filed:
Mar. 02, 1989
Philip J Mazziotti, Toledo, OH (US);
The Zeller Corporation, Defiance, OH (US);
Abstract
A support for rotatbly supporting a portion of a shaft, specifically a drive shaft of a vehicle, is disclosed. An intermediate drive shaft support is required when three or more universal joints are embodied in a drive line between a transmission and a differential of the vehicle. An intermediate drive shaft is sufficiently long that it tends to bend or whip to an objectionable extent. The shaft support features a simplified, lower-cost bearing having fewer rolling elements in the form of balls or rollers between inner and outer races, there being from three to six and preferably four. Two rings are located on the sides of the rolling elements to uniformly circumferentially space the elements and can also provide lubricant seals. Each of the rings has a plurality of uniformly-circumferentially spaced recesses in which portions of the rolling elements are received. Each of the rings can have annular sealing lips which engage the inner and outer races and can also have annular ridge which engages a flinger located adjacent the inner race, to hold the ring in place. The races, rolling elements, and spacing and sealing rings can be made of lower cost materials which are also easier to manufacture.