Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090003743 | BEARING FOR KINGPIN OR OTHER SHAFT ASSEMBLY - A spherical plain bearing has an outer ring having a concave bearing surface, and an inner ring having a convex bearing surface and a shaft-engaging surface. The inner ring is disposed within the outer ring with the concave surface engaging the convex surface. The inner ring has a lubrication groove on the convex surface and a lubrication aperture that extends from the groove to the shaft-engaging surface. A shaft is mounted in the inner ring. The shaft has a lubrication aperture that communicates with the inner ring lubrication aperture. Lubricant can be injected into the shaft lubrication aperture to flow lubricant into the bearing load zone via the inner ring lubrication aperture. In another aspect, a kingpin linkage assembly includes an axle yoke, a steering knuckle, two king pins pivotally interconnecting the axle yoke and the steering knuckle, and two bearings as described herein for engaging the kingpins. | 01-01-2009 |
20090010580 | SPHERICAL PLAIN BEARING WITH SPREAD SEALING MEANS - A spherical plain bearing having dual sealing capability includes an outer race bearing member having an outer ring and an inner race bearing member having an inner ring, the inner ring being located within an opening defined by the outer ring. The opening is defined in part by two generally opposed peripheral edges with a spherical concave bearing surface extending therebetween. The inner ring defines a bore extending therethrough and a spherical convex bearing surface engagable with the concave bearing surface defined by the outer ring. A first ring seal is positioned in a first seal groove defined by the outer ring and is inboard of a first face surface defined by the outer ring. The outer and inner rings, or at least portions thereof, are heat treated using one of carburizing, nitriding, or nitrocarburizing. | 01-08-2009 |
20130142463 | SPHERICAL PLAIN BEARING WITH LUBRICATION GROOVE - A spherical bearing has an outer ring with a concave bearing surface and an inner ring having a convex bearing surface, which is in sliding engagement with the concave bearing surface. A lubrication groove is formed in the convex bearing surface and/or the concave bearing surface. The lubrication groove is defined by a concave central portion and by convex side portions. The concave central portion has a first radius of curvature and the convex side portions have a second radius of curvature. The second radius of curvature is at least 0.7 times the first radius of curvature. | 06-06-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120128282 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A SPHERICAL PLAIN BEARING - A spherical plain bearing and method of assembling the same is disclosed. The bearing has an outer ring having a bore, a concave surface, and at least one fracture. The bearing further includes an inner ring having a convex surface. The convex surface is in sliding disposition with the concave surface when the inner ring is disposed in the bore. The bearing has a groove in a face of the outer ring radially outside a first opening of the bore. The bearing further includes a band coupled to a portion of the outer ring defining the groove. The band retains the outer ring around the inner ring when the inner ring is disposed in the bore. | 05-24-2012 |
20130022299 | LOW FRICTION SEAL FOR BEARINGS - A sealing system for a spherical plain bearing assembly is provided and includes a flexible seal defining a base and a head. At least one low-friction liner is disposed on the flexible seal. | 01-24-2013 |
20130033013 | SELF-LUBRICATING SPHERICAL PLAIN BEARING FOR A VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM - A bearing for a vehicle suspension system is provided and includes an outer member and an inner member. The outer member defines a first inner surface and a first outer surface wherein the first outer surface is configured to engage an equalizer bar of the vehicle suspension system. The inner member defines a second outer surface and a bore therethrough defining a second inner surface. The inner member is configured to engage a frame of the vehicle suspension system. A first lubricious fabric liner is provided in communication with at least a portion of the first inner surface and the second outer surface. The first lubricious fabric liner slidingly engages at least a portion of one of the first inner surface and the second outer surface in response to relative movement between the equalizer bar and the frame of the vehicle suspension system. | 02-07-2013 |
20140093198 | TWO STAGE SEAL FOR A BEARING ASSEMBLY - A bearing assembly includes an inner member having an outer engagement surface and an outer race. The outer race has an inner surface defining a first end and a second end and an inner engagement surface therebetween, the inner engagement surface is positioned on the outer engagement surface of the inner member. A first annular groove is formed in the inner surface, proximate one of the first end and the second end. A second annular groove is formed in the inner surface and is positioned axially inward from the first annular groove. An external seal is positioned in first annular groove and slidably engages the inner member. An internal seal is positioned in the second annular groove and slidingly engages the inner member. | 04-03-2014 |
20140158016 | SELF LUBRICATED SPHERICAL TRANSOM BEARING - A suspension system for a rail car has at least two undercarriage members and at least one equalizer bar removably and pivotally secured to and between the two undercarriage members. A spherical bearing has an outer member that surrounds an inner member. The outer member is removably secured to one of the undercarriage members. The inner member is removably secured to the equalizer bar. The outer member defines at least one outer member section having an arcuate interior surface and the inner member defines at least one inner member section having an arcuate exterior surface. A low friction liner is disposed on at least one of the arcuate interior surface or the arcuate exterior surface. | 06-12-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100036624 | STRESS CONDITION LOGGING IN UTILITY METER - An arrangement includes a utility meter housing that contains or supports a first sensor, a second sensor, and a processing circuit. The first sensor is configured to measure a first parameter, the first parameter relating to an environmental condition within the meter housing. The second sensor is configured to measure a second parameter. The processing circuit is operably connected to the first sensor and to the second sensor, and is configured to record information relating to one or more events, each event corresponding to a detection of an out of range condition by each of the first sensor and the second sensor. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036625 | Temperature Profiling in an Electricity Meter - An arrangement for use in a utility meter includes a temperature sensor, a memory device, a communication circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive information representative of temperature measurements from the temperature sensor. The processing circuit is configured to store first temperature information associated with a first time period in a first data record in the memory device, the first temperature information derived from one or more of the temperature measurements. The processing circuit is further configured to store subsequent temperature information associated with corresponding subsequent time periods in corresponding other data records in the memory device. The processing circuit is also configure to periodically cause the communication circuit to communicate information representative of the first temperature information and the subsequent temperature information to an external device. | 02-11-2010 |
20100283452 | Apparatus and Method for Measuring Real Time Clock Accuracy in an Electric Meter - An arrangement for measuring an internal clock within an electricity meter includes an optical communication circuit within the meter, an optical detector external to the meter, and a frequency counter. The optical communication circuit within the electricity meter is operably coupled to receive a pulse output of the meter's internal clock, and is further configured to generate a corresponding optical pulse representative of the pulse output. The optical detector is configured to detect the pulse output via an optical port of the electricity meter. The frequency counter is operably coupled to receive from the optical detector a signal that is representative of the detected pulse output. | 11-11-2010 |
20110095625 | Fault Tolerant Service Switch Operation in a Utility Meter - An arrangement for controllably disconnecting a utility power service from a load includes a meter housing, a service switch, an electrically-powered source of motive force, and energy storage device, and a charging circuit. The meter housing includes metrology circuitry configured to generate metering information regarding electrical power provided to the load. The service switch is configured to controllably interrupt a connection between the utility power service and the load. The electrically-powered source of motive force is configured to cause the service switch to controllably interrupt the connection between the utility power service and the load. The energy storage device is operably connected to provide power to the electrically-powered source of motive force. The charging circuit is configured to provide charging energy to the energy storage device. The energy storage device is configured to provide sufficient power to the electrically-power source of motive force after being at least partially charged by the charging circuit. The arrangement further includes a control circuit configured to provide a first signal to a first switch operably connecting the energy storage device to the electrically powered source of motive force, and to provide a second signal to a second switch operably connecting the charging circuit to the energy storage device. The control circuit is configured to receive a disconnect command signal, and to provide the second signal and the first signal in sequence responsive to receiving the disconnect command signal. | 04-28-2011 |
20110121664 | Fault Tolerant Service Switch Operation in a Utility Meter - An arrangement for controllably disconnecting a utility power service from a load includes a meter housing, a service switch, an electrically-powered source of motive force, and energy storage device, and a charging circuit. The meter housing includes metrology circuitry configured to generate metering information regarding electrical power provided to the load. The service switch is configured to controllably interrupt a connection between the utility power service and the load. The electrically-powered source of motive force is configured to cause the service switch to controllably interrupt the connection between the utility power service and the load. The energy storage device is operably connected to provide power to the electrically-powered source of motive force. The charging circuit is configured to provide charging energy to the energy storage device. The energy storage device is configured to provide sufficient power to the electrically-power source of motive force after being at least partially charged by the charging circuit. The arrangement further includes a control circuit configured to provide a first signal to a first switch operably connecting the energy storage device to the electrically powered source of motive force, and to provide a second signal to a second switch operably connecting the charging circuit to the energy storage device. The control circuit is configured to receive a disconnect command signal, and to provide the second signal and the first signal in sequence responsive to receiving the disconnect command signal. | 05-26-2011 |
20110242715 | Power Management Arrangement and Method in a Utility Meter - An arrangement for controllably disconnecting a utility power service from a load includes a utility meter housing, a service switch, an energy storage device and a control circuit. The utility meter housing includes metrology circuitry configured to generate metering information regarding electrical power provided to the load. The service switch is configured to controllably interrupt a connection between the utility power service and the load, and has a controller. The control circuit is configured to cause the energy storage device to be connected to the controller responsive to a service disconnect command. The control circuit is further configured to cause a portion of the metrology circuit to be connected to the energy storage device and the meter power supply to be disconnected from the portion of the metrology circuit responsive to a power interruption detection signal. | 10-06-2011 |
20120150462 | Detection of Magnetic Fields Using Leading Power Factor - An electricity meter includes a sensor circuit, a measurement circuit, a leading PF detection circuit and a control circuit. The sensor circuit is operably connected to detect voltage and current provided to a load, and generates corresponding voltage and current measurement signals. The measurement circuit is configured to generate energy consumption information based on the voltage and current measurement signals. The leading PF detection circuit is configured to generate a first value representative of a phase difference of the current measurement signal with respect to the voltage measurement signal, and to generate a leading PF detection signal responsive to determining that the first value corresponds to a leading power factor that leads unity power factor by more than a predetermined threshold. The control circuit stores an indication in memory responsive at least in part to the leading PF detection signal. | 06-14-2012 |
20130241532 | Power Management Arrangement and Method in a Utility Meter - A method of controllably disconnecting a utility power service from a load includes generating in a metrology circuit of a meter metering information regarding electrical power provided to the load from the utility power service. The meter includes a service switch having a controller to controllably interrupt a connection between the utility power service and the load. The method also includes connecting an energy storage device to the controller responsive to a service disconnect command. The method further includes connecting at least a portion of the metrology circuit to the energy storage device and disconnecting a meter power supply from the portion of the metrology circuit responsive to a power interruption detection signal. | 09-19-2013 |
20130242445 | Service Voltage Load Protection in an Electric Utility Meter - An arrangement for controllably disconnecting a utility power service from a load includes a utility meter housing, a switch and a processing circuit. The utility meter housing includes metrology circuitry configured to generate metering information regarding electrical power provided to the load. The switch is configured to controllably interrupt a connection between the utility power service and the load. The switch has an open state and a closed state. The processing circuit is configured to determine whether a line voltage varies from an expected value by more than a predetermined amount over a predetermined amount of time. The processing circuit is further configured to cause a change in state of the switch based on the determination. | 09-19-2013 |
20130293219 | Power Management Arrangement and Method in a Utility Meter - A system includes a utility meter housing, a power supply, a non-volatile memory, an energy storage device, and a control circuit. The utility meter housing includes metrology circuitry configured to generate metering data regarding electrical power provided to the load. The energy storage device is operably coupled to the power supply. The control circuit is operably coupled to receive power generated by the power supply and receive power from the energy storage device. The control circuit is configured to: receive a first bias power signal; erase first metering information stored in the non-volatile memory; process, subsequent to erasing the first memory location, metering data received from the metrology circuit; receive a first interruption signal indicative of an interruption of power in the power supply; and store, responsive to receiving the first interruption signal, second metering information in the non-volatile memory using power from the energy storage device. | 11-07-2013 |
20140354082 | Fault Tolerant Service Switch Operation in a Utility Meter - A method for controllably disconnecting a utility power service from a load includes a step of receiving a disconnect command at a control circuit within a utility meter housing. Then, responsive to receiving the disconnect command, using the control circuit to provide a first signal to a first switch operably connecting a charging circuit to an energy storage device. The method also includes charging, at least in part, the energy storage device via the charging circuit. After charging the energy storage device at least in part, a second signal is provided to a second switch that operably connects the energy storage device to the electrically powered source of motive force such that the electrically-powered source of motive force causes a service switch to controllably interrupt the connection between a utility power service and a load. | 12-04-2014 |
20150015232 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING REAL TIME CLOCK ACCURACY IN AN ELECTRICITY METER - An arrangement for measuring an internal clock within an electricity meter includes an optical communication circuit within the meter, an optical detector external to the meter, and a frequency counter. The optical communication circuit within the electricity meter is operably coupled to receive a pulse output of the meter's internal clock, and is further configured to generate a corresponding optical pulse representative of the pulse output. The optical detector is configured to detect the pulse output via an optical port of the electricity meter. The frequency counter is operably coupled to receive from the optical detector a signal that is representative of the detected pulse output. | 01-15-2015 |