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Title: Rolling contact bearing devices
Claims: I claim: 1. A rooling device comprising: a bearing race having at least one circularly oriented surface, first rotating means, said first rotating means including at least two rotating elements in rolling contact with said circularly oriented surface of said bearing race, second rotating means for positioning said first rotating means relative to said circularly oriented surface of said first bearing race, said second rotating means including at least two generally roller-shaped rotating elements alternately interposed between said rotating elements of said first rotating means to prevent their mutual contact and engaging the same in rolling contact, and two circular retainer rings respectively engaging the opposite ends of said generally roller-shaped rotating elements in rolling contact and holding the same in position, said retainer rings also functioning as the only bearing races for said second rotating means. 2. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 1 in which: the first-named bearing race is radially outwards of said first and second rotating means, said generally roller-shaped rotating elements each have an axis lying radially outside a plane through the axes of two first-named rotating elements adjoining the same, and said retainer rings exert radially inward pressure on said generally roller-shaped rotating elements for positioning said first rotating means radially outwards against the first-named bearing race. 3. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 2 in which said device includes axial extension of at least two elements of one of the rotating means, said axial extension being in rolling contact with a third rotating means for transferring loads and rotary motion, said third rotating means including at least two rotating elements which are held in position against said axial extensions by their rolling contact with a further race. 4. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 3 including means for holding said further race stationary. 5. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 3 in which said additional rotating elements have different diameters for causing said further race to oscillate. 6. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 5 including means for holding said first named race stationary. 7. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 3 in which both further race and said first-named race are rotatable, and said device is capable of acting as a speed change device. 8. A rolling contact device according to claim 2, wherein said rotating elements of said first rotating means are balls, and said generally roller-shaped rotating elements are spools with concave peripheries engaging the balls. 9. A rolling contact device according to claim 2, wherein said rotating elements of both rotating means are cylindrical. 10. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 1 in which: the first-named bearing race is radially outwards of said first and second rotating means, said generally roller-shaped rotating elements each have an axis lying radially inside a plane through the axes of two first-named rotating elements adjoining the same, and said retainer rings exert radially outward pressure on said generally roller-shaped rotating elements for positioning said first rotating means radially outwards against the first-named bearing race. 11. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 1 in which the first-named rotating elements include balls. 12. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 1 in which the first-named rotating elements include rollers. 13. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said retainer rings present radially outwardly-facing bearing races in rolling contact with the ends of said rollers, and radially inwardly-facing bearing races in rolling contact with the ends of said generally roller-shaped rotating elements. 14. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 1 in which said races are generally plunar for transmission of axial loads, and said first and second rotating means are located between said planar races. 15. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 14 in which said retaining rings are integral with one of said races. 16. The rolling contact device claimed in claim 14 in which said device includes a third rotating means positioned between said second rotating means and second named race. 17. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 14 in which at least one of said retainer rings is at an angle to the axes of said generally roller-shaped rotating elements to prevent their radial displacement. 18. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 1 in which said device further includes a central shaft connected to said retainer rings and free of contact with either of said rotating means. 19. The rolling contact device as claimed in claim 1 including snap rings to prevent axial displacement of elements of said device with respect to each other. Other info: Inventors: Traut, Earl W. (Fort Lauderdale, FL, US) Application Number: 414150 Filing Date: 1973-11-09 Publication_date: 1976-02-10 Assignee: Primary Class(es): 384/554 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Wood, Jr., M. Henson Assistant Examiner: Bertsch, Richard A. Attorney: Oltman and Flynn |
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