Bearings – Rotary bearing – Antifriction bearing
Reexamination Certificate
2005-11-01
2005-11-01
Hanson, Thomas R. (Department: 3682)
Bearings
Rotary bearing
Antifriction bearing
C267S153000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06960024
ABSTRACT:
A center bearing assembly rotatably supports an intermediate portion of a vehicle driveshaft assembly during use. The center bearing assembly includes a rigid bracket that is secured to a support surface of the vehicle, a support member that is supported within the rigid bracket, and an annular bearing that is supported within the support member for rotatably supporting the intermediate portion of the vehicle driveshaft assembly. The support member is formed from a resilient material and has a cavity formed therein. A sponge is disposed within the cavity formed in the support member. The sponge may be formed from any material that is capable of absorbing or otherwise retaining a quantity of a rheological fluid therein. A control circuit is provided for selectively generating and applying an energy field to the Theological fluid contained within the sponge and thereby varying the resistance to flow or shear thereof. As a result, the vibration dampening characteristics of the support member can be varied.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2162159 (1939-06-01), Cole
patent: 2557140 (1951-06-01), Razdowitz
patent: 2635483 (1953-04-01), Welsh
patent: 2673631 (1954-03-01), Gold
patent: 2732921 (1956-01-01), Rabinow
patent: 2809733 (1957-10-01), Perry
patent: 2987153 (1961-06-01), Perry
patent: 3144921 (1964-08-01), Martinek
patent: 3538469 (1970-11-01), Litte et al.
patent: 4200003 (1980-04-01), Miller
patent: 4223762 (1980-09-01), Gertal
patent: 4392694 (1983-07-01), Reynolds
patent: 4772407 (1988-09-01), Carlson
patent: 4782927 (1988-11-01), Sproston et al.
patent: 4849120 (1989-07-01), Price et al.
patent: 4867655 (1989-09-01), Barbic et al.
patent: 4896754 (1990-01-01), Carlson et al.
patent: 4900165 (1990-02-01), Kun et al.
patent: 4921229 (1990-05-01), Hori
patent: 5007303 (1991-04-01), Okuzumi
patent: 5029677 (1991-07-01), Mitsui
patent: 5054593 (1991-10-01), Carlson
patent: 5090531 (1992-02-01), Carlson
patent: 5236182 (1993-08-01), Aoki et al.
patent: 5322484 (1994-06-01), Reuter
patent: 5380100 (1995-01-01), Yu
patent: 5447376 (1995-09-01), Cunningham et al.
patent: 5452957 (1995-09-01), Duggan
patent: 5730531 (1998-03-01), Pinkos et al.
patent: 5902048 (1999-05-01), Duggan
patent: 6340080 (2002-01-01), Carlson
patent: 6390684 (2002-05-01), Bown
patent: 00/53950 (2000-09-01), None
Duggan James A.
Robb Scott B.
Hanson Thomas R.
MacMillan Sobanski & Todd LLC
Torque-Traction Technologies Inc.
LandOfFree
Center bearing assembly including a support member... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Center bearing assembly including a support member..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Center bearing assembly including a support member... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3493518