Provided is an angular contact ball bearing that can have a load capacity increased by increasing the diameter of each ball and that is suitably used mainly to bear a thrust load. In the angular contact ball bearing, a plurality of balls are rollably interposed between an inner ring raceway groove formed on an outer peripheral surface of an inner ring and an outer ring raceway groove formed on an inner peripheral surface of an outer ring. The plurality of balls are retained by a plurality of separator retainers that are interposed between the adjacent balls and that are spaced apart from each other. A contact angle of each ball is within a range of 45 to 65.

A telescopic steering column assembly comprises an upper and a lower shroud portion able to move relatively during telescopic adjustment, a telescopic steering shaft that passes through and is supported by the shroud portions through at least one support bearing assembly that acts between an upper portion of the telescopic steering shaft and a lower portion of the shroud that move relative to one another axially during telescopic adjustment. The at least one support bearing assembly comprises a first bearing race which is separate from the shroud portions and the steering shaft, a resilient spacer that applies a biasing force that is directed in a radial direction from the axis of the shaft and that is located between the first race and an adjacent face of one of the lower shroud portion and the upper shaft portion; a set of bearings, and a cage that locates the bearings relative to the first bearing race. The bearings bear onto a second bearing race that is defined by a surface of the other one of the lower shroud portion and the upper shaft portion, the second bearing face permitting the bearings to slide or roll in the direction of adjustment of the steering column assembly when it is adjusted for reach.

A telescopic steering column assembly comprises an upper and a lower shroud portion able to move relatively during telescopic adjustment, a telescopic steering shaft that passes through and is supported by the shroud portions through at least one support bearing assembly that acts between an upper portion of the telescopic steering shaft and a lower portion of the shroud that move relative to one another axially during telescopic adjustment. The at least one support bearing assembly comprises a first bearing race which is separate from the shroud portions and the steering shaft, a resilient spacer that applies a biasing force that is directed in a radial direction from the axis of the shaft and that is located between the first race and an adjacent face of one of the lower shroud portion and the upper shaft portion; a set of bearings, and a cage that locates the bearings relative to the first bearing race. The bearings bear onto a second bearing race that is defined by a surface of the other one of the lower shroud portion and the upper shaft portion, the second bearing face permitting the bearings to slide or roll in the direction of adjustment of the steering column assembly when it is adjusted for reach.

A center supporting device for a propeller shaft of a vehicle may include an inner bearing device configured to axially movably support a stub shaft, the stub shaft being connected between a front shaft and a rear shaft of the propeller shaft, an outer bearing device mounted outside the inner bearing device to axially rotatably support the stub shaft, and an insulator mounted in an elastically deformable manner between the outside of the outer bearing device and a bracket fixed to a vehicle body.

A center supporting device for a propeller shaft of a vehicle may include an inner bearing device configured to axially movably support a stub shaft, the stub shaft being connected between a front shaft and a rear shaft of the propeller shaft, an outer bearing device mounted outside the inner bearing device to axially rotatably support the stub shaft, and an insulator mounted in an elastically deformable manner between the outside of the outer bearing device and a bracket fixed to a vehicle body.

A sliding mechanism includes first and second members slidable relative to each other and a grease composition interposed between the first and second members and containing a thickening agent and a base oil, wherein the grease composition contains lithium 12-hydroxystearate as the thickening agent and dioctyl sebacate and/or poly--olefin as the base oil; and wherein at least one of the first and second member has a sliding surface coated with a hard carbon film of diamond-like carbon.

A telescopic steering column assembly comprises an upper and a lower shroud portion able to move relatively during telescopic adjustment, a telescopic steering shaft that passes through and is supported by the shroud portions through at least one support bearing assembly that acts between an upper portion of the telescopic steering shaft and a lower portion of the shroud that move relative to one another axially during telescopic adjustment. The at least one support bearing assembly comprises a first bearing race which is separate from the shroud portions and the steering shaft, a resilient spacer that applies a biasing force that is directed in a radial direction from the axis of the shaft and that is located between the first race and an adjacent face of one of the lower shroud portion and the upper shaft portion; a set of bearings, and a cage that locates the bearings relative to the first bearing race. The bearings bear onto a second bearing race that is defined by a surface of the other one of the lower shroud portion and the upper shaft portion, the second bearing face permitting the bearings to slide or roll in the direction of adjustment of the steering column assembly when it is adjusted for reach.

To provide: a silicon nitride sintered body having excellent mechanical property and imparting superior lifetime to a product into which the silicon nitride sintered body is processed; a machine part using the silicon nitride sintered body; and a bearing. The silicon nitride sintered body: has the crystallinity of 75-90% calculated by the following formula based on an XRD diffraction pattern on a mirror-polished cutting face of the silicon nitride sintered body; contains one element or more of Y, Ce, Nd and Eu in an amorphous phase; and does not have an inclusion having a diameter of more than 50 m and a pore having a diameter of more than 50 m in a surface layer portion.

Crystallinity (%)=Crystalline peak area/(Crystalline peak area+Amorphous peak area)100

A mount surrounding a rigid body within an enclosure, is provided herein. The mount includes: a first pair of a first pin and first spherical bearing, wherein the first pin is movable within the first spherical bearing while being in contact with the rigid body such that two degrees of freedom (DOF) restriction enable a displacement of the rigid body; a second pair of a second pin and second spherical bearing, wherein the second pin is movable within the second spherical bearing while being in contact with the rigid body such that two DOF restriction enable a displacement of the rigid body; and a third pair of a third pin and third spherical bearing, wherein the third pin is movable within the third spherical bearing while being in contact with the rigid body such that two DOF restriction enable a displacement of the rigid body.

A mount surrounding a rigid body within an enclosure, is provided herein. The mount includes: a first pair of a first pin and first spherical bearing, wherein the first pin is movable within the first spherical bearing while being in contact with the rigid body such that two degrees of freedom (DOF) restriction enable a displacement of the rigid body; a second pair of a second pin and second spherical bearing, wherein the second pin is movable within the second spherical bearing while being in contact with the rigid body such that two DOF restriction enable a displacement of the rigid body; and a third pair of a third pin and third spherical bearing, wherein the third pin is movable within the third spherical bearing while being in contact with the rigid body such that two DOF restriction enable a displacement of the rigid body.