Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a circular laminated component are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises stamping an inlet stock of material to form a line of arc segments, the line of arc segments having: a plurality of notches along a first edge; a first longitudinal end; and a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end; wrapping the line of arc segments to form a circular segment having the first edge along an inner-circumferential diameter of the circular segment; joining the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end to form a circular laminate layer; and stacking a plurality of circular laminate layers to form a laminate disc.

Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a circular laminated component are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises stamping an inlet stock of material to form a line of arc segments, the line of arc segments having: a plurality of notches along a first edge; a first longitudinal end; and a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end; wrapping the line of arc segments to form a circular segment having the first edge along an inner-circumferential diameter of the circular segment; joining the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end to form a circular laminate layer; and stacking a plurality of circular laminate layers to form a laminate disc.

An apparatus and method for assembling a split sleeve onto a shaft. The split sleeve apparatus provides a first and second arcuate portion with each having a partial cylindrical configuration. The first and second arcuate portions have at least one finger extending circumferentially outward from their opposing ends. The at least one finger from each of the first and second arcuate portions complementarily engage one another to form a continuous cylinder. At least one aperture extends longitudinally through the at least one finger of the first and second arcuate portions. A dowel rod extends through the at least one aperture for connecting the first and second arcuate portions to form the cylinder. The first and second arcuate portions are fabricated from a material having heat expansion characteristics that allow the material to expand when heated during assembly and to contract when cooled creating an interference fit with the shaft.

A wheel bearing and hub system (WBHS) that functions to facilitate a vehicle wheel hub and tire to rotate with an axle. The WBHS includes a wheel bearing assembly and a wheel hub. The bearing assembly has an outer member with inward extending slots and an inner member that is located and secured within the outer member. The inner member has an outer race, an inner race, a plurality of ball bearings and a retainer within a channel between the hub races, and a center opening. The wheel bearing assembly is inserted into the center of the wheel hub, which has a front member and a rear member. An axle is then inserted into and attached within the channel, thereby facilitating the rotation of the axle and wheel hub.

A ball retainer includes a chain belt, a hook, and a slot portion. The hook is arranged on the first end of the chain belt. The hook includes a neck portion, a hook body, two leaning protrusions, and a limiting protrusion. The hook body is connected to the neck portion. The two leaning protrusions extend outward along the short side direction of the chain belt toward two sides of the hook body, respectively. The slot portion is arranged on the second end of the chain belt. The slot portion includes a slot, two abutting portions, a connecting portion, and a receiving portion. After the hook is correspondingly engaged with the slot portion, the hook body is accommodated in the slot, the two leaning protrusions correspondingly lean against the two abutting portions, the neck portion leans against the connecting portion, and the limiting protrusion is correspondingly accommodated in the receiving portion.

A flexible connecting rod is manufactured from a rigid material and having a substantially cylindrical hollow body, a leading segment with a securing area and a trailing segment having a trailing edge and a securing area. The body has at least one flexible center section, each having at least one slot to provide flexibility. The slot follows a sinuous, serpentine path to form a plurality of interlocking teeth that can follow a helical or a concentric path. Each slot has a proximal end spaced from the trailing segment and a distal end spaced from the leading segment. With multiple slots the proximal end of a slot can be spaced from, and separated by an inflexible section, or adjacent to, a distal end of a subsequent slot.

A wheel bearing and hub system (WBHS) that functions to facilitate a vehicle wheel hub and tire to rotate with an axle. The WBHS includes a wheel bearing assembly and a wheel hub. The bearing assembly has an outer member with inward extending slots and an inner member that is located and secured within the outer member. The inner member has an outer race, an inner race, a plurality of ball bearings and a retainer within a channel between the hub races, and a center opening. The wheel bearing assembly is inserted into the center of the wheel hub, which has a front member and a rear member. An axle is then inserted into and attached within the channel, thereby facilitating the rotation of the axle and wheel hub.

A rolling bearing strip for a power operated rotary knife providing bearing support for rotation of a rotary knife blade with respect to a blade housing. The rolling bearing strip includes: a plurality of rolling bearings disposed in spaced apart relation; and a flexible separator cage for positioning the plurality of spaced apart rolling bearings, the flexible separator cage including interlocking first and second ends, the first end of the separator cage including a wall defining a projecting member and the second end of the separator cage including a wall defining a receiving member, the first end projecting member and the second end receiving member being in opposed facing relationship and the first end projecting member extending into the second end receiving member to secure the first end to the second end and form an annular, continuous rolling bearing ring.

A linear motion guide unit includes a rail including a rail upper surface and a rail side surface each extending in a longitudinal direction and having a first raceway surface provided on the rail side surface, a sliding member relatively movably attached to the rail and including a sliding member lower surface facing the rail upper surface and a second raceway surface facing the first raceway surface, a plurality of rolling elements rolling on a load-carrying race constituted by the first and second raceway surfaces, a cover member covering the rail and the sliding member and including a first fastener extending in the longitudinal direction, a moving member arranged outside the cover member and moving together with the sliding member, and a connecting member connecting the sliding member to the moving member. The first fastener includes a first right side element extending along the longitudinal direction, a first left side element extending in the longitudinal direction along the first right side element and engageable with the first right side element, a first front slider attached to the first right side element and the first left side element and fixed to the sliding member and the moving member, and a first rear slider attached to the first right side element and the first left side element, spaced apart from the first front slider in the longitudinal direction, and fixed to the sliding member and the moving member. During movement of the sliding member and the moving member, the first front slider and the first rear slider each disengage the first right side element and the first left side element from each other while the slider moves in a direction opposite to a side where the other slider is located, and engage the first right side element and the first left side element with each other while the slider moves in a direction toward the side where the other slider is located. The connecting member includes a first support member arranged between the first front slider and the first rear slider in the longitudinal direction and supporting the moving member. As viewed from the rail upper surface side in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a first opening region resulting from disengagement between the first right side element and the first left side element is placed in a position avoiding the rail.