ADJUSTABLE BEARING ASSEMBLY FOR ROTATING SPINDLE TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention is generally directed toward a rotating spindle. More particularly, the invention is directed toward a rotating spindle that is rotated by an adjustable bearing assembly that connects the spindle to a drive motor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Rotating spindles such as those used in dental handpieces, are often attached to a drive motor. There is often a connection between the drive motor and the spindle, and this extension is often a part of the drive motor axle. The length of that connection is critical for the placement of the spindle itself. Great care is required when fabricating the arrangement so that the placement of the spindle is precise as is especially required with small components such as those of an electric motor, dental handpiece. Much time and effort is often expended in making and aligning the various components. An example of an electric motor dental handpiece is shown in U. S. Pat. No. 6,425, 761 which is hereby incorporated by reference for such disclosure.

[0003] Further, during use the distances between the drive motors and the rotating spindles will vary, as will the position of the components in a direction perpendicular to their axes of rotation. Often the axis of rotation of the drive motor will lie in a different plane than that of the rotating spindle. Sometimes they will lie in the same plane and more often they will vary.

[0004] A need exists therefore for a bearing or combination of bearings that makes the connection between the drive motor and the spindle in a manner that is adjustable.

In such a way, the alignment of the spindle can be made substantially regardless of the length or manufacturing tolerances of the component parts and substantially regardless of the position of the drive motor relative to the rotating spindle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] An adjustable bearing assembly for a rotating spindle according to the invention has a working end and an oppositely positioned drive end. The assembly comprises a ball connector affixed to the drive end of the spindle, a linear bearing adjustably affixed to the spindle, and a spherical bearing assembly wherein said spherical bearing assembly is affixed to said ball connector at one end and affixed to a drive motor at an opposite end thereof. The linear bearing can be used to adjust and affix the position of the spindle in a direction substantially parallel to the linear axis of the spindle. The drive motor has an axis of rotation and a drive bar eccentrically offset from the axis of rotation. The drive bar has a drive bar ball at an end opposite the and the spherical bearing assembly has a first ball receiving sphere configured to receive the drive bar ball. A second ball receiving sphere is adapted to receive the ball connector of the spindle, and a connecting rod is positioned between and connects the first and the second ball receiving spheres in a spaced opposing relation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] Figure 1 is a side plan view of an adjustable bearing assembly for a rotating spindle according to the present invention, shown for environmental purposes in conjunction with a drive motor.

[0007] Figure 2 is a perspective view of one portion of the assembly and drive motor of Figure 1.

[0008] Figure 3 is an alternative embodiment of an adjustable bearing assembly according to the invention.

[0009] Figure 4 is another alternative embodiment of an adjustable bearing assembly according to the invention.

[0010] Figure 5 is another plan view of the invention as shown in Figure 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [0011] A bearing assembly for a rotating spindle, according to the present invention, is generally designated by the number 10 on the attached drawings. While the present invention has particular application in the field of dental handpieces, such as for use with dental burs, reamers and polishers (not shown), it also has application to any field wherein it is desired to connect a rotating spindle or other tool to a drive motor. For purposes of describing the present invention, reference may be made to the dental handpiece application for illustration only. As such, such a conventional rotating dental tool (not shown) can be affixed to a rotating spindle 11 by any conventional means such as by threads 12. It is also conventional to employ an angled headpiece, such as is shown in U. S. Pat. No. 6,425, 761, and as such, spindle 11 may be operatively connected to such an angle piece.

[0012] A drive motor 20 is provided having a central axis 21 (shown in phantom on the drawings) of an axle 22 (Figure 5). Drive motor 20 may be of any conventional design such as being an air driven vane motor, but is preferably an electric motor.

Drive motor 20 rotates axle 22 in a desired direction.

[0013] As best shown in Figure 5, there is affixed to axle 22 an armature 30 which has a center axis 31 preferably coincident with center axis 21 of drive motor 20. By being affixed to axle 22, armature 30 is caused to rotate about its axis 31 as drive motor rotates its axle 22 about its axis 21. As shown in Figure 1, armature 30 may be housed in a race 40 having securing bolts 41 for affixing to a suitable support such as a dental handpiece housing (not shown). At an end generally opposite that of its connection to axle 22, armature 30 is provided with a protruding and offset drive bar 50. By"offset"it is meant that as armature 30 rotates, offset drive bar 50 follows a generally circular path around center axis 31 of armature 30. It is envisioned that non-circular paths are also be within the scope of the invention, but circular paths will be discussed here for simplicity. Offset drive bar 50 may be cylindrical as shown in the drawings or may be any other shape. If cylindrical it would have a center axis 51 that is offset some distance D (Figure 5) from center axis 31 of armature 30.

[0014] Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention that will be more fully discussed hereinbelow. However, Figure 3 clearly shows a connecting ball 60 affixed to offset drive bar 50 that is useful with several embodiments of the invention as discussed herein. Positioned between spindle 11 and drive motor 20 is a spherical bearing assembly generally designated by the number 70. Preferably, spherical bearing assembly 70 has a first ball receiving sphere 71 and a second ball receiving sphere 72 which may be positioned in a spaced opposing relation by a connecting portion 73. First ball receiving sphere 71 is preferably configured to be hollow or semi-hollow so as to be dimensioned to receive connecting ball 60. First ball receiving sphere 71 may be configured with a slit 74 to facilitate placing ball 60 therein. Ball receiving sphere 71 and 72 may be fabricated from any suitable organic or inorganic material such as metal, rubber, plastic, carbon or the like. It is preferred that when ball 60 is received within first ball receiving sphere 71 that it is physically held therein, such as by a friction fit or by device, such that drive bar 50 is caused to rotate in a circular path about axis 31 of armature 30, ball 60 and the physically contacted first ball receiving sphere 71 is are likewise caused to rotate about the same axis 31 in a circular manner or other manner as may be associated with offset drive bar 50. Similarly, spindle 11 is provided with a spindle ball 80 that can be received in second ball receiving sphere 72 of spherical bearing assembly 70 in a like manner to that of ball 60 and first ball receiving sphere 71.

[0015] Connector 73 has a center axis or generally center line 90 that in normal use is offset at some angle from axis 21 of motor 20. It will thus be appreciated that as ball 60 is caused to move in a circular path about axis 21 of motor 20, spindle ball 80 will be caused to rotate about a center axis 1 la of spindle 11. Because spindle ball 80 is affixed to spindle 11, spindle 11 is also caused to rotate about its axis 1 la.

[0016] Spindle 11 is preferably supported by a spindle race 100. Spindle race 100 may be affixed to a suitable support such as a dental handpiece housing (not shown) by any suitable means such as bolts 101. Preferably, spindle 11 is adjustable in a direction parallel to the linear dimension of its axis of rotation 11 a. Any method of supporting and effecting such linear adjustment is within the scope of the invention.

For example, a linear bearing 102 may be affixed to race 100 and received within a linear bearing race 103. By sliding linear bearing 102 within linear bearing race 103, the placement of spindle 11 can be adjusted without changing the physical dimension of spindle 11. To affix spindle 11 in the selected position, bolts 104 may be provided through holes 105 in linear bearing race 103 such that bolts 104 physically contact linear bearing 102. It will also be appreciated that when moving spindle 11 to the desired position parallel to the linear dimension of its axis of rotation 11 a, the angle between axis 90 and axis 21 is also changed. Again, this adjustment can be finely made substantially without regard to the physical or length dimensions of the other components. Thus a bearing assembly 10 is provided to adjust the position of the spindle 11.

[0017] An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown for illustrative purposes in Figure 4. Rather than having a spherical bearing assembly 70 between motor 20 and spindle 11, there is a flexible drive cable 110. By being flexible and longer in length than required to bridge the span between armature 30 and spindle 11, there is enough slack in drive cable 110 make up for or allow for any increase or decrease in such distance based upon the physical size of the various components.

Flexible drive cable 110 may be mounted by any means such as a conventional ring bearing 111 which is offset in armature 30 in a manner substantially similar to that of drive bar 50 as above described.

[0018] Figure 3 shows another alternative embodiment of the invention wherein a spherical bearing 120 includes a single ball receiving sphere 121 attached to spindle 11 by a jointed connector 122. As with all of the embodiments of the invention, the physical span between motor 20 and spindle 11 is made and the position of the motor 20 relative to spindle 11, both in a direction parallel to or perpendicular to the spindle 11 axis of rotation 11 la is also compensated for. Because these dimensions will vary both during production and during use of the device, the variance is compensated for.

[0019] The invention has been described herein and shown on the drawings without attempting to show all of the variations that are within its scope and which can be readily changed. The scope of the invention shall be determined only by any attached claims.