Patent ID: 6457561
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: F16C,F16N

Abstract:
A viscous pumping system for lubricating a bearing, comprising:a reservoir configured to store a lubricant; a housing connected to the reservoir and mounting the bearing; and a shaft disposed in the housing and supported by the bearing, said shaft rotatable in a forward direction and a reverse direction and having a first helical groove and a second helical groove, each of said first and second helical grooves having a first edge and a second edge, wherein at least one of said first and second edges of one of said first and second helical grooves is configured so that it acts to substantially avoid pumping lubricant away from the bearing when the shaft rotates in the forward direction and at least one of said first and second edges of the other of said first and second helical grooves is configured so that it acts to substantially avoid pumping lubricant away from the bearing when the shaft rotates in the reverse direction.