Patent ID: 8545106

Claim:
A rolling-element bearing system, comprising: a. an outer bearing race, wherein said outer bearing race comprises: i. an outer surface; ii. a forward annular surface located radially inward of said outer surface; and iii. a transitional surface between said forward annular surface and said outer surface; b. a bore of a bearing housing, wherein said outer bearing race is located within said bore and is axially slideable therewithin; c. a first annular boundary within said bore, wherein said first annular boundary is located forward of said forward annular surface of said outer bearing race; and d. a first port through said bore, wherein said first port provides for admitting a lubrication fluid under pressure into a cavity within said bore, said cavity is bounded by at least a portion of said first annular boundary, a portion of said bore, and said transitional surface of said outer bearing race; and when said lubrication fluid is admitted to said cavity under pressure, an axial position of said outer bearing race within said bore provides for automatically controlling a pressure of said lubrication fluid within said cavity responsive to an axial force on said outer bearing race by adjusting a first axial gap between said forward annular surface of said outer bearing race and said first annular boundary within said bore through which said lubrication fluid is discharged, wherein a radially-inward portion of said first axial gap is open so as to provide for said lubrication fluid to discharge therefrom.