Importance

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Abstract

A circular knitting machine is provided that has a bed member and a needle cylinder including a cylinder base rotatably mounted to the bed member. The knitting machine also has a bearing assembly positioned between the bed member and the cylinder base for rotatable mounting of the bed member to the cylinder base. First and second tracks are respectively mounted to the first and second races, and bearings are positionally supported by and between the first and second tracks so that the cylinder base freely rotates about the bed member. A thermal-expansion compensator is preferably integrally formed with either the cylinder base or the bed member and is positioned closely adjacent the corresponding race respectively connected to either the cylinder base or the bed member. The compensator is adapted for compensating for thermal expansion in the cylinder base during heating and cooling thereof. The compensator preferably includes a flexible flange integrally formed with either the cylinder base or the bed member and positioned closely adjacent the corresponding race. The race positioned closely adjacent the flexible flange is preferably slidably connected to the corresponding cylinder base or bed member so that slidably movement of the corresponding race responsive to heating and cooling of the cylinder base thereby moves the flexible flange.

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First Claim