Systems and methods for preloading a bearing and aligning a lock nut
First Claim
1. A method for adjusting a preload on a bearing assembly of a wheel mounted on an axle or spindle with a lock nut comprising:
- mounting a preload adjustment tool comprising a preload measurement gage onto a threaded axle or spindle;
inserting an aligning projection of an aligning ring of the preload adjustment tool into a shaft slot of the shaft to align the preload adjustment tool relative to the shaft;
increasing the load on the bearing assembly using the adjustment tool;
rotating the wheel on the axle or spindle to set the bearing assembly;
decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to a desired maximum preload on the bearing;
after decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to the desired maximum preload, tightening the lock nut on the bearing assembly by hand until the lock nut cannot be further tightened; and
aligning a first ring indicating marking of a plurality of ring indicating markings on the aligning ring with an indicator on the lock nut located closest to the first ring indicating marking by rotating the lock nut to loosen the lock nut to a preferred location to cause a resultant preload on the bearing assembly within a preset range from the desired maximum preload.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of adjusting preload on a bearing assembly of a wheel mounted on an axle or spindle with a lock nut includes mounting a preload adjustment tool onto a threaded axle or spindle. The load on the bearing assembly is increased using the tool. The wheel on the axle or spindle is rotated to set the bearing assembly. The load on the bearing assembly is decreased to a desired maximum preload on the bearing. After decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to a desired maximum preload, the lock nut is tightened by hand until the lock nut cannot be further tightened. The lock nut is loosened by rotating the lock nut to a preferred location where a guide mark on the tool aligns with one mark on the lock nut located closest to the guide mark wherein a resultant preload on the bearing assembly is within a preset range from the desired maximum preload.
141 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for adjusting a preload on a bearing assembly of a wheel mounted on an axle or spindle with a lock nut comprising:
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mounting a preload adjustment tool comprising a preload measurement gage onto a threaded axle or spindle; inserting an aligning projection of an aligning ring of the preload adjustment tool into a shaft slot of the shaft to align the preload adjustment tool relative to the shaft; increasing the load on the bearing assembly using the adjustment tool;
rotating the wheel on the axle or spindle to set the bearing assembly;decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to a desired maximum preload on the bearing; after decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to the desired maximum preload, tightening the lock nut on the bearing assembly by hand until the lock nut cannot be further tightened; and aligning a first ring indicating marking of a plurality of ring indicating markings on the aligning ring with an indicator on the lock nut located closest to the first ring indicating marking by rotating the lock nut to loosen the lock nut to a preferred location to cause a resultant preload on the bearing assembly within a preset range from the desired maximum preload. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification