Systems and methods for preloading a bearing and aligning a lock nut

• US 10,493,605 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2018
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Temper AXLE Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: Temper AXLE Products Corporation
• Inventors: Rode, John E., Strait, Sean E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Besler, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US15/885,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20180161967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/10 Aligning parts to be fitted together
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/062 using screws
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/10 by a plate, spring, wire or ring immovable with regard to the bolt or object and mainly perpendicular to the axis of the boltF16B39/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/12 by means of locknuts
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2226/80 with splines, serrations or similar profiles to prevent movement between joined parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2229/00 Setting preload
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors in general B60B
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/31 Axle
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/06 Ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/04 Assembling rolling-contact bearings

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft includes an attaching member releasably connectable to the shaft. A press mechanism is coupled to the attaching member and is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. An optical sending unit is configured to output a high intensity light to allow a user to locate a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft when the attaching member connects to the shaft.

Claims

1. A method for use in providing a bad on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the method comprising:

mounting an attaching mechanism to an end of the shaft;

coupling a press mechanism to the attaching member, the press mechanism configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing;

directing each of a first high intensity light beam from a sending unit and a second high intensity light beam toward the shaft; and

aligning a first circumferential side of a shaft slot of the shaft with the first light beam and a second circumferential side of the shaft slot with the second light beam to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sending unit comprises a laser sending unit and the directing of the first high intensity light beam comprises the laser sending unit directing a laser beam toward the shaft.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the directing the second high intensity light beam comprises directing the second high intensity light beam from a second sending unit toward the shaft.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising directing a third high intensity light beam from a third sending unit toward the shaft and directing a fourth high intensity light beam from a fourth sending unit toward the shaft.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising selectively rotating a nut relative to the third light beam and/or the fourth light beam to align an indicating portion of the nut relative to the third light beam or the fourth light beam.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the indicating portion of the nut corresponds to a root of a plurality of roots of a plurality of engaging teeth of the nut.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising a controller locating the shaft slot of the shaft based on the directing and an optical receiver receiving a reflection of the light, and the controller aligning the press mechanism relative to the shaft based on the locating of the shaft slot.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the controller locating the shaft slot comprises the controller locating the shaft slot based on a comparison of a first location of the sending unit, a second location of the optical receiver and information received by the receiving unit relative to the reflection.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising a controller causing a second optical sending unit to direct a light beam toward a nut on the shaft, an optical receiver receiving a reflection of the light, and the controller controlling a wrench to rotate the nut on the shaft to align an indicating portion of the nut with the light.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a compressive load to the bearings by a plurality of extensions of the press mechanism by engaging the extensions with an inner race of the bearing.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising engaging a lock nut with the shaft and rotating the lock nut to a particular position by a wrench controlled by a controller to achieve a desired preload on the bearing.