SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRELOADING A BEARING AND ALIGNING A LOCK NUT

• US 20130145621A1
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Temper AXLE Products Corporation, Temper Corporation
• Original Assignee: John E. Rode
• Inventors: Rode, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,650,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/898.09
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/06 inserting or withdrawing sleeves or bearing races
• 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: F16C 2229/00 Setting preload
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/06 Ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/008 Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/02 Arrangements for equalising the load on a plurality of bearings or their elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49696 Mounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49698 Demounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/497 Pre-usage process, e.g., preloading, aligning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53104 Roller or ball bearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5383 having fluid operator

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft includes an attaching member and a press mechanism. The attaching member is releasably connected to the shaft. The press member is coupled to the attaching member and is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism includes an aligning arm configured to engage a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft when the attaching member connects to the shaft. A lock nut is engageable with the shaft and has a plurality of engaging teeth configured to engage a plurality of keeper teeth of a keeper. The nut includes an outer surface having a plurality of markings corresponding to a plurality of roots of the plurality of engaging teeth to allow a user to selectively rotate the nut relative to the aligning arm to an engaging position such that a radially inner side of the keeper engages a slot of the shaft when the keeper teeth engage the engaging teeth of the nut.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the apparatus comprising:

an attaching member releasably connectable to the shaft;

a press mechanism coupled to said attaching member, said press mechanism configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing; and

said press mechanism comprising an aligning arm configured to engage a shaft slot of the shaft to align said press mechanism relative to the shaft when said attaching member connects to the shaft, said aligning arm comprising a free end extending distally past a distal most extent of said attaching member in a distal direction, wherein a proximal direction ward said press mechanism from the shaft, the distal direction being opposite from the proximal direction and extending toward the shaft from said press mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said press mechanism comprises a plurality of extensions engageable with the bearing, said press mechanism configured to provide the compressive load to the bearing via said plurality of extensions.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said plurality of extensions is engageable with an inner race of the bearing when the nut is engaged with the shaft and adjacent the bearing such that said plurality of extensions provide the load to the inner race.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a lock nut engageable with the shaft and having a plurality of engaging teeth configured to engage a plurality of keeper teeth of a keeper, said keeper having a radially inner side configured to engage a shaft slot of the shaft to inhibit rotational movement of said nut relative to the shaft when said plurality of engaging teeth engages said plurality of keeper teeth and said radially inner side engages the shaft.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said nut comprises an outer surface having a plurality of markings corresponding to a plurality of roots of said plurality of engaging teeth to allow a user to selectively rotate the nut relative to said aligning arm to an engaging position when said attaching member connects to the shaft to allow engagement of said plurality of engaging teeth with said plurality of keeper teeth such that said radially inner side engages said slot of said shaft when said attaching member is released from the shaft.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said press mechanism comprises a plate connected to said attaching member and pivotally connected to said aligning arm

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said press mechanism comprises a load sensor for monitoring the load on the bearing provided by said press mechanism.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said press mechanism comprises an actuation nut threaded to a rod of said attaching member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said press mechanism comprises at least one of a fluid-containing piston actuator, a compression spring, and an air spring.

10. A method for use in providing a load 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; and

inserting an aligning arm of the press mechanism within a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft.

11. The method of claim 10 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.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising engaging a lock nut with the shaft and rotating the lock nut to a particular position by aligning a plurality of markings on an outside surface of the nut with the aligning arm.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising monitoring the load provided to the bearing.

14. A system for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the system comprising:

an attaching member releasably connected to a shaft;

a press mechanism coupled to said attaching member, said press mechanism configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing; and

said press mechanism comprising an aligning arm extending into a shaft slot of said shaft to align said press mechanism relative to said shaft.