BEARING

• US 20150362011A1
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: BELL, Andrew, COLTON, Michael, CHANCE, Paul, CURRY, Will
• Granted Patent: US 9,644,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/02 for radial load only
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/246 related to wear, e.g. sensors for measuring wear
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/26 Systems consisting of a plurality of sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2226/16 by wedge action, e.g. by tapered or conical parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/02 Sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/00 Other accessories, e.g. devices integrated in the bearing not relating to the bearing function as such
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/008 Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means

Abstract

A bearing assembly comprising: (a) an inner journal for supporting a shaft and having a frusto-conical contact surface facing radially outwardly; (b) an outer journal surrounding at least part of the inner journal and having a frusto-conical contact surface which faces radially inwardly; and (c) an adjustment feature for adjusting the axial location of the inner journal relative to the outer journal.

Claims

1. A bearing assembly comprising:

an inner journal for supporting a shaft and having a frusto-conical contact surface facing radially outwardly;

an outer journal surrounding at least part of the inner journal and having a frusto-conical contact surface which faces radially inwardly; and

an adjustment feature for adjusting the axial location of the inner journal relative to the outer journal.

2. The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the adjustment feature comprises an axially positionable member arranged to abut one of the inner member or the outer member.

3. The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the adjustment feature comprises at least one of:

a spring;

a compressible material;

a ratchet; and

interlocking threaded members.

4. The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the inner journal and the outer journal comprises two rings, each ring of the two rings having a frusto-conical contact surface.

5. The bearing assembly of claim 4, wherein the two rings are oriented such that their narrowest ends face each other.

6. The bearing assembly of claim 5, wherein the adjustment feature comprises at least one of:

a compressible material;

a spring;

a ratchet; and

interlocking threaded members,

wherein the adjustment feature is located either side the two rings to thereby prevent the two rings from moving apart.

7. The bearing assembly of claim 4, wherein:

the two rings are oriented such that their widest ends face towards each other.

8. The bearing assembly of claim 7, wherein the adjustment feature comprises a biasing element, wherein the biasing element is at least one of:

a spring; and

a compressible material,

wherein the biasing element is located between the two rings to thereby bias the two rings apart.

9. The bearing assembly of claim 4, further comprising a feature for indicating an amount of relative axial movement between the two rings.

10. The bearing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a feature for indicating an amount of relative axial movement between the inner and outer journal.

11. The bearing assembly of claim 9, wherein the adjustment feature comprises interlocking threaded members, and the indicator indicates an amount of rotation of one of the interlocking threaded members.

12. The bearing assembly of claim 9, wherein the feature for indicating an amount of relative axial movement is an electronic device.

13. The bearing assembly of claim 12, wherein the electronic device is arranged to provide a wireless signal.

14. A method of maintaining a bearing that comprises an inner journal having a frusto-conical contact surface which faces radially outwardly and an outer journal surrounding at least part of the inner journal and having a frusto-conical contact surface which faces radially inwardly,

the method comprising a step of varying an axial location of the inner journal relative to the outer journal until the frusto-conical contact surfaces abut.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of electronically monitoring the axial movement of the inner journal relative to the outer journal.