Countershaft

• US 20180149195A1
• Filed: 01/29/2018
• Published: 05/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waukesha Bearings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Waukesha Bearings Corporation
• Inventors: Blair, Barry, Otto, James L., Gwizdek, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 10,443,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/02 for radial load only
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/028 with fixed wedges to generate hydrodynamic pressure, e.g. multi-lobe bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 3/02 Shafts; Axles
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 32/0659 of pockets or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 32/0685 for radial load only
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/1055 from radial inside, e.g. via a passage through the shaft and/or inner sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/107 Grooves for generating pressure

Abstract

A countershaft as disclosed herein may include one or more bearing zones along its axial length. Each bearing zone may include one or more radial holes in fluid communication with one or more grooves, respectively, and one or more axial channels formed along the longitudinal length of the countershaft. Each groove may be positioned adjacent an interface between a rotating member and a non-rotating member and include one or more features therein, such as a profile and/or taper.

Claims

1. A countershaft comprising:

a. an axial channel formed along the longitudinal axis of said countershaft;

b. a first bearing zone formed on an exterior surface of said countershaft, wherein said first bearing zone includes a groove and a taper positioned adjacent one another;

c. a second bearing zone formed on said exterior surface of said countershaft, wherein said second bearing zone includes a groove and a taper positioned adjacent one another, and wherein said groove in said first zone and said groove in said second zone are rotationally offset from one another;

d. a first radial hole formed in said countershaft, wherein said first radial hole fluidly connects said axial channel to said groove in said first bearing zone; and

,

e. a second radial hole formed in said countershaft, wherein said second radial hole fluidly connects said axial channel to said groove in said second bearing zone.

2. The countershaft according to claim 1 wherein said groove in said first bearing zone further comprises a notch.

3. The countershaft according to claim 2 wherein said groove in said second bearing zone further comprises a notch.

4. The countershaft according to claim 1 wherein said countershaft further comprises a second groove in said first bearing zone and a third radial hole fluidly connecting said axial channel to said second groove in said first bearing zone.

5. The countershaft according to claim 4 wherein said countershaft further comprises a second groove in said second bearing zone and a fourth radial hole fluidly connecting said axial channel to said second groove in said second bearing zone.

6. The countershaft according to claim 4 wherein said countershaft further comprises a taper positioned adjacent said second groove in said first bearing zone.

7. The countershaft according to claim 5 wherein said countershaft further comprises a taper positioned adjacent said second groove in said second bearing zone.

8. The countershaft according to claim 7 wherein said countershaft further comprises a land positioned adjacent said tapers in said first bearing zone.

9. The countershaft according to claim 8 wherein said countershaft further comprises a land positioned said tapers in said second bearing zone.

10. The countershaft according to claim 8 wherein said land in said first bearing zone is further defined as having no profile formed therein.

11. The countershaft according to claim 9 wherein said land in said second bearing zone is further defined as having no profile formed therein.

12. A bearing with axial variations comprising:

a. a main body having a bore therein;

b. a first zone in said bore, wherein said first zone includes a groove; and

,

c. a second zone in said bore, wherein said second zone includes a groove, and wherein said second zone is rotationally offset with respect to said first zone.

13. The bearing according to claim 12 further comprising a first radial hole formed in said main body, wherein said first radial hole fluidly connects an exterior surface of said main body to said groove in said first zone.

14. The bearing according to claim 13 further comprising a second radial hole formed in said main body, wherein said second radial hole fluidly connects said exterior surface of said main body to said groove in said second zone.

15. The bearing according to claim 12 further comprising a third zone in said bore, wherein said third zone includes a groove, and wherein said third zone is rotationally offset with respect to said second zone.

16. A countershaft comprising:

a. a first portion, said first portion comprising;

i. an axial channel formed along the longitudinal axis of said countershaft;

ii. a first bearing zone formed on an exterior surface of said countershaft, wherein said first bearing zone includes a groove and a taper positioned adjacent one another;

iii. a second bearing zone formed on said exterior surface of said countershaft, wherein said second bearing zone includes a groove and a taper positioned adjacent one another, and wherein said groove in said first zone and said groove in said second zone are rotationally offset from one another;

iv. a first radial hole formed in said countershaft, wherein said first radial hole fluidly connects said axial channel to said groove in said first bearing zone; and

,

v. a second radial hole formed in said countershaft, wherein said second radial hole fluidly connects said axial channel to said groove in said second bearing zone.

b. a spacer connected to said first portion, wherein said spacer is simultaneously connected to a second portion, said second portion comprising;

i. an axial channel formed along the longitudinal axis of said countershaft;

ii. a first bearing zone formed on an exterior surface of said countershaft, wherein said first bearing zone includes a groove and a taper positioned adjacent one another;

iii. a second bearing zone formed on said exterior surface of said countershaft, wherein said second bearing zone includes a groove and a taper positioned adjacent one another, and wherein said groove in said first zone and said groove in said second zone are rotationally offset from one another;

iv. a first radial hole formed in said countershaft, wherein said first radial hole fluidly connects said axial channel to said groove in said first bearing zone; and

,

v. a second radial hole formed in said countershaft, wherein said second radial hole fluidly connects said axial channel to said groove in said second bearing zone.