METHOD OF ADJUSTING ROLLING BEARINGS

• US 3,672,019 A
• Filed: 06/22/1970
• Issued: 06/27/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frederick James Wren, Thomas George Barnbrook
• Original Assignee: Frederick James Wren, Thomas George Barnbrook
• Inventors: Wren, Frederick James, Barnbrook, Thomas George
• Primary Examiner(s): Eager, Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US05/048,286
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 29/148.4A,148.4,149.5 308/236,207
• US Class Current: 29/898.09
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/364 with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/547 with two angular contact rolling bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/548 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2300/02 General use or purpose, i.e. no use, purpose, special adaptation or modification indicated or a wide variety of uses mentioned
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/083 with resilient means acting axially on a race ring to preload the bearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/063 Fixing them on the shaft with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/067 Fixing them in a housing with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/497 Pre-usage process, e.g., preloading, aligning

Abstract

A bearing capable of carrying thrust loads is adjusted by positioning a spacer washer against one of the bearing races and applying an axial load to that washer. The load is resisted by the bearing and is sufficient in magnitude to deform the washer first elastically and then plastically. The plastic deformation is such that upon removal of the axial load and recovery of the elastic deformation, the spacer will provide the desired end play or preload adjustment for the bearing.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting a bearing assembly for end play or preload, the bearing assembly including a shaft, a housing, and at least one bearing mounted between the shaft and housing to permit relative rotation between the two, the bearing having a plurality of rolling elements and being capable of carrying radial and thrust loads, said method comprising:

positioning a spacer washer in the assembly, applying an axially directed load to the washer sufficient to deform the washer elastically and then plastically; and

resisting the axial load by a reaction force transmitted through the rolling elements of the bearing, the plastic deformation being such that upon recovery of the spacer of its elastic deformation after removal of the load the resulting thickness of the spacer will provide the correct bearing adjustment.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the spacer washer is plastically deformed by compressing it between the bearing and a tool which is advanced towards the bearing until it engages a limiting surface on the bearing assembly.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the spacer washer is plastically deformed by compressing it between the bearing and a tool which is advanced toward the bearing;

and wherein the method further comprises installing an abutment-forming element in the bearing assembly after the tool is removed so that the spacer washer is captured between the bearing and the abutment-forming element and when so captured provides the correct adjustment for the bearing.

4. A method of adjusting a bearing assembly which includes an outer member such as a housing, an inner member such as a shaft positioned in the outer member, and at least one bearing mounted between the members to permit relative rotation between the two, the bearing being capable of accommodating a thrust load in the direction of the axis of rotation for the bearing and having one race seated on one of the members, another rAce which is mounted on the other member and prior to adjustment is shiftable relative to the seated race and said other member so that the adjustment of the bearing is dependent on the position of the shiftable race, and rolling elements interposed between and engaged with the two races, said method comprising:

positioning a spacer washer in the bearing assembly such that it is backed by the shiftable race of the bearing, compressing the spacer washer between the shiftable race and a tool which is moved axially with respect to said other member, the compressive force being transmitted through the bearing to said one member and being sufficient to deform the washer first elastically and then plastically, and confining the spacer washer in a substantially fixed axial position with respect to said other member after it has been deformed plastically.

5. The process according to claim 4 and further characterized by withdrawing the tool after the washer has been deformed plastically, whereby the washer will recover the elastic deformation, and wherein the resulting axial thickness of the washer will provide the bearing with the proper adjustment after the washer is axially confined relative to said other member.

6. The process according to claim 5 wherein the spacer washer is axially positioned relative to said other member by installing an abutment forming element in a fixed axial position on said other member, the deformed washer being captured between the shiftable bearing race and the abutment forming element.

7. The process according to claim 6 wherein the tool is advanced axially with respect to said other member until it engages a limiting surface on said other member, whereby the plastic deformation terminates upon the engagement of the tool and the limiting surface;

and wherein the abutment forming element is axially positioned with respect to said other member by the limiting surface.

8. A method of adjusting a bearing assembly which includes an outer member such as a housing, an inner member such as a shaft positioned in the outer member, and at least one bearing mounted between the members to permit relative rotation between the two, the bearing being capable of carrying axial and radial loading and having a plurality of rolling elements positioned around the axis thereof, said method comprising:

positioning a deformable spacer in the bearing assembly along one of the members;

applying an axial deforming force to the spacer;

resisting the deforming force by a reaction force transmitted from the other member to said one member through the rolling elements of the bearing;

the deforming force being of sufficient magnitude to elastically and then plastically deform the spacer; and

positioning an abutment on said one member after the spacer has been plastically deformed to maintain the spacer in the proper position in the bearing assembly;

the plastic deformation of the spacer being such that upon recovery of the elastic deformation after relief of the axial deforming force the resulting thickness of the spacer will provide correct bearing adjustment.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the bearing in addition to the rolling elements includes a race engaged with the rolling elements and fitted to said one member along which the spacer is disposed such that prior to the application of the deforming force the race is shiftable in the axial direction relative to that one member, whereby the adjustment of the bearing is dependent on the position of the race;

and wherein the spacer is positioned between the shiftable race and the abutment.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the deforming force is applied by advancing a deforming tool relative to said one member along which the shiftable race is disposed, and terminating the movement of the tool at a predetermined position along said one member.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the deforming tool is advanced to and the abutment is positioned by a single limiting surface on said one membEr along which the shiftable race is positioned.

12. A method according to claim 8 wherein the deforming force is less than the static thrust capacity of the bearing.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the spacer plastically deforms under a substantially constant deforming force, whereby the elastic recovery of the spacer will be substantially the same upon relief of the deforming force irrespective of the amount of plastic deformation.

14. A method of adjusting a bearing assembly which includes an outer member such as a housing, an inner member such as a shaft positioned in the outer member, and a pair of axially spaced bearings mounted between the members to permit one member to rotate relative to the other member, each bearing including a plurality of rolling elements encircling the inner member, one of the bearings being mounted to carry thrust loading in one axial direction and the other bearing being mounted to carry thrust loading in the other axial direction, at least one of the bearings having a race which is positioned on one of the members and is initially shiftable axially along that member so that the adjustment of the bearing assembly is dependent on the axial position of the shiftable race with respect to the member along which it is disposed;

said method comprising;

positioning a deformable spacer in the bearing assembly on the member along which the shiftable race is disposed;

applying an axial deforming force to the spacer;

resisting the deforming force by a reaction force transmitted from the member along which the shiftable race is disposed to the other member through rolling elements of one of the bearings and thence through the rolling elements of the other bearing to the spacer, the deforming force being of sufficient magnitude to elastically and then plastically deform the spacer; and

positioning an abutment in a fixed axial position on the member on which the shiftable race is disposed so that the spacer is captured in the bearing assembly;

the plastic deformation of the spacer being such that upon recovery of the elastic deformation after relief of the axial deforming force, the resulting thickness of the spacer will provide the correct bearing adjustment.