ROLLING BEARING

• US 3,726,576 A
• Filed: 03/09/1972
• Issued: 04/10/1973
• 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: Barnbrook, Thomas George, Wren, Frederick James
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, Charles J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Susko, Frank
• Application Number:
  US05/233,370
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 308/207,189
• US Class Current: 384/563
• 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. In a bearing assembly comprising an outer member;

an inner member;

at least one bearing between the inner and outer members, the bearing including an outer race in the outer member, an inner race positioned around the inner member, and a plurality of rolling elements engaged with and interposed between the two races such that the bearing has the capability of transmitting a load between said members; and

an abutment-forming element normally mounted rigidly on one of the members in spaced relation the bearing;

the improvement comprising a spacer washer positioned between the abutment-forming element and the race engaged with the member on which the abutment-forming element is mounted, the spacer washer having been deformed in the bearing assembly first elastically and then plastically on the application of a load thereto and having recovered at least some of the elastic deformation on removal of the load so that on assembly of the bearing assembly the washer provides the proper adjustment for the bearing.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the spacer washer is made of metal.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the spacer washer is made from an aluminum alloy.

4. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the spacer washer comprises a base portion and a flared flange extending from the base portion.

5. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the spacer washer is a torus.

6. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the spacer washer comprises a plastic ring and metal elements projecting through and from both end faces of the ring.

7. The structure according to claim 6 wherein the metal elements are pins extending generally parallel to the axis of rotation for the bearing.

8. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the bearings are two indirectly mounted tapered roller bearings;

wherein the outer member is a housing having shoulders against which the outer races of the bearings seat;

wherein the inner member is a shaft having a shoulder which bears against the inner race of one of the bearings; and

wherein the abutment is mounted on the shaft beyond the inner race of the other bearing and the spacer washer is interposed between the abutment and the inner race of that other bearing.

9. The structure according to claim 8 wherein the shaft is provided with another shoulder located beyond the inner race Of the other tapered roller bearing;

wherein the abutment-forming element is a sleeve which abuts against the second shaft shoulder and projects outwardly therefrom, and wherein means engageable with the shaft secure the sleeve firmly against the second shaft shoulder.

10. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the static thrust capacity of the bearing exceeds the elastic limit of the spacer washer whereby the washer will plastically deform under the application of the axial load without damaging the bearing.

11. The structure according to claim 10 wherein the spacer washer plastically deforms under a load which does not exceed approximately 75% of the static thrust capacity of the bearing.