Method for preloading bearing

• US 4,033,644 A
• Filed: 07/19/1976
• Issued: 07/05/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Reneerkens, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Church, Gene A.
• Application Number:
  US05/706,335
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 308/189 R, 308/189 A, 308/207 R, 308/207 A, 308/238, 267/161, 267/162, 267/615
• US Class Current: 384/563
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/08 other than mechanically-actuated B23Q3/061, B23Q3/066, and B23Q3/067 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/547 with two angular contact rolling bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2229/00 Setting preload
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2322/39 General build up of machine tools, e.g. spindles, slides, actuators in general B23Q
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/61 Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts in general F16H57/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/083 with resilient means acting axially on a race ring to preload the bearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/0221 Axial adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/06 with gears having orbital motion

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and means for preloading bearings and more particularly the preloading of tapered roller bearings of the type used in the axle systems of motor vehicles. In accordance with the disclosure a pair of Belleville spring washers are positioned against one of the races of a tapered roller bearing and secured in position in a manner so that the springs exert the desired preload upon the bearing. A self curing synthetic plastic material is injected into the housing containing the spring washers so as to surround the washers whereby the preload on the bearing will be set and will not be altered by subsequent high bearing loads on the spring washers. The surrounding plastic material prevents significant subsequent compression of the spring washers beyond their initial compression.

Claims

1. A preloaded bearing construction comprising a housing, a member rotatable relative to said housing and a bearing interposed between said member and said housing;

a spring engaging a portion of said bearing and exerting a preload force upon said bearing;

an elastomeric plastic material disposed about a portion of said spring constructed to limit deflection of said spring in the direction opposite to the direction in which it exerts its preload force.

2. A means for adjusting and maintaining the preload on an anti-friction bearing comprising a housing member having an internal cavity, a rotatable member disposed within said cavity and an anti-friction bearing interposed between said housing member and said rotatable member;

said bearing having an inner race in engagement with said rotatable member and an outer race in engagement with said housing member;

one of said races being axially displaceable relative to the member which it engages;

a spring means engaging said one race and exerting a preload force on said bearing;

an elastomeric plastic material engaging said spring means and constructed to limit displacement of said spring means in the direction opposite to the direction in which it exerts its preload force.

3. A means for adjusting and maintaining the preload of an anti-friction bearing according to claim 2 and including:

said spring means comprising a Belleville spring washer.

4. A means for adjusting and maintaining the preload of an anti-friction bearing according to claim 2 and including:

said spring means comprising first and second Belleville spring washers.

5. A means for adjusting and maintaining the preload of an anti-friction bearing according to claim 2 and including:

said spring means comprising first and second Belleville spring washers;

said elastomeric plastic material being interposed between said first and second Belleville spring washers.

6. A means for adjusting and maintaining the preload on an anti-friction bearing comprising a housing having a bore, a rotatable member disposed within said bore and an anti-friction bearing interposed between said housing and said rotatable member;

said bearing having an inner race in press-fit engagement with said rotatable member and an outer race in axially slidable engagement with the wall of said bore;

first and second Belleville spring washers disposed adjacent said bearing;

the outer edge of said first washer engaging said outer race of said bearing;

a member secured to said housing engaging the outer edge of said second washer;

said pair of washers exerting a resilient force on said outer race of said bearing;

an elastomeric plastic material interposed between said first and second washers constructed to limit displacement of the outer edges of said washers toward each other.

7. A method of adjusting and maintaining the preload of an anti-friction bearing for a construction having a housing and a member rotatable within said housing;

said bearing having an inner race and an outer race;

positioning said bearing with said inner race in engagement with said rotatable member and said outer race in engagement with said housing;

positioning a spring adjacent said bearing;

securing a member to said housing causing said spring to exert a spring force upon said bearing;

injecting a curable plastic elastomeric material about a portion of said spring;

said material being constructed to limit displacement of said spring in a direction away from said bearing.

8. A method of adjusting and maintaining the preload of an anti-friction bearing for a construction having a housing and a member rotatable within said housing;

said bearing having an inner race and an outer race;

positioning said bearing with said inner race in press-fit engagement with said rotatable member and said outer race in slidable engagement with said housing;

positioning a pair of Belleville spring washers adjacent said bearing;

securing a member to said housing causing said spring washers to exert a spring force upon said outer race;

injecting a curable plastic elastomeric material between said spring washers;

said material being constructed to limit displacement of said washers toward each other.