Protective bearing guard

• US 4,911,564 A
• Filed: 11/10/1988
• Issued: 03/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Simplicity Manufacturing (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Herbert R. Baker
• Inventors: Baker, Herbert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Footland, Lenard A.
• Application Number:
  US07/269,684
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 384/145, 384/488, 384/209, 384/417, 384/498, 384/208
• US Class Current: 384/145
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 3/002 for comminuting plant waste comminuting by cutting implements in general B02C18/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 23/00 Bearings for exclusively rotary movement adjustable for aligning or positioning F16C27/00 takes precedence ; hydrostatic bearings F16C32/067
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2310/00 Agricultural machines in general A01
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/72 Sealings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/045 with a radial flange to mount the housing

Abstract

A bearing guard is adapted for use in connection with a machine such as a chipping/shredding/grinding machine for lawn and garden use. The bearing guard is used in connection with self-aligning bearings which support the ends of a rotatable shaft provided on the machine and which is exposed to a work cavity in which the chipping, shredding or grinding operations take place. The bearing guard protects the bearings from material which is retained on the rotatable shaft during operation of the machine. The bearing guard comprises a shield surface disposed between the work cavity of the machine and the side of the bearing facing the work cavity. The shield surface has an opening through which the rotatable shaft of the machine passes. The opening is in relatively close dimensional tolerance with respect to the outer surface of the shaft, so as to resist contact of material retained on the shaft with the side of bearing during operation of the machine. The shield surface may be disposed on a separate plate structure which is connected to the housing of the machine along with the housing of the bearing, or it may be formed integrally with one of the housing members of the bearing.

Claims

1. In combination, a chipping and shredding machine including a protective guard assembly comprising a self-aligning bearing, said bearing having a hub through which a rotatable shaft member extends into structure defining a work cavity where material comes into contact with and is retained on said shaft adjacent the projection of said shaft from said bearing, said bearing having a housing having a projecting spherical lip defining a hub receiving cavity adjacent to said work cavity for retaining said hub therein, with one side of said hub facing said work cavity, said protective guard comprising a shielding surface formed integrally with said projecting lip of said bearing housing and being disposed between said work cavity and the side of said bearing facing said work cavity, said shielding surface extending inwardly from said projecting lip and toward said shaft and having a substantially central opening adapted to accommodate passage of said shaft therethrough, said opening being relatively closely dimensioned to the outer surface of said shaft so as to resist contact of material retained on said shaft within said work cavity with the side of said bearing facing said work cavity.

2. The protective guard of claim 1, wherein said shielding surface is spaced from the side of said bearing facing said work cavity for allowing movement of said bearing during self-alignment thereof.

3. In combination a chipping and shredding machine including a bearing assembly, comprising:

a rotatable bearing having a passage for accommodating a rotatable shaft therethrough, said shaft extending into a work cavity where material comes into contact with and is retained on said shaft;

a hub to which said rotatable bearing is mounted, said hub having a side facing said work cavity;

a housing having a hub cavity for receiving said hub therein and a projecting spherical lip on one side of said housing facing said work cavity for retaining said hub within said hub cavity; and

shield means provided adjacent said hub, said shield means comprising a shielding surface disposed between said work cavity and the side of said hub facing said work cavity, said shielding surface being formed integrally with said projecting lip of said housing and extending inwardly therefrom toward said shaft, said shielding surface having a substantially central opening adapted to accommodate passage of said shaft therethrough, said opening being located so that said shielding surface is in relatively close proximity to the outer surface of said shaft so as to resist contact of material retained on said shaft within said work cavity with the side of said hub facing said work cavity.

4. The bearing assembly of claim 3, wherein said shielding surface is spaced from the side of said bearing facing said work cavity for allowing movement of said bearing during self-alignment thereof.