Process and tool for adjusting bearings
First Claim
1. A process for adjusting a bearing assembly located between a first machine component which rotates relative to a second machine component, the bearing assembly essentially including raceways which are carried by the first component in a fixed position on that component, races carried by the second component, but being detachable from that component with each race having a raceway that is presented toward one of the raceways on the first component, and rolling elements arranged in two rows between the raceways of the first component and the raceways on the races of the second component, the raceways and rolling elements being configured to transmit radial loads between the components and to further transfer thrust loads in both axial directions between the components, whereby the spacing between the detachable races determines the setting for the bearing;
- said process comprising;
with the detachable races detached from the second machine component, fitting the races to the raceways of the first component with the rolling elements between the raceways of the first component and the raceways of the races;
installing a spacer between the detachable races, with the spacer initially being long enough to place the bearing assembly in a condition of excessive end play, the spacer being collapsible under a force which the races will withstand without collapsing;
applying an axially directed force to the two races, the direction of which causes the assembly to approach a condition of preload;
monitoring the drag torque of the bearing assembly; and
terminating and removing the axially directed force on the races when the drag torque reaches a prescribed magnitude.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A bearing assembly which enables a hub to rotate on a spindle and has two single row tapered roller bearings, is adjusted by forcing the inner races or cones together with a spacer between them, all while the hub is off the spindle. This force, which is applied by an adjusting tool that fits through the cones much like the spindle, compresses the spacer and causes it to yield both elastically and plastically. The force is applied incrementally, and with each incremental advance the drag torque in the bearing assembly is checked by simply turning the adjusting tool. When the drag torque reaches a prescribed magnitude, the compressive force is removed and the adjusting tool withdrawn. Now the two races, the collapsed spacer and the hub, are installed on the spindle, followed by a spindle nut over the end of the spindle. The spindle nut clamps the two races and the spacer together, with the spacer establishing the distance that the races are separated--and hence the setting for the bearing assembly.
55 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A process for adjusting a bearing assembly located between a first machine component which rotates relative to a second machine component, the bearing assembly essentially including raceways which are carried by the first component in a fixed position on that component, races carried by the second component, but being detachable from that component with each race having a raceway that is presented toward one of the raceways on the first component, and rolling elements arranged in two rows between the raceways of the first component and the raceways on the races of the second component, the raceways and rolling elements being configured to transmit radial loads between the components and to further transfer thrust loads in both axial directions between the components, whereby the spacing between the detachable races determines the setting for the bearing;
- said process comprising;
with the detachable races detached from the second machine component, fitting the races to the raceways of the first component with the rolling elements between the raceways of the first component and the raceways of the races;
installing a spacer between the detachable races, with the spacer initially being long enough to place the bearing assembly in a condition of excessive end play, the spacer being collapsible under a force which the races will withstand without collapsing;
applying an axially directed force to the two races, the direction of which causes the assembly to approach a condition of preload;
monitoring the drag torque of the bearing assembly; and
terminating and removing the axially directed force on the races when the drag torque reaches a prescribed magnitude. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- said process comprising;
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9. A process for adjusting a bearing assembly located between a hub and a spindle for enabling the hub to rotate relative to the spindle about an axis of rotation, the bearing assembly including two raceways located in the hub where they are normally fixed in position, two detachable races that normally fit over the spindle and have raceways that are presented toward the raceways of the hub, and rolling elements arranged in two rows between the raceways in the hub and the raceways on the races, the raceways and rolling elements being oriented and configured to transfer radial loads between the spindle and hub and also thrust loads in both axial directions, the races being located on the spindle between a shoulder and a securing device, said process comprising:
- with the hub withdrawn and detached from the spindle, installing the two detachable races and the rolling elements in the raceways of the hub such that the rolling elements are along the raceways of the hub and races;
fitting a collapsible spacer between the two races, with the spacer being large enough to place the bearing assembly in a condition of excessive end play;
forcing the races together with enough force to collapse the spacer;
monitoring the drag torque of the bearing assembly as the races are forced together; and
removing the force when the drag torque reaches a prescribed magnitude, whereby the collapsed spacer will separate the races a distance which will provide the bearing assembly with the desired setting. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- with the hub withdrawn and detached from the spindle, installing the two detachable races and the rolling elements in the raceways of the hub such that the rolling elements are along the raceways of the hub and races;
Specification