Bearing assembly utilizing improved clamping arrangement
First Claim
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1. A bearing assembly for receipt of a shaft therein, said bearing assembly comprising:
- a tapered adapter defining a first axial bore for receipt of the shaft therethrough and having a radial slot extending along the length thereof, said tapered adapter further defining a tapered outer surface and including a first extension portion axially extending from a greater diameter end of said tapered outer surface;
a bearing inner ring member defining an inner raceway about an outer surface thereof and further defining a second axial bore having a tapered inner surface for receipt of said tapered adapter therein, said bearing inner ring member including a second extension portion axially extending from a greater diameter portion of said tapered inner surface;
a bearing outer race member defining an outer raceway about an inner surface thereof, said bearing outer race member situated such that said outer raceway is radially outward of said inner raceway generally in axial alignment therewith;
a plurality of bearing elements disposed between said bearing inner raceway and said bearing outer raceway; and
a nut having a first axial portion for receipt around said first extension portion and a second axial portion for receipt around said second extension portion, said nut interconnecting said tapered adapter and said bearing inner ring member to effect relative axial movement therebetween.
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Abstract
A bearing assembly includes an improved clamping arrangement for securement to a shaft. The inner ring of the bearing assembly includes a tapered inner surface generally complementary to a tapered outer surface of a tapered adapter. Each of the tapered adapter and the inner ring member include an axial extension portion which are situated to be proximate one another during use. A nut is provided interconnecting the extension portions such that relative axial movement may be effected between the inner ring member and the tapered adapter. As a result, the bearing assembly may be secured to or removed from the shaft.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A bearing assembly for receipt of a shaft therein, said bearing assembly comprising:
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a tapered adapter defining a first axial bore for receipt of the shaft therethrough and having a radial slot extending along the length thereof, said tapered adapter further defining a tapered outer surface and including a first extension portion axially extending from a greater diameter end of said tapered outer surface; a bearing inner ring member defining an inner raceway about an outer surface thereof and further defining a second axial bore having a tapered inner surface for receipt of said tapered adapter therein, said bearing inner ring member including a second extension portion axially extending from a greater diameter portion of said tapered inner surface; a bearing outer race member defining an outer raceway about an inner surface thereof, said bearing outer race member situated such that said outer raceway is radially outward of said inner raceway generally in axial alignment therewith; a plurality of bearing elements disposed between said bearing inner raceway and said bearing outer raceway; and a nut having a first axial portion for receipt around said first extension portion and a second axial portion for receipt around said second extension portion, said nut interconnecting said tapered adapter and said bearing inner ring member to effect relative axial movement therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A clamping arrangement for securement to an elongated shaft, said clamping arrangement comprising:
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a tapered adapter defining an axial bore for receipt of the shaft therethrough, said tapered adapter further defining a tapered outer surface extending between a first end of lesser diameter and a second end of greater diameter than said first end, said tapered adapter further having a first extension portion axially extending from one of said first end and said second end; an annular element defining an axial bore for receipt of said tapered adapter therein, said annular element further defining a tapered inner surface extending between a third end of greater diameter and a fourth end of lesser diameter than said third end, said annular element further having a second extension portion axially extending from one of said third end and said fourth end such that said second extension portion will be proximate to said first extension portion during use; one of said first extension portion and said second extension portion defining a first circumferential groove extending about at least a portion of an outer surface thereof, another of said first extension portion and said second extension portion defining threads about an outer surface thereof; a nut having a first axial portion for receipt around said first extension portion and a second axial portion for receipt around said second extension portion; one of said first axial portion and said second axial portion having threads defined about an inner surface thereof for engaging said threads defined on a corresponding one of said first extension portion and said second extension portion, another of said first axial portion and said second axial portion defining a second circumferential groove extending about at least a portion of an inner surface thereof radially aligned in use with said first circumferential groove; and at least one member configured for receipt in said first circumferential groove and said second circumferential groove such that rotation of said nut will effect axial movement of said annular member with respect to said tapered adapter. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A clamping arrangement for securement to an elongated shaft, said clamping arrangement comprising:
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a tapered adapter defining a first axial bore for receipt of the shaft therethrough, said tapered adapter further defining a tapered outer surface extending between a first end of lesser diameter and a second end of greater diameter than said first end, said tapered adapter further having a first extension portion axially extending from one of said first end and said second end; a bearing inner ring member defining a bearing raceway about an outer surface thereof, said bearing inner ring member further defining a second axial bore for receipt of said tapered adapter therein, said second axial bore including a tapered inner surface extending between a third end of greater diameter and a fourth end of lesser diameter than said third end; said bearing inner ring member further having a second extension portion axially extending from one of said third end and said fourth end such that said second extension portion will be proximate to said first extension portion during use, said second extension portion defining a circumferential groove extending about at least a portion of an outer surface thereof; a nut having a first axial portion for receipt around said first extension portion and a second axial portion for receipt around said second extension portion, said first axial portion having threads defined about an inner surface thereof for engaging said threads defined on said first extension portion, said second axial portion defining a circumferential lip extending about at least a portion of an inner surface thereof for engaging said circumferential groove; and said nut including a plurality of nut segments adapted to be secured together into a rigid member, each of said plurality of segments defining an arcuate shaft receiving portion arranged so that when said nut is secured together said segments define a circular interior for receiving said first extension portion and said second extension portion, whereby rotation of said nut will effect axial movement of said bearing inner ring member with respect to said tapered adapter. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A method of securing a bearing assembly to a shaft, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing apparatus comprising; (1) a tapered adapter defining a first axial bore for receipt of the shaft therethrough and having a radial slot extending along the length thereof, said tapered adapter further defining a tapered outer surface and including a first extension portion axially extending from a greater diameter end of said tapered outer surface, said first extension portion defining outer threads thereabout; (2) a bearing assembly including an inner race member defining a second axial bore having a tapered inner surface for receipt of said tapered adapter therein, said bearing inner ring member including a second extension portion axially extending from a greater diameter portion of said tapered inner surface, said second extension portion defining a first circumferential groove about at least a portion of an outer surface thereof; (3) a unitary nut having a first axial portion for receipt about first extension portion and a second axial portion for receipt about said second extension portion, said first axial portion defining interior threads and said second axial portion defining a second circumferential groove about at least a portion of the length thereof; and (4) at least one arcuate member sized to be received in said first and second circumferential grooves; (b) placing said bearing assembly on said tapered adapter such that said tapered outer surface and said tapered inner surface are generally complementary; (c) inserting said at least one arcuate member into said second circumferential groove; (d) threading said nut onto said tapered adapter until said first circumferential groove and said second circumferential groove are in radial alignment; (e) moving a portion of said at least one arcuate member out of said second circumferential groove and into said first circumferential groove such that said nut and said bearing assembly will be connected; and (f) further rotating said nut to effect relative axial movement between said bearing assembly and said tapered adapter. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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Specification