Apparatus and method for preloading antifriction bearings
First Claim
1. A process of preloading a set of antifriction bearings supporting a bearing shaft in a housing, the shaft having a threaded end adapted to threadingly receive a nut by rotating the nut in a clockwise direction as viewed from the shaft threaded end, a yoke coupled to the bearing shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, said process of preloading comprising the steps of:
- rotatably driving the yoke and bearing shaft in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the bearing shaft threaded end; and
,selectively preventing the nut from rotating with the bearing shaft and thereby causing the nut to be threadingly received onto the bearing shaft and preloading the antifriction bearings.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for preloading roller bearings which rotatably support a pinion shaft in a differential gear assembly includes a drive mechanism which selectively engages and rotatably drives the yoke of the differential gear assembly in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the pinion shaft threaded end. A dead shaft engages the pinion shaft nut and rotates therewith. A brake is coupled to and selectively restrains or allows the dead shaft to rotate with the nut. Preventing the dead shaft and nut from rotating causes the nut to be threadingly received onto the pinion shaft and load the bearings. Disengaging the brake and allowing free rotation of the dead shaft and nut allows sensing of the bearing preload condition within the differential gear assembly housing.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A process of preloading a set of antifriction bearings supporting a bearing shaft in a housing, the shaft having a threaded end adapted to threadingly receive a nut by rotating the nut in a clockwise direction as viewed from the shaft threaded end, a yoke coupled to the bearing shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, said process of preloading comprising the steps of:
-
rotatably driving the yoke and bearing shaft in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the bearing shaft threaded end; and
,selectively preventing the nut from rotating with the bearing shaft and thereby causing the nut to be threadingly received onto the bearing shaft and preloading the antifriction bearings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A process of preloading a set of antifriction bearings supporting a bearing shaft in a housing, the shaft having a threaded end adapted to threadingly receive a nut by rotating the nut in a first direction as viewed from the shaft threaded end, a yoke coupled to the bearing shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, said process of preloading comprising the steps of:
-
rotatably driving the yoke and bearing shaft opposite said first direction as viewed from the bearing shaft threaded end; and
,selectively preventing the nut from rotating with the bearing shaft and thereby causing the nut to be threadingly received onto the bearing shaft and preloading the antifriction bearings. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification