Bearing assembly having an improved wear ring liner

• US 6,334,713 B1
• Filed: 05/17/1999
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roller Bearing Industries, Inc. (Greenbrier Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Roller Bearing Industries, Inc. (Greenbrier Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Chu, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Footland, Lenard A.
• Application Number:
  US09/312,502
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 384/291, 384/292, 384/276, 384/147, 384/148, 384/484
• US Class Current: 384/464
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/28 with two or more rows of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/386 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors in general B60B
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/7813 for tapered roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/7826 of the opposing surface cooperating with the seal, e.g. a shoulder surface of a bearing ring
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/063 Fixing them on the shaft with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3268 Mounting of sealing rings

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention overcome one or more of the above mentioned problems by using improved bearing assemblies and/or improved wear ring liners. For example, an aspect of the present invention includes configuring a bearing assembly to include a wear ring having an integral wear ring liner which allows oil or other lubricants to pass along or through the wear ring. In aspects of the invention, the wear ring liner is of a low abrasion, low friction material such as a polymeric (e.g., nylon), synthetic rubber, elastomeric, graphite, and/or other low friction lining material. The low abrasion/friction liner material provides a cushioning between the wear ring and the shaft. Thus, fretting of the shaft is substantially reduced or eliminated while at the same time allowing the wear ring to derive its concentricity directly from the shaft.

Claims

1. A bearing assembly for positioning about a portion of a shaft, said bearing assembly comprising:

a bearing cap including an inwardly directed raceway;

a race having an outwardly directed raceway facing said inwardly directed raceway;

a bearing located between the inwardly and outwardly directed raceways; and

a wear ring including an outer wear ring element and a non-metallic wear ring liner having a plurality of deformations.

2. The wear ring liner of claim 1 wherein the deformations comprise a plurality of axially extending ribs.

3. The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformations comprise a plurality of fluid flow passages.

4. The bearing assembly of claim 3 wherein the fluid flow passages provide fluid communication through the non-metallic wear ring liner.

5. The bearing assembly of claim 4 wherein the fluid flow passages extend axially from a first end to a second end of the non-metallic wear ring liner.

6. The bearing assembly of claim 3 wherein the fluid flow passages include a lubricant.

7. The wear ring liner of claim 1, wherein the deformations include projections.

8. The wear ring liner of claim 7 wherein the projections have a peak configured to include a curvature which mates with a shaft.

9. A bearing assembly for positioning about a portion of a shaft, said bearing assembly comprising:

a bearing cap including an inwardly directed raceway;

a race having an outwardly directed raceway facing said inwardly directed raceway;

a bearing located between the inwardly and outwardly directed raceways; and

a wear ring including an outer wear ring element and a wear ring liner comprising a plurality of axially extending ribs.

10. The bearing assembly of claim 9 including a plurality of holes.

11. The bearing assembly of claim 10 including a lubricant disposed in the holes.

12. The bearing assembly of claim 9 including a lubricant disposed between the ribs.