Flange bearing having reinforced molded housing

• US 6,493,939 B2
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solus Industrial Innovations, LLC (Power Transmission Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Valu Engineering, Inc. (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Inventors: Ledingham, Stuart J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hughes, S. Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Omgba, Essama
• Application Number:
  US09/427,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20010014190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 384/275, 384/399, 384/474, 384/542, 384/584, 384/909, 384/428, 384/438, 384/440, 248/637, 248/640, 248/646, 248/666, 295/271, 298/98, 298/981.5, 298/980.4, 298/980.55, 264/271.1, 264/275
• US Class Current: 29/898.15
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/02 in the case of sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 7/00 Details of attaching or adjusting engine beds, frames, or supporting-legs on foundation or base; Attaching non-moving engine parts, e.g. cylinder blocks elastic or equivalent mounting for absorbing vibrations F16F, especially F16F15/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49636 Process for making bearing or component thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49643 Rotary bearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49668 Sleeve or bushing making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4967 Nonmetallic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4971 Nonmetallic bearing element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

A flange includes a housing having a body with a reinforcing member encased within the housing. The flange can be configured to house a bearing. The flange can alternatively be configured to act as a leveler for machinery. The flange is formed by a) preparing a mold for the housing, b) preparing a metallic band for insertion into a space in the mold, c) suspending the band within the mold, d) introducing a thermosetting material into the mold to encase the band, and e) cooling the thermosetting material.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a reinforced housing for supporting a shaft, comprising the steps of:

a) preparing a mold to produce a housing, said housing including a first opening for receiving at least one fastener and a second opening for receiving said shaft;

b) preparing a reinforcing band for insertion into a cavity within said mold;

c) suspending said band within said cavity of said mold such that said band circumscribes said first and second openings;

d) introducing a thermosetting material into said cavity of said mold, thereby encasing said band in said thermosetting material; and

e) cooling said material thereby creating a housing reinforced by said band.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said band is made of metal.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of removing said housing from said mold and inserting said shaft into said second opening.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of positioning said housing on a support surface and inserting a fastener through said first hole and into said support surface.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of attaching said shaft to a machine and turning said shaft to adjust the height of said machine.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises preparing said mold to produce a substantially tear-shaped housing with a relatively wide end and a relatively narrow end.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein step (a) further comprises positioning said first opening near said relatively narrow end and said second opening near said relatively wide end.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing band has a width no greater than about 0.7 inches.