Bearing preload cage assembly
First Claim
1. A bearing preload cage assembly for rotatably supporting a shaft subject to axial loading comprising:
- a bearing housing including first and second stationary axially opposed supporting members;
first and second axially spaced bearings for supporting the shaft on the bearing housing, the first bearing including a first inner race fixed on the shaft, a first outer race, and a first plurality of rolling elements engageably interposed between the first inner race and the first outer race, the second bearing including a second inner race fixed on the shaft, a second outer race, and a second plurality of rolling elements engageably interposed between the second inner race and the second outer race,a first cylindrical cage segment coaxial with the shaft including a first sleeve having an internal surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced castellations axially protruding from the first sleeve;
a second cylindrical cage segment coaxial with the shaft including a second sleeve having an internal surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced castellations axially protruding from the second sleeve;
the first outer race engageably received on the internal surface of the first sleeve;
the second outer race engageably received on the internal surface of the second sleeve;
the castellations of the first cage segment proximate to and engageable with the outer race of the second bearing;
the castellations of the second cage segment proximate to and engageable with the outer race of the first bearing;
the first supporting member proximate to and engageable with the first cage segment;
the second supporting member proximate to and engageable with the second cage segment;
a resilient member biasing at least one of the first and second outer races into full engagement with its associated plurality of rolling elements and, in turn, its associated plurality of rolling elements into full engagement with their associated inner race;
whereby, at all times during rotation of the shaft, the rolling elements of the first bearing are maintained in full engagement with the first inner race and with the first outer race; and
whereby, at all times during rotation of the shaft, the rolling elements of the second bearing are maintained in full engagement with the second inner race and with the second outer race.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bearing preload cage assembly for rotatably supporting an axially loaded shaft includes a bearing housing including stationary axially opposed supporting members, first and second axially spaced bearings, each including inner and outer races and rolling elements, first and second cylindrical cage segments coaxial with the shaft, each including a sleeve and circumferentially spaced axially protruding castellations, the outer races engageably received on an internal surface of their associated sleeve, the castellations of each cage segment proximate to and engageable with the outer race of the adjacent bearing, the supporting members proximate to and engageable with an adjacent cage segment, a resilient member biasing at least one of the outer races into full engagement with its rolling elements and, in turn, its rolling elements into full engagement with their inner race whereby the rolling elements of both bearings are maintained in full engagement with their inner and outer races continuously during shaft rotation.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A bearing preload cage assembly for rotatably supporting a shaft subject to axial loading comprising:
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a bearing housing including first and second stationary axially opposed supporting members; first and second axially spaced bearings for supporting the shaft on the bearing housing, the first bearing including a first inner race fixed on the shaft, a first outer race, and a first plurality of rolling elements engageably interposed between the first inner race and the first outer race, the second bearing including a second inner race fixed on the shaft, a second outer race, and a second plurality of rolling elements engageably interposed between the second inner race and the second outer race, a first cylindrical cage segment coaxial with the shaft including a first sleeve having an internal surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced castellations axially protruding from the first sleeve; a second cylindrical cage segment coaxial with the shaft including a second sleeve having an internal surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced castellations axially protruding from the second sleeve; the first outer race engageably received on the internal surface of the first sleeve; the second outer race engageably received on the internal surface of the second sleeve; the castellations of the first cage segment proximate to and engageable with the outer race of the second bearing; the castellations of the second cage segment proximate to and engageable with the outer race of the first bearing; the first supporting member proximate to and engageable with the first cage segment; the second supporting member proximate to and engageable with the second cage segment; a resilient member biasing at least one of the first and second outer races into full engagement with its associated plurality of rolling elements and, in turn, its associated plurality of rolling elements into full engagement with their associated inner race; whereby, at all times during rotation of the shaft, the rolling elements of the first bearing are maintained in full engagement with the first inner race and with the first outer race; and whereby, at all times during rotation of the shaft, the rolling elements of the second bearing are maintained in full engagement with the second inner race and with the second outer race. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification