Methods for preloading a bearing and aligning a lock nut

• US 8,650,757 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Temper AXLE Products Corporation, Temper Corporation
• Original Assignee: John E. Rode
• Inventors: Rode, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Richard
• Application Number:
  US13/683,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20130145621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 297/24, 292/52, 298/980.9, 298/980.7, 298/03, 298/940.1, 292/64, 292/63, 384/540, 411/14.5
• US Class Current: 29/898.09
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/06 inserting or withdrawing sleeves or bearing races
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/062 using screws
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/10 by a plate, spring, wire or ring immovable with regard to the bolt or object and mainly perpendicular to the axis of the boltF16B39/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2229/00 Setting preload
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/06 Ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/008 Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/02 Arrangements for equalising the load on a plurality of bearings or their elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49696 Mounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49698 Demounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/497 Pre-usage process, e.g., preloading, aligning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53104 Roller or ball bearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5383 having fluid operator

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft includes an attaching member and a press mechanism. The attaching member is releasably connected to the shaft. The press member is coupled to the attaching member and is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism includes an aligning arm configured to engage a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft when the attaching member connects to the shaft.

Claims

1. A method for use in providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the method comprising:

mounting an attaching mechanism to an end of the shaft;

coupling a press mechanism to the attaching member, the press mechanism configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing; and

inserting an aligning arm of the press mechanism within a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft;

the aligning arm comprising a free end extending distally past a distalmost extent of the attaching member in a distal direction, wherein a proximal direction extends toward the press mechanism from the shaft, the distal direction being opposite from the proximal direction and extending toward the shaft from the press mechanism.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring the load provided to the bearing.

2. A method for use in providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the method comprising:

mounting an attaching mechanism to an end of the shaft;

coupling a press mechanism to the attaching member, the press mechanism configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing;

inserting an aligning arm of the press mechanism within a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft; and

providing a compressive load to the bearings by a plurality of extensions of the press mechanism by engaging the extensions with an inner race of the bearing.

3. A method for use in providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the method comprising:

mounting an attaching mechanism to an end of the shaft;

coupling a press mechanism to the attaching member, the press mechanism configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing;

inserting an aligning arm of the press mechanism within a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft; and

engaging a lock nut with the shaft and rotating the lock nut to a particular position by aligning a plurality of markings on an outside surface of the nut with the aligning arm.