Bearing

• US 9,644,673 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Bell, Andrew, Colton, Michael, Chance, Paul, Curry, Will
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US14/739,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20150362011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/02 for radial load only
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/246 related to wear, e.g. sensors for measuring wear
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/26 Systems consisting of a plurality of sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2226/16 by wedge action, e.g. by tapered or conical parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/02 Sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/00 Other accessories, e.g. devices integrated in the bearing not relating to the bearing function as such
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/008 Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means

Abstract

A bearing assembly comprising: (a) an inner journal for supporting a shaft and having a frusto-conical contact surface facing radially outwardly; (b) an outer journal surrounding at least part of the inner journal and having a frusto-conical contact surface which faces radially inwardly; and (c) an adjustment feature for adjusting the axial location of the inner journal relative to the outer journal.

Claims

1. A bearing assembly comprising:

an inner journal, wherein the inner journal supports a shaft, and wherein the inner journal comprises a frusto-conical contact surface facing radially outwardly;

an outer journal, wherein the outer journal surrounds at least part of the inner journal, and wherein the outer journal comprises a frusto-conical contact surface which faces radially inwardly; and

an adjustment feature configured to adjust an axial location of the inner journal relative to the outer journal, wherein the adjustment feature comprises interlocking threaded members; and

an indicator configured to identify an amount of rotation of at least one of the interlocking threaded members.

2. The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the adjustment feature comprises an axially positionable member arranged to abut one of an inner member and an outer member.

3. The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the adjustment feature further comprises at least one of:

a spring;

a compressible material; and

a ratchet.

4. The bearing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a feature that indicates an amount of relative axial movement between the inner and outer journal.

5. The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the inner journal and the outer journal comprises two rings, each ring of the two rings having a frusto-conical contact surface.

6. The bearing assembly of claim 5, wherein the two rings are oriented such that their narrowest ends face each other.

7. The bearing assembly of claim 6, wherein the adjustment feature further comprises at least one of:

a compressible material;

a spring; and

a ratchet,

wherein the adjustment feature is located either side the two rings to prevent the two rings from moving apart.

8. The bearing assembly of claim 5, wherein:

the two rings are oriented such that their widest ends face towards each other.

9. The bearing assembly of claim 8, wherein the adjustment feature comprises a biasing element, wherein the biasing element is at least one of:

a spring; and

a compressible material,

wherein the biasing element is located between the two rings to bias the two rings apart.

10. The bearing assembly of claim 5, further comprising a feature that indicates an amount of relative axial movement between the two rings.

11. The bearing assembly of claim 10, wherein the feature is an electronic device.

12. The bearing assembly of claim 11, wherein the electronic device provides a wireless signal.

13. A method of maintaining a bearing comprising an adjustment feature, an indicator, an inner journal and an outer journal,

wherein the inner journal supports a shaft,

wherein the inner journal comprises a frusto-conical contact surface facing radially outwardly,

wherein the outer journal surrounds at least part of the inner journal,

wherein the outer journal comprises a frusto-conical contact surface which faces radially inwardly,

wherein the adjustment feature comprises interlocking threaded members,

the method comprising:

varying an axial location of the inner journal relative to the outer journal until the frusto-conical contact surfaces abut; and

identifying, by the indicator, an amount of rotation of at least one of the interlocking threaded members.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising electronically monitoring an axial movement of the inner journal relative to the outer journal.