Split ball sleeve

• US 9,803,684 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2014
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ryne, Patrik M., Daenzer, Troy A., Kniebbe, Bruce D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BINDA, GREGORY JOHN
• Application Number:
  US14/547,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20160138644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 464167, 384 49, 384 51, 384 52, 384523, 384524, 384560, 384577, 29898065, 2989867
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/003 bearings see also F16C33/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/24 Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/04 Ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/046 with balls journaled in pockets
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 3/035 with built-in bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/3812 formed of interconnected segments, e.g. chains
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/40 for multiple rows of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/60 divided or split, e.g. comprising two juxtaposed rings
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/065 by means of rolling elements

Abstract

A rolling element shaft assembly includes a solid shaft having a first end and a second end, a tubular shaft configured to receive the shaft first end, and a bearing sleeve coupled to the solid shaft. The bearing sleeve includes a first portion defining a first edge, a second edge, and at least one first bearing aperture, and a second portion defining a third edge, a fourth edge, and at least one second bearing aperture. The first portion is configured to couple to the second portion about the solid shaft. The bearing sleeve further includes at least one first bearing disposed within the at least one first bearing aperture and at least one second bearing disposed within the at least one second bearing aperture.

Claims

1. A bearing sleeve for a rolling element shaft assembly having a solid shaft, the bearing sleeve comprising:

a first portion defining a first edge, and a second edge, each axially extending between a first portion first end and a first portion second end, and a first plurality of ball bearing apertures disposed between a first plurality of protrusions radially extending from an inner surface of the first portion, the first plurality of ball bearing apertures and the first plurality of protrusions are axially aligned and axially extend between the first portion first end and the first portion second end;

a second portion defining a third edge, and a fourth edge, each axially extending between a second portion first end and a second portion second end, and a second plurality of ball bearing apertures disposed between a second plurality of protrusions radially extending from an inner surface of the second portion, the second plurality of ball bearing apertures and the second plurality of protrusions are axially aligned and axially extend between the second portion first end and the second portion second end and are circumferentially spaced apart from the first plurality of ball bearing apertures and the first plurality of protrusions, the first portion configured to couple to the second portion about the solid shaft;

a first plurality of ball bearings received within the first plurality of ball bearing apertures and retained between the first plurality of protrusions, and a second plurality of ball bearings received within the second plurality of ball bearing apertures and retained between the second plurality of protrusions; and

at least one hinge coupled between the first edge and the third edge.

2. The bearing sleeve of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one clip member extending from the second edge; and

at least one clip aperture formed in the fourth edge, the at least one clip aperture configured to receive the at least one clip member to couple the first portion and the second portion.

3. The bearing sleeve of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one additional clip member extending from the fourth edge; and

at least one additional clip aperture formed in the second edge, the at least one additional clip aperture configured to receive the at least one additional clip member to couple the first portion and the second portion.