Systems and methods for preloading a bearing and aligning a lock nut
First Claim
1. A method of adjusting preload on a bearing assembly of a wheel mounted on an axle or spindle with a lock nut comprising:
- mounting a preload adjustment tool comprising a preload measurement gage onto a threaded axle or spindle;
increasing a load on the bearing assembly using the adjustment tool;
rotating the wheel on the axle or spindle to set the bearing assembly;
decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to a desired maximum preload on the bearing;
after decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to a desired maximum preload;
tightening the lock nut on the bearing assembly by hand until the lock nut cannot be further tightened;
loosening the lock nut by rotating the lock nut to a preferred location where a guide mark on the adjustment tool aligns with one mark of a series of marks on the lock nut located closest to said guide mark wherein a resultant preload on said bearing assembly is within a preset range from said desired maximum preload.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of adjusting preload on a bearing assembly of a wheel mounted on an axle or spindle with a lock nut includes mounting a preload adjustment tool onto a threaded axle or spindle. The load on the bearing assembly is increased using the tool. The wheel on the axle or spindle is rotated to set the bearing assembly. The load on the bearing assembly is decreased to a desired maximum preload on the bearing. After decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to a desired maximum preload, the lock nut is tightened by hand until the lock nut cannot be further tightened. The lock nut is loosened by rotating the lock nut to a preferred location where a guide mark on the tool aligns with one mark on the lock nut located closest to the guide mark wherein a resultant preload on the bearing assembly is within a preset range from the desired maximum preload.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of adjusting preload on a bearing assembly of a wheel mounted on an axle or spindle with a lock nut comprising:
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mounting a preload adjustment tool comprising a preload measurement gage onto a threaded axle or spindle; increasing a load on the bearing assembly using the adjustment tool;
rotating the wheel on the axle or spindle to set the bearing assembly;decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to a desired maximum preload on the bearing; after decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to a desired maximum preload;
tightening the lock nut on the bearing assembly by hand until the lock nut cannot be further tightened;loosening the lock nut by rotating the lock nut to a preferred location where a guide mark on the adjustment tool aligns with one mark of a series of marks on the lock nut located closest to said guide mark wherein a resultant preload on said bearing assembly is within a preset range from said desired maximum preload. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification