Systems and methods for preloading a bearing and aligning a lock nut

• US 9,850,943 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2017
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Temper AXLE Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: Temper AXLE Products Corporation
• Inventors: Rode, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Besler, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US15/482,416
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/027 using hydraulic or pneumatic means B23P19/033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/54 Internal grip wrenches B25B13/5083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/06 inserting or withdrawing sleeves or bearing races
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/062 using screws
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2320/10 Assembling; disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2380/14 Roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0078 characterised by the fixation of bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/321 Lifetime
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/04 with a member penetrating the screw-threaded surface of at least one part, e.g. a pin, a wedge, cotter-pin, screw
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/12 by means of locknuts
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2226/60 with threaded parts, e.g. bolt and nut connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2229/00 Setting preload
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/06 Ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/063 Fixing them on the shaft with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/04 Assembling rolling-contact bearings

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising locking the lock nut in the preferred location.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the series of marks on the lock nut are spaced circumferentially on the face of the lock nut.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a distance between adjacent marks on the lock nut is uniform between consecutive marks.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said distance between adjacent marks correspond to a set variation of preload on the bearing assembly.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein loosening the nut by rotating the lock nut to a preferred location reduces the preload on the bearing assembly an amount less than the set variation of preload.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein tightening the lock nut on the bearing assembly by hand until the lock nut cannot be further tightened results in a preload on the bearing assembly equaling said desired maximum preload.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the desired maximum preload is between 900 and 1100 pounds.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said resultant preload is between 600 and 1000 pounds.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired maximum preload is between 900 and 1100 pounds.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said resultant preload is between 600 and 1000 pounds.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein the set variation of preload is between 250 and 350 pounds.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said series of marks comprises 60 marks.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the preload adjustment tool further comprises an aligning ring having an aligning projection configured to engage a shaft slot of the shaft to align a press mechanism of the preload apparatus relative to the shaft when said attaching member connects to the shaft, and wherein the guide mark comprises a ring indicating marking of a plurality of ring indicating markings on an outer circumferential surface of the aligning ring.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the increasing the load on the bearing assembly using the adjustment tool comprises increasing the load on the bearing assembly via a plurality of extensions contacting a bearing of the bearing assembly, and wherein the aligning ring is located between the plurality of extensions.