System and method for measuring pre-load force during tapered roller bearing wheel adjustment
First Claim
1. A system for adjusting wheel-end tapered roller bearing preload force on an axle spindle with a diameter, a longitudinal groove or flat, and a thread pattern to receive an adjustment nut, comprising:
- a flat inner washer having an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the axle, an outer diameter, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the flat inner washer being received onto the axle spindle;
an inner adjustment nut having a thread pattern to be received onto the axle spindle against the flat round inner washer;
a flat outer washer having an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the axle to be received onto the axle spindle against the inner adjustment nut, an outer diameter, an inner surface, an outer surface and an outer edge, wherein the outer washer includes a tab or D-shape to cooperate with a groove or flat, respectively, on the axle to ensure that the washer does not rotate following installation, the flat outer washer having an outer tab extending from the outer edge and a plurality of markings on the outer surface or the outer edge of the outer washer, each marking indicating the amount of rotation needed to cause a predefined lateral movement of the inner adjustment nut as a function of the diameter and thread pattern of the axle; and
an outer adjustment nut having a thread pattern to be received onto the axle spindle against the flat outer washer, the outer adjustment nut having a mark defined thereon for alignment with one of the plurality of markings on the outer washer;
wherein the outer tab of the outer washer is bent over the outer adjustment nut after assembly of the system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved systems and methods facilitate precise adjustment of wheel-end tapered roller bearing preload force on an axle spindle with a diameter, a longitudinal groove or flat, and a thread pattern to receive a hexagonal adjustment nut with six outer edges. A system may include a flat inner washer, an inner adjustment nut, a flat outer washer having an outer tab extending from the outer edge and a plurality of markings on the outer surface or the outer edge of the outer washer, each marking indicating the amount of rotation needed to cause a predefined lateral movement of the inner adjustment nut as a function of the diameter and thread pattern of the axle, and an outer adjustment nut.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for adjusting wheel-end tapered roller bearing preload force on an axle spindle with a diameter, a longitudinal groove or flat, and a thread pattern to receive an adjustment nut, comprising:
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a flat inner washer having an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the axle, an outer diameter, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the flat inner washer being received onto the axle spindle; an inner adjustment nut having a thread pattern to be received onto the axle spindle against the flat round inner washer; a flat outer washer having an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the axle to be received onto the axle spindle against the inner adjustment nut, an outer diameter, an inner surface, an outer surface and an outer edge, wherein the outer washer includes a tab or D-shape to cooperate with a groove or flat, respectively, on the axle to ensure that the washer does not rotate following installation, the flat outer washer having an outer tab extending from the outer edge and a plurality of markings on the outer surface or the outer edge of the outer washer, each marking indicating the amount of rotation needed to cause a predefined lateral movement of the inner adjustment nut as a function of the diameter and thread pattern of the axle; and an outer adjustment nut having a thread pattern to be received onto the axle spindle against the flat outer washer, the outer adjustment nut having a mark defined thereon for alignment with one of the plurality of markings on the outer washer; wherein the outer tab of the outer washer is bent over the outer adjustment nut after assembly of the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification