Carrier Bearing Assembly

• US 20180141434A1
• Filed: 01/09/2018
• Published: 05/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sandcraft LLC
• Original Assignee: Brent G. Reynolds, Jonathan D. Roberts
• Inventors: Roberts, Jonathan D., Reynolds, Brent G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,471,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/24 Arrangements of mountings for shafting
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/06 with a single row or balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/06 Drive shafts in general B60K
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/6622 Details of supply and/or removal of the grease, e.g. purging grease
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/042 Housings for rolling element bearings for rotary movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/047 with a base plate substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, e.g. horizontally mounted pillow blocks
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/06 Mounting or dismounting of ball or roller bearings; Fixing them onto shaft or in housing
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/067 Fixing them in a housing with interposition of an element F16C35/07

Abstract

A carrier bearing assembly can include a bracket comprising a first end, a second end, a first face extending between the first end and the second end width, and a second face opposite the first face. An opening can be formed completely through the bracket and extend from the first face to the second face. A bearing can be disposed within the opening and an angle between a centerline of the bearing and a centerline of the bracket can be in a range of 85-89° or 91-95°. First and second mounting structures offset from the opening can be for coupling the carrier bearing assembly to the frame of the UTV, and the centerline of the bracket can pass through a center of the first mounting structure and a center of the second mounting structure.

Claims

1. A carrier bearing assembly for attaching to a frame of a utility terrain vehicle (UTV), comprising:

a bracket comprising a first end, a second end, a width extending between the first end and the second end, a first face extending between the first end and the second end along the width, and a second face opposite the first face extending between the first end and the second end along the width of the bracket;

an opening formed completely through the bracket and extending from the first face to the second face;

a bearing disposed within the opening and an auto set angle between a centerline of the bearing and a centerline of the bracket being in a range of 85-89°

or 91-95°

;

a first mounting structure offset from the opening for coupling the carrier bearing assembly to the frame of the UTV; and

a second mounting structure offset from the opening for coupling the carrier bearing assembly to the frame of the UTV, and

wherein the centerline of the bracket passes through a center of the first mounting structure and a center of the second mounting structure, and

wherein the auto set angle is determined by at least one slotted opening formed in the bracket such that the centerline of the bearing moves relative to the centerline of the bracket.

2. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first mounting structure comprises a first opening through the bracket and a first bolt disposed through the first opening, the first bolt being adapted to be aligned with a first hole in the frame of the UTV; and

the second mounting structure comprises a second opening through the bracket and a second bolt disposed through the second opening, the second bolt being adapted to be aligned with a second hole in the frame of the UTV,

wherein a center of the first mounting structure is defined by a center of the first bolt, and

wherein a center of the second mounting structure is defined by a center of the second bolt.

3. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 2, wherein the first opening of the first mounting structure is formed as at least one of the at least one slotted openings.

4. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 3, wherein:

the at least one slotted opening comprises an elongate, plus, circular, or square shape; and

a cross-sectional area of the slotted opening is greater than or equal to 1.2 times a cross-sectional area of the first bolt.

5. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the bracket comprises an upper unitary machined bracket component comprising the opening and the bearing; and

a lower unitary machined bracket component comprising the first opening through the bracket with the second bolt disposed through the second opening, and the second opening through the bracket and the second bolt disposed through the second opening.

6. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one slotted opening formed in the bracket is in addition to the first opening of the first mountings structure and the second opening of the second mounting structure, the at least one slotted opening being disposed within a common footprint of the upper unitary machined bracket and the lower unitary machined bracket.

7. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein a rubber bushing is configured to be disposed between the bracket and the frame of the UTV.

8. A carrier bearing assembly for attaching to a frame of a utility terrain vehicle (UTV), comprising:

a bracket comprising a first end, a second end, a width extending between the first end and the second end, a first face extending between the first end and the second end along the width, and a second face opposite the first face extending between the first end and the second end along the width of the bracket;

an opening formed completely through the bracket and extending from the first face to the second face;

a bearing disposed within the opening and an angle between a centerline of the bearing and a centerline of the bracket being in a range of 85-89°

or 91-95°

;

a first mounting structure offset from the opening for coupling the carrier bearing assembly to the frame of the UTV; and

a second mounting structure offset from the opening for coupling the carrier bearing assembly to the frame of the UTV, and

wherein the centerline of the bracket passes through a center of the first mounting structure and a center of the second mounting structure.

9. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 8, wherein:

the first mounting structure comprises a first opening through the bracket and a first bolt disposed through the first opening, the first bolt being adapted to be aligned with a first hole in the frame of the UTV; and

the second mounting structure comprises a second opening through the bracket and a second bolt disposed through the second opening, the second bolt being adapted to be aligned with a second hole in the frame of the UTV,

wherein a center of the first mounting structure is defined by a center of the first bolt, and

wherein a center of the second mounting structure is defined by a center of the second bolt.

10. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 9, wherein the first opening of the first mounting structure is formed as a slotted opening.

11. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 10, wherein:

the slotted opening comprises an elongate, plus, circular, or square shape; and

a cross-sectional area of the slotted opening is greater than or equal to 1.2 times a cross-sectional area of the first bolt.

12. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 9, wherein:

the bracket comprises an upper unitary machined bracket component comprising the opening and the bearing; and

a lower unitary machined bracket component comprising the first opening through the bracket with the second bolt disposed through the second opening, and the second opening through the bracket and the second bolt disposed through the second opening.

13. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 12, wherein a slotted opening is formed in the bracket within a common footprint of the upper unitary machined bracket and the lower unitary machined bracket.

14. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 8, wherein the carrier bearing is fastened over or under the frame of the UTV.

15. A carrier bearing assembly for attaching to a frame of a utility terrain vehicle (UTV), comprising:

a bracket comprising a first end, a second end, a width extending between the first end and the second end, a first face extending between the first end and the second end along the width, and a second face opposite the first face extending between the first end and the second end along the width of the bracket;

an opening formed completely through the bracket and extending from the first face to the second face;

a bearing disposed within the opening; and

at least one mounting structure for coupling the carrier bearing assembly to the frame of the UTV;

wherein the bracket further comprises an auto set angle determined by at least one slotted opening formed through the bracket and configured to allow the bracket to move, slide, or rotate at an angle relative to the frame of the UTV and relative to original bolt holes in the frame of the UTV for receiving a stock carrier bearing assembly.

16. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one mounting structure further comprises:

a first bolt adapted to be aligned with a first hole in the frame of the UTV; and

a second bolt disposed through the second opening, the second bolt being adapted to be aligned with a second hole in the frame of the UTV,

wherein a centerline of the bracket passes through a center of the first bolt and a center of the second bolt such that the auto set angle is measured between a centerline of the bearing and a centerline of the bracket at an angle less than 89°

or greater than 91°

.

17. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 16, wherein the auto set angle is in a range of 85-89°

or 91-95°

.

18. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 16, wherein:

the bracket comprises an upper unitary machined bracket component comprising the opening and the bearing; and

a lower unitary machined bracket component comprising openings through which the first bolt and the second bolt are disposed.

19. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 18, wherein one or more of the at least one slotted opening is formed in the bracket within a common footprint of the upper unitary machined bracket and the lower unitary machined bracket.

20. The carrier bearing assembly of claim 15, wherein a rubber bushing is configured to be disposed between the bracket and the frame of the UTV.