Systems and methods for preloading a bearing

• US 9,987,732 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2017
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Temper AXLE Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: Temper AXLE Products Corporation
• Inventors: Rode, John E., Strait, Sean E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Besler, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US15/661,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20170320203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 137553, 137557
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/027 using hydraulic or pneumatic means B23P19/033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/062 using screws
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/064 fluid driven
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/12 by means of locknuts
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/383 with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2229/00 Setting preload
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/063 Fixing them on the shaft with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/067 Fixing them in a housing with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/078 using pressure fluid as mounting aid
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/04 Assembling rolling-contact bearings

Abstract

A system for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft includes an attaching member releasably connectable to the shaft and a press mechanism in fluid communication with a source of fluid and configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism includes a switch having a base and a piston in communication with the fluid such that an increase in a pressure of the fluid results in the piston extending upwardly from the base and a decrease in the pressure of the fluid results in the piston retracting toward the base. The switch includes a lower proximity sensor and a higher proximity sensor. The piston is configured to extend upwardly from the base past the lower proximity sensor and to trip the higher proximity sensor. The switch is configured to control the increase in the pressure in response to the piston tripping the higher proximity sensor.

Claims

1. A system for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the system comprising:

an attaching member releasably connectable to the shaft;

a press mechanism in fluid communication with a source of fluid and configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing;

said press mechanism comprising a switch having a base and a piston in communication with the fluid such that an increase in a pressure of the fluid results in the piston extending upwardly from said base and a decrease in the pressure of the fluid results in the piston retracting toward said base; and

said switch comprising a lower proximity sensor and a higher proximity sensor, said piston configured to extend upwardly from said base past said lower proximity sensor and to trip said higher proximity sensor, said switch configured to control the increase in the pressure to control the load on the bearing in response to said piston tripping said higher proximity sensor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said switch comprises a controller configured to control an application of pressure from the source of fluid to control the compressive load.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said controller is configured to control an increase in the compressive load in response to said piston tripping said higher proximity sensor.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said controller is configured to control a decrease in the compressive load in response to said piston extending downwardly and tripping said lower proximity sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said lower proximity sensor comprises one of an electromagnetic sensor, capacitive sensor, infrared sensor, or photoelectric sensor, the tripping of said lower proximity sensor comprising said lower proximity sensor coupling with said piston in response to a portion of said piston being proximate to said lower proximity sensor.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said higher proximity sensor comprises one of an electromagnetic sensor, capacitive sensor, infrared sensor, or photoelectric sensor, the tripping of said higher proximity sensor comprising said higher proximity sensor coupling with said piston in response to a portion of said piston being proximate to said lower proximity sensor.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the bearing comprises a bearing of a wheel hub assembly, said press mechanism comprises a plurality of extensions extending towards said wheel hub assembly, said plurality of extensions being configured to contact a wheel hub or/or a bearing of said wheel hub assembly when said member is attached to the shaft to provide the load to the bearing.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising an adjustment mechanism configured to move said plurality of extensions axially towards said wheel hub assembly to apply a preload to a bearing within said wheel hub assembly.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a lock nut engageable with the shaft and having a plurality of engaging teeth configured to engage a plurality of keeper teeth of a keeper, said keeper having a radially inner side configured to engage a shaft slot of the shaft to inhibit rotational movement of said nut relative to the shaft when said plurality of engaging teeth engages said plurality of keeper teeth and said radially inner side engages the shaft.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said press mechanism comprises at least one of a fluid-containing piston actuator, a compression spring, or an air spring configured to provide the compressive load to the bearing.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a wrench engageable with a lock nut on the shaft, and configured to rotate the nut when said attaching member connects to the shaft and a controller configured to cause a rotation of said wrench to rotate the nut on the shaft.