Bearing package and installation tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10514064-B2
Application number	US-201615321832-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2016
Priority date	May 22, 2015
Publication date	Dec 24, 2019
Grant date	Dec 24, 2019

Abstract

A device for supporting and installing a bearing assembly includes an inner ring having an inner ring axial face, an outer ring having an outer ring axial face and an outer diameter, and a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the inner ring and the outer ring. The device comprises a sleeve having an inner diameter sized and configured to receive and support the outer ring along the outer diameter, and a disc positioned within the sleeve. The disc includes a disc outer diameter sized and configured to permit sliding of the disc along the sleeve inner diameter in an axial direction of the sleeve, and a disc face surface sized and configured to engage the inner ring axial face, or the outer ring axial face, or both when the bearing assembly is received in the sleeve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for supporting and installing a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly including an inner ring having an inner ring axial face, an outer ring having an outer ring axial face and an outer diameter, and a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the inner ring and the outer ring, the device comprising:
a sleeve having a first end with an opening through which the bearing assembly can be received into or removed from the sleeve, a second end opposite the first end, and an inner diameter sized and configured to receive and support the outer ring along the outer diameter, wherein the inner diameter of the sleeve includes a plurality of spaced-apart ridges extending axially along the sleeve, the ridges collectively defining the inner diameter of the sleeve; and
a disc positioned within the sleeve, the disc including,
a disc outer surface defining an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the sleeve to permit sliding of the disc outer surface along the sleeve inner diameter in an axial direction of the sleeve, and
a disc face surface facing the first end and sized and configured to engage the inner ring axial face, or the outer ring axial face, or both when the bearing assembly is received in the sleeve.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the disc is annular in shape.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the disc is initially a separate component from the sleeve.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the sleeve includes a shoulder extending radially inwardly from the inner diameter, the shoulder operable to limit axial movement of the disc in one direction.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the disc is secured to the sleeve via a shear feature and can be separated from the sleeve to permit the sliding of the disc along the sleeve inner diameter in the axial direction.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the disc is initially integral with the sleeve and can be separated from the sleeve to permit the sliding of the disc along the sleeve inner diameter in the axial direction.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the disc and the sleeve are initially molded from plastic as one piece, and wherein a shear feature is molded between the disc and the sleeve to facilitate separation of the disc from the sleeve upon application of a force to the disc.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the shear feature includes a plurality of stakes positioned about the disc outer diameter.

9. The device of claim 6 , wherein the initially integral disc is connected to the sleeve at a location spaced from the first and second ends of the sleeve.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is generally cylindrical in shape with an opening at the second end.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the bearing assembly further includes a seal between the inner ring and the outer ring, and wherein the disc face surface further engages the seal when the bearing assembly is received in the sleeve.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein both the sleeve and the disc are made from plastic.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the disc face surface includes recesses.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the disc further includes a disc pressing surface opposite the disc face surface, the disc pressing surface having a planar portion configured to receive a pressing tool.

15. A device for supporting and installing a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly including an inner ring having an inner ring axial face, an outer ring having an outer ring axial face and an outer diameter, and a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the inner ring and the outer ring, the device comprising:
a sleeve configured to receive and support the outer ring along the outer diameter, the sleeve including a plurality of spaced-apart ridges extending axially along the sleeve, the ridges collectively defining an inner diameter of the sleeve that engages the outer diameter of the outer ring, and
a disc positioned within the sleeve, the disc including,
a disc outer surface defining an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the sleeve to permit sliding of the disc outer surface along the sleeve inner diameter in an axial direction of the sleeve, and
a disc face surface sized and configured to engage the inner ring axial face, or the outer ring axial face, or both when the bearing assembly is received in the sleeve,
wherein the disc and the sleeve are initially molded from plastic as one piece, and wherein a shear feature is molded between the disc and the sleeve to facilitate separation of the disc from the sleeve upon application of a force to the disc.

16. A device for supporting and installing a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly including an inner ring having an inner ring axial face, an outer ring having an outer ring axial face and an outer diameter, and a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the inner ring and the outer ring, the device comprising:
a sleeve having a first end with an opening through which the bearing assembly can be received into or removed from the sleeve, a second end opposite the first end, and an inner diameter sized and configured to receive and support the outer ring along the outer diameter; and
a disc positioned within the sleeve, the disc including,
a disc outer surface defining an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the sleeve to permit sliding of the disc outer surface along the sleeve inner diameter in an axial direction of the sleeve, and
a disc face surface facing the first end and sized and configured to engage the inner ring axial face, or the outer ring axial face, or both when the bearing assembly is received in the sleeve;

wherein the inner diameter of the sleeve includes a plurality of spaced-apart ridges extending axially along the sleeve, the ridges collectively defining the inner diameter of the sleeve; and
wherein the disc further includes a disc pressing surface opposite the disc face surface, the disc pressing surface having a planar portion configured to receive a pressing tool.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein both the sleeve and the disc are made from plastic.

18. The device of claim 16 , wherein the disc is annular in shape.

Assignees

• Timken Co

Inventors

• White Brian
• Haeffele Jean-Pierre
• Folger Russell

Classifications

• F16C35/067 Primary

  Fixing them in a housing (with interposition of an element F16C35/07) · CPC title

• F16C19/543

  in O-arrangement · CPC title

• B25B27/00

  Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for (machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects B23P19/00) · CPC title

• F16C2326/02

  Wheel hubs or castors · CPC title

• F16C19/364

  with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone · CPC title