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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11964371-B2
Application number	US-202217655879-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2022
Priority date	Mar 16, 2016
Publication date	Apr 23, 2024
Grant date	Apr 23, 2024

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft includes an attaching member releasably connectable to the shaft. A press mechanism is coupled to the attaching member and is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. An optical sending unit is configured to output a high intensity light to allow a user to locate a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft when the attaching member connects to the shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the apparatus comprising:
an attaching member releasably connectable to a circumferential outside surface of an exposed end of a threaded shaft;
a press mechanism coupled to said attaching member, said press mechanism configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing; and
wherein a proximal direction extends toward the press mechanism from the attaching member, and a distal direction is opposite from the proximal direction and extends toward the attaching member from the press mechanism;
said press mechanism having arms extendable in the distal direction past the attaching member to directly contact the bearing to apply the compressive load;
said press mechanism comprising a wrench movable by the press mechanism toward a lock nut on the shaft in the distal direction such that the wrench engages the nut, and
said press mechanism configured to rotate the nut by causing a rotation of said wrench when said wrench engages said lock nut when said attaching member is connected to the shaft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller configured to control a motor to cause the rotation of said wrench to rotate the nut on the shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said wrench is retractable away from the nut by the press mechanism.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a drive mechanism configured to move said wrench toward the nut and configured to rotate the nut as controlled by a controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wrench surrounds said attaching member.

Assignees

• Temper Axle Products Corp

Inventors

• Rode John E
• Strait Sean E

Classifications

• B25B27/062 Primary

  using screws · CPC title

• F16B39/10

  by a plate, {spring, wire} or ring immovable with regard to the bolt or object {and mainly perpendicular to the axis of the bolt}(F16B39/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16B39/12

  by means of locknuts · CPC title

• F16C25/06

  Ball or roller bearings · CPC title

• F16C43/04

  Assembling rolling-contact bearings · CPC title