Bearing-raceway systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12018724-B2
Application number	US-202217678708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2022
Priority date	Feb 23, 2022
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

A bearing raceway for a shaft includes a tubular sleeve comprising a raceway section and a clamp section, the raceway section having a hardened outer surface and a first, axially linear, inner surface, and the clamp section having first threads and a second, axially non-linear, inner surface, where the first threads are configured to mate with second threads on a nut to clamp the tubular sleeve to the shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bearing raceway for a shaft, the bearing raceway comprising:
a tubular sleeve comprising a raceway section and a clamp section;
the raceway section having a hardened outer surface and a first, axially linear, inner surface, wherein the first, axially linear, inner surface runs an entire length of the raceway section; and
the clamp section having first threads and a second, axially non-linear, inner surface, wherein the second inner surface comprises a first engagement profile, wherein the first engagement profile comprises at least one of a semi-circular groove, a recess and a dimple and is configured to mate with a second engagement profile on the shaft to resist axial movement of the bearing raceway;
wherein the first threads are internal threads and are configured to mate with second threads on a nut to clamp the tubular sleeve to the shaft.

2. The bearing raceway of claim 1 , wherein the clamp section comprises a detent on the second inner surface.

3. The bearing raceway of claim 1 , wherein the clamp section comprises tabs separated by slots.

4. The bearing raceway of claim 3 , wherein the tabs comprise detents on the second inner surface.

5. The bearing raceway of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement profile is positioned between the raceway section and the first threads.

6. The bearing raceway of claim 5 , wherein the first engagement profile comprises a face oriented away from the raceway section toward the first threads.

7. The bearing raceway of claim 5 , wherein a diameter of the clamp section is greater than a diameter of the raceway section.

8. A rotor aircraft mast bearing assembly, comprising:
a bearing raceway secured to a mast of a rotor aircraft, the mast comprising a central axis and a raised portion having a first mast surface that is parallel to the central axis, the bearing raceway comprising a tubular sleeve having a raceway section and a clamp section;
the raceway section having a hardened outer surface and a first, axially linear, inner surface positioned on the first mast surface, wherein the first, axially linear, inner surface runs an entire length of the raceway section;
the clamp section having first threads and a second, axially non-linear, inner surface, wherein the second inner surface comprises a first engagement profile, wherein the first engagement profile comprises at least one of a semi-circular groove, a recess and a dimple and is configured to mate with the raised portion to resist axial movement of the shaft bearing raceway; and
a nut having second threads threaded with the first threads imparting a clamping force to the mast;
wherein the first threads are internal threads.

9. The rotor aircraft mast bearing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the clamp
section comprises a first detent mated with a second detent on the mast.

10. The rotor aircraft mast bearing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the clamp section comprises tabs separated by slots; and
the first thread are on the tabs.

11. The rotor aircraft mast bearing assembly of claim 10 , wherein the tabs comprise first detents mated with a second detent on the mast.

12. The rotor aircraft mast bearing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first engagement profile is a face oriented away from the raceway section and toward the first threads.

Assignees

• Bell Textron Inc
• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Ott Charles Jared
• Olson Eric Stephen

Classifications

• F16C43/04

  Assembling rolling-contact bearings · CPC title

• F16C33/586

  outside the space between the races, e.g. end faces or bore of inner ring · CPC title

• F16C2326/43

  Aeroplanes; Helicopters · CPC title

• F16C2226/60

  with threaded parts, e.g. bolt and nut connections · CPC title

• F16C35/063

  Fixing them on the shaft (with interposition of an element F16C35/07) · CPC title