Systems and methods for preloading a bearing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12466040-B2
Application number	US-202418751739-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2024
Priority date	Mar 16, 2016
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

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.

First claim

We claim:

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 on the bearing; and a computer controller coupled to a switch having a piston and proximity sensors, the piston movable relative to the sensors in response to a change in a pressure of the fluid; the computer controller configured to automatically control a pump to regulate the pressure from the source to the press mechanism to apply the compressive load to the bearing based on a location of the piston relative to the proximity sensors.

2 . 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 said controller configured to cause a rotation of said wrench to rotate the nut on the shaft to a particular position to achieve a desired preload or endplay setting on the bearing.

3 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a pressure intensifier coupled to the press mechanism and configured to convert the pressure to a higher pressure, and the controller configured to control the pressure intensifier to cause the pressure intensifier to convert the pressure to the higher pressure.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the bearing comprises a bearing of a wheel hub assembly, said press mechanism comprises a plurality of extensions configured to extend towards said wheel hub assembly, and 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.

5 . The system of claim 4 further comprising an adjustment mechanism configured to move said plurality of extensions axially towards said wheel hub assembly to apply the load to the bearing.

6 . 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.

Assignees

• Temper Axle Products Corp

Inventors

• Rode John E
• Strait Sean E

Classifications

• F16C2229/00

  Setting preload · CPC title

• F16C19/383

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

• F16C35/078

  using pressure fluid as mounting aid · CPC title

• F16C35/067

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

• F16C35/063

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