Spherical bearings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016290407-A1
Application number	US-201615088183-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 1, 2016
Priority date	Apr 3, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An assembly comprises a component and a spherical bearing mounted in a bore of the component. The spherical bearing comprises an outer race received within the component bore, an inner spherical member mounted for rotation within the outer race and a releasable retaining element for releasably retaining the outer race in the component bore. The outer race and the component comprise interengaging indexing formations whereby said outer race may be mounted within said component bore in a plurality of angular positions relative to the longitudinal axis (A) of the component bore.

First claim

1 . An assembly comprising a component and a spherical bearing mounted in a bore of the component, the spherical bearing comprising:
an outer race received within the component bore; an inner spherical member mounted for rotation within the outer race; and a releasable retaining element for releasably retaining the outer race in the component bore; wherein: said outer race and said component comprise interengaging indexing formations whereby said outer race may be mounted within said component bore in a plurality of angular positions relative to the longitudinal axis (A) of the component bore.

2 . An assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said interengaging indexing formations formed on said component are formed on a face thereof.

3 . An assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said indexing formations comprise one or more teeth projecting from said face.

4 . An assembly as claimed in claim 3 , comprising a pair of opposed teeth.

5 . An assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said interengaging indexing formations formed on said outer race are formed in a radially projecting flange of the outer race.

6 . An assembly as claimed claim 5 , wherein said indexing formation formed on said outer race comprise one or more slots.

7 . An assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the indexing formations provided on at least one of said outer race and said component are equi-spaced.

8 . An assembly as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the formations are spaced at 20° to 90°, for example from 30° to 90°, for example at 45° from one another.

9 . An assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retaining element is a nut threaded onto an end of the outer race, and wherein the spherical bearing further comprises a locking element.

10 . An assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the locking element is a locking washer comprising a plurality of deformable teeth formed on an outer periphery thereof for engagement with corresponding slots formed in the outer periphery of the locking nut, and a locating tab formed on a bore portion of the washer for engagement with a keyway provided on the outer race.

11 . A spherical bearing comprising:
an outer race; an inner spherical member mounted for rotation within the outer race; a locknut threaded onto an end of said outer race for releasably retaining the outer race in a component bore and having a plurality of slots formed in an outer periphery of the locking nut; and a locking washer comprising a plurality of deformable teeth formed on an outer periphery thereof for engagement with the slots formed in the outer periphery of the locking nut, and a locating tab formed on a bore portion of the washer for engagement with a keyway provided on the outer race; said outer race further comprising a plurality of slots formed in a radially extending flange thereof.

12 . A method of refurbishing an assembly comprising a component and a spherical bearing mounted in a bore of the component, the spherical bearing comprising:
an outer race received within the component bore; an inner spherical member mounted for rotation within the outer race; and a releasable retaining element for releasably retaining the outer race in the component bore; the method comprising: removing or loosening the retaining element; rotating the outer race relative to the longitudinal axis (A) of the component bore so as to align said outer race in a different angular orientation within the component bore; and tightening the retaining element to retain the outer race to the component.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said retaining element is a locknut threaded onto an end of said outer race said locknut being locked in position by a locking washer, the method comprising:
releasing said locking washer to permit removal of said locking nut; and replacing said locking washer when retightening the locking nut.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein one or more of said outer race and said component, for example indexing features thereof, are marked so as to indicate engagement of the outer race and component in a given orientation.

15 . The method of refurbishing an assembly as claimed in 12 , wherein said outer race and said component comprise interengaging indexing formations whereby said outer race may be mounted within said component bore in a plurality of angular positions relative to the longitudinal axis (A) of the component bore and wherein the method further comprises:
removing or loosening the retaining element; rotating the outer race relative to the longitudinal axis (A) of the component bore so as to align said outer race in a different angular orientation within the component bore; tightening the retaining element to retain the outer race to the component; after removing or loosening the retaining element, disengaging the interengaging indexing features on the outer race and component; and reengaging the indexing features in the new angular orientation of the outer race.

16 . The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said retaining element is a locknut threaded onto an end of said outer race said locknut being locked in position by a locking washer, the method comprising:
releasing said locking washer to permit removal of said locking nut; and replacing said locking washer when retightening the locking nut.

17 . The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein one or more of said outer race and said component, for example indexing features thereof, are marked so as to indicate engagement of the outer race and component in a given orientation.

Assignees

• Goodrich Actuation Systems Sas

Inventors

• Hervieux Arnauld R E
• Meignat Gregory Y

Classifications

• F16C23/082

  by means of at least one substantially spherical surface · CPC title

• F16C43/06 Primary

  Placing rolling bodies in cages or bearings · CPC title

• F16C23/045

  for radial load mainly, e.g. radial spherical plain bearings · CPC title

• F16C11/0614

  the female part of the joint being open on two sides · CPC title

• F16C35/02 Primary

  in the case of sliding-contact bearings · CPC title