Bearing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9644673-B2
Application number	US-201514739310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2015
Priority date	Jun 13, 2014
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

A bearing assembly comprising: (a) an inner journal for supporting a shaft and having a frusto-conical contact surface facing radially outwardly; (b) an outer journal surrounding at least part of the inner journal and having a frusto-conical contact surface which faces radially inwardly; and (c) an adjustment feature for adjusting the axial location of the inner journal relative to the outer journal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bearing assembly comprising:
an inner journal, wherein the inner journal supports a shaft, and wherein the inner journal comprises a frusto-conical contact surface facing radially outwardly;
an outer journal, wherein the outer journal surrounds at least part of the inner journal, and wherein the outer journal comprises a frusto-conical contact surface which faces radially inwardly; and
an adjustment feature configured to adjust an axial location of the inner journal relative to the outer journal, wherein the adjustment feature comprises interlocking threaded members; and
an indicator configured to identify an amount of rotation of at least one of the interlocking threaded members.

2. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment feature comprises an axially positionable member arranged to abut one of an inner member and an outer member.

3. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment feature further comprises at least one of:
a spring;
a compressible material; and
a ratchet.

4. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a feature that indicates an amount of relative axial movement between the inner and outer journal.

5. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the inner journal and the outer journal comprises two rings, each ring of the two rings having a frusto-conical contact surface.

6. The bearing assembly of claim 5 , wherein the two rings are oriented such that their narrowest ends face each other.

7. The bearing assembly of claim 6 , wherein the adjustment feature further comprises at least one of:
a compressible material;
a spring; and
a ratchet,
wherein the adjustment feature is located either side the two rings to prevent the two rings from moving apart.

8. The bearing assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the two rings are oriented such that their widest ends face towards each other.

9. The bearing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the adjustment feature comprises a biasing element, wherein the biasing element is at least one of:
a spring; and
a compressible material,
wherein the biasing element is located between the two rings to bias the two rings apart.

10. The bearing assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a feature that indicates an amount of relative axial movement between the two rings.

11. The bearing assembly of claim 10 , wherein the feature is an electronic device.

12. The bearing assembly of claim 11 , wherein the electronic device provides a wireless signal.

13. A method of maintaining a bearing comprising an adjustment feature, an indicator, an inner journal and an outer journal,
wherein the inner journal supports a shaft,
wherein the inner journal comprises a frusto-conical contact surface facing radially outwardly,
wherein the outer journal surrounds at least part of the inner journal,
wherein the outer journal comprises a frusto-conical contact surface which faces radially inwardly,
wherein the adjustment feature comprises interlocking threaded members,
the method comprising:
varying an axial location of the inner journal relative to the outer journal until the frusto-conical contact surfaces abut; and
identifying, by the indicator, an amount of rotation of at least one of the interlocking threaded members.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising electronically monitoring an axial movement of the inner journal relative to the outer journal.

Assignees

• Bell Andrew
• Chance Paul
• Colton Michael
• Curry Will
• Skf Ab

Inventors

• Bell Andrew
• Chance Paul
• Colton Michael
• Curry Will

Classifications

• F16C41/00

  Other accessories, {e.g. devices integrated in the bearing not relating to the bearing function as such} · CPC title

• F16C25/02 Primary

  Sliding-contact bearings · CPC title

• F16C17/02

  for radial load only · CPC title

• F16C41/008

  Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means · CPC title

• F16C17/26

  Systems consisting of a plurality of sliding-contact bearings · CPC title