US3745819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Load indicating apparatus
Assignee: Fairchild Industries Inc
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Filing: 1971-12-08
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1991-12-08
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for detecting radial loads on a rotatable member and for providing indication or signal that is representative of these loads, including two tapered roller bearings having their tapered rollers tapering in the same direction that support the rotatable member. The tapered roller bearings are adapted to generate axial thrust forces in proportion to the load to cause axial translation of the rotatable member in response to the radial loads imparted to the rotatable member. A piston is located adjacent to one end of the rotatable member and is adapted to move axially in response to axial translation of the rotatable member. A flexible diaphragm is operatively connected to the piston and the flexible diaphragm forms a part of a variable fluid pressure chamber that is adapted to receive pressurized fluid from an external source through a fluid pressure regulating system which includes a valve member operably connected to the piston and the flexible diaphragm that introduces fluid into the pressure chamber in proportion to the axial thrust developed by the tapered roller bearings in response to the radial loads being exerted upon the rotatable member. The fluid pressure in the chamber is thus regulated by the axial movement of the rotatable member resulting from the radial loads imposed on the rotatable member and this enables the flexible diaphragm and rotatable member to assume an equilibrium or balanced operating position. A fluid pressure gauge is operatively connected to the pressure chamber to provide an indication of the pressure within the pressure chamber and thus an indication of the amount of the radial load imposed on the rotatable member.
Inventors
- 👤 W Earl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L3/00; G01L3/02; G01L3/14; G01L3/1485; F; F16; F16C; F16C19/00; F16C19/52; F16C19/522; F16C19/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
Apparatus for providing an indication of radial loads comprising: a rotatable member for receiving the radial loads; means for supporting said rotatable member, said supporting means being adapted to permit axial movement of said rotatable member and having means for limiting the extent of the axial movement of said rotatable member; a plurality of tapered roller bearings located around said rotatable member, each of said roller bearings comprising an inner bearing cone located around and adjacent said rotatable member, an outer bearing cup connected to said supporting member, and tapered rollers located between said inner bearing cone and said outer bearing cup, each of said plurality of tapered roller bearings having their tapered rollers tapering in the same direction, said inner bearing cones of each of said plurality of tapered roller bearings being movable axially in the same direction from their seated positions in the respective bearing cups in response to the radial load received by said rotatable member and being adapted to exert an axial force against said rotatable member to cause axial movement of said rotatable member in response to the radial load received by said rotatable member; means located adjacent to said rotatable member to exert a force upon said rotatable member that balances the forces exerted against said rotatable member by said inner bearing cones as a result of the radial load received by said rotatable member; and means operatively connected to said force exerting means for providing an indication related to the radial loads received by said rotatable member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
254 words
Apparatus for providing an indication of radial loads comprising: a rotatable member for receiving the radial loads; means for supporting said rotatable member, said supporting means being adapted to permit axial movement of said rotatable member and having means for limiting the extent of the axial movement of said rotatable member; a plurality of tapered roller bearings located around said rotatable member, each of said roller bearings comprising an inner bearing cone located around and adjacent said rotatable member, an outer bearing cup connected to said supporting member, and tapered rollers located between said inner bearing cone and said outer bearing cup, each of said plurality of tapered roller bearings having their tapered rollers tapering in the same direction, said inner bearing cones of each of said plurality of tapered roller bearings being movable axially in the same direction from their seated positions in the respective bearing cups in response to the radial load received by said rotatable member and being adapted to exert an axial force against said rotatable member to cause axial movement of said rotatable member in response to the radial load received by said rotatable member; means located adjacent to said rotatable member to exert a force upon said rotatable member that balances the forces exerted against said rotatable member by said inner bearing cones as a result of the radial load received by said rotatable member; and means operatively connected to said force exerting means for providing an indication related to the radial loads received by said rotatable member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said force exerting means comprises means for exerting fluid pressure to balance the forces exerted by said inner bearing cones against said rotatable member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said fluid pressure exerting means is activated by the axial movement of said rotatable member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said fluid pressure exerting means includes a variable volume chamber having a flexible diaphragm operatively connected to said rotatable member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said fluid pressure exerting means includes a second chamber communicable with said variable volume chamber that is adapted to receive pressurized fluid that is transmitted to or from said variable volume chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said flexible diaphragm is operatively connected to said rotatable member by means of an axially movable piston member connected to said diaphragm and an axially movable thrust bearing located adjacent to one end of said rotatable member and said piston member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fluid pressure exerting means includes valve means for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid to said second chamber and wherein activation of said fluid pressure exerting means by the axial movement of said rotatable member is accomplished by said valve means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said valve means is operatively connected to said piston member and Said diaphragm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
165 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the force exerted upon said rotatable member by said force exerting means that balances the forces exerted against said rotatable member by said inner bearing cones is determined substantially according to the formula, F L1 tan Alpha 1 + . . . + Ln tan Alpha n where F is the force exerted by said force exerting means, L1 is the portion of the radial load received by said rotatable member that is exerted on the first tapered roller bearing, Alpha 1 is the angle between the central axis of the rotatable member and the inside sloping surface of the bearing cup of the first tapered roller bearing, Ln is the portion of the radial load received by said rotatable member that is exerted on the nth tapered roller bearing, and Alpha n is the angle between the central axis of the rotatable member and the inside sloping surface of the bearing cup of the nth tapered roller bearing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for limiting axial movement of said rotatable member limits the axial movement of said rotatable member to between about 0.002 of an inch and about 0.006 of an inch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |