Wheel bearing safety washer

Claim 2

In combination, a front wheel axle having a reduced outer end portion providing a spindle and terminating in an externally screw-threaded nut accommodating stud, a front wheel antifriction bearing assembly removably mounted on said spindle, said assembly comprising an inner race surrounding and mounted on said spindle, said inner race having an outer conical peripheral surface encompassed by an endless channel providing a raceway, an outer race surrounding and concentric to said inner race and having an inner peripheral conical raceway spaced from and cooperatively oriented with said outer conical surface and firstnamed raceway, a cage interposed in the space between said raceways, said cage being provided with anti-friction bearings having cooperatively mating contact with the respectively surrounding raceways, a positioning and clamping nut screwed on said stud, and insertable and removable sAfety-type means surrounding said spindle, retentively interposed between said nut and inner race, and embodying a guard encompassing the outer peripheral surface of said inner race, whereby to guard against displacement of said bearings should the holding cage therefor break and lose its capability of retaining said bearings in place.

Claim 3

The combination defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said guard comprises a heavy duty accurately fitted precision-made washer of a diameter that the outer peripheral edge projects outwardly beyond the outer peripheral surface of said inner race in a manner to block accidental ejection of said inner race or said encaged bearings.

Claim 4

The combination defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said guard comprises a heavy duty accurately fitted precision-made washer of a diameter that the outer peripheral edge projects outwardly beyond the outer peripheral surface of said inner race in a manner to block accidental ejection of said inner race or said encaged bearings, said outer projecting peripheral edge being provided with rigid abutment means.

Claim 5

The combination defined in and according to claim 3, and wherein said abutment means comprises an annular flange which is lateral to an inward face of said washer, said flange being retentively friction-fitted and capped over a coacting portion of said inner race.

Claim 6

The combination defined in and according to claim 3, and wherein said abutment means comprises an annular flange which is lateral to an inward face of said washer, said flange being retentively friction-fitted and capped over a coacting portion of said inner race, said flange being of a prescribed cross-sectional dimension that while providing a potential blocking abutment, it is nevertheless spaced from and normally out of contact with said cage.

Claim 7

A front wheel anti-friction bearing assembly comprising, in combination, an inner race adapted to be push-fitted over a front wheel spindle, said inner race having an outer conical peripheral surface surrounded by an endless channel providing a first raceway, an outer race surrounding and concentric to said inner race and having an uninterruptedly smooth inner conical peripheral surface constituting a second raceway complemental to and spanning and spaced from said first raceway, a circumferentially apertured anti-friction roller cage interposed in the space between said races and raceways and provided with a plurality of free turning roller bearings oriented and coordinating with the respectively cooperable raceways, and an attachable and detachable safety guard designed and adapted to keep said bearing assembly, particularly said inner race, in a captive position on said front wheel spindle, said guard comprising a heavy-duty accurately fitted precision-made washer of a diameter that the outer peripheral edge projects outwardly beyond the outer peripheral surface of said inner race, said outer projecting peripheral edge being provided with rigid abutment means comprising an annular flange which is lateral to an inner face of said washer, said flange being retentively friction-fitted and capped over a coacting portion of said inner race, said flange being of increased cross-sectional dimension and providing a blocking abutment, being nevertheless spaced from and normally out of contact with the associated cage.

Claim 8

A front wheel anti-friction bearing assembly comprising, in combination, an inner race adapted to be push-fitted over a front wheel spindle, said inner race having an outer conical peripheral surface surrounded by an endless channel providing a first raceway, an outer race surrounding and concentric to said inner race and having an uninterruptedly smooth inner conical peripheral surface constituting a second raceway complemental to and spanning and spaced from said first raceway, a circumferentially apertured anti-friction roller cage interposed in the space between said races and raceways and provided with a plurality of free turning roller bearings oriented and coordinating with the respectively cooperable raceways, and an attachable and detachable safety guard designed and adapted to keep said bearing assembly, particularly said inner race, in a captive position on said front wheel spindle, said guard comprising a heavy-duty accurately fitted precision-made washer of a diameter that the outer peripheral edge projects outwardly beyond the outer peripheral surface of said inner race, said outer projecting peripheral edge being provided with rigid abutment means comprising an annular flange which is lateral to an inner face of said washer, said flange being retentively friction-fitted and capped over a coacting portion of said inner race, said flange being of increased cross-sectional dimension and providing a blocking abutment, being nevertheless spaced from and normally out of contact with the associated cage.