Insert for setting armature shaft end position

Claim 2

A thrust bearing for engaging and setting the axial end position of an armature shaft of a dynamo-electric machine having a housing provided with a threaded opening having threads adjacent the end of the armature shaft comprising: a generally cylindrical plug which is adapted to be inserted within the threaded opening until its forward end thereof abuttingly engages the end of the armature shaft, said plug having a pair of spaced legs along its rearward portion which are separated by a through transverse slot, said legs having a curved outer peripheral surface and being spaced apaRt a given distance, a drivable wedge axially aligned with said slot and having a forward end portion integrally connected by fracturable webs to said legs adjacent their rearward ends, said wedge having a rearward end portion of a thickness greater than said given distance between said legs and a forward end portion which is tapered so that its transverse dimension progressively decreases proceeding from said rearward end portion towards said fracturable ribs, said webs being fracturable and said wedge being movable into said slot when an axial force in excess of a predetermined magnitude is exerted against the rearward end portion of the wedge to cause the legs of said plug to be moved radially outwardly whereby the threads of the threaded opening bite into and embed within the legs of said wedge to securely lock the bearing to the housing.

Claim 3

In a dynamo-electric machine having a rotatable armature shaft carrying a worm gear thereon, a housing means for surrounding said armature shaft and with the housing means being provided with the threaded opening having threads adjacent the end of the armature shaft at its free end and a thrust bearing secured within the threaded opening of said housing means for engaging and setting the axial end position of the armature shaft, the improvement being that said thrust bearing comprises a generally cylindrical plug which is adapted to be inserted through the threaded opening until its forward end abuttingly engages the end of the armature shaft, said plug being bifurcated along its rearward portion to define a pair of spaced legs which are separated by a through transverse slot, said legs having a curved outer peripheral surface and said legs having inner surfaces which are separated from each other by a given transverse distance, a drivable wedge axially aligned with said slot and having a forward end portion integrally connected by fracturable webs to said legs adjacent their rearward most ends, said wedge having a rearward end portion which has a thickness which is greater than the given distance between the inner surfaces of said legs and a forward end portion which is tapered so that its transverse dimension progressively decreases proceeding from said rearward end portion of said wedge towards said fracturable webs, said plug having tapered nibs extending inwardly into the slot from the inner surfaces of said legs, said webs being fracturable and said wedge being movable into said slot when an axial force of a predetermined magnitude is exerted against the rearward end portion of the wedge to cause said legs to be moved radially outwardly so that the threads of the threaded opening bite into and embed themselves within the legs whereby said insert is securely locked to the housing.

Claim 4

In a dynamo-electric machine having a rotatable armature shaft carrying a worm gear thereon, a housing means for surrounding said armature shaft and with the housing means being provided with the threaded opening having threads adjacent the end of the armature shaft at its free end and a thrust bearing secured within the threaded opening of said housing means for engaging and setting the axial end position of the armature shaft, the improvement being that said thrust bearing comprises a generally cylindrical plug which is adapted to be inserted through the threaded opening until its forward end abuttingly engages the end of the armature shaft, said plug being bifurcated along its rearward portion to define a pair of spaced legs which are separated by a through transverse slot, said legs having a curved outer peripheral surface and said legs having inner surfaces which are separated from each other by a given transverse distance, a drivable wedge axially aligned with said slot and having a forward end portion integrally connected by fracturable webs to said legs adjacent their rearward most ends, said wedge having a rearward end portion which has a thickness which is greater than the given distance between the inner surfaces of said legs and a forward end portion which is tapered so that its transverse dimension progressively decreases proceeding from said rearward end portion of said wedge towards said fracturable webs, said plug having tapered nibs extending inwardly into the slot from the inner surfaces of said legs, said webs being fracturable and said wedge being movable into said slot when an axial force of a predetermined magnitude is exerted against the rearward end portion of the wedge to cause said legs to be moved radially outwardly so that the threads of the threaded opening bite into and embed themselves within the legs whereby said insert is securely locked to the housing.