Fastening of anti-friction bearings

Claim 2

An anti-friction bearing for fastening a housing to a shaft, the bearing comprising: the shaft having defined in it an inner race for bearing elements for axially holding the bearing elements; an outer race radially outside the inner race; bearing elements supported between the inner and outer races on the shaft; the housing being radially outside the outer race and spaced therefrom; and an intermediate sleeve of deformable material disposed between the housing and the outer race, at least one of the housing and the outer race having withdrawal prevention means thereon between the sleeve and said at least one of the housing and the outer race for preventing the sleeve from being withdrawn from between the outer race and the housing; the intermediate sleeve having a generally L-shaped profile in cross-section.

Claim 3

The bearing of claim 1, wherein the withdrawal prevention means comprises teeth defined on at least one of the housing and the outer race, and the teeth being adapted to cooperate between the intermediate sleeve and the other of the housing and the outer race for preventing withdrawal of the sleeve from between the housing and the outer race.

Claim 4

The bearing of claim 2, wherein the housing is under-dimensioned with respect to the intermediate sleeve and the sleeve, in turn, is under-dimensioned with respect to the outer race so that the sleeve is pressed radially against the outer race and this serves as part of the withdrawal prevention means.

Claim 5

The bearing of claim 3, wherein one leg of the L-shaped profile of the intermediate sleeve is inserted between the outer race and the housing and is moved therebetween upon insertion until the other leg of the L contacts the housing for blocking further insertion of the intermediate sleeve between the housing and the outer race.

Claim 6

An anti-friction bearing for fastening a housing to a shaft, the bearing comprising: the shaft having defined in it an inner race for bearing elements for axially holding the bearing elements; an outer race radially outside the inner race; bearing elements supported between the inner and outer races on the shaft; the housing being radially outside the outer race and spaced therefrom; and an intermediate sleeve of deformable material disposed between the housing and the outer race; at least one of the housing and the outer race having withdrawal prevention means thereon between the outer race and the intermediate sleeve for preventing the sleeve from separating from between the outer race and the housing; the intermediate sleeve having a generally L-shaped profile in cross-section.

Claim 7

An anti-friction bearing for fastening a housing to a shaft, the bearing comprising: the shaft having defined in it an inner race for bearing elements for axially holding the bearing elements; an outer race radially outside the inner race; bearing elements supported between the inner and outer races on the shaft; the housing being radially outside the outer race and spaced therefrom; and an intermediate sleeve of deformable material disposed between the housing and the outer race; at least one of the housing and the outer race having withdrawal prevention means thereon between the outer race and the intermediate sleeve for preventing the sleeve from separating from between the outer race and the housing; the intermediate sleeve having a generally L-shaped profile in cross-section.

Claim 8

In combination, two of the anti-friction bearings of claim 5; the shaft carrying two of the inner races at axially spaced apart locations along the shaft which defines the locations of the two bearings; the housing being radially outside the outer races of both of the bearings; a respective one of the intermediate sleeves being provided for each of the bearings.

Claim 9

The bearing of claim 5, wherein the intermediate sleeve has an interior surface and the outer race has an exterior surface which cooperates with the interior surface of the intermediate sleeve; the withdrawal prevention means comprises teeth defined on the cooperating exterior surface of the outer race.

Claim 10

The bearing of claim 7, wherein the intermediate sleeve has an array of generally axially oriented, circumferentially spaced apart recesses on its exterior surface, and the recesses are arrayed circumferentially at least about 180° around the sleeve.

Claim 11

The bearing of claim 5, wherein the housing has a shoulder defined at its interior surface, and the shoulder is directed and placed for being engaged by the intermediate sleeve as the sleeve is inserted between the housing and the outer race, and the shoulder thereby defines the extent to which the sleeve is inserted between the housing and the outer race.

Claim 12

The bearing of claim 5, wherein the housing is underdimensioned with respect to the intermediate sleeve and the intermediate sleeve, in turn, is underdimensioned with respect to the outer race, so that the sleeve is pressed radially against the outer race, and this serves as part of the withdrawal prevention means.

Claim 13

The bearing of claim 10, wherein one leg of the L-shaped profile of the intermediate sleeve is inserted between the outer race and the housing and is moved therebetween upon insertion until the other leg of the L-contacts the housing for blocking further insertion of the intermediate sleeve between the housing and the outer race.

Claim 14

The bearing of claim 10, wherein the intermediate sleeve has an array of generally axially oriented, circumferentially spaced apart recesses on its exterior surface, and the recesses are arrayed circumferentially at least about 180° around the sleeve.

Claim 15

The bearing of claim 12, wherein the recesses are defined both on the internal surface of the sleeve, which engages the outer race, and the external surface of the sleeve, which engages the interior surface of the housing, and the recesses on the interior and exterior surfaces of the sleeve are staggered around the sleeve, whereby a recess on one surface is opposite an elevation on the other surface of the sleeve.

Claim 16

The bearing of claim 10, wherein the bearing elements are roller bearings.

Claim 17

The bearing of claim 14, wherein the bearing elements are double row, self-aligning roller bearings.

Claim 18

The bearing of claim 10, wherein the intermediate sleeve has an exterior surface and the housing has an interior surface which cooperates with the exterior surface of the intermediate sleeve; the withdrawal prevention means comprises teeth defined on the cooperating exterior surface of the outer race.

Claim 19

The bearing of claim 16, wherein the teeth each have a first flank facing toward the axial side of the housing from which the sleeve is installed, and the teeth each have a second flank facing away from that side of the housing; the second flank of the teeth being perpendicular to the axis of the bearing, giving the teeth a shape which prevents withdrawal of the intermediate sleeve from between the housing and the outer race.

Claim 20

The bearing of claim 16, wherein the outer race has axial face sides thereof along the shaft, and the teeth are defined only in the region of the two face sides of the outer race.

Claim 21

The bearing of claim 16, wherein the teeth are defined on the outer race for engaging the intermediate sleeve.

Claim 22

The bearing of claim 16, wherein the intermediate sleeve has an array of generally axially oriented, circumferentially spaced apart recesses on its exterior surface, and the recesses are arrayed circumferentially at least about 180° around the sleeve.

Claim 23

The bearing of claim 20, wherein the recesses are defined both on the internal surface of the sleeve, which engages the outer race, and the external surface of the sleeve, which engages the interior surface of the housing, and the recesses on the interior and exterior surfaces of the sleeve are staggered around the sleeve, whereby a recess on one surface of the sleeve is opposite an elevation on the other surface of the sleeve.

Claim 24

The bearing of claim 16, wherein the bearing elements are roller bearings.

Claim 25

The bearing of claim 22, wherein the bearing elements are double row, self-aligning roller bearings.

Claim 26

In combination, two of the anti-friction bearings of claim 16; the shaft carrying two of the inner races at axially spaced apart locations along the shaft which defines the locations of the two bearings; the housing being radially outside the outer races of both of the bearings; a respective one of the intermediate sleeves being provided for each of the bearings.

Claim 27

An anti-friction bearing for fastening a housing to a shaft, the bearing comprising: the shaft having defined in it an inner race for bearing elements for axially holding the bearing elements; an outer race radially outside the inner race; bearing elements supported between the inner and outer races on the shaft; the housing being radially outside the outer race and spaced therefrom; an intermediate sleeve of deformable material disposed between the housing and the outer race; at least one of the housing and the outer race having withdrawal prevention means thereon between the outer race and the intermediate sleeve for preventing the sleeve from separating from between the outer race and the housing; the sleeve having a generally L-shaped profile in cross-section, such that one leg of the L is inserted between the outer race and the housing and is moved therebetween upon insertion until the other leg of the L contacts the housing for blocking further insertion of the intermediate sleeve between the housing and the outer race.

Claim 28

An anti-friction bearing for fastening a housing to a shaft, the bearing comprising: the shaft having defined in it an inner race for bearing elements for axially holding the bearing elements; an outer race radially outside the inner race; bearing elements supported between the inner and outer races on the shaft; the housing being radially outside the outer race and spaced therefrom; an intermediate sleeve of deformable material disposed between the housing and the outer race; at least one of the housing and the outer race having withdrawal prevention means thereon between the outer race and the intermediate sleeve for preventing the sleeve from separating from between the outer race and the housing; the sleeve having a generally L-shaped profile in cross-section, such that one leg of the L is inserted between the outer race and the housing and is moved therebetween upon insertion until the other leg of the L contacts the housing for blocking further insertion of the intermediate sleeve between the housing and the outer race.