US5061089A — Tapered bearing isolator

Claim 1

Independent Claim 247 words

A bearing isolator assembly (70) for mounting a bearing of the type comprising a radially inner race 54, a radially outer race 58 and a plurality of roller members (62) to a housing (H) having an aperture (60) defining an inner diameter surface (57) for receipt of a bearing, said outer bearing race defining an axially outwardly facing surface (61) and an outer diameter surface (5(), said bearing isolator assembly comprising: a generally tubularly shaped radial wave spring (74) telescopically received on at least a portion of said outer bearing race outer diameter surface and radially interposed said outer diameter surface and the inner diameter surface of said aperture; a generally washer shaped axial wave spring (76) adapted to be axially interposed said outwardly facing surface of said outer bearing race and an axially fixed axially inwardly facing surface (79, 121) defined by said housing; and a retaining member (72), said retaining member comprising a generally tubular shaped intermediate portion (84) having an inner diameter (94) generally equal to the largest outer diameter (92) of said radial wave spring, and an outer diameter (86) generally equal to the inner diameter of said aperture (60) in said housing, a radially outwardly extending flanged portion (80) at the axially outer end thereof and a radially inwardly extending flanged portion (82) at the axially inward end thereof, said radially inwardly extending flanged portion (82) having an inner diameter (98) smaller than the outer diameter (92) of said radial wave spring.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 247 words

A bearing isolator assembly (70) for mounting a bearing of the type comprising a radially inner race 54, a radially outer race 58 and a plurality of roller members (62) to a housing (H) having an aperture (60) defining an inner diameter surface (57) for receipt of a bearing, said outer bearing race defining an axially outwardly facing surface (61) and an outer diameter surface (5(), said bearing isolator assembly comprising: a generally tubularly shaped radial wave spring (74) telescopically received on at least a portion of said outer bearing race outer diameter surface and radially interposed said outer diameter surface and the inner diameter surface of said aperture; a generally washer shaped axial wave spring (76) adapted to be axially interposed said outwardly facing surface of said outer bearing race and an axially fixed axially inwardly facing surface (79, 121) defined by said housing; and a retaining member (72), said retaining member comprising a generally tubular shaped intermediate portion (84) having an inner diameter (94) generally equal to the largest outer diameter (92) of said radial wave spring, and an outer diameter (86) generally equal to the inner diameter of said aperture (60) in said housing, a radially outwardly extending flanged portion (80) at the axially outer end thereof and a radially inwardly extending flanged portion (82) at the axially inward end thereof, said radially inwardly extending flanged portion (82) having an inner diameter (98) smaller than the outer diameter (92) of said radial wave spring.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

The isolator assembly of claim 1 wherein said radial wave spring defines a minimum inner diameter (104) less than the outer diameter of said outer bearing race.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claim 2 wherein said radial wave spring and said axial wave spring are of a spring steel material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 75 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claim 2, wherein said radial wave spring (74) comprises a generally tubular member having a substantially constant radial wall thickness (100) in cross section and having an outer diameter surface defining a radial outer diameter substantially smoothly continuously and periodically varying from a maximum value (92) to a minimal value (102) at least three substantially equally circumferentially spaced locations about the circumference of said radial wave spring outer diameter surface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 92 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claim 2 wherein said axial wave spring (76) comprises a generally washer shaped member having a substantially constant axial wall thickness (110) in cross section and defining axially inwardly and outwardlymost surfaces (114 and 112) which are axially displaced from an axially fixed plane (116, 118) extending generally perpendicular to the axis (64) of said bearing by a distance substantially smoothly continuously and periodically varying from a maximum value to a minimal value at least three substantially equally circumferentially spaced locations about the circumference of said member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claim 2 wherein said retaining member is of a medium steel material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claims 1 wherein said radial wave spring and said axial wave spring are of a spring steel material.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 75 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claim 7, wherein said radial wave spring (74) comprises a generally tubular member having a substantially constant radial wall thickness (100) in cross section and having an outer diameter surface defining a radial outer diameter substantially smoothly continuously and periodically varying from a maximum value (92) to a minimal value (102) at least three substantially equally circumferentially spaced locations about the circumference of said radial wave spring outer diameter surface.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 92 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claim 7 wherein said axial wave spring (76) comprises a generally washer shaped member having a substantially constant axial wall thickness (110) in cross section and defining axially inwardly and outwardlymost surfaces (114 and 112) which are axially displaced from an axially fixed plane (116, 118) extending generally perpendicular to the axis (64) of said bearing by a distance substantially smoothly continuously and periodically varying from a maximum value to a minimal value at least three substantially equally circumferentially spaced locations about the circumference of said member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 75 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claim 1, wherein said radial wave spring (74) comprises a generally tubular member having a substantially constant radial wall thickness (100) in cross section and having an outer diameter surface defining a radial outer diameter substantially smoothly continuously and periodically varying from a maximum value (92) to a minimal value (102) at least three substantially equally circumferentially spaced locations about the circumference of said radial wave spring outer diameter surface.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 92 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claim 10 wherein said axial wave spring (76) comprises a generally washer shaped member having a substantially constant axial wall thickness (110) in cross section and defining axially inwardly and outwardlymost surfaces (114 and 112) which are axially displaced from an axially fixed plane (116, 118) extending generally perpendicular to the axis (64) of said bearing by a distance substantially smoothly continuously and periodically varying from a maximum value to a minimal value at least three substantially equally circumferentially spaced locations about the circumference of said member.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 30 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claim 10 wherein the difference between said maximum and minimum outer diameters is in the range of 0.1% to 50.0% of the mean outer diameter.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claim 1 wherein said bearing is a tapered bearing.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 92 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claim 13 wherein said axial wave spring (76) comprises a generally washer shaped member having a substantially constant axial wall thickness (110) in cross section and defining axially inwardly and outwardlymost surfaces (114 and 112) which are axially displaced from an axially fixed plane (116, 118) extending generally perpendicular to the axis (64) of said bearing by a distance substantially smoothly continuously and periodically varying from a maximum value to a minimal value at least three substantially equally circumferentially spaced locations about the circumference of said member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 92 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claims 1 wherein said axial wave spring (76) comprises a generally washer shaped member having a substantially constant axial wall thickness (110) in cross section and defining axially inwardly and outwardlymost surfaces (114 and 112) which are axially displaced from an axially fixed plane (116, 118) extending generally perpendicular to the axis (64) of said bearing by a distance substantially smoothly continuously and periodically varying from a maximum value to a minimal value at least three substantially equally circumferentially spaced locations about the circumference of said member.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

The bearing isolator assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising substantially nondeformable means (82) for limiting the maximum radial movement of said bearing (20) relative to said retaining member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-10-28	1995-04-29	1995-10-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-10-28	1999-04-29	1999-10-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-10-28	2003-04-29	2003-10-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Tapered bearing isolator

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