USRE34310E
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable preload bearing apparatus
Assignee: Timken US LLC
•
Filing: 1991-12-12
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Granted: 1993-07-13
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Expires: 2011-12-12
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus including a shaft, with a first and a second angular contact bearing axially disposed along the shaft to provide support for the shaft in a first and a second axial direction, respectively. The second axial direction is substantially opposite the first axial direction. A preload device exerts a preload force onto the angular contact bearings, which place the angular contact bearings into a maximum preload condition. An actuator device, acting in opposition to the preload device, reduces preload from the maximum preload condition to a desired preload condition. The preload device and the actuator device act directly through an axial displaceable race of the angular contact bearing, instead of through the rolling elements of the bearing.
Inventors
- 👤 Coleman Duncan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:42
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C25/00; F16C25/06; F16C25/08; F16C19/00; F16C19/02; F16C19/14; F16C19/16; F16C19/163; F16C19/54; F16C19/546; F16C19/547; F16C2229/00; F16C2322/00; F16C2322/39
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus comprising: a shaft; first and second angular contact bearing means, axially disposed along the shaft, for supporting the shaft in a first and a second axial direction, respectively, the second axial direction being substantially opposite said first direction; preload means, for exerting a preload force onto the angular contact bearing means, for placing the angular contact bearing means into a maximum preload condition.Iadd., said preload means having a stiffness such that the deflection of said preload means is insignificant compared to the deflection of the bearing means at the maximum preload condition.Iaddend.; and actuator means, acting in opposition to the preload means, for reducing preload from the maximum preload condition to a desired preload condition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus comprising: a shaft; first and second angular contact bearing means, axially disposed along the shaft, for supporting the shaft in a first and a second axial direction, respectively, the second axial direction being substantially opposite said first direction; preload means, for exerting a preload force onto the angular contact bearing means, for placing the angular contact bearing means into a maximum preload condition.Iadd., said preload means having a stiffness such that the deflection of said preload means is insignificant compared to the deflection of the bearing means at the maximum preload condition.Iaddend.; and actuator means, acting in opposition to the preload means, for reducing preload from the maximum preload condition to a desired preload condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the shaft is a rotary shaft and the first and second angular contact bearing means each further comprise: an inner race and an outer race, with rolling elements spaced therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein the preload means and the actuator means both exert force on the outer race of one of the angular contact bearing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus as described in claim 2, further comprising: a housing with an aperture formed therein, the shaft is mounted within the aperture, wherein the inner race of the first angular contact bearing means is affixed to the shaft while the outer race of the first angular contact bearing means is affixed to the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the actuator means forces the second angular contact bearing means in a direction toward the first angular contact bearing means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus comprising: a rotary shaft; a first and a second angular contact bearing means, axially disposed along the rotary shaft, for supporting the rotary shaft in a first and a second axial direction, respectively, the second axial direction being substantially opposite said first direction, said first and second angular contact bearing means each including an inner and an outer race, and rolling elements spaced therebetween; preload means, for exerting a first force on the outer race of the second angular contact bearing means, for placing the first and the second angular contact bearing means into a maximum preload condition.Iadd., said preload means having a stiffness such that the deflection of said preload means is insignificant compared to the deflection of the bearing means at the maximum preload condition.Iaddend.; actuator means, exerting a second force on the outer race of the second angular contact bearing means, for reducing the preload from the maximum preload condition; and load transmitting means, connecting the inner races of the first and the second angular contact bearing means, for transmitting the force between the first and the second angular contact bearing means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus comprising: a rotary shaft; a first and a second angular contact bearing means, axially disposed along the rotary shaft, for supporting the rotary shaft in a first and a second axial direction, respectively, the second axial direction being substantially opposite said first direction, said first and second angular contact bearing means each including an inner and an outer race, and rolling elements spaced therebetween; preload means, for exerting a first force on the outer race of the second angular contact bearing means, for placing the first and the second angular contact bearing means into a maximum preload condition.Iadd., said preload means having a stiffness such that the deflection of said preload means is insignificant compared to the deflection of the bearing means at the maximum preload condition.Iaddend.; actuator means, exerting a second force on the outer race of the second angular contact bearing means, for reducing the preload from the maximum preload condition; and load transmitting means, connecting the inner races of the first and the second angular contact bearing means, for transmitting the force between the first and the second angular contact bearing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein the first force is applied to the second angular contact bearing means in a direction opposite the first angular contact bearing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the actuator means forces the second angular contact bearing means in a direction away from the first angular contact bearing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising: a rotary housing, the first and second angular contact means supporting the shaft relative to said rotary housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus as described in claim 9, further comprising an aperture formed in the rotary housing, the shaft being stationary and mounted within the aperture, wherein the first and second angular contact bearing means each having an inner race and an outer race, with rolling elements spaced therebetween, the inner race of the first angular contact bearing means being affixed to the stationary shaft and the outer race of the first angular contact bearing means being affixed to the rotary housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein the preload means and the actuator means both act on the inner race of one of the angular contact bearing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus as described in claim 2, further comprising: a load transmitting means, connecting the outer races of the first and the second angular contact bearing means, for transmitting force between the first and the second angular contact bearing means, the preload means exerting a first force on the inner race of the second angular contact bearing means and the actuator means exerting a second force on the inner race of the second angular contact bearing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein the first force is applied to the second angular contact bearing means in a direction towards the first angular contact bearing means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
212 words
An apparatus comprising: a shaft, the shaft being rotary; first and second angular contact bearing means, axially disposed along the rotary shaft, for supporting the shaft in a first and a second axial direction, respectively, the second axial direction being substantially opposite said first direction, said first and second angular contact bearing means each including an inner and an outer race, and rolling elements spaced therebetween; preload means, for exerting a first force onto the angular contact bearing means, for placing the angular contact bearing means into a maximum preload condition; actuator means, acting in opposition to the preload means, for reducing the preload from the maximum preload condition to a desired preload condition.Iadd., said preload means having a stiffness such that the deflection of said preload means is insignificant compared to the deflection of the bearing means at the maximum preload condition.Iaddend.; and load transmitting means, connecting the outer races of the first and the second angular contact bearing means, for transmitting the force between the first and the second angular contact bearing means, the preload means exerting a first force on the inner race of the second angular contact bearing means and the actuator means exerting a second force on the inner race of the second angular contact bearing means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
212 words
An apparatus comprising: a shaft, the shaft being rotary; first and second angular contact bearing means, axially disposed along the rotary shaft, for supporting the shaft in a first and a second axial direction, respectively, the second axial direction being substantially opposite said first direction, said first and second angular contact bearing means each including an inner and an outer race, and rolling elements spaced therebetween; preload means, for exerting a first force onto the angular contact bearing means, for placing the angular contact bearing means into a maximum preload condition; actuator means, acting in opposition to the preload means, for reducing the preload from the maximum preload condition to a desired preload condition.Iadd., said preload means having a stiffness such that the deflection of said preload means is insignificant compared to the deflection of the bearing means at the maximum preload condition.Iaddend.; and load transmitting means, connecting the outer races of the first and the second angular contact bearing means, for transmitting the force between the first and the second angular contact bearing means, the preload means exerting a first force on the inner race of the second angular contact bearing means and the actuator means exerting a second force on the inner race of the second angular contact bearing means.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus comprising: a shaft; a rotary housing, first and second angular contact bearing means, axially disposed along the shaft, for supporting the shaft in a first and second axial direction, respectively, the second axial direction being substantially opposite said first direction, said first and second angular contact bearing means each including an inner and an outer race, and rolling elements spaced therebetween; preload means, for exerting a preload force onto the angular contact bearing means, for placing the angular contact bearing means into a maximum preload condition.Iadd., said preload means having a stiffness such that the deflection of said preload means is insignificant compared to the deflection of the bearing means at the maximum preload condition.Iaddend.; and actuator means, acting in opposition to the preload means, for reducing the preload from the maximum preload condition to a desired preload condition.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus comprising: a shaft; a rotary housing, first and second angular contact bearing means, axially disposed along the shaft, for supporting the shaft in a first and second axial direction, respectively, the second axial direction being substantially opposite said first direction, said first and second angular contact bearing means each including an inner and an outer race, and rolling elements spaced therebetween; preload means, for exerting a preload force onto the angular contact bearing means, for placing the angular contact bearing means into a maximum preload condition.Iadd., said preload means having a stiffness such that the deflection of said preload means is insignificant compared to the deflection of the bearing means at the maximum preload condition.Iaddend.; and actuator means, acting in opposition to the preload means, for reducing the preload from the maximum preload condition to a desired preload condition.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein the first and second angular contact bearing means each further comprise: an inner race and an outer race, with rolling elements spaced therebetween.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as described in claim 16, wherein the preload means and the actuator means both exert force on the inner race of one of the angular contact bearing means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
183 words
The apparatus as described in claim 16, further comprising: an aperture formed in the rotary housing, the shaft being stationary and mounted within the aperture, wherein the inner race of the first angular contact bearing means is affixed to the stationary shaft while the outer race of the first angular contact bearing means is affixed to the rotary housing. .Iadd.19. An apparatus comprising: a shaft; first and second angular contact bearing means, axially disposed along the shaft, for supporting the shaft in a first and a second axial direction, respectively, the second axial direction being substantially opposite said first direction, said contact bearing means having a spring rate corresponding to deflection in response to axial load; preload means, for exerting a preload force onto the angular contact bearing means, for placing the angular contact bearing means into a maximum preload condition, said preload means having a spring rate greater than the spring rate of the angular contact bearing means; and actuator means, acting in opposition to the preload means, for reducing preload from the maximum preload condition to a desired preload condition. .Iaddend.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-07-12 | 1997-01-11 | 1997-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-12 | 2001-01-11 | 2001-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-12 | 2005-01-11 | 2005-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |