Methods and apparatus for a rolling bearing assembly with electrical discharge damage protection
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorMatthew Roman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is disclosure for an example providing protection from electrical discharges for a rolling bearing assembly, where the rolling bearing assembly comprises an inner ring with an inner ring raceway, an outer ring with an outer ring raceway, rolling elements configured to roll or rotate between the inner ring raceway and the outer ring raceway, and at least one electrically conductive part with a first end and a second end, where the first end is configured to electrically contact the inner ring and the second end is configured to electrically contact the outer ring.
Claims20
A bearing assembly, comprising:
- an inner ring comprising an inner ring raceway;
- an outer ring comprising an outer ring raceway;
- rolling elements configured to roll or rotate between the inner ring raceway and the outer ring raceway;
- at least one electrically conductive part with a first end and a second end;
- and
- a seal between the at least one electrically conductive part and the rolling elements,
- wherein:
- the first end comprises first electrically conductive brush filaments configured to electrically contact the inner ring, and
- the second end comprises second electrically conductive brush filaments configured to electrically contact the outer ring.
A bearing assembly, comprising:
- an inner ring comprising an inner ring raceway;
- an outer ring comprising an outer ring raceway;
- rolling elements configured to roll or rotate between the inner ring raceway and the outer ring raceway;
- at least one brace;
- and
- electrically conductive brush filaments, fastened to the at least one brace, with a first end and a second end,
- wherein:
- the at least one brace does not directly contact either of the inner ring or the outer ring, and
- the first end is configured to directly electrically contact the inner ring and the second end is configured to directly electrically contact the outer ring.
A rolling bearing assembly with electrical discharge damage protection, comprising:
- an inner ring and an outer ring, the inner ring including an inner ring raceway and the outer ring including an outer ring raceway;
- a plurality of rolling elements, the plurality of rolling elements are supported to roll on the inner ring raceway and the inner ring raceway;
- and
- a seal extending radially between the outer ring and the inner ring, the seal including a fixed seal end that is fixed to one of the inner ring or the outer ring and a flexible sealing lip that contacts the other one of the inner ring or the outer ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.