# US 11,305,408 B2 · Systems and methods for preloading a bearing and aligning a lock nut

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,305,408 B2
- Document ID: US11305408B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/679,956
- Filed: 2019-11-11
- Published: 2020-03-12
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-16
- Assignees: Temper Axle Products Corporation
- Applicants: Temper Axle Products Corporation
- Inventors: John E. Rode; Sean E. Strait
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305408B2

## CPC

- B25B 27/062: {using screws}
- F16B 39/10: by a plate, {spring, wire} or ring immovable with regard to the bolt or object {and mainly perpendicular to the axis of the bolt}(F16B39/08 takes precedence)
- F16B 39/12: by means of locknuts
- F16C 25/06: Ball or roller bearings
- F16C 43/04: Assembling rolling-contact bearings
- B23P 19/10: Aligning parts to be fitted together
- F16C 2226/80: with splines, serrations or similar profiles to prevent movement between joined parts
- F16C 2229/00: Setting preload
- F16C 2326/02: Wheel hubs or castors
- F16C 2361/31: Axle
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)

## Abstract

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft includes an attaching member releasably connectable to the shaft. A press mechanism is coupled to the attaching member and is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. An optical sending unit is configured to output a high intensity light to allow a user to locate a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft when the attaching member connects to the shaft.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the apparatus comprising:
an attaching member releasably connectable to a circumferential outside surface of an exposed end of a threaded shaft;
a press mechanism coupled to said attaching member, said press mechanism configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing; and
wherein a proximal direction extends toward the press mechanism from the attaching member, and a distal direction is opposite from the proximal direction and extends toward the attaching member from the press mechanism;
said press mechanism having arms extendable in the distal direction past the attaching member to directly contact the bearing to apply the compressive load;
said press mechanism comprising a wrench having wrench teeth, the wrench movable by the press mechanism toward the nut in the distal direction from a base of the press mechanism such that the wrench teeth engage teeth of a lock nut on the shaft, and
said press mechanism configured to rotate the nut by causing a rotation of said wrench when said wrench teeth engage said teeth of the lock nut when said attaching member is connected to the shaft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller configured to control a motor to cause the rotation of said wrench to rotate the nut on the shaft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said wrench is retractable away from the nut by the press mechanism.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wrench comprises radially external teeth extending radially outwardly to engage internal nut teeth of the nut to allow the engaging of the wrench and the nut.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a drive mechanism configured to move said wrench toward the nut and configured to rotate the nut as controlled by a controller.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wrench surrounds said attaching member.