Rolling bearing precompression method, bearing precompression device, bearing assembly, machine, and vehicle

A method for preloading a pair of rolling bearings of a housing which supports a rotating shaft via the pair of rolling bearings which are subjected to fixed position preloading, the method comprising:

• restricting an axial distance between outer rings of the pair of rolling bearings by a housing portion or an outer ring spacer which is provided between the outer rings;
• restricting an axial distance between inner rings of the pair of rolling bearings by an inner ring spacer which is provided between the inner rings and has a shorter axial dimension than the housing portion or the outer ring spacer;
• tightening the inner rings from both sides in the axial direction by preload nuts in a state where the inner ring spacer is interposed therebetween, whereby applying a fixed position preload to the pair of bearings;
• arranging a first and second wedge members, each including a pair of wedge pieces into at least one of between an outer peripheral surface of the outer rings of the plurality of rolling bearings and the housing and between an inner peripheral surface of the inner rings of the plurality of rolling bearings and the rotating shaft, respectively, each of the pair of wedge pieces being provided with an inclined engaging surface inclined from an insertion direction and gradually increasing in radial thickness from a tip end portion to a base end portion;
• inserting one of the pair of wedge pieces from the tip end portion along an axial direction of the rotating shaft, making the one abut on the pair of rolling bearings at a peripheral surface opposite from the inclined engaging surface, and making another of the pair of wedge pieces abut on a mating member facing the pair of rolling bearings at a peripheral surface opposite from the inclined engaging surface;
• and
• applying a preload to the pair of rolling bearings together with the fixed position preload by tightening and fixing one of the wedge pieces in the insertion direction by respective tightening members.

A bearing preload device of a housing which supports a rotating shaft via a pair of rolling bearings which are subjected to fixed position preloading, the bearing preload device comprising:

• a housing portion or an outer ring spacer which is provided between outer rings of the pair of rolling bearings, the housing portion or the outer ring spacer configured to restrict an axial distance between the outer rings;
• an inner ring spacer which is provided between the inner rings, the inner ring spacer having a shorter axial dimension than the housing portion or the outer ring spacer, and the inner ring spacer configured to restrict an axial distance between inner rings of the pair of rolling bearings;
• preload nuts configured to tighten the inner rings from both sides in the axial direction in a state where the inner ring spacer is interposed therebetween, whereby applying a fixed position preload to the pair of bearings;
• first and second wedge members inserted along an axial direction of the rotating shaft into at least one of between an outer peripheral surface of the outer rings of the plurality of rolling bearings and the housing and between an inner peripheral surface of the inner rings of the plurality of rolling bearings, respectively, and the rotating shaft and gradually increasing in radial thickness from a tip end portion to a base end portion;
• and
• respective tightening members configured to apply a preload to the plurality of rolling bearings together with the fixed position preload by tightening and fixing the wedge members in an insertion direction.

A bearing preload device of a housing which supports a rotating shaft via a plurality of rolling bearings which are subjected to fixed position preloading, the bearing preload device comprising:

• a housing portion or an outer ring spacer which is provided between outer rings of the pair of rolling bearings, the housing portion or the outer ring spacer configured to restrict an axial distance between the outer rings;
• an inner ring spacer which is provided between the inner rings, the inner ring spacer having a shorter axial dimension than the housing portion or the outer ring spacer, and the inner ring spacer configured to restrict an axial distance between inner rings of the pair of rolling bearings;
• preload nuts configured to tighten the inner rings from both sides in the axial direction in a state where the inner ring spacer is interposed therebetween, whereby applying a fixed position preload to the pair of bearings;
• first and second wedge members inserted into at least one of between an outer peripheral surface of the outer rings of the plurality of rolling bearings and the housing and between an inner peripheral surface of the inner rings of the plurality of rolling bearings and the rotating shaft, respectively, and each of the first and second wedge members including a pair of wedge pieces, each of the pair of wedge pieces being provided with an inclined engaging surface inclined from an insertion direction gradually increasing in radial thickness from a tip end portion to a base end portion;
• and
• respective tightening members configured to apply a preload to the plurality of rolling bearings together with the fixed position preload by tightening and fixing one of the pair of wedge pieces of each of the first and second wedge members in the insertion direction, making the one of the pair of wedge pieces abut on the plurality of rolling bearings at a peripheral surface opposite from the inclined engaging surface, and making another of the pair of wedge pieces abut on a mating member facing the plurality of rolling bearings at a peripheral surface opposite from the inclined engaging surface.