Universal fit backing ring assembly for railway axles

A railway axle assembly comprising:

• an axle having a journal, an enlarged section with an outer cylindrical surface and a curved connecting section extending between the journal and the enlarged section,
• a rolling bearing mounted on the journal,
• a backing ring disposed axially between the bearing and the enlarged section of the axle, the backing ring receiving axial loading from the rolling bearing and having a first axial section radially delimited by an outer cylindrical surface and an inner curved annular surface, the inner curved surface being disposeable against the curved connecting section of the axle;
• an annular insert securing the backing ring onto the axle, having L-shaped axial cross-sections and formed entirely of a material having a yield strength less than a yield strength of the material of the backing ring, the annular insert including a sleeve portion with a first axial section, a second axial section and a reduced thickness section configured to hingedly connect the first axial section and the second axial section, the first axial section of the sleeve portion projecting axially cantilevering from the first axial section of the backing ring and configured to engage with the enlarged section of the axle and the second axial section of the sleeve portion being configured to engage with the outer cylindrical surface of the backing ring with an interference fit,
• wherein the outer cylindrical surface of the first axial section of the backing ring has a frontal edge disposed adjacent to the enlarged section of the axle and an annular projection located adjacent to the frontal edge, the annular projection extending radially outwardly and being configured to induce elastic deformation of the reduced thickness section of the annular insert sleeve portion during assembly of the annular insert onto the backing ring such that the second axial section of the sleeve portion snaps over the projection and engages with the outer cylindrical surface of the backing ring with an interference fit,
• wherein the backing ring includes a second axial section adjacent to the first axial section of the backing ring and projecting radially outwardly from the outer cylindrical surface of the first axial section of the backing ring and shaped as a flange, and
• wherein the sleeve portion of the annular insert has a groove radially inwardly delimiting the reduced thickness section of the sleeve portion and the annular projection of the backing ring is disposed entirely within the groove, located adjacent to the first axial section of the sleeve and configured to prevent an elastic deformation of the reduced thickness section of the annular insert sufficient to permit the projection from displacing out of the groove.