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US 12,546,365 B2Granted
Bearing assembly for tufting machine cutting attachment
AssigneeColumbia Insurance Company
InventorsRoy Chapman, David Voyles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shaft assembly has a shaft and a journal bearing that is fixedly coupled to the shaft so that rotation of the shaft causes corresponding rotation of the journal bearing. A bearing race has an inner surface that defines a cylindrical bore and a lubrication groove that extends radially outward from the cylindrical bore. The journal bearing is rotatably disposed within the cylindrical bore of the bearing race.
Claims14
An assembly comprising:
- a shaft;
- a frame that supports and receives the shaft therethrough;
- a journal bearing positioned on the shaft, the journal bearing having opposing first and second ends;
- a first split collar that is positioned on the first end of the journal bearing and a second split collar that is positioned on the second end of the journal bearing, wherein the first and second split collars apply a compressive force to fixedly couple the shaft to the journal bearing;
- and
- a bearing race comprising:
- an inner surface that defines:
- a cylindrical bore having a central axis;
- and
- at least one lubrication groove that extends radially outward from the cylindrical bore, wherein the at least one lubrication groove extends along a path, wherein at least a portion of the path of the at least one lubrication groove extends both (i) axially along the central axis of the cylindrical bore and (ii) circumferentially,
- wherein the journal bearing is rotatably disposed within the cylindrical bore of the bearing race, wherein at least a portion of the bearing race is positioned between the journal bearing and the frame,
- wherein the first split collar is configured to bias against the frame to inhibit axial movement of the first and second split collars, the journal bearing, and the shaft in a first direction,
- wherein the first and second split collars cooperate to retain the bearing race therebetween so that engagement between the frame and the first split collar inhibits axial movement of the second collar, and wherein axial contact between the bearing race and the second collar inhibits further movement of the bearing race relative to the frame in the first direction.
10 more elements
A shaft assembly comprising:
- a shaft having a first end and a second end;
- a journal bearing that is fixedly coupled to the shaft so that rotation of the shaft causes corresponding rotation of the journal bearing;
- a bearing race comprising:
- an inner surface that defines:
- a cylindrical bore having a central axis;
- and
- at least one lubrication groove that extends radially outward from the cylindrical bore, wherein the at least one lubrication groove extends along a path, wherein at least a portion of the path of the at least one lubrication groove extends both (i) axially along the central axis of the cylindrical bore and (ii) circumferentially,
- wherein the journal bearing is rotatably disposed within the cylindrical bore of the bearing race;
- a first end bearing and a second end bearing that each define a respective interior surface that has an interior bore that engages a respective end of the first and second ends of the shaft so that the first and second end bearings are fixedly coupled to the shaft so that rotation of the shaft effects corresponding rotation of the first and second end bearings;
- and
- a first end bearing race and a second end bearing race that each receive a respective end bearing of the first end bearing and second end bearing.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.