Bearing assembly with locking collar

A locking collar for locking a bearing assembly having an axial extension onto a rotatable shaft, the locking collar comprising:

• a first locking collar inside diameter;
• a second locking collar inside diameter, the second locking collar inside diameter being smaller relative to the first locking collar inside diameter;
• a tapered surface connecting the first locking collar inside diameter and the second locking collar inside diameter;
• a gap positioned circumferentially in the locking collar, the gap defining opposed separated planes cutting radially through the locking collar;
• and
• means for compressing the gap,
• wherein when the locking collar is slidably fit over the axial extension, the locking collar is adopted for being tightened about the axial extension by the compression means.
• 2.1. The locking collar of claim 2 wherein the compression means comprises a threaded bore through one opposed separated plane, a smooth bore through the other opposed separated plane, and a threaded fastener that threadably engages the threaded bore.
• 2.2. The locking collar of claim 2 wherein the compression means comprises a smooth bore through both opposed parallel planes and a fastener further comprising a nut and bolt.

A device comprising:

• a rotatable shaft;
• an outer bearing race member;
• an inner bearing race member having an inside diameter and an axial extension;
• a locking collar having a larger inside diameter and a smaller inside diameter, the locking collar being adopted to be slidably fit over the slotted axial extensions with the smaller inside diameter of the locking collar positioned at the furthest extent of the axial extension;
• a gap positioned circumferentially in the locking collar defining opposed separated planes cutting approximately radially through the locking collar;
• and
• means for compressing the gap;
• wherein the locking collar is adopted to be tightened about the axial extension by the compression means.
• 3.1. The device of claim 3 wherein the locking collar further defines a tapered surface connecting the larger inside diameter and the smaller inside diameter.
• 3.2. The device of claim 3 wherein the axial extension extends from one side of the inner race member.
• 3.2.1. The axial extension of claim 3.2 wherein the thickness of the axial extension is from about 0.0125 inch to about 0.500 inch.
• 3.2.1.1. The axial extension of claim 3.2.1 wherein the thickness is about uniform.
• 3.2.1.2. The axial extension of claim 1.2.1 wherein the axial extension is slotted.
• 3.3. The device of claim 3 wherein the axial extension extends from both sides of the inner race member.
• 3.3.1. The axial extension of claim 3.3 wherein the thickness of the axial extension is from about 0.0125 inch to about 0.500 inch.
• 3.3.1.1. The axial extension of claim 3.3.1 wherein the thickness is about uniform.
• 3.3.1.2. The axial extension of claim 3.3.1 wherein the axial extension is slotted.
• 3.4. The device of claim 3 wherein the compression means comprises a threaded bore through one opposed separated plane, a smooth bore through the other opposed separated plane, and a threaded fastener that threadably engages the threaded bore.
• 3.5. The device of claim 3 wherein the compression means comprises a smooth bore through both opposed separated planes and a fastener comprising a nut and bolt.
• 3.6. The device of claim 3 wherein the axial extension has an outside diameter that is larger than the smaller inside diameter of the locking collar.
• 3.7. The device of claim 3 wherein the axial extension has an outside diameter that is smaller than the smaller inside diameter of the locking collar.
• 3.8. The device of claim 3 wherein the axial extension has an inside diameter about equal to the inside diameter of the inner bearing race member.

A bearing assembly comprising:

• an outer bearing race member;
• an inner bearing race member having an inside diameter and axial extension;
• a locking collar having a larger inside diameter and a smaller inside diameter connected by a tapered surface, the locking collar adopted to be slidably fit over the axial extension with the smaller inside diameter of the locking collar positioned at the furthest extent of the axial extension;
• a gap positioned circumferentially in the locking collar, the gap defining opposed separated planes cutting approximately radially through the locking collar, the gap further having a threaded bore through one opposed separated plane and a smooth bore through the other opposed separated plane;
• and
• a fastener;
• wherein the locking collar is adopted to be tightened about the axial extension by the fastener threadably engaging the threaded bore in the opposed separated plane of the locking collar.

A bearing assembly comprising:

• an outer bearing race member;
• an inner bearing race member having an inside diameter and slotted axial extensions;
• a locking collar having a larger inside diameter and a smaller inside diameter connected by a tapered surface, the locking collar being adopted to be slidably fit over the axial extension with the smaller inside diameter of the locking collar positioned at the furthest extent of the axial extension;
• a gap positioned circumferentially in the locking collar, the gap defining opposed separated planes cutting approximately radially through the locking collar, the gap further having a smooth bore through one opposed separated plane and a smooth bore through the other opposed separated plane;
• and
• a nut with bolt;
• wherein the locking collar is tightened about the axial extensions by the nut with bolt.