Bearing retention for vacuum tank linkage
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorLance D. Littlewood
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bearing assembly for a door linkage. The bearing assembly is placed about a shaft which runs through a central opening in an arm, and the arm rotates about the shaft. The bearing assembly comprises a central composition bushing, a boss which is rotationally locked with the arm, and a plate. The central opening is large enough such that all the elements of the bearing assembly can be removed without disassembling the arm. The plate retains the elements of the bearing assembly in place when the arm is in use. The plate may also provide torque transmission between the boss and the arm.
Claims20
A method of replacing wear components in a bearing assembly disposed in an arm linkage, the method comprising:
- removing a clip ring disposed about a pin extending through the bearing assembly;
- detaching a bushing access plate from an outer side of the arm linkage, wherein the bushing access plate comprises a torque-transmitting interface with a boss disposed about the pin;
- withdrawing the boss, and at least one bushing from the bearing assembly through a central opening in the arm linkage;
- thereafter, installing at least one bushing about the pin;
- and
- reattaching the bushing access plate to the outer side of the arm linkage and disposing the clip ring about the pin to retain the bearing assembly.
A method of using a linkage arm, comprising:
- using a cylinder to rotate a first arm about a pin, the first arm comprising a first plate and a second plate;
- removing a bushing access plate from the first plate, the bushing access plate comprising a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is configured to transmit torque between the bushing access plate and a boss, and wherein the second layer is configured to restrict longitudinal movement of the boss relative to the pin;
- removing at least one bushing from about the pin;
- thereafter, placing at least one replacement bushing about the pin;
- and
- reattaching the bushing access plate to the first plate.
A method of servicing a linkage mechanism configured to rotate about a fixed pin extending from a structure, the method comprising:
- rotating a first arm about the pin to actuate a door;
- removing a bushing access plate from an exterior surface of the first arm, the bushing access plate comprising torque-transmitting geometry and a longitudinal retention feature;
- extracting, without disassembling the first arm, a boss and at least one bushing from the linkage mechanism through a central aperture in the exterior plate;
- installing at least one replacement bushing about the pin;
- and
- reinstalling the bushing access plate in torque-transmitting engagement with the boss to reestablish rotary function of the linkage mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.