Systems and methods for preloading a bearing and aligning a lock nut
AssigneeTemper Axle Products Corporation
InventorsJohn E. RODE, Matthew TOWNES
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for use in providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft includes a preload apparatus having a first extension and a second extension engageable with an inner race of the bearing and configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The first extension has a first projection and the second extension has a second projection. A stop ring is configured to limit a radially inward movement of the first extension and the second extension toward each other to position the first projection and the second projection relative to the bearing.
Claims15
A method for use in providing a compressive load to a wheel bearing mounted on a shaft of a vehicle axle or spindle, the method comprising:
- releasably connecting a press mechanism to an end of the shaft;
- the press mechanism configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing mounted on the shaft;
- moving a wrench of the press mechanism axially relative to an axial dimension of the press mechanism between a proximal non-engaged position and a distal engaged position such that engaging teeth of the wrench engage nut teeth of a lock nut on the shaft in the distal engaged position, the wrench avoiding engaging the nut in the proximal non-engaged position;
- and
- rotating the wrench to rotate the nut to achieve a desired preload on the bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.