Bearing arrangements
AssigneeRansome Hoffmann Pollard Limited
InventorsStephen J. Lacey, Frank P. Wardle, Thomas L. H. Walford, Samuel H. Knight, Anthony J. Kent, Kenneth E. Sharman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-contained bearing unit rotatably supports a tool spindle in a bore of a machine tool housing wall. The unit employs an angular-contact ball bearing and the outer race is displaced axially to alter the pre-loading by supplying pressure fluid to a chamber containing a resiliently deformable seal or an annular bellows device.
Claims14
A self-contained bearing unit for direct location in a bore of a housing wall of a machine tool to supplement another bearing or bearings in rotatably supporting a spindle;
- said unit comprising an angular-contact ball bearing with inner and outer races, the inner race being fixedly rotatable with the spindle, means for restraining the outer race against rotation while permitting axial displacement thereof relative to the inner race, means defining an annular pressure-fluid-reception chamber independent of the bore in the housing wall, means for permitting pressure fluid to be conveyed to said chamber, means for permitting lubricant to be conveyed to said bearing and a resiliently deformable annular U-shaped seal provided in the chamber, the seal being subjected directly to the pressure fluid conveyed to the chamber which exerts an axial displacement force on the outer race to pre-load the bearing.
A self-contained bearing unit for direct location in a bore of a housing wall of a machine tool to supplement another bearing in rotatably supporting a spindle, said unit comprising an angular-contact ball bearing with inner and outer races, the inner race being fixedly rotatable with the spindle means for restraining the outer race against rotation while permitting axial displacement thereof relative to the inner race;
- means defining a chamber independent of the bore in the housing wall, means for permitting lubricant to be conveyed to said bearing, an annular resilient bellows device disposed in the chamber and means for permitting pressure fluid to be conveyed into the bellows device to exert an axial displacement force on the outer race to pre-load the bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.