Method for locking an anti-friction bearing to a shaft and apparatus for accomplishing the same

In an anti-friction bearing having outer and inner race rings rotatable relative to one another, with said inner race ring having an axially slotted and correspondingly segmented axial extension integral therewith with at least four such slots and at least four intervening segments therein defined by said slots, the improvement comprising:

• (a) means for centering a shaft in said axial extension and securing such a shaft therein against axial and rotational movement with respect to such inner race and integral axial extension on said inner race, said means comprising:
• (b) a continuous ring collar around said integral axial extension having two set screws threadably maintained therein and spaced apart within an angle measured in a radial direction from an axial center of a shaft in said inner race which subtends an arc of substantially between 30.degree. to 60.degree., with said ring collar being circumferentially positionable on said axial extension and with said two set screws being spaced apart therein so that when said collar is in position for securing a shaft and said axial extension together each said set screw is then over a corresponding segment, with such two segments being adjacent one another and having a slot between the same, and with each said set screw being spaced circumferentially away from said slot a substantially equal distance in opposite circumferential directions from one another;
• (c) two radially extending threaded bores accommodating the respective two set screws in said collar, with each said set screw being tightenable into its threaded bore to engage its corresponding segment and move said segment into engagement with a side of a shaft when a shaft is positioned in said inner race while said collar engages two segments of said integral extension on the opposite side of said extension and shaft to move the latter two segments radially into engagement with said shaft on said opposite side, all said moved segments acting to position a shaft concentrically in said integral axial extension and to engage and secure such a shaft against axial and rotational movement relative to said inner race.

In an anti-friction bearing assembly having an outer race ring and an inner race ring which are rotatable relative to one another with said inner race adapted to be locked onto a shaft to prevent axial and rotational movement between such inner race ring and a shaft in said inner race ring, and an integral axial extension for said inner race ring having at least four slots extending axially in said extension defining a corresponding number of segments, the improvement comprising a rigid continuous ring collar havng two threaded radially extending holes therein, each having a set screw therein with said two set screws being spaced apart from one another within an arc which is substantially between 30.degree. to 60.degree. on said ring collar, said ring collar being positionable on said integral axial extension circumferentially of all said segments with each said set screw over a circumferential segment for engagement with that segment, said set-screw-engaged segments being adjacent to one another but separated by a slot which is between the respective positions of said two set screws, with said two set screws each upon tightening thereof in its threaded hole respectively engaging a corresponding segment to move the same into engagement with a shaft in said inner race, and while said two set screws are being tightened said continuous ring collar acts on segments opposite said two set screw-engaged-segments to pull said opposite segments into engagement with said shaft, with said segments which are at least four in number being movable by said two set screws and said collar each in a radial direction to position a shaft concentrically in said inner race ring and integral extension to retain the same against axial and rotational movement relative to said inner race.