Bearing for mounting on a multi-sided shaft
AssigneeThe Torrington Company
InventorJames L. Lawson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bearing has an inner ring coaxial to and rotatable relative to an outer ring. A central bore of the inner ring accommodates a multi-sided shaft in at least two positions that are angularly offset relative to each other. Each position provides a different fit between the inner ring and the shaft. A preferred embodiment has a 12-pointed star-shaped bore defined by the superposition of two hexagons of slightly different scale, to accommodate a hexagonal shaft in either of two positions. The second position provides a tighter fit between the bearing and the shaft without requiring tighter manufacturing tolerances.
Claims12
A bearing for mounting on a multi-sided shaft, the bearing comprising:
- an outer ring;
- and
- an inner ring coaxial with and rotatable relative to the outer ring, the inner ring formed with a central bore which accommodates the multi-sided shaft in at least two positions with different fit between the inner ring and the multi-sided shaft, the positions being angularly offset relative to each other.
A bearing for mounting on a hexagonal shaft, the bearing comprising:
- an outer ring;
- and
- an inner ring coaxial with and rotatable relative to the outer ring, the inner ring formed with a central bore which accommodates the hexagonal shaft in at least two positions with a different fit between the inner ring and the hexagonal shaft, the positions being angularly offset relative to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.