Bearing assembly utilizing improved clamping collar
AssigneeReliance Electric Industrial Company
InventorHoward M. Martinie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bearing assembly adapted to be secured to an elongated shaft. An inner race of the bearing assembly includes a clamping portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial slots to form respective clamping fingers. A clamping collar mounts about the clamping fingers and is tightened to force the clamping fingers into clamping engagement with the shaft. The clamping collar has therein at least one relief indentation to provide enhanced flexibility. The enhanced flexibility allows a greater clamping force to be applied to the clamping fingers, and thus to the shaft.
Claims18
A bearing assembly for receipt of a shaft therein, said bearing assembly comprising:
- a one-piece inner race defining a bore for receiving the shaft and further defining a first annular raceway surface, said inner race having an axially extending clamping portion, said clamping portion defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial slots forming clamping fingers;
- an outer race defining a second annular raceway surface, said outer race situated such that said second annular raceway surface is radially outward of said first annular raceway surface generally in axial alignment therewith;
- a plurality of bearing elements disposed between said first annular raceway surface and said second annular raceway surface;
- an ungrooved clamping collar mountable about said clamping fingers, said clamping collar defining a circumferential gap therein having opposed gap faces and further defining a single rectangular flexibility enhancing relief indentation therein;
- and
- tightening means for drawing said opposed gap faces closer together to forcibly push said clamping fingers into clamping engagement with the shaft.
A bearing clamping assembly for securing a bearing to an elongated shaft, said clamping assembly comprising:
- a one-piece annular member defining an axial bore for receiving the shaft therethrough, including
- a clamping portion axially extending, said clamping portion defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial slots extending inwardly from an end of said clamping portion thereby forming clamping fingers;
- a plurality of rolling element
- a generally annular clamping collar removably mountable about said clamping fingers, said clamping collar defining a circumferential gap therein having opposed gap faces and further defining a single flexibility enhancing rectangular radial slot therein;
- and
- tightening means for drawing said opposed gap faces closer together to forcibly push said clamping fingers into clamping engagement with the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.