Bearing adjustment using compressive force sensor
AssigneeThe Timken Company
InventorsWilliam E. Harbottle, Mark A. Joki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hub rotates around a spindle on bearings which have angular raceways so that the bearings are capable of carrying both axial and radial loads and may be adjusted into a condition of preload with an axially directed force applied to one of the races, usually the outboard race on the spindle. That force which represents the preload in the bearings, is transmitted through a force sensor which produces a signal that reflects the magnitude of the force. By monitoring the force sensor, one can adjust the bearings to a desired preload.
Claims24
An assembly comprising:
- a first machine component;
- a second machine component;
- a first bearing located between the machine components for enabling one of the components to rotate relative to the other about an axis of rotation, the bearing including a raceway carried by the second component, a race mounted on the first component and having a raceway presented toward the raceway of the second component and rolling elements located between and contacting the raceways, the raceways being oriented at oblique angles with respect to the axis such that the rolling elements will transmit axial as well as radial loads between the race and the second component, the race having the capacity to shift axially on the first component when not restrained, whereby a force exerted in one axial direction on the race will shift the race on the first component and cause the rolling elements to seat along the raceways;
- force exerting means for applying an axially directed force on the race in said one direction, whereby the force seats the rolling elements along the raceways and is transmitted through the rolling elements to the second component;
- and force sensing means for detecting the magnitude of the force exerted on the race by the force means, the force sensing means being located such that the force exerted by the force exerting means on the race is transmitted generally axially at least in part through the force sensing means.
In combination with a first machine component and a second machine component, one of which rotates relative to the other about an axis of rotation on an antifriction bearing which includes a first race on the first machine component, a second race on the second machine component, and rolling elements between the races, the races having raceways along which the rolling elements roll, with the raceways being at oblique angles to the axis of rotation such that the rolling elements will transmit both radial and axial loads between the races, the first race having a back face at which axial loads are applied to the race;
- the improvement comprising:
- an end surface located along the first machine component where it is presented toward the back face of the first race;
- force means for advancing the end surface along the first machine component and for exerting an axially directed force in the region of the surface;
- and a force sensor interposed between the end surface and the back face of the first race for transmitting at least some of the axial force applied by the force means to the first race and for further indicating the magnitude of the force.
An assembly comprising:
- an outer component having a hollow interior;
- an inner component which extends into the interior of the outer component, the inner component having an abutment and threads spaced from the abutment;
- a pair of bearings located between the inner and outer components to enable one component to rotate relative to the other about an axis of rotation, each bearing having an inner race located around the inner component, an outer race located in the outer component and rolling elements between the inner and outer races, the races having raceways along which the rolling elements roll with each raceway being at an angle to the axis of rotation, such that the rolling elements will transfer both radial and axial loads between the races, the inner races having back faces at which axial loads are applied to those races, the back face of the one inner race being against the abutment that is along the inner component, the back face of the other inner race being in the region of the threads;
- a nut engaged with the threads;
- and a force sensor interposed at least in part between the nut and the back face of said other inner race such that when the nut is turned down over the threads, it imposes an axial clamping force which is transferred at least in part through the force sensor, as well as through the bearings, and the outer component to the abutment on the inner component, the force sensor having the capacity to detect variations in the clamping force applied by the nut.
A process for adjusting a bearing that establishes an axis of rotation and has inner and outer races and rolling elements between the races, the rolling elements contacting the races along raceways on the races and the raceways being at oblique angles to the axis of rotation such that the rolling elements will transfer both radial and axial loads between the races, one of the races having a back face at which the axial loads are applied to that race, said process comprising:
- applying an axially directed force to said one race at its back face;
- transferring at least a portion of the force through a force sensor that is capable of producing a response that reflects the magnitude of the axially directed force that is transferred;
- and monitoring the signal derived from the force sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.