Step bearing housing for an open-end spinning rotor shaft and method of operating same
AssigneeNovibra GmbH
InventorsGerd Stahlecker, Friedbert Schmid
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A step bearing is provided to axially support a shaft of an open-end spinning rotor, having a step bearing housing with a freely rotatable supporting ball, against which the end of the shaft is supported. The step bearing housing has a take-up space in the form of a lubricating grease reservoir in which the supporting ball is located. A lubricant distributor is arranged at the take-up space and is movable relative thereto.
Claims27
A step bearing assembly comprising:
- a housing, and
- a lubricating grease reservoir in the housing accommodating a rotatable supporting ball and an end of shaft of an open-end spinning rotor,
- wherein said reservoir is provided with a movable lubricant distributor, which is activatable from outside of the housing.
A step bearing for axially supporting a spinning rotor shaft, comprising:
- a rotatable supporting ball engageable in use against a rotor shaft end,
- a lubricating grease reservoir enclosing the supporting ball and a supply of lubricating grease for lubricating the ball and rotor shaft end contacting surfaces, and
- a lubricant distributor operable to impart stirring movement to the lubricating grease within the reservoir.
A method of operating a step bearing for axially supporting a spinning rotor shaft, which step bearing includes:
- a rotatable supporting ball engageable in use against a rotor shaft end;
- and
- a lubricating grease reservoir surrounding the supporting ball and rotor shaft end,
- said method comprising:
- filling the reservoir with grease, and
- subsequent to a period of time running a spinning assembly with rotation of the rotor shaft, applying a lubricant shifting motion to the grease in the reservoir to thereby introduce substantially unused grease to said ball and rotor shaft end without requiring resupply of grease to the reservoir,
- wherein said applying a shifting motion to the grease in the reservoir includes manually moving a grease stirring member from outside the grease reservoir without requiring disassembly of a housing containing the reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.