Retainer nut
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMichael Kelly Trapp, Michael John Halligan, Thomas De Witt Woodrow, Giridhar Namala
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retainer nut for use in a bearing assembly disposed between a shaft and another structural element does not trap metallic chips from a failing bearing. The bearing assembly includes a first race mounted to the shaft, a second race mounted to the structural element, and a plurality of bearing elements disposed between the first and second races. The retainer nut is attached to the shaft and includes a cylindrical ring portion and an annular flange disposed on one end of the ring portion. The flange extends radially inward from the ring portion, and a plurality of openings is formed through the flange for allowing metallic chips to freely pass.
Claims18
A retainer nut comprising:
- a cylindrical ring portion;
- an annular flange disposed on one end of said ring portion, said flange extending radially inward from said ring portion, wherein a plurality of openings are formed through said flange;
- and
- a lip formed on a radially inner edge of said flange, said lip defining a ramp.
A bearing assembly disposed between a shaft and another structural element, said bearing assembly comprising:
- a first race mounted to said shaft;
- a second race mounted to said structural element;
- a plurality of bearing elements disposed between said first and second races;
- and
- a retainer nut attached to said shaft, said retainer nut comprising a cylindrical ring portion, an annular flange disposed on one end of said ring portion, said flange extending radially inward from said ring portion, wherein a lip is formed on a radially inner edge of said flange, said lip defining a ramp, and a plurality of openings are formed through said flange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.