End play restriction wedge

An apparatus for restricting end play of a rotatable shaft comprising:

• a single, unitary, monolithic body having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion defined by a female-wedge housing having a U-shaped cross-section defined by an intermediate wall and two outwardly extending side walls connected adjacent each end of the intermediate wall, the intermediate wall having a thrust plate surface along one side to be engaged with an end of the rotatable shaft and an angled ramp along an opposite side, the angled ramp and outwardly extending side walls defining a tapered aperture extending through the housing with an enlarged opening adjacent a first end of the housing, the second portion defined by a male wedge positioned adjacent the enlarged opening of the housing to be driven into the aperture in response to an external force acting on the wedge, the wedge having an angled camming surface engageable with the angled ramp after entering the aperture of the housing for driving the thrust plate surface away from the male wedge, and breakable means for temporarily connecting the first portion to the second portion of the unitary body prior to application of the external force to the male wedge;
• a housing for supporting the shaft and a tapered aperture formed in the housing to receive the female-wedge housing;
• and
• a thrust plate mounted with respect to the female-wedge housing and engageable with the free end of the rotatable shaft, the thrust plate having an angled L-shaped cross-section with one leg engageable between a bottom surface of the housing and the female-wedge housing for maintaining the thrust plate in position with respect to the female-wedge housing after an external force has been applied to the male wedge.

An apparatus for restricting end play of a rotatable shaft comprising:

• a female-wedge housing having a U-shaped cross-section defined by an intermediate wall and two outwardly extending side walls connected adjacent each end of the intermediate wall, the intermediate wall having a thrust plate surface along one side to be engaged with an end of the rotatable shaft and an angled ramp along an opposite side, the angled ramp and outwardly extending side walls defining a tapered aperture extending through the housing with an enlarged opening adjacent a first end of the housing;
• a male wedge positioned adjacent the enlarged opening of the housing to be driven into the aperture in response to an external force acting on the wedge, the wedge having an angled camming surface engageable with the angled ramp after entering the aperture of the housing for driving the thrust plate surface away from the male wedge;
• locking means, formed on at least one inner surface of the female-wedge housing and at least one corresponding outer surface of the male wedge, for holding the male wedge in an engaged position after being driven into the female-wedge housing by the external force;
• a housing for supporting the shaft and a tapered aperture formed in the housing to receive the female-wedge housing;
• and
• a thrust plate mounted with respect to the female-wedge housing and engageable with the free end of the rotatable shaft, the thrust plate having an angled L-shaped cross-section with one leg engageable between a bottom surface of the housing and the female-wedge housing for maintaining the thrust plate in position with respect to the female-wedge housing after an external force has been applied to the male wedge.