Bearing insert with controlled endplay

A rotatable system, comprising:

• a rotatable member;
• and
• an integral bearing assembly, comprising:
• an inner mounting sleeve coupled to the rotatable member;
• multiple rows of tapered cylindrical rollers disposed adjacent one another circumferentially about the inner mounting sleeve;
• a tapered roller support assembly disposed circumferentially about the multiple rows of tapered cylindrical rollers;
• a single clearance ring disposed adjacent the tapered roller support assembly, wherein the single clearance ring is substantially flat and substantially non-resilient;
• an outer retaining sleeve disposed about the tapered roller support assembly and the single clearance ring;
• and
• an integral seal assembly extending between the inner mounting sleeve and the outer mounting sleeve.

A method for making a bearing assembly, comprising the acts of:

• positioning a plurality of adjacent rows of tapered roller members circumferentially about an inner sleeve that is mountable to a rotatable member;
• externally supporting the plurality of adjacent rows of tapered roller members with a plurality of tapered roller support rings;
• non-resiliently spacing the plurality of tapered roller support rings with a roller clearance mechanism to provide a desired clearance about the plurality of adjacent rows of tapered roller members;
• retaining the plurality of tapered roller support rings and the roller clearance mechanism about the plurality of adjacent rows of tapered roller members via an outer sleeve;
• and
• sealing the bearing assembly by extending a seal between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve around the plurality of adjacent rows of tapered roller members.

A method of operating a rotational system, comprising the acts of:

• operating the rotational system;
• rotating an integral bearing assembly having multiple circumferential rows of tapered rollers disposed between inner and outer sleeves with a desired rolling clearance set by a clearance control mechanism;
• and
• longitudinally moving the integral bearing assembly in a mounting chamber disposed about the outer sleeve in response to a geometrical variation in the rotational system.

A rotatable system, comprising:

• a rotatable member;
• an integral bearing assembly, comprising:
• an inner mounting sleeve coupled to the rotatable member;
• multiple rows of tapered cylindrical rollers disposed adjacent one another circumferentially about the inner mounting sleeve;
• a tapered roller support assembly disposed circumferentially about the multiple rows of tapered cylindrical rollers;
• a single clearance ring disposed adjacent the tapered roller support assembly, wherein the single clearance ring is substantially flat and substantially non-resilient;
• an outer retaining sleeve disposed about the tapered roller support assembly and the single clearance ring;
• and
• a mount structure disposed about the integral bearing assembly, wherein the mount structure comprises a retaining assembly disposed in a blocking position adjacent each end of the outer retaining sleeve.

A method for making a bearing assembly, comprising the acts of:

• positioning a plurality of adjacent rows of tapered roller members circumferentially about an inner sleeve that is mountable to a rotatable member;
• externally supporting the plurality of adjacent rows of tapered roller members with a plurality of tapered roller support rings;
• non-resiliently spacing the plurality of tapered roller support rings with a roller clearance mechanism to provide a desired clearance about the plurality of adjacent rows of tapered roller members;
• retaining the plurality of tapered roller support rings and the roller clearance mechanism about the plurality of adjacent rows of tapered roller members via an outer sleeve;
• and
• forming an adapter mount mechanism on the inner sleeve, wherein the act of forming an adapter mount mechanism comprises the acts of:
• assembling concentric cylindrical sleeves, at least one of which has a tapered structure;
• and
• intercoupling the concentric cylindrical sleeves with a locking member having a catch section and a threaded section engageable with first and second sleeves of the concentric cylindrical sleeves, respectively.

A method for making a bearing assembly, comprising the acts of:

• positioning a plurality of adjacent rows of tapered roller members circumferentially about an inner sleeve that is mountable to a rotatable member;
• externally supporting the plurality of adjacent rows of tapered roller members with a plurality of tapered roller support rings;
• non-resiliently spacing the plurality of tapered roller support rings with a roller clearance mechanism to provide a desired clearance about the plurality of adjacent rows of tapered roller members;
• retaining the plurality of tapered roller support rings and the roller clearance mechanism about the plurality of adjacent rows of tapered roller members via an outer sleeve;
• and
• inserting the outer sleeve in a bearing mount structure;
• wherein the act of inserting comprises the acts of:
• securing the outer sleeve in a fixed position within the bearing mount structure;
• and
• movably securing the outer sleeve in the bearing mount structure within a desired range of float.