Re-lubeable center support assembly for bearing
AssigneeArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
InventorsAnthony G. Lentini, Robert J. Ostrander, Christopher J. Steele
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A center support assembly includes a bearing that supports a driveshaft for rotation about an axis. A shield is fixed to the bearing and a seal is positioned between the shield and the bearing. The shield and seal cooperate to retain lube within the bearing and prevent external contaminants from entering the bearing. A lube passage is formed between an outer surface of the bearing and an inner surface of the shield. At least one externally accessible fitting is in fluid communication with the lube passage and is used to supply additional lubricant to the bearing when needed.
Claims17
A center support assembly for a driveshaft comprising:
- a bearing to support the driveshaft for rotation about an axis, wherein said bearing has a fore side and an aft side;
- a resilient cushion surrounding said bearing;
- a shield mounted to said bearing, wherein said shield comprises a first shield member and a second shield member with said first shield member being attached to said bearing at said fore side and said second shield member being attached to said bearing at said aft side;
- a seal positioned between said shield and said bearing;
- a lube passage formed between an inner surface of said shield and an outer surface of said bearing;
- and
- at least one fitting in fluid communication with said lube passage and externally accessible to supply lubricant to said bearing, wherein said fitting includes a body that is embedded within said resilient cushion, said body being in fluid communication with said lube passage.
A method of lubricating a self-aligning center bearing comprising:
- (a) forming a lube passage between an outer surface of the self-aligning center bearing and a shield attached to the self-aligning center bearing, wherein the shield comprises a first shield member and a second shield member with the first shield member being attached to a fore side of the self-aligning center bearing and the second shield member being attached to an aft side of the self-aligning center bearing;
- (b) surrounding the self-aligning center bearing with a resilient cushion;
- and
- (c) supplying lubricant via at least one external accessible fitting to the lube passage, wherein the at least one external accessible fitting includes a body that is embedded within the resilient cushion, with the body being in fluid communication with the lube passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.