GB2173992A

GB2173992A - A shaft support assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2173992A
Application number: GB08609147A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter Reith; Lothar Walter; Rudiger Neumann
Original assignee: SKF GmbH
Current assignee: SKF GmbH
Priority date: 1982-08-10
Filing date: 1986-04-15
Publication date: 1986-10-29
Also published as: IT1164361B; IT8322570V0; GB8609147D0; FR2531756A1; GB2126878A; IT8322393A0; GB8321341D0; DE3229708A1; GB2126878B; GB2173992B

Abstract

A shaft support assembly comprises a base plate (30) and a housing (31) mounted on the plate, the plate and housing having flat opposed surfaces (32, 33). The housing (31) has a first bore (34) for reception of a shaft (36) and has an axis (35) extending parallel to the flat surfaces. The housing (31) has slots (37, 38, 39, 40) defined by flat opposed surfaces extending parallel to the flat surfaces (32, 33), and second bores (45, 46) extending perpendicular to the flat surfaces (32, 33) through the surfaces of the slots (37, 38, 39, 40) and the flat surface (33). Elements (50, 51) extend in the second bores (45, 46) to urge surfaces of the slots together to clamp the shaft (36). To provide a simple and operationally reliable assembly which can be produced in a simple manner, by for example casting or extrusion, the opposed surfaces of the slots (37, 38, 39, 40) are joined together by one or more bridge pieces (41, 42, 43, 44) integral with the housing (31). <IMAGE>

Description

1 GB 2 173 992 A 1

SPECIFICATION opposed surfaces extending generally parallel to the A shaft support assembly support surface, and the opposed surfaces of the slots are joined togetfier by respective bridge pieces

The present invention is concerned with a shaft formed integrally with the housing and which support assembly. 70 housing has two second bores which are disposed Gebrauchsmuster Specification DE 72 27 140, one on each side of the housing and are spaced particularly Figures 5 and 6, discloses a shaft from the first bore, the second bores extending support assembly having a base, a top, ends and generally perpendicular to the support surface and sides, which assembly comprises a base plate and a opening into the opposed surfaces of the respective one-piece housing which is mounted on the base 75 slots and into the support surface; and two elongate plate and has a generally flat support surface facing elements which are received in respective second the base plate. The housing has a first bore for bores and extend into respective bores in the base reception of a shaft, the bore having a longitudinal plate, the elongate elements engaging, and being axis extending generally parallel to the support adapted to urge together, the housing and the base surface and from one end of the assembly to the 80 plate and to urge togetherthe opposed surfaces of other. The housing also has a slot which is defined the respective slots, the or one of the bridge pieces by two opposed surfaces extending generally for each slot being elastically and/or plastically parallel to the support surface, and a second bore deformed when the opposed surface of the which is spaced from the first bore and extends respective slot are moved towards one another, generally perpendicularto the support surface, the 85 wherein the housing has one or more further slots second bore opening into the opposed surfaces of on one or each side of the housing, each of the two the slot and into the support surface. An elongate or more slots on one side being disposed above or element is received in the second bore and extends below another slot.

into a bore in the base plate, the elongate element Because the slots are bridged by bridge pieces, engaging, and being adapted to urge together, the 90 the flow of material when producing the housing by housing and the base plate and to urge together the casting, is good. Also an unacceptable amount of opposed surfaces of the slot. distortion during cooling is avoided so maintaining The elongate element is a bolt and is used to a sufficient degree of accuracy of roundness of the secure the shaft in the bore of the housing and also first bore. The bridge pieces stiffen the housing so to secure the housing to the base plate. In the known 95 that when machining the housing after it has been assembly, the slot opens into the bore of the cast, no unacceptable vibrations occur. With a housing and into the side of the housing. housing having an accurately round first bore, the A known method of producing an assembly of this shaft can be introduced into the first bore precisely type is to cast the housing in metal. However without the opposing sections of the housing at the because of the extent of the slot, the housing may 100 slots being displaced relative to one another during become distorted during cooling, resulting in an out pushing in of the shaft and the shaft can be securely of round bore. Also the known housing requires clamped in the first bore of the housing by machining after casting and undesirable vibrations tightening the screws.

can arise because of the slot. The vibrations can be The housing is elastically and/or plastically prevented by clamping the housing in the region of 105 deformed substantially only in the region of the the slot during machining. However this would bridge pieces. When the bolt (elongate element) is result in additional expense. tightened a substantial part of the first bore of the Gebrauchsmuster Specification DE 81 04 809 housing is not deformed and accordingly the shaft is discloses a housing having a first bore, a slot held fast relatively rigidly and non-yieldably in the bridged by a bridge piece and a second bore for a 110 bore.

bolt which merely braces the housing and clamps The or one of the bridge piece for one slot on the fast the shaft. Therefore the housing has to be said one side may extend along a region of the said provided with feet and bores have to be provided for one slot extending parallel to and spaced from the securing bolts, so that the manufacture and fitting of first bore and close the said one slot along one side this housing are expensive. 115 of the housing.

The object of the invention is a shaft support With this feature, the gide or sides of the housing assembly which has a simple and reliable housing are smooth and uninterrupted.

which can be produced in a simple manner, The or one of the bridge piece for another slot on especially by casting or extrusion. the said one side may extend along a region of the The invention provides a shaft support assembly 120 said another slot extending parallel to and adjacent having a base, a top, ends and sides, which to the first bore and provide a surface defining in assembly comprises: a base plate; a one-piece partthe first bore.

housing which is mounted on the base plate and has With this feature the first bore is not interrupted a generallyflat support surface facing the base and so the shaft will be completely surrounded.

plate, which housing has a first bore for reception of 125 The housing may be symmetrical about a plane a shaft, the bore having a longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the support surface and extending generally parallel to the support surface in which lies the longitudinal axis of the first bore.

and from one end of the assembly to the other, An embodiment of the invention will now be which housing has at least one slot on each side of described byway of example, reference being made the housing, each slot being defined by two 130 to the accompanying drawings, of which:

2 GB 2 173 992 A 2 Figurel is an end viewof an embodiment of the 45 and 46 respectively. Each bolt 50,51 hasahead invention showing a housing bolted fastto abase engaging in the enlarged diameter portion 48,49 plate, half of theview being in section; respectively and a screw- threaded end engaging in a Figure 2 is an enlarged viewof the circled portion 11 screw-threaded bore 52,53 in the base plate 30.

of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, with the shaft " 70 Whenthe bolts 50 and 51 are tightened, the opposed removed; and surfaces of the slots 37,38,39 and 40 are urged Figure 3 is a section on 111-111 of the assembly togetherwith elastic deformation of the housing 31.

shown in Figure 1. Closing of the slots 37,38,39 and 40 causes a The shaft support assembly shown in Figures 1, 2 narrow bead 54to beformed on the bore surface 34, and 3 comprises a metal base plate 30 and a one 75 one on each side. This is clearly shown in Figure 2, piece housing 31, which is made of plastics and is which is a view of part of the housing 31 withoutthe mounted on the base plate. The base plate 30 and shaft36 and when the bolt 50 has been tightened.

housing31 have abutting flat surfaces 32 and 33 When the shaft 36 is disposed in the bore 34, the respectively. beads 54, one on each side, will resiliently engage the Thehousing31 has a bore 34 with a longitudinal 80 shaft and clamp itfast. When the bolts 50 and 51 are axis 35 extending from one end of the assemblyto loosened, the material of the housing 31 resiles and the other and parallel to the flat abutting surfaces 32 the beads 54 disappear asthe opposed surfaces of and 33. Acylindrical shaft 36 of metal is received in the slots 37,38,39 and 40 move away from one the bore 34. another, so that the shaft 36 is no longer clamped and Thehousing31 has four slots, two slots 37 and 38 85 can be pushed out of the bore 34.

on one side and two slots 39 and 40 on the otherside The elastic deformation of the housing 31 caused of the housing. Each slot37,38,39,40 is defined by bytightening of the bolts 50 and 51 keeps the bolts two opposed surfaces which, in the relaxed state of undertension and prevents them from becoming the housing, extend parallel with one another and unintentionally loose.

with theflat abutting surfaces 32 and 33. Thetwo 90 The bolts need not engage screw-threaded slots 37 and 38, and 39 and 40, on each side of the portions of the second bores but may engage a nut.

housing 31 are disposed one above the other, slots Each of the slots in the embodiment described and 38 and 40 being nearerthe base plate 30. Thetwo illustrated has only one bridge piece, but slots 37 and 39 lie atthe same distance from the base constructions are possible in which there may betwo plate 30 and thetwo slots 38 and 40 also lie atthe 95 or more bridge plecesforeach slot.

same distance from the base plate. The first bore of the housing can also be used as a The opposed surfaces of each of thetwo slots 37 plain bearing surface, and radial bearing play can be and 39 arejoined together, at one location and over a adjusted using the bolts. Also the first bore of the part of theirsurfaces, by respective bridge pieces 41 housing can be used as a seating surface forthe outer and 42, each ol,",,jvhich extends along an axially 100 ring of a plain or rolling bearing. The bolts can be extending region of the slot adjacentto the bore 34 used to adjustthefit of the seat- a loose ortightfit.

and provides a surface defining in partthe bore 34. The shaft received in thefirst bore can have a The opposed surfaces of each of thetwo slots 38 and longitudinal groove, at leastforthe length of the arejoined together, at one location and over a part bore, to receive the bead 54 of Figure 2. The shaft of their surfaces, by respective bridge pieces 43 and 105 then is not only clamped fastfrictionally against 44, each of which extends along an axially extending rotation but is also prevented from rotating relative region of the slotalong the respective side of the to the housing byshape engagement.

housing 31. Thefour bridge pieces, 41,42,43 and 44,

Claims

are integral - made in one piece-with the housing CLAIMS

31. Each bridge piece, 4142,43 and 44, closes off one 110 1. A shaft support assembly having abase, atop, side of each respective slot 37,38,39 and 40. ends and sides, which assembly comprises: abase The housing 31 has two second bores 45 and 46 plate; a one-piece housing which is mounted on the each spaced from the first bore 34 and extending base plate and has a generallyflat support surface perpendiculartotheflat abutting surfaces 32 and 33 facing the base plate, which housing has a first bore of the base plate 30 and housing 31 and from top to 115 for reception of a shaft, the bore having a bottom of the housing. The second bores 45 and 46 longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to the are disposed on opposite sides of the housing 31 and support surface and from one end of the assemblyto an equal distance from the sides of the housing. The the other, which housing has at least one slot on each housing 31 with its first bore 34, slots 37, 38,39 and side of the housing, each slot being defined by two 40, bridge pieces 41,42,43 and 44 and second bores 120 opposed surfaces extending generally parallel to the and 46 is symmetrical about a plane 47 extending support surface, and the opposed surfaces of the perpendicula rto the flat abutting surfaces 32 and 33 slots are joined together by respective bridge pieces of the base plate 30 and housing 31, in which plane formed integral ly with the housing and which lies the longitudinal axis 35 of the first bore 34. Bore housing has two second bores extending generally 45 opens into the opposed surfaces of the slots 37 125 perpendicu larto the support su rface and opening and 38 and bore 46 opens into the opposed surfaces into the opposed surfaces of the respective slots and of the slots 39 and 40. Each bore 45,56 has an into the support surface; and two elongate elements enlarged diameter portion 48,49 respectively atthe which are received in respective second bores and top of the housing 31. extend into respective bores in the base plate, the Two bolts 50 and 51 extend one through each bore 130 elongate elements engaging, and being adapted to - 3 GB 2 173 992 A 3 urge together, the housing and the base plate and to housing.

urge together the opposed surfaces of the 3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, respective slots, the or one of the bridge pieces for wherein the or one of the bridge piece for another each slot being elastically and/or plastically slot on the said one side extends along a region of deformed when the opposed surfaces of the 20 the said another slot extending parallel to and respective slot are moved towards one another, adjacentto the first bore and provides a surface wherein the housing has one or more further slots defining in part the first bore.

on one or each side of the housing, each of the two 4. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, or more slots on one side being disposed above or wherein the housinEf is symmetrical about a plane below another slot. 25 extending perpendicular to the support surface and 2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the in which lies the longitudinal axis of the first bore.

or one of the bridge piece for one slot on the said 5. A shaft support assembly substantially as one side extends along a region of the said one slot herein described with reference to and as shown in extending parallel to and spaced from the first bore the accompanying drawings.

and closes the open slot along one side of the 80 Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 10/1986. Demand No. 8817356. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.