WO2009002843A1

WO2009002843A1 - Threaded bearing cup anti-rotational locking device

Info

Publication number: WO2009002843A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/067667
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jr. Glenn R. Fahrni; Wayne D. Barnette
Original assignee: The Timken Company
Priority date: 2007-06-22
Filing date: 2008-06-20
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Also published as: WO2009002843A4

Abstract

A bearing assembly with an anti-rotational device configured to prevent turning, unthreading, or loosening of a stationary tapered roller bearing outer race 10 having threaded outer surfaces 10a, 14a used for bearing adjustment, axial shaft retention, and axial thrust load transfer. The bearing assembly includes an annular ring 16 secured to, and extending radially outward from an axial face 18 of the bearing outer race 10. Following rotational adjustment and axial positioning of the bearing, the annular ring 16 is positively engaged by one or more attachment points 14 associated with a stationary housing 12, thereby securing the bearing outer race 10 against further axial and rotational movement.

Description

THREADED BEARING CUP ANTI-ROTATIONAL LOCKING DEVICE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to, and claims priority from, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/945,742 filed on June 22, 2007, herein incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related generally to tapered roller bearings, and in particular, to an anti-rotational locking device configured to prevent rotation of an externally threaded bearing outer race following adjustment to a selected rotational position about the bearing axis.

Tapered roller bearings mounted in opposition find widespread use in machinery for enabling one machine component to rotate relative to another machine component. For example, in many automotive vehicles, the hubs to which non-driven vehicle wheels are attached rotate about a fixed shaft (spindle), each on two single row tapered roller bearings mounted in opposition, so that the bearings transfer axial (thrust) loads in both axial directions as well as radial loads. Similarly, the bearings may be used to support shafts which rotate in housings. For each installation it may be desirable to have the races of the bearings installed with an interference fitment, so as to provide maximum stability. Often at least one race, such as the outer race in an automotive differential application, is initially installed with a loose fit to permit the race position to be adjusted axially to alter the setting of the bearings. Once the correct setting of the bearings is attained, the bearing race with the loose fit is then secured in a fixed axial position to retain the setting.

However, many methods for axially securing the bearing race with the loose fit do not prevent the bearing race from continuing to turn rotationally about the bearing axis, which results in wear and premature failure of the race and associated mating components, such as the housing. Other securing methods, such as deforming adjacent components to engage the bearing housing prevent the bearing race from rotating, but lack strength to withstand high forces and are insufficiently strong enough to resist high rotational bearing torques, causing the deformation to collapse and the bearing cup to rotate.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an anti-rotational locking device which may be used to prevent turning, unthreading, or loosening of a threaded stationary tapered roller bearing outer race used for bearing adjustment, axial shaft retention, and axial thrust load transfer. Preventing turning, unthreading, or loosening about the bearing axis prevents wear between the outer race outside diameter and the housing inside diameter and prevents loss of bearing setting. It would be further advantageous to provide for infinite rotational locking positioning of the bearing cup after placement in a final adjustment position. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the present disclosure provides a bearing assembly with an anti-rotational device configured to prevent turning, unthreading, or loosening of a tapered roller bearing outer race having a threaded outer surface used for bearing adjustment, axial shaft retention, and axial thrust load transfer. The bearing assembly includes an annular ring secured to, and extending radially outward from, an axial outer end face of the bearing outer race. Following rotational adjustment and axial positioning of the bearing, the annular ring is positively engaged by at least one attachment point associated with a stationary housing, thereby securing the bearing outer race relative to the housing against axial and rotational movement.

The foregoing features, and advantages set forth in the present disclosure as well as presently preferred embodiments will become more apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:

Figure 1 is an axial view of the bearing outer race locked against rotation by an assembly of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of Figure 1 taken at 2-2; Figure 3 is an axial view of the bearing outer race, similar to Fig. 1 , showing alternate advancement tool engagement means and an alternate locking component engagement;

Figure 4 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, illustrating an alternate assembly of the present invention utilized to secure the bearing outer race against rotation;

Figure 5 is an axial view of an alternate embodiment of a locking ring of the present disclosure; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a bearing outer race locked against rotation with a bolt and the locking ring of Fig. 5. Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. It is to be understood that the drawings are for illustrating the concepts set forth in the present disclosure and are not to scale. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description enables one skilled in the art to make and use the present disclosure, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the present disclosure, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the present disclosure.

The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for maintaining a desired bearing setting by preventing a threaded bearing cup from rotating away from, or unthreading from, a set and established axial position. By preventing loss of bearing settings and rotational movement, the loss of axial retention functionality by the bearing is prevented, and excess wear between the bearing outer surfaces and housing inner surfaces, both in threaded regions and in smooth cylindrical regions, is reduced. In addition, the present method and apparatus enables the bearing cup to be rotated about the bearing axis to any rotational position prior to being secured against further movement, thereby eliminating requirements for rotational advancement or retreat to a closest engagement or alignment of matching parts, providing for improved accuracy in bearing adjustment. - A -

Turning to the Figures, and to Figures 1 and 2 in particular, a first embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The bearing cup 10 is shown positioned coaxially within a supporting stationary housing 12, having an extended annular boss 14 protruding axially from an axial end face of the housing 12. As shown in the figures, the bearing cup 10 includes external threads 1 OA on an outer circumferential surface which are engaged with corresponding internal threads 14A on an inner circumferential surface of the boss 14. Adjustment of the bearing cup 10 axial and rotational positions is effected by the threaded engagement 10A and 14A between the bearing cup 10 and the boss 14. An annular ring 16, which may be flat, is secured to the outer axial face 18 of the bearing cup 10, and has an outer diameter which is greater than that of an outer diameter of the bearing cup 10, such that the annular ring 16 has a radial dimension which is approximately equal to an outer radial dimension of the housing boss 14. Preferably, the annular ring 16 is welded to the outer axial face 18 of the bearing cup 10, but those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that any of a variety of suitable attachment means may be utilized to secure the annular ring 16 to the bearing cup outer axial face 18. It is further preferred that the housing boss 14 have an axial dimension which provides for a tolerance gap 20 between the back (inner) face of the annular ring 16 and the outer face of the housing boss 14 when the bearing cup 10 is adjusted to the desired axial and rotational position. The tolerance gap 20 prevents the annular ring 16 from "bottoming" against the housing boss 14 outer face during bearing cup adjustment procedure.

To facilitate engagement with an adjustment or advancement tool (not shown), the annular ring 16 may include a plurality of tool engagement notches 22 as shown in Fig. 1 or a plurality of bores 34 as shown in Fig. 3, to provide appropriate load distribution and engagement with the advancement tool. Appropriate load distribution and engagement prevents both ring distortion and advancement tool disengagement from the ring during bearing cup advancement and bearing adjustment. As one skilled in the art can appreciate, the number, configuration, and spacing of the tool engagement locations may be varied without affecting the alignment process. Further, alternative shapes of the notches or bores, such as slots, may be utilized.

During bearing cup alignment, an advancement tool configured to engage the tool engagement notches 22 or bores 34 is used to facilitate axial rotation of the bearing cup 10 into the desired rotational and axial position relative to the housing 12 by rotational adjustment of the threaded engagement at threads 10A and 14A.

Once the bearing cup 10 is adjusted to the desired rotational and axial position relative to the housing 12, a locking plate 24 is engaged with both the circumferential peripheral edge of the annular ring 16 and the outer annular surface of the housing boss 14. The locking plate 24 preferably includes a radially-inward directed "V" protrusion 26, which positively engages, and penetrates, the circumferential peripheral edge of the annular ring 16. The locking plate 24 is secured to the outer annular surface of the housing boss 14 by one or more removable bolts 28 directed radially inward. As can be seen in Figure 1 , the engagement between the protrusion 26 in the locking plate 28 and the annular ring 16 peripheral edge prevents rotational movement of the annular ring 16, and correspondingly, of the bearing cup 10 to which the annular ring 16 is secured. The rotational (and hence axial) position of the bearing cup 10 may be re-adjusted by release of the bolts 28 securing the locking plate 24 to the housing boss 14, thereby disengaging the protrusion 26 from the annular ring 16 peripheral edge. Once the readjustment is complete, the locking plate 24 is then reattached to the housing boss 14, and the protrusion 26 again engaged with the annular ring 16 peripheral edge at a new location.

In one embodiment, the locking plate 24 is formed from a material which has a greater hardness and/or strength than the material forming the annular ring 16, such that the protrusion 26 will cut into and/or deform the annular ring 16 peripheral edge when engaged therewith. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that this is not required if a cutting tool or implement is utilized to provide an optional notch 30 in the peripheral edge of the annular ring 16 to receive the locking plate protrusion 26 following rotational and axial adjustment of the bearing cup 10 relative to the housing 12.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a plurality of locking plates and associated protrusions may be concurrently disposed about the circumference of the annular boss 14 and ring 16, as required to provide a suitable resistance to rotational movement of the bearing cup 10. Furthermore, the "V" shaped protrusion 26 may have a variety of configurations without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the protrusion 26 may extend across the entire axially-directed width of the locking plate, requiring a suitable receiving slot 32 in the outer annular surface of the housing boss 14, or alternatively, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the protrusion 26 may only extend as far as is required to engage the peripheral edge of the annular ring 16, without engaging the housing boss 14, thereby simplifying the construction of the housing boss 14 by eliminating the need for slot 32. In a further alternate embodiment, such as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the annular ring 16 may include one or more bores 36 through which threaded screws or bolts 38 may be passed to directly engage the structure of the housing 12 or housing boss 14 once the bearing cup 10 has been positioned in a desired rotational and axial position. The screws or bolts 38 provide a positive engagement between the annular ring 16 and the housing 12 and/or housing boss 14, preventing rotational and axial movement of the bearing cup 10. Preferably, the screws 38 are self- tapping screws which are capable of being driven into the axial end face of the housing 12 or housing boss 14 either directly or into a hole drilled therein in following the desired adjustment of the bearing cup 10. However, the screws 38 can be replaced by any fastener capable of extending through annular ring 16 and being driven into the axial end face of the housing 12 or housing boss 14.

Those of ordinary skill will further recognize that this embodiment is also capable of utilizing an advancement tool used to facilitate threaded rotation of the bearing cup 10 into the desired rotational and axial position relative to the housing 12 by engaging an adjustment tool with the screw bores 36 prior to placement of the screws 38, in which case the tool engagement notches are not required and may be omitted.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A bearing cup anti-rotation assembly for securing an externally threaded bearing cup in threaded engagement with an internally threaded housing boss of a stationary coaxial housing against axial and rotational movement relative to the stationary coaxial housing, comprising: an annular ring secured to an outer axial end face of the bearing cup, said annular ring having an outer circumference which is greater than an outer circumference of said bearing cup; and a means for securing said annular ring to said housing boss in a fixed position relative to said stationary coaxial housing at any rotational position of said annular ring and said secured bearing cup.

2. The bearing cup anti-rotation assembly of Claim 1 wherein said means for securing includes at least one locking plate configured for attachment to said housing boss, said locking plate having a radially inward projecting protrusion adapted to engage a circumferential peripheral edge of said annular ring upon attachment of said locking plate to said housing boss.

3. The bearing cup anti-rotation assembly of Claim 2 wherein the shape of said protrusion is a radially-inwardly directed "V".

4. The bearing cup anti-rotation assembly of Claim 2 wherein said housing boss includes a slot, and said protrusion further engages said slot.

5. The bearing cup anti-rotation assembly of Claim 2 wherein said protrusion is configured to deform said circumferential peripheral edge of said annular ring upon engagement therewith.

6. The bearing cup anti-rotation assembly of Claim 2 wherein said circumferential peripheral edge of said annular ring includes a slot, and wherein said protrusion is configured to engage said slot.

7. The bearing cup anti-rotation assembly of Claim 1 wherein said annular ring includes at least one axially directed bore; and wherein said means for securing includes at least one component configured to extend through said at least one axially directed bore and to engage said housing boss of said stationary coaxial housing.

8. The bearing cup anti-rotation assembly of Claim 7 wherein at least one axially directed bore is configured to receive an advancement tool adapted to facilitate threaded rotational adjustment of said bearing cup within said housing boss, relative to said stationary coaxial housing.

9. The bearing cup anti-rotation assembly of Claim 1 further including a tolerance gap between an inner axial face of said annular ring and an outer axial face of said housing boss.

10. The bearing cup anti-rotation assembly of Claim 1 wherein said annular ring includes a plurality of tool engagement means configured to receive an advancement tool adapted to facilitate threaded rotational adjustment of said bearing cup within said housing boss, relative to said stationary coaxial housing.

1 1 . A bearing cup anti-rotation assembly for securing a threaded bearing cup against axial and rotational movement relative to a threaded stationary coaxial housing, comprising: an annular ring secured to an outer axial face of said bearing cup, said annular ring having an outer circumference which is greater than an outer circumference of said bearing cup; and at least one locking component adapted to engage said annular ring with said stationary coaxial housing at any relative rotational position of said annular ring and said secured bearing cup.

12. The bearing cup anti-rotation assembly of Claim 1 1 wherein said annular ring includes at least one axially directed bore; and said locking component includes at least one component configured to extend through said at least one axially parallel bore and to engage said stationary coaxial housing.

13. The bearing cup anti-rotation assembly of Claim 1 1 wherein said locking component includes a protrusion adapted to engage a circumferential peripheral edge of said annular ring.

14. A method for locking an externally threaded bearing cup including an annular ring secured to an outer axial face, within an internally threaded and coaxial housing against rotational movement relative to the coaxial stationary housing, comprising: disposing said bearing cup coaxially within said housing in threaded engagement therewith; adjusting at least one of an axial and/or rotational position of said bearing cup relative to said housing to achieve a selected bearing setting; and coupling said annular ring to said housing with at least one locking component to maintain said bearing cup at said adjusted position.

15. The method of Claim 14 wherein said step of coupling includes deforming a circumferential peripheral edge of said annular ring with said locking component during attachment of said locking component to said housing.

16. The method of Claim 14 wherein said step of coupling includes engaging said locking component to said housing through an axially parallel bore in said annular ring.

17. The method of Claim 14 wherein said step of coupling includes forming a slot in a circumferential peripheral edge of said annular ring and engaging a protrusion of said locking component with said formed slot during attachment of said locking component to said housing.