RAILWAY CAR BEARING SEAL SPACER ASSEMBLY

PIECE D'ECARTEMENT DE WAGON FERROVIAIRE A PALIER ETANCHE

English Abstract

A bearing assembly is provided having a roller bearing with two cones defining an inner raceway fitted around the journal portion of an axle. A cup defines an outer raceway that combines with the inner raceway to receive roller elements. A spacer separates the cones, and a spacer support is provided to position and support the spacer.

French Abstract

Pièce de support dotée d'un roulement à rouleaux comportant deux cônes définissant un chemin de roulement interne ajusté autour de la partie de fusée d'un essieu. Une coupelle définit un chemin de roulement externe qui se combine avec le chemin de roulement interne pour accueillir les éléments de roulement. Une pièce d'écartement sépare les cônes et un soutien d'écartement est prévu pour positionner et soutenir la pièce d'écartement.

Claims

CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A roller bearing assembly comprising:
a generally cylindrical cone having a generally cylindrical, outwardly
directed
raceway thereon,
a generally cylindrical cup having a generally cylindrical, inwardly directed
raceway thereon,
a generally cylindrical spacer adjacent the cone,
the cone having a generally flat, axially inward face,
the cup having a radially inward facing cylindrical counterbore,
a generally cylindrical wear ring adjacent and axially inward from the
generally
flat, axially inward face of the cone,
the wear ring having a generally cylindrical outer surface,
a seal of generally cylindrical configuration,
the seal having a first end section, an intermediate section and a second end
section,
the first end section received in the radially inward facing cylindrical
counterbore
of the cup,
a resilient sealing element affixed to the second end section of the sealing
element, the resilient sealing element contacting the generally cylindrical
outer
surface of the wear ring,
and a spacer support of a generally cylindrical configuration having a
radially
inner edge adjacent the spacer and a radially outer edge adjacent the cup,
6

wherein the spacer support is comprised of plastic.
2. The roller bearing assembly of claim 1
wherein the spacer support is comprised of a high density polyethylene
plastic.
3. The roller bearing assembly of claim 1
wherein the radially inner edge of the spacer support includes a plurality of
raised
sections that extend toward the spacer.
4. The roller bearing assembly of claim 1
wherein the cup includes a radially inward facing center section and the
spacer
includes a radially outward facing outer surface, and wherein the spacer
support
is between the radially inward facing center section of the cup and the
radially
outward facing surface of the spacer.
5. The roller bearing assembly of claim 4
wherein the radially inner edge of the spacer support engages the radially
outward facing outer surface of the spacer and the radially outer edge of the
spacer support engages the radially inward facing center section of the cup.
6. A roller bearing assembly comprising:
a generally cylindrical cone having a generally cylindrical, outwardly
directed
raceway thereon,
a generally cylindrical cup having a generally cylindrical, inwardly directed
raceway thereon,
a generally cylindrical spacer adjacent the cone,
the cone having a generally flat, axially inward face,
the cup having a radially inward facing cylindrical counterbore,
7

a generally cylindrical wear ring adjacent and axially inward from the
generally
flat, axially inward face of the cone,
the wear ring having a generally cylindrical outer surface,
a seal of a generally cylindrical configuration,
the seal having a first end section, an intermediate section and a second end
section, the first end section received in the inward facing cylindrical
counterbore
of the cup,
and a spacer support of a generally cylindrical configuration having a
radially
inner edge adjacent the spacer and a radially outer edge adjacent the cup.
7. The roller bearing assembly of claim 6 wherein,
the spacer support is comprised of a plastic.
8. The roller bearing assembly of claim 6
wherein the spacer support is comprised of high density polyethylene plastic.
9. The roller bearing assembly of claim 6
wherein the radially inner edge of the spacer support includes a plurality of
raised
sections that extend toward the spacer.
10.The roller bearing assembly of claim 6
wherein the cup includes a radially inward facing center section and the
spacer
includes a radially outward facing outer surface, and wherein the spacer
support
is adjacent the radially inward facing center section of the cup and the
radially
outward facing surface of the spacer.
11.The roller bearing assembly of claim 10
8

wherein the radially inner edge of the spacer support engages the radially
outward facing outer surface of the spacer and the radially outer edge of the
spacer support engages the radially inward facing center section of the cup.
9

Description

CA 02738230 2011-04-21
Case No.: BRN030
RAILWAY CAR BEARING SEAL SPACER ASSEMBLY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to shaft journal bearings and, more particularly, to an
improved bearing assembly spacer supporting arrangement for use in a railway
freight
car.
Roller bearing assemblies incorporating two rows of tapered roller bearings
preassembled into a self-contained, pre-lubricated package for assembly onto
journals
at the ends of axles or shafts are known. Such bearing assemblies are used as
rail car
bearings assembled onto journals at the ends of the axles. Bearings of this
type
typically employ two rows of tapered roller bearings fitted one into each end
of a
common bearing cup with their respective bearing cones having an inner
diameter
dimensioned to provide an interference fit with the shaft journal and with a
cylindrical
sleeve or spacer positioned between the cones providing accurate spacing and
proper
lateral clearance on the journal. Seals mounted within each end of the bearing
cup
provide sealing contact with wear rings bearing against the outer ends or back
face of
the respective bearing cones at each end of the assembly. Such seals are shown
in US.
Pat. Nos. 5,975,533, 7,607,836, and 7,534,047.
In a typical rail car installation, the axle journal is machined with a fillet
at the
inboard end. A backing ring having a surface complementary to the contour of
the fillet
and an abutment surface for engaging the inboard end of an inner wear ring
accurately
position the bearing assembly on the journal. An end cap mounted on the end of
the
axle by bolts threaded into bores in the end of the axle engages the outboard
wear ring
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Case No.: BRN030
and clamps the entire assembly on the end of the axle. The wear rings
typically have an
inner diameter dimensioned to provide interference fit with the journal over
at least a
25 portion of their length so that the entire assembly is pressed as a unit
onto the end of
the journal shaft portion of the axle.
It is desirable to assure the support and proper spacing of the cones by
assuring
the support and positioning of the spacer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
30 The bearing assembly of the present invention is a roller bearing that
includes an
inner race or cone fitted around the journal portion of the axle or shaft. The
inner race
formed by the cones includes an outwardly directed raceway. An outer race or
cup has
an inwardly directed raceway. Roller elements are located between and
contacting the
inner and outer raceways.
35 A backing ring has a contoured surface complementary to and engaging the
contoured surface of a fillet formed on the shaft. The fillet leads from the
journal to the
shoulder of the shaft. The contoured surfaces cooperate to fix the backing
ring against
axial movement along the shaft.
The bearing assembly includes a seal assembly that provides a barrier for
40 lubricant to be retained within the seal assembly and for contaminants to
be kept out. A
spacer is provided to assure the proper spacing of the two cones. A spacer
support is
provided to assure the proper positioning and support of the spacer during
shipping and
installation. The spacer support can remain in place after installation of the
bearing
assembly on an axle.
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Case No.: BRN030
45 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a shaft journal having mounted thereon a tapered
roller bearing assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is an end view of a spacer support in accordance with an embodiment of
50 the present invention, and
FIG. 3 is a detailed partial view in cross section of a tapered roller bearing
spacer
assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a bearing assembly indicated
generally
55 by the reference numeral 10 on FIG. 1 is shown mounted on a journal 12 on
the free,
cantilevered end of a shaft or axle 14, typically a rail car axle. Journal 12
is machined to
very close tolerances and terminates at its inner end in a contoured fillet 22
leading to a
cylindrical shoulder 18 of axle 14. At the free end of the axle, journal
portion 12
terminates in a slightly conical or tapered guide portion 24 dimensioned to
facilitate
60 installation of the bearing assembly onto the journal. A plurality of
threaded bores 26 are
formed in the end of axle 14 for receiving threaded cap screws, or bolts 28
for mounting
a bearing retaining cap 30 on the end of the shaft to clamp the bearing in
position as
described more fully herein below.
Bearing assembly 10 is preassembled before being mounted and clamped on
65 journal 12 by retaining cap 30 and bolts 28. The bearing assembly includes
a unitary
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Case No.: BRN030
bearing cup or outer raceway 32 having a pair of inner facing raceways 34,36
formed
one adjacent each end thereof which cooperate with a pair of bearing cones
38,40,
having outer facing raceways respectively, to support the two rows of tapered
rollers
42,44, respectively there between. A center spacer 46 is positioned between
cones 38,
70 40 to maintain the cones in accurately spaced position relative to one
another allowing
for proper bearing lateral clearance.
Spacer support 72 is seen as a generally cylindrical unitary structure usually
comprised of a plastic, such as a high density polyethylene. Spacer support 72
has a
radially inner edge adjacent radially outward facing outer surface 73 of
spacer 46.
75 Spacer support 72 has a radially outer edge adjacent a radially inward
facing center
section 71 of cup 32. Spacer support 72 inner edge may engage or contact
radially
outward facing outer surface 73 of spacer 46.
Spacer support 72 outer edge 79 may engage or contact radially inward facing
counter section 71 of cup 32. Whether or not actual contact is present, spacer
support
80 72 acts to position and hold spacer 46 in position between cones 38 and 40
during
shipping and assembly of bearing assembly 10. Spacer support 72 may initially
upon
installation for shipping contact both radially inward facing center section
71 of cup 32
and radially outward facing outer surface 73 of spacer 46, and after
installation and
wear in service, may contact one, both, or neither.
85 Bearing cup 32 is provided with cylindrical counterbores 17,19 at its
axially outer
ends and a pair first end sections 48, 50 of seal sections 52,54 are pressed
one into
each of the cylindrical counterbores 17,19 in cup 32. Each second end section
55, 63 of
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seal section 52,54 may include resilient sealing elements 56, 58 which rub
upon and
form a seal with radial outer surfaces 37,61 of a pair of seal wear rings
60,62 having an
90 inwardly directed end in engagement with the outwardly directed ends of
bearing cones
38,40 respectively. Seal section 54 is similar to seal section 52 and will not
be described
in detail. The other end of wear ring 60 is received in a cylindrical
counterbore 64 in the
axially outwardly directed end of an annular backing ring 66 which, in turn,
has a
counterbore 68 at its other end which is dimensioned to be received in
interference and
95 non-interference relation on the cylindrical shoulder 18 of shaft 14. The
counterbore 64
and the outer diameter of wear ring 60 are also dimensioned to provide an
interference
fit so that wear ring 60 is pressed into the backing ring 66 which is
accurately machined
to provide a contoured inner surface 70 complementary to and engaging the
contour of
fillet 22 when the bearing is mounted on the shaft. The outwardly directed end
of wear
100 ring 62 bears against a counterbore 31 in a retaining cap 30.
Referring now to figures 2 and 3, detailed views of spacer support 72 are
provided, along with the positioning of spacer support 72 radially between cup
32 and
spacer 46. Spacer support 72 has a radially inner edge that may include raised
sections 77. Such raised sections 77 are adjacent and possibly would engage or
105 contact radially outward facing outer surface 73 of spacer 46. Spacer
support 72 has a
radially facing outer edge 79 which is adjacent and possibly would engage or
contact
radially inward facing center section 71 of cup 32.

Representative Drawing