Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Inventors: Klee, Timothy F., at al_
Docket No. 517862_10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
BEARING ASSEMBLY WITH OUTBOARD BEARING SUPPORT CARTRIDGE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Bearing assemblies are well known and are commonly used to
support shafts, axles and
other rotating components that may be present in various types of industrial
equipment, vehicles
and other machinery. Such bearing assemblies often include seals to form
barriers in order to
preclude the entry of external contaminants into the bearings and also to
preclude lubricants from
escaping from within the bearings. These seals each typically include a
flexible seal portion. In
some cases, the seals include multiple components, wherein one or more of the
components
rotate with the shaft and other components remain static.
[0003] There are certain difficulties that must be addressed with seals
that include both rotating
and non-rotating components, as metal-on-metal contact between the components
can lead to
friction and wear. When this occurs, the seal may become damaged or destroyed
resulting in a
bearing failure. Unfortunately, the replacement of a damaged seal and/or
bearing can be
difficult, time-consuming and usually results in an extended period of down
time during which
the machinery is out of service.
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Inventors: Kice, Timothy F., et al.
Docket No. 517862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
[0004]
Known equipment, such as material handling equipment (e.g., rotary airlocks
for
pneumatically conveying particulate material, diverter valves, splitter valves
and bucket valves)
is be specifically constructed to include either inboard or outboard bearing
configurations. Such
equipment includes end plates that are specifically adapted for either inboard
bearings or
outboard bearings. Therefore, end users must decide if they need an inboard or
outboard bearing
configuration based on anticipated system performance parameters. Once the
equipment is
installed, if the actual system performance parameters differ from the
anticipated performance
parameters or if changes in application occur, the end user may have to
exchange all or a portion
(e.g., end plates) the original equipment for replacement equipment having a
different (inboard
or outboard) bearing configuration. For example, if an end user selects a
rotary airlock with an
inboard bearing configuration and then determines that the material passing
through the rotary
airlock is too abrasive, or a higher conveying pressure is required, or
excessive heat is being
produced, then the end user must purchase an entirely new end plate or even
rotary airlock with
an outboard bearing configuration. Such replacement of the end plate or entire
rotary airlock
adds unnecessary cost and reconfiguration steps.
[0005] Thus, a need exists for a bearing assembly in which rotating
metallic components are not
in contact with non-rotating metallic components of the assembly. A need also
exists for a
means for axially locating and retaining one or more of the components of a
multi-component
seal once the seal has been installed into the bearing assembly. A further
need exists for an
outboard bearing support cartridge adapted for mounting to a common end plate
to which an
inboard bearing support cartridge may alternatively be mounted. Additionally,
a need exists for
material handling equipment that includes a common end plate adapted for
accepting either an
inboard bearing support cartridge or an outboard bearing support cartridge in
order to provide
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Inventors: Klee, Timothy F., etal.
Docket No. 517862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
end users flexibility to change between inboard and outboard bearing
configurations if changes
in application or unexpected circumstances occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One embodiment of the present invention involves the provision
of a bearing assembly
for supporting a rotating shaft. The bearing assembly comprises a support
cartridge, a multi-
component seal and a spacer. The support cartridge has an axial bore defined
therethrough
formed by an inner wall. The support cartridge's inner wall can include one or
more shoulders
defined therein for locating one or more of the bearing, seal and spacer. The
multi-component
seal can include an outer ring, an inner sleeve and a staling ring. The outer
ring, which remains
static when the shaft rotates, may comprise a first inwardly projecting
annular lip, a second
inwardly projecting annular lip and an annular groove defined between the
first lip and the
second lip. The inner sleeve, which rotates with the shaft, may include a
peripheral flange that is
retained in the outer ring's annular groove. The outer ring and inner sleeve
may be constructed
of stainless steel or other suited metallic materials. The sealing ring, which
may be constructed
of a flexible material such as an elastomer, extends radially inwardly from
the outer ring and is in
sealing contact with a collar portion of the inner sleeve. The sealing ring
remains static when the
shaft rotates.
[0007] The spacer is adapted to axially locate the inner sleeve's
flange such that it is not in
contact with any metallic element of the assembly configured to be static when
the shaft is
rotating. Particularly, the spacer is configured for locating the inner
sleeve's flange in the groove
of the outer ring so that the flange does not contact either the first lip or
the second lip. The
spacer can also serve to locate the inner sleeve to ensure that the sealing
ring contacts the outer
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Inventors: Kice, Timothy F., et al.
Docket No. 517862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
diameter of inner sleeve collar and not the shaft. The inner sleeve collar can
have hardness and
surface fmish specifications, as defined by the requirements of the sealing
ring, that the shaft
may not possess.
[0008] The present invention is also directed to a bearing support
assembly that is adapted for
interchangeably supporting a bearing in an inboard configuration and an
outboard configuration.
This bearing support assembly can include a universal mounting or end plate, a
first bearing
support cartridge designed for supporting the bearing in the outboard
configuration, and a second
bearing support cartridge designed for supporting the bearing in the inboard
configuration. The
end plate may include a plurality of apertures defined therein that are
arranged in one or more
patterns and are adapted for receiving fasteners, such as bolts. The first
bearing support cartridge
includes a collar oriented for supporting the bearing in an outboard
configuration when mounted
to the end plate and a mounting flange with a plurality of apertures defined
therethrough for
receiving fasteners. One or more slots may be defined through the collar of
the first bearing
support cartridge to form a ventilated air gap between the bearing and a seal.
Heat may be
dissipated through these slots. The apertures of the flange are arranged in a
pattern that is
generally identical to at least one of the patterns of the apertures of the
end plate. The second
bearing support cartridge includes a collar oriented for supporting the
bearing in an inboard
configuration when mounted to the end plate and a mounting flange with a
plurality of apertures
defined therethrough for receiving fasteners. Like with the first bearing
support cartridge, the
apertures of the flange of the second bearing support assembly are arranged in
a pattern that is
generally identical to at least one of the patterns of the apertures of the
end plate. Accordingly,
the first bearing support cartridge and the second bearing support cartridge
can be
interchangeably swapped and mounted to a common end plate, thereby eliminating
the need to
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Inventors: Klee, Timothy F., et al.
Docket No. 517862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
replace the end plate when switching between an inboard bearing configuration
and an outboard
bearing configuration, or vice versa.
[0009] A method for manufacturing and assembling the bearing assembly is
also provided. In
the method, the multi-component seal is slid onto the shaft or placed into the
bore of the support
cartridge. The spacer is then slid onto the shaft or placed into the bore of
the support cartridge.
The spacer may be engaged by the inner race of the bearing when the bearing is
installed. The
spacer in turn engages and locates the inner sleeve of the multi-component
seal such that its
flange is not in contact with any metallic element configured to be static
when said shaft is
rotating, including the outer ring's first and second lips. The spacer can
also locate the inner
sleeve to ensure that the sealing ring contacts the outer diameter of inner
sleeve collar and not the
shaft.
[0010] Other and further objects of the invention, together with the
features of novelty
appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0011] In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of the
specification and is to be read in
conjunction therewith in which like reference numerals are used to indicate
like or similar parts
in the various views:
[0012] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a bearing cartridge
assembly in accordance with
a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view of the bearing cartridge
assembly of Fig. 1;
[0014] Fig. 3A is a partial sectional side view of the bearing cartridge
assembly of Fig. 1;
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Inventors: Kiee, Timothy F., etal.
Docket No. 517862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
[0015] Fig. 3B is an enlarged partial sectional side view of the bearing
cartridge assembly of Fig.
1 corresponding to the portion 3B of Fig. 3A;
[0016] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a bearing cartridge
assembly in accordance with
a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective view of the bearing cartridge
assembly of Fig. 4;
[0018] Fig. 6 is a partial sectional side view of the bearing cartridge
assembly of Fig. 4;
[0019] Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a bearing cartridge
assembly in accordance with
a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] Fig. 8 is a sectional side view of the bearing cartridge assembly
of Fig. 7;
[0021] Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a bearing cartridge
assembly in accordance with
a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] Fig. 10 is a sectional side view of the bearing cartridge assembly
of Fig. 9;
[0023] Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a bearing cartridge
assembly in accordance
with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] Fig. 12 is a sectional side view of the bearing cartridge assembly
of Fig. 11;
[0025] Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a bearing cartridge
assembly in accordance
with a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] Fig. 14 is a side view of the bearing cartridge assembly of Fig.
13;
[0027] Fig. 15 is a end view of the bearing cartridge assembly of Fig. 13;
[0028] Fig. 16 is a sectional perspective view of the bearing cartridge
assembly of Fig. 13;
[0029] Fig. 17 is a sectional side view of the bearing cartridge assembly
of Fig. 13; and
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Inventors: Kice, Timothy F., et al.
Docket No. 517862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
[0030]
Fig. 18 is a side perspective view of a rotary airlock with an end plate
suitable for
interchangeably receiving either one of an outboard bearing cartridge assembly
or an inboard
bearing cartridge assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] The invention will now be described with reference to the
drawing figures, in which like
reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in
illustrating the
characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the
elements have not
necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.
[0032] The following detailed description of the invention references
specific embodiments in
which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments arc intended to describe
aspects of the
invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the invention. Other
embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the
scope of the
present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and
the description
is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the
scope of equivalents to
which such claims are entitled.
[0033] The present invention is directed generally to a bearing
cartridge assembly 10 for
supporting an axle or shaft 12. Figs. 1-3B illustrate a first embodiment of
the assembly 10
comprising a support cartridge 14, a bearing 16, a spacer 18 and a multi-
component seal 20.
Additionally, Figs. 4-6 illustrate a second embodiment of the assembly 10,
Figs. 7-8 illustrate a
third embodiment of the assembly 10, Figs. 9-10 illustrate a fourth embodiment
of the assembly
10, Figs. 11-12 illustrate a fifth embodiment of the assembly 10, and Figs. 13-
17 illustrate a sixth
embodiment of the assembly 10. It will be appreciated that other embodiments,
not explicitly
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Docket No. 5 I 7862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
shown in the figures, are also within the scope of the present invention. It
will also be
appreciated that various features and elements of the embodiments may be
combined.
[0034] The assembly 10 of the present invention is suitable for
operation in a variety of
applications and environments. In one embodiment, the assembly 10 is designed
for use with a
rotary airlock, such as one suitable for the pneumatic conveying of
particulate materials, as well
as diverter valves, splitter valves and bucket valves on material handling
equipment.
Additionally, it will be understood that the assembly 10 may be used in
connection with other
equipment, such as automobiles, industrial equipment, construction equipment,
agricultural
equipment and other machinery. In one embodiment, the assembly 10 is designed
for use in a
wheel bearing assembly.
[00351 The support cartridge 14 may include a hub or collar 22, an
annular mounting flange 24
and an axial bore 26 extending through the collar 22 and flange 24. The axial
bore 26 is defined
by an inner wall 28 of the support cartridge 14. The inner wall 28 of the
support cartridge 14 can
include one or more stops against which a bearing 16, spacer 18 or multi-
component seal 20 may
be seated. In one embodiment, the stops are in the form of shoulders 30, 32
and 34 defined in
the wall 28 that forms the bore 26. In another embodiment, the stops may be
created by snap
rings that are received in annular grooves defined in the wall 28.
[0036] The mounting flange 24 of the support cartridge 14 can include a
mounting face 36
adapted for mating with, for example, the exterior surface 38 of a mounting
plate or end plate 40
of a rotary airlock or other suitable piece of equipment. In order to seal the
mounting flange 24
to the end plate 40, the mounting face 36 may have a groove 42 defined therein
suitable for
receiving an 0-ring 44. The mounting flange 24 can also include a plurality of
apertures 46
defined therethrough designed for receiving a fastener, such as a bolt (not
shown), for securing
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Docket No. 517862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
the support cartridge 14 to the end plate 40. These apertures 46 may be
unthreaded or threaded.
The mounting flange 24 may also have one or more threaded apertures 48. During
the process of
removing the assembly 10 from the end plate 40, a bolt (not shown) can be
screwed into these
threaded apertures 48, and against the end plate 40, in order to aid in
breaking away a support
cartridge 14 that is seized to the end plate 40. When the bolts contact the
end plate 40, they push
the support cartridge 14 away from the end plate 40. As shown, the apertures
46 and threaded
apertures 48 may be arranged in an alternating pattern.
[0037] The bearing 16 may be of any suitable type including, for
example, a ball bearing, roller
bearing, tapered roller bearing, needle bearing or the like. As is well known,
the bearing 16 can
include an inner race 50, having first and second opposing surfaces 52 and 54,
and an outer race
56, having first and second opposing surfaces 58 and 60. The inner diameter of
the bearing's
inner race 50 is sized such that the bearing 16 fits around a portion 62 of
the shaft 12. As shown,
when assembled, the second surface 60 of the bearing's outer race 56 may be
seated against a
shoulder 32 defined in the wall 28. In operation, the bearing's outer race 56
is static and the
bearing's inner race 50 rotates with the shaft 12.
[0038] The multi-component seal 20 may be any suitable seal now known
or hereafter
developed. In one embodiment, the multi-component seal 20 comprises an outer
ring 68, an
inner sleeve 70 and a sealing ring 66. The outer ring 68 may be formed of a
plurality of
individual components. As illustrated, the outer ring 68 includes a first
inwardly projecting
annular lip 72, a second inwardly projecting annular lip 74 and an annular
groove 76 defined
between the first lip 72 and second lip 74. The outer ring's first and second
lips 72 and 74 may
be constructed of a metallic material, such as stainless steel. The first
inwardly projecting
annular lip 72 may be in the form of a removable snap ring. The inner sleeve
70, which may also
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Inventors: Kiee, Timothy F., et al.
Docket No. 517862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
be constructed of a metallic material, includes a peripheral flange 78 having
a first surface 80
and a second surface 82. As depicted in Fig. 3B, the thickness Tf of the
flange 78 is less than the
thickness Tg of the groove 76 such that the flange 78 may be received in the
groove 76. As will
be discussed in greater detail below, the flange 78 can be located in the
groove 76 so that a first
space S1 is formed between the flange's first surface 80 and the outer ring's
first lip 72 and a
second space S2 is formed between the flange's second surface 82 and the outer
ring's second lip
74. This prevents the metallic flange 78, which rotates with the shaft 12,
from contacting the
metallic lips 72 and 74 of the outer ring 68, which is static. Additionally,
the outer diameter of
the flange 78 is less than the inner diameter of the groove 76 thereby
resulting in a radial space
S3 therebetween. As shown, the inner sleeve 70 further includes a collar
portion 84 having an
outer surface that is engaged by the sealing ring 66 which extends radially
inwardly from the
outer ring 68. The sealing ring 66 may be constructed of a flexible material,
such as an
elastomer like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or any other material suitable
for creating a seal.
As demonstrated, the sealing ring 66 is in sealing contact with an outer
surface of the sleeve's
collar portion 84.
[0039] As illustrated, the first portion 62 of the shaft 12 has a
diameter that is less than the
diameter of the second portion 64. While the shaft 12 is depicted as having a
stepped profile
with two different diameters, it will be understood that the shaft 12 need not
be stepped and may
be of a single, unifoim diameter.
[0040] As mentioned above, when assembled, the flange 78 of the inner
sleeve 70 is not in
contact with the outer ring 68. This is achieved through the use of a spacer
18. The inner
diameter of the inner sleeve 70 may be approximately equal to the diameter of
the second portion
64 of the shaft 12 such that inner sleeve 70 must be pressed onto the shaft
12. As such, when the
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Inventors: Kice, Timothy F., et at
Docket No. 517862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
multi-component seal 20 is slid or pressed onto the shaft 12, the inner sleeve
70 drags along the
outer surface of the shaft 12. Because the inner sleeve 70 drags along the
outer surface of the
shaft 12, the inner sleeve's flange 78 may become pressed against the outer
ring's first lip 72.
The spacer 18 is provided to axially locate the inner sleeve 70, and
particularly the flange 78 of
the inner sleeve 70. After the multi-component seal 20 is slid onto the shaft
12, the spacer 18
may be slid onto the shaft 12 to axially locate the flange 78 of the inner
sleeve 70.
[0041] In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-3B, the support
cartridge 14 has shoulders 30 and
32 defined therein. The multi-component seal 20 is seated against shoulder 30
and the bearing's
outer race 56 is seated- against shoulder 32. The shoulders 30 and 32 are
spaced a distance from
one another such that when the bearing's outer race 56 becomes seated against
shoulder 32, the
spacer 18 has pushed the flange 78 of the inner sleeve 70 so that it is
located between, and not in
contact with, the first and second lips 72 and 74 of the outer ring 68 of the
multi-component seal
20. Put differently, the spacer 18 is of a thickness T, such that when it is
contacted by the
bearing's inner race 50, the spacer 18 pushes the flange 78 of the inner
sleeve 70 so that it is
located between, and not in contact with, the first and second lips 72 and 74
of the outer ring 68
of the multi-component seal 20. As such, once assembled, the flange 78 of the
inner sleeve 70
(which rotates with the shaft) is not in contact with the outer ring 68 (which
remains static when
the shaft turns). This lack of metal-on-metal contact prevents friction and
wear thereby
increasing the lifespan of the multi-component seal 20. It will also be
understood that the spacer
18 may locate the inner sleeve 70 so that the sealing ring 66 is in contact
with the outer surface
- of the inner sleeve's collar 84.
[0042] The spacer 18 has first and second opposing surfaces 86 and 88.
In the embodiment
illustrated in Figs. 1-3B, the second surface 54 of bearing's inner race 50
engages the first
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Docket No. 517862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
surface 86 of the spacer 18. The second surface 88 of the spacer 18 in turn
engages the first
surface 80 of the inner sleeve's flange 78 in order to position the flange 78
within the groove 76.
[0043] It will be understood that the following components are static
when the shaft 12 is
rotating: the support cartridge 14, the bearing's outer race 56 and the outer
ring 68 of the multi-
component seal 20, including the sealing ring 66. Likewise, it will be
understood that the
following components rotate with the shaft 12 when the shaft 12 is rotating:
the bearing's inner
race 50, the spacer 18 and the inner sleeve 70 of the multi-component seal 20.
In another
embodiment, spacers may be provided on either or both sides of the inner
sleeve 70 in order to
position the flange 78 between the outer ring's first and second lips 72 and
74.
[0044] In another embodiment, for example an embodiment designed for
use with a wheel hub
and bearing assembly, the shaft 12 (which may be an axle shaft) remains
static. In this
embodiment, it will be understood that the following components may always
remain static with
the shaft 12: the bearing's inner race 50, the spacer 18 and the inner sleeve
70 of the multi-
component seal 20. Likewise, it will be understood that the following
components may rotate
when the support cartridge 14 (which may be a wheel hub) is rotating: the
bearing's outer race
56 and the outer ring 68 of the multi-component seal 20, including the sealing
ring 66.
[0045] It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the seal
20 need not be a multi-
component seal. Instead, the seal 20 may be comprised of an unconstrained
sleeve that is not
restrained by an outer ring, as is the case with a multi-component seal. The
spacer 18 may be
adapted for engaging the unconstrained sleeve of seal 20 in order to locate
the unconstrained
sleeve to ensure that the sealing ring 66 contacts the outer surface of the
unconstrained sleeve
and not the shaft 12.
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Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
[0046]
Turning now to the embodiment of the assembly 10 depicted in Figs. 4-6, it
will be
appreciated that this embodiment may be particularly well suited for use in a
wheel bearing
application. This embodiment includes a support cartridge 14, a bearing 16, a
spacer 18 and a
multi-component seal 20, as well as a spacing insert 94, a lock nut 96, a lock
washer 98 and shaft
seals 100 and 102. As shown, the bearing 16 is a tapered roller bearing. As
further illustrated,
the spacer 18 may comprise a peripheral flange portion 90 and a collar portion
92. Additionally,
the spacer 18 may be pushed into place by a seal 102, as opposed to the
bearing 16. The seal 102
may be seated against shoulder 34 and remains static. Therefore, the dynamic
spacer 18, which
may contact the static seal 102, may be constructed of a polymer material,
such as PTFE, to
prevent metal_ on metal friction and wear.
[0047] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7-8, the spacer 18, which can
be constructed of a
polymer material to prevent metal on metal contact, may be retained in place
by an annular
protrusion 108 extending inwardly from the inner wall 28 of the support
cartridge 14. In the
embodiment depicted in Fig. 9-10, the spacer 18 may be comprised of a
plurality of shim or
washer members 110, which may have a combined thickness selected to correspond
to the
dimensions of a particular support cartridge 14 and multi-component seal 20.
Additionally, in
the embodiment shown in Figs. 11-12, the spacer 18, which can be constructed
of a polymer
material to prevent metal on metal contact, may be retained in place by a snap
ring 112 that is
received in an annular groove 114 defined in the inner wall 28 of the support
cartridge 14.
[0048] A method for manufacturing and assembling a bearing cartridge
assembly 10 is also
provided. In the method, the multi-component seal 20, such as a multi-
component seal having an
outer ring 68 and an inner sleeve 70, is slid onto the shaft 12 or placed into
the bore 26 of the
support cartridge 14. A spacer 18 is then slid onto the shaft 12 or placed
into the bore 26 of the
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Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
support cartridge 14. The spacer 18 may be engaged by the inner race 50 of the
bearing 16 when
the bearing 16 is installed. The spacer 18 engages and locates the inner
sleeve 70 such that its
flange 78 is not in contact with any element configured to be static when said
shaft 12 is rotating.
Specifically, the spacer 18 may locate the flange 78 in between the first and
second inwardly
projecting annular lips 72 and 74 of the outer ring 68 so that the flange 78
is not in contact with
either lip 72 and 74.
[0049] Attention will now be turned to Figs. 13-17, which illustrate an
embodiment of the
assembly 10 that includes a support cartridge 200 adapted for supporting a
bearing 16 in an
outboard configuration. It will be understood that, as used herein, an
"outboard" configuration
describes a configuration wherein the bearing 16 is supported outside of the
end plate 40 of a
rotary airlock or other suitable piece of equipment (e.g., located on the
exterior of the body of a
rotary airlock). Conversely, as used herein, an "inboard" configuration
describes a configuration
wherein the bearing 16 is supported partially or fully inside of the end plate
40 of the rotary
airlock or other suitable piece of equipment (e.g., located at least partially
in an interior of the
body of the rotary airlock).
[0050] As shown in Figs 13-17, the support cartridge 200 includes a
mounting flange 202 that
may be similar or generally identical in nature to the mounting flange 24 of
the support
cartridges 14 shown in Figs. 1-12 and described above. The support cartridge
200 also includes
a hub or collar 204 extending outwardly from the mounting flange 202, i.e.,
projecting from an
outer side 206 of the mounting flange 202 that is opposite the flange's 202
mounting face 208.
The collar 204 may optionally be supported by gussets 210 that are welded to
and/or machined in
conjunction with the mounting flange 202 and collar 204. The reinforcing
gussets 210 can
extend between the outer side 206 of the flange 202 and the outer side 212 of
the collar 204.
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Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
[0 051] An
axial bore 214 extends through the collar 204 and flange 202 and is defined by
an
inner wall 216 of the support cartridge 200. The inner wall 216 of the support
cartridge 200 can
include one or more stops against which a bearing 16, spacer 18 or multi-
component seal 20 may
be seated. The stops may be in the form of shoulders 218 and 220 defined in
the wall 216 and/or
created by snap rings 222 that are received in annular grooves 224 defined in
the wall 216.
[0052] One or more radial slots 234 can optionally be defined through
the collar 204. The slots
234 provide an opening into an air gap defined between the seal 20 and bearing
16 and provide a
path for heat dissipation in the event of high temperatures. Without the slots
234, the bearing
chamber would be generally closed with no ventilation path. In that manner,
the slots 234
essentially create an "outboard" bearing configuration wherein the bearing 16
is not fully
enclosed with a sealed area of the support cartridge 200.
[0053]
Again, the mounting flange 202 of the support cartridge 200 can include a
mounting face
208 adapted for mating with, for example, the exterior surface 38 of an end
plate 40 of a rotary
airlock or other suitable piece of equipment. In order to seal the mounting
flange 202 to the end
_ plate 40, the mounting face 208 may have a groove 226 defined therein
suitable for receiving an
0-ring 228. The mounting flange 202 can also include a plurality of apertures
230 defined
thcrethrough designed for receiving a fastener, such as a bolt (not shown),
for securing the
support cartridge 200 to the end plate 40. These apertures 230 may be
unthreaded or threaded.
The mounting flange 202 may also have one or more threaded apertures 232.
During the process
of removing the assembly 10 from the end plate 40, a bolt (not shown) can be
screwed into these
threaded apertures 232, and against the end plate 40, in order to aid in
breaking away a support
cartridge 200 that is seized to the end plate 40. When the bolts contact the
end plate 40, they
KCP-4618399-2 15
CA 2944891 2017-09-19
Inventors: Kice, Timothy F., etal.
Docket No. 517862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
push the support cartridge 200 away from the end plate 40. As shown. the
apertures 230 and
threaded apertures 232 may be arranged in an alternating pattern.
[0054] The support cartridge 200 can further include a second hub or
collar 236 extending
inwardly from the mounting flange 202, i.e., projecting inwardly from the
flange's 202 mounting
face 208. As best demonstrated in Figs. 16-17, the second collar 236 may be
adapted for
receiving and supporting the multi-component seal 20 and spacer 18.
[0055] When assembled, as best shown in Fig. 17, the second surface 60
of the bearing's outer
race 56 may be seated against a shoulder 218 defined in the wall 216. In
operation, the bearing's
outer race 56 is static and the bearing's inner race 50 rotates with the shaft
12. The multi-
component seal 20 is seated against shoulder 220. The spacer 18 is located and
held in place by
the snap ring 222. The spacer 18 includes a peripheral flange portion 238,
which is seated
against the snap ring 222, and a collar portion 240, which has a length and is
adapted for locating
the inner sleeve 70 of the multi-component seal 20. In other words, the spacer
18 pushes the
flange 78 of the inner sleeve 70 so that it is located between, and not in
contact with, the first and
second lips 72 and 74 of the outer ring 68 of the multi-component seal 20. In
operation, the
flange 78 of the inner sleeve 70 (which rotates with the shaft) is not in
contact with the outer ring
68 (which remains static when the shaft turns). This lack of metal-on-metal
contact prevents
friction and wear thereby increasing the lifespan of the multi-component seal
20. It will also be
understood that the spacer 18 may locate the inner sleeve 70 so that the
sealing ring 66 is in
contact with the outer surface of the inner sleeve's collar 84.
[0056] Fig. 18 illustrates a rotary airlock having an end plate 40 that
is adapted for
interchangeably receiving either an inboard bearing cartridge assembly 10a or
an outboard
bearing cartridge assembly 1011. Either an inboard bearing cartridge assembly
10a or an
KCP-4618399-2 16
CA 2944891 2017-09-19
inventors: Kice, Timothy F., et al.
Docket No 517862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
outboard bearing cartridge assembly 10b may be mounted to a universal or
common end plate
40. In fact, the flange 24 and hole 46 pattern of the inboard bearing support
cartridge 14 may be
generally identical to the flange 202 and hole 230 pattern of the outboard
bearing support
cartridge 200, thereby leading to a universal mounting system amongst the
cartridges 14 and 200.
In other words, the outboard bearing support cartridge 200 can be
interchangeably mounted to
the end plate 40 via the same holes 39 used to mount the inboard bearing
support cartridge 14.
{0057] Accordingly, the inboard bearing cartridge assembly 10a and
outboard bearing cartridge
assembly 10b can be swapped for one another if actual system performance
parameters differ
from anticipated performance parameters or if changes in the rotary airlock's
application occur.
Such exchange of the inboard assembly 10a and outboard assembly 10b does not
require a
replacement of the end plate 40, or the use of any custom designed end plates.
This allows the
entire airlock body, including the end plates, to remain common for either
bearing configuration.
[0058] In previous airlocks, it was common practice to weld or cast
gussets on the airlock
valve's end plate to support an outboard bearing. This not only created an end
plate that was
unique only for outboard bearing configurations, as compared to inboard
bearing configurations,
but also added to the overall weight of the valve. If gussets were welded onto
the end plate, then
the end plate had to be machined in order to maintain proper tolerances and
assembly.
Accordingly, the use of a common end plate 40 for both the inboard assembly l
Oa and the
outboard assembly 1 Ob can provide greater ease of manufacturing and lower
productions costs,
as compared to prior designs wherein a specific end plate was required for an
inboard bearing
configuration and a different specific end plate was required for an outboard
bearing
configuration.
KC:P-4618399-2 17
CA 2944891 2017-09-19
Inventors: Mee_' Timothy F., et al
Docket No. 517862.10008
Title: Bearing Assembly with Outboard Bearing Support Cartridge
[0059]
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to
attain all the
ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which
are obvious and
which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain
features and sub
combinations in addition to those shown and discussed herein are possible.
This is contemplated
by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of
the invention may
be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood
that all matters
herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted
as illustrative and
not limiting.
[0060] The constructions and methods described above and illustrated in
the drawings are
presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts
and principles of the
present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several
embodiments of a novel
invention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of
the present invention
are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein,
and it is therefore
contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents
thereof, will occur to
those skilled in the art. The terms "having" and "including" and similar temis
as used in the
foregoing specification are used in the sense of "optional" or "may include"
and not as
"required". Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and
applications of the
present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the
art after considering
the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes,
modifications, variations
and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope
of the invention are
deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims
which follow.
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