Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRELOADING A BEARING AND
ALIGNING A LOCK NUT
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
15/482,389,
filed on April 7, 2017, and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15/482,395,
filed on April 7,
2017, and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15/482,413, filed on April 7,
2017, and U.S.
Patent Application Serial No. 15/482,416, filed on April 7, 2017. The entire
contents of each
of the prior applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates, generally, to methods and apparatus for
preloading
antifriction bearings in drive trains, particularly, to preloading and
adjusting bearings while
monitoring the preload being applied.
Background of the Invention
[0003] Various means have been devised to simplify the adjustment of axle
bearings,
specifically, truck axle bearings. It is generally accepted that in some
bearing installations,
for example, axle bearings, the life of the bearing will be optimized if the
adjustment is made
for a slight axial compressive deflection, for example, about 0.003 inches
(where this amount
is the compressive deflection of the two bearings combined), which is often
referred to as" a
three thousandths preload." Typical prior art methods of creating these
preloads are obtained
by applying specified torques to the bearing assembly, for example, by
tightening the nut that
retains the bearings. However, for several reasons, it is typically extremely
difficult to
achieve such preload settings under actual in-field conditions, such as in a
mechanic shop.
For example, the assembly of a heavy truck wheel onto a wheel hub assembly is
a relatively
cumbersome procedure that hinders the mechanic. Moreover, the wheel hub
assembly always
includes at least one inner seal, usually a lip type of seal, which can impose
a resistive drag
torque component to the preload torque, particularly when the seal is new.
[0004] Lock nut systems are often utilized to retain a wheel or hub assembly,
including axle
bearings, on a shaft. Such lock nut systems may be connected to a shaft and
inhibit rotation
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of a retaining nut relative to such shafts. For example, such systems are
often utilized on
motor vehicles, such as axles and wheel ends. Typically, a lock nut will be
engageable with a
locking member or keeper which inhibits movement of the nut relative to the
shaft. The
locking member may include a protruding portion which extends into a slot or
receiving
portion of a shaft. The locking member may also engage the nut such that there
is little or no
movement between the nut and shaft.
[0005] It is important that teeth of a locking member engage teeth of the lock
nut such that the
locking member is positioned to allow it to engage a slot of the shaft. The
nut must be
aligned to allow such engagement by selective rotation of the nut to a
particular position such
that the teeth of the nut and the teeth of the locking member when engaged
allow an engaging
portion of the locking member to engage a slot of the shaft. Rotation of the
nut may be
performed during the preloading of a bearing and the degree of rotation
allowed may depend
on the amount of compressive force applied to a bearing or hub during the
preloading of the
bearing and the method of application of such force.
[0006] The rotation of the nut as described may be impaired in a drive axle or
other system in
which a lock nut is surrounded such that it is difficult to access outside
portions of the nut to
tighten and/or loosen the nut to a proper position using a standard wrench or
manually by a
user.
[0007] Thus, a need exists for providing accurate and repeatable procedures
and devices for
providing and adjusting bearing preload and for adjusting lock nut systems
configured to
retain preloaded bearings.
Summary of the Invention
[0008] The present invention provides, in an aspect, an apparatus for
providing a load on a
bearing mounted to a shaft which includes an attaching member releasably
connectable to a
shaft and a press mechanism coupled to the attaching member. The press
mechanism is
configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism
includes a
wrench engageable with the lock nut on the shaft and the wrench is configured
to engage and
rotate the nut when the attaching member connects to the shaft. The wrench is
moveable
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axially relative to an axial dimension of the press mechanism between a
proximal non-
engaged position and a distal engaged position such that the wrench engages
the nut in the
distal engaged position and the wrench avoids engaging the nut in a proximal
non-engaged
position.
[0009] The present invention provides, in another aspect, a method for use in
providing a load
on a bearing mounted to a shaft which includes mounting an attaching mechanism
to an end
of the shaft. A press mechanism is coupled to the attaching member and is
configured to
provide a compressive load to the bearing. A wrench is moved axially relative
to an axial
dimension of the press mechanism between a proximal non-engaged position and a
distal
engaged position such that the wrench engages the lock nut on the shaft in the
distal engaged
position.
[0010] A user may rotate the wrench to rotate the nut to achieve a desired
preload on the
bearing. The wrench may extend circumferentially around a collar of the
attaching member,
and the wrench moving axially may include the wrench moving along the collar
from the
proximal position to the distal position.
[0011] The wrench may extend circumferentially around an axis extending
through a rod of
the attaching member, and the wrench moving axially may include the wrench
moving along
the collar from the proximal position to the distal position. When the wrench
engages the
lock nut, radially external teeth of the wrench may engage internal nut teeth
of the nut.
[0012] The wrench may include a base and a plurality of wrench arms, and the
plurality of
wrench arms may extend from the base distally toward the nut. The base
includes a grip
portion and a user may contact the grip portion to rotate the wrench to rotate
the nut. The grip
portion may include a variation in an outer surface of the wrench. The
variation may be a
roughened surface relative to a remainder of the outer surface of the wrench.
[0013] A compressive load may be provided to the bearings by a plurality of
extensions of the
press mechanism by engaging the extensions with an inner race of the bearing.
An aligning
projection of an aligning ring may be engaged with a shaft slot of the shaft
to align the press
mechanism relative to the shaft. The wrench may be rotated relative to the
aligning ring to
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align a ring indicating marking of the aligning ring with a wrench indicating
marking on the
wrench.
[0014] The present invention provides, in a further aspect, a system for use
in providing a
load on a bearing mounted to a shaft which includes a preload apparatus having
a first
extension and a second extension engageable with an inner race of the bearing
and configured
to provide a compressive load to the bearing. A first extension has a first
projection and the
second extension has a second extension. A stop ring is configured to limit a
radially inward
movement of the first extension and the second extension toward each other to
position the
first projection and the second projection relative to the bearing.
[0015] The stop ring may limit the radially inward movement of the first
extension and
second extension to a same distance from a centerline of the bearing.
[0016] The preload apparatus may include a press mechanism having a loading
adapter, the
first extension and the second extension connected to the loading adapter and
extending from
the loading adapter in a distal direction. A proximal direction may extend
toward the press
mechanism from the shaft, with the distal direction being opposite from the
proximal
direction and extending toward the shaft from the press mechanism.
[0017] The stop ring may include an axially extending portion, an oblique
portion and a
contact portion extending axially and contacting the first extension and/or
the second
extension. The stop ring may include a pair of arms extending axially and
contacting the first
extension and/or the second extension. The axially extending portion, the
oblique portion and
the contact portion may consist of complete circumferential annular portions
aligned about an
axis of the shaft.
[0018] The preload apparatus may also include an attaching member releasably
connectable
to the shaft, the stop ring surrounding the attaching member.
[0019] The present invention provides, in another aspect, a method for use in
providing a load
on a bearing mounted to a shaft which includes mounting a preload apparatus to
an end of the
shaft. A first extension and a second extension of the preload apparatus are
engaged with an
inner race of the bearing to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The
first extension
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includes a first projection and the second extension includes the second
projection. A stop
ring limits a radially inward movement of the first extension and the second
extension toward
each other to position the first projection and the second projection relative
to the bearing.
[0020] The stop ring may limit the radially inward movement of the first
extension and the
second extension to a same distance from a centerline of the bearing. The
first extension and
the second extension may avoid contact with a lock nut on the shaft when
engaging the
bearing. The stop ring may include an axially extending portion, an oblique
portion and a
contact portion extending axially. The stop ring limiting the radially inward
movement
includes the contact portion contacting the first extension and/or the second
extension. The
preload apparatus may include a press mechanism having a loading adapter, and
the first
extension and the second extension may be connected to the loading adapter and
extend from
the loading adapter in a distal direction. A proximal direction extends toward
the press
mechanism from the shaft, with the distal direction being opposite from the
proximal
direction and extending toward the shaft from the press mechanism.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0021] The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly
pointed out and
distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The
foregoing and
other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily
understood from the
following detailed description of aspects of the invention taken in
conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0022] FIG.1 is a perspective view of a wheel hub assembly engaging a bearing
preload
apparatus according to one aspect of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially in cross section of a portion
of the assembly
shown in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a front end perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1 with a
wrench thereof
in a first position;
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[0026] FIG. 5 is a front end perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 4 with
the wrench
thereof in a second position;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a front end perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 5 with
the wrench
thereof in a third position;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a close-up top perspective view of teeth of the assembly of
FIG. 1 engaging
teeth of a lock nut;
[0029] FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a lock nut system which includes a
lock nut having a
keeper and a keeper retaining member engaged with the nut according to an
aspect of the
present invention;
[0030] FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the keeper retaining member of FIG. 8;
[0031] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lock nut system of FIG. 8;
[0032] FIG. 11 is a front end perspective view of another embodiment of
bearing preload
apparatus with a wrench in first position;
[0033] FIG. 12 is a front end perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 11
with the wrench in
a second position;
[0034] FIG. 13 is a front end perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 11
with the wrench in
a third position;
[0035] FIG. 14 is a perspective view, partially in a cross section, of a
portion of the assembly
shown in FIG. 1 with the apparatus of FIG. 11;
[0036] FIG. 15 is a close up perspective view of teeth of the wrench of FIG.
11 engaging
teeth of a lock nut;
[0037] FIG. 16 is a close up perspective view of the wrench and aligning ring
of FIG. 11
adjacent the nut of the assembly of FIG. 1;
[0038] FIG. 17 is a top cross sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 11;
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[0039] FIG. 18 is a side cross sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 11;
[0040] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 11
including a
collar, wrench and aligning ring;
[0041] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an opposite end of the collar, wrench
and aligning
ring of FIG. 19;
[0042] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a preload
apparatus in
accordance with the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 21
including a
collar, wrench and aligning ring;
[0044] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of an opposite end of the collar, wrench,
and aligning
ring of FIG. 22;
[0045] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a preload
apparatus showing a
preload apparatus including arms, a collar, aligning ring and the nut of FIG.
1;
[0046] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a portion of the assembly of FIG. 24
including a load
adapter, wrench, and aligning ring;
[0047] FIG. 26 is a top cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 24;
[0048] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a portion of another embodiment of a
preload
apparatus including a load adapter, an aligning ring, and a stop ring;
[0049] FIG. 28 is a is a perspective view of a portion of the assembly of FIG.
27 including a
load adapter, wrench, and aligning ring;
[0050] FIG. 29 is a top cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 27;
[0051] FIG. 30 is top cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a preload
apparatus
including a wrench, a load adapter, an aligning ring, and a stop ring; and
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[0052] FIG. 31 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stop ring and a
loading adapter
formed integrally.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0053] In accordance with the principals of the present invention, system and
methods for
adjusting bearings mounted on a shaft and aligning lock nuts for retaining
such bearings are
provided.
[0054] In an exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG.1, a wheel hub assembly 10
engages a
bearing preload apparatus 20. In FIG. 2, some of a section of the hardware has
been removed
to reveal inner structure to facilitate disclosure of the invention. For the
sake of illustration,
the wheel assembly that would typically be mounted to wheel hub assembly 10 is
omitted in
these figures.
[0055] Wheel hub assembly 10 is an assembly that would typically be found on a
front or rear
axle of a cab or tractor of a tractor-trailer, or an axle of a trailer.
However, aspects of the
invention are not limited to use for vehicle bearings. As will generally be
understood by those
skilled in the art, aspects of the invention may be used to service bearings
and bearing
assemblies in any machine or device that employs bearings, including, but not
limited to:
power trains, transmissions, machine components, on and off-road vehicles,
aircraft wheels,
marine drives, spacecraft, conveyor rolls, and windmills, among others.
According to aspects
of the present invention, preload apparatus 20 may be used in these and any
other assembly
for which bearing preload and/or endplay is desired, for example, any assembly
that utilizes
thrust and radial load carrying bearings that are indirectly mounted.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 1-3, for example, wheel hub assembly 10 includes a
wheel hub or,
simply, a hub 12, a threaded shaft, axle, or spindle 14. As is typical,
spindle 14 is mounted on
two antifriction bearings and spindle 14 includes an exposed end 13, which is
typically
threaded. Spindle 14 typically includes a retaining nut 11 threaded to exposed
end 13.
[0057] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, as is typical of bearings, an outboard bearing
16 includes an
inner race (or cone) 15, an outer race (or cup) 17, a plurality of rollers 22,
and a roller cage.
Similarly, an inboard bearing 18 includes an inner race (or cone) 19, an outer
race (or cup) 21,
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a plurality of rollers 26, and roller cage. The details of an inboard bearing
and an outboard
bearing are described and depicted in co-owned U.S. Patent No. 7,303,367,
issued December
4, 2007 (Application No. 11/029,531 filed January 5, 2005), entitled "Lock Nut
System"; U.S.
Patent No. 7,559,135, issued July 14, 2009 (Application No. 11/341,948 filed
January 27,
2006), entitled "Method and Apparatus for Preloading a Bearing"; and U.S.
Patent
No. 7,389,579, issued June 24, 2008 (Application No. 11/354,513, filed
February 15, 2006),
entitled "Method, Apparatus, and Nut for Preloading a Bearing", the entirety
of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0058] As depicted in FIGS. 1-3 and 8-9, for example, retaining nut 11 may be
a locking nut
as disclosed in co-owned U.S. Patent No. 7,303,367 (Application No. 11/029,531
filed
January 5,2005), entitled "Lock Nut System"; U.S. Patent No. 7,559,135, issued
July 14,
2009 (Application No. 11/341,948 filed January 27, 2006), entitled "Method and
Apparatus
for Preloading a Bearing"; and U.S. Patent No. 7,389,579 (Application No.
11/354,513, filed
February 15, 2006), entitled "Method, Apparatus, and Nut for Preloading a
Bearing". In the
conventional art, retaining nut 11 typically is used to secure a wheel (not
shown) or hub
assembly to a non-rotating axle or spindle 14. However, in aspects of the
present invention,
retaining nut 11 may be useful in varying the preload and/or endplay of
bearing 16. Though
bearing 16 is illustrated as a tapered roller bearing, aspects of the
invention may be applied to
other types of antifriction bearings for which it is desirable to provide
preload and/or endplay,
for example, spherical roller bearings, deep groove ball bearings, and the
like.
[0059] As depicted in FIGS. 8-9, a keeper 530 is engageable with retaining nut
11 and is
connected to a keeper retaining member 540. A projection 535 of keeper 530
extends through
an opening 545 in retaining member 540 when connected. Projection 535 extends
substantially perpendicular to a plane of retaining member 540. Keeper 530 and
retaining
member 540 engage retaining nut 11. For example, keeper 530 includes keeper
teeth 520
which are configured to engage engaging teeth 511 of retaining nut 11. Keeper
530 may also
include an engaging member 534 which protrudes radially inwardly relative to
retaining nut
11 to engage a shaft slot 5 (FIG. 18), keyway, groove or other engaging
portion of a shaft
(e.g., spindle 14). Thus, engaging member 534 may inhibit movement of keeper
530 relative
to a shaft (e.g., spindle 14) and the engagement of engaging teeth 511 with
keeper teeth 520
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may inhibit movement of keeper 530 relative to retaining nut 11. Accordingly,
movement of
retaining nut 11 relative to the shaft is prevented or reduced. Keeper 530
and/or nut 11 may
be molded or formed of powdered metal, for example.
[0060] Keeper retaining member 540 may engage a slot 561 of retaining nut 11.
For
example, a first leg 542 and a second leg 543 may be received in slot 561. For
example,
slot 561 may have a radial depth of about 0.050 inches. Further, a nose 544 of
retaining
member 540 may be received in slot 561. Retaining member 540 when received in
slot 561
may align keeper 530 such that keeper teeth 532 are engaged with engaging
teeth 511.
Further, retaining member 540 provides resistance in an axial direction
relative to retaining
nut 11 thereby inhibiting movement of keeper 530 axially away from a shoulder
524 toward
an outer surface 522.
[0061] Retaining member 540 may be elastically deformable to allow it to be
received in
slot 561. For example, first leg 542 and second leg 543 may be deformed (e.g.,
in a direction
substantially perpendicular to the axis of retaining nut 11) toward one
another prior to being
inserted axially past outer surface 522 of retaining nut 11 to allow retaining
member 540, and
keeper 530 to be attached thereto. First leg 542 and second leg 543 may then
be elastically
returned toward slot 561. First leg 542 may also include a gripping member 568
and second
leg 543 may include a second gripping member 569. The gripping members are
substantially
parallel to one another and are aligned at about 90 degrees from a plane of
retaining
member 540. A user may move the legs (i.e., first leg 542 and second leg 543)
toward one
another as described above to allow the retaining member to be received in
slot 561. In one
example, a user may use a tool (e.g., a tool made for this specific purpose or
a type of pliers
such as needle nose pliers) which is inserted into openings 611 and 612 (FIG.
5) to allow the
tool to grip the legs to move ends 610 toward one another thereby allowing the
legs to be
inserted into slot 561. In an example a tool, such as a tool 7 disclosed in co-
owned U.S. Serial
No. 15/071,584, filed March 16, 2016, entitled "Systems and Methods for
Preloading a
Bearing", could be utilized to grip the legs.
[0062] Also, first leg 542 may include a protruding portion 560 which
protrudes radially
relative to a rounded portion 565 of retaining member 540. Similarly, second
leg 543 may
include a protruding portion 562. Protruding portion 560 and protruding
portion 565 may
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extend into slot 561 to engage retaining member 540 with slot 561. Further,
protruding
portion 560 may include a groove 566 and protruding portion 562 may include a
groove 567.
For example, retaining member 540 may be formed of stamped sheet metal, and
may have a
thickness in a range between 0.040-0.050 inches, as will be understood by
those skilled in the
art. Alternatively, retaining member 540 could be formed of other materials
(e.g., powdered
metal) and/or formed in other shapes to allow retaining member 540 to be
received in slot 561
and to be connected to keeper 540 via projection 535. Further, keeper 530 may
be formed or
molded of powdered metal, for example. Alternatively, keeper 530 and retaining
member 540
could be formed integral or monolithic relative to one another.
[0063] Further, keeper 530 and/or nut 11 may be fabricated from any one or
more of the
structural metals, for example, carbon steel or stainless steel. Nut 11 may be
fabricated by
machining from a billet or plate, by forging or casting and then finished
machining, or
fabricated by conventional powder metallurgy techniques. In one aspect, when
formed by
powder metallurgy, the material may be FC 0208, or its equivalent. Nut 11 may
also be
surface hardened for example, induction hardened, carburized, or nitrided,
among other
surface hardening methods; in one aspect, the exposed surfaces on end 241 of
nut 220 may be
hardened, for example, induction hardened.
[0064] Returning to FIGS. 1-7, preload apparatus 20 includes an attaching
mechanism, such
as a shaft or rod 40 engageable with spindle 14 by a collar 46, and a press
mechanism 44 for
providing a compressive load to bearing 16. In addition, aspects of the
invention provide
means for monitoring the preload on the bearings to, for example, ensure that
the desired
preload is provided, in contrast to the unreliable and often inaccurate
assumed preloading of
the prior art.
[0065] Rod 40 may be configured to attach to exposed end 13 of shaft 14, for
example, by
collar 46, though other attachment means may be used. Press mechanism 44 may
include an
adjustment nut 48 which may be threaded to rod 40 (e.g., on external threads
41) to mount
press mechanism 44 to rod 40 and may provide a compressive load to press
mechanism 44.
Nut 48 may be adapted to facilitate rotation of nut 48, for example, nut 48
may include arms
50 and/or a hand wheel 53 that can assist a mechanic while manually tightening
or
untightening nut 48. In one aspect, nut 48 may be adapted to be rotated by an
automated tool,
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for example, a drill or stepper motor (not shown). For example, nut 48 may be
fashioned with
a hex head or threads to engage an automated tool, for example, a torque motor
(not shown).
[0066] As shown in FIGS. 4-6 (and co-owned U.S. Patent No. 8,650,757, issued
on
February 18, 2014, press mechanism 44 includes a loading adapter 210. A
compressive load
from press mechanism 44 (e.g., from nut 48 thereof) is transmitted to bearing
16, and to
bearing 18, by loading adapter 210. Further, loading adapter 210 works in
conjunction with
retaining nut 11 to provide a load to outboard bearing 16 (e.g., an inner race
(not shown)
thereof). Retaining nut 11 may have a recess that exposes the surface of inner
race 15 and
permits contact by, for example, loading adapter 210. For example, as depicted
in FIGS. 3
and 10, nut 11 may have a bottom curve or recessed portion 111 such that a
bottom end of
nut 11 has a smaller diameter than the remainder thereof. Loading adapter 210
may thus
transmit the compressive load from press mechanism 44 (i.e., around nut 11) to
bearing 16.
In an unillustrated example, bearing 16 could be exposed thereby allowing load
adapter 210 to
be used with a conventional axle nut, as shown for example in FIG. 3 of co-
owned
application, U.S. Patent No. 7,389,579 issued June 24, 2008 (Application No.
11/354,513,
filed February 15, 2006), and entitled "Method, Apparatus, And Nut For
Preloading A
Bearing". However, when bearing 16 would be concealed by such a conventional
axle nut,
retaining nut 11 may be used instead thereof according to aspects of the
invention.
[0067] As depicted in FIGS. 4-6, loading adapter 210 includes a plate 211 and
at least two
extensions, fingers, or arms 212, 213 extending from plate 211. In this aspect
of the
invention, extensions 212 and 213 are adapted to transmit the load applied to
plate 211, for
example, by the compression of nut 48, to the bearing 16. Plate 211 typically
includes a
through hole or bore (not shown) that is adapted to receive rod 40. In one
aspect, extensions
212 and 213 may be moveable or deflectable to facilitate assembly of adapter
210 into
engagement with bearing 16. For example, extensions 212 and 213 may include
any interface
with plate 211 or modification to extensions 212 and 213 that permits
extensions 212 and 213
to deflect to avoid interference with nut 11. Extensions 212 and 213 may be
pivotally
mounted to plate 211. Plate 211 may include two pairs of oppositely extending
lugs or
projections 216 having through holes 219, and projections 216 may include
recesses 218
configured (e.g., shaped and dimensioned) to receive extensions 212 and 213.
Pins 222 may
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be provided in holes 219 in projections 216 that engage holes (not shown) in
extensions 212
and 213 whereby extensions 212, 213 may rotate about pins 222.
[0068] Arms or extensions 212, 213 may include projections 225, 226,
respectively, for
example, arcuate projections adapted to engage the arcuate shape of bearing 16
(e.g., an inner
race thereof). Arcuate projections 225, 226 may be radiused to provide the
same curvature of
bearing 16, for example, a radius of between about 1 1/4 inches and about 5
inches.
Projections 225, 226 may include shoulders 227, 228, respectively, to assist
in engaging
bearing 16. In one aspect, since pins 222 (which transmit the load from plate
211 to
extensions 212, 213) may be located at a greater radial distance from the
center of shaft 14
than the radial distance to the point of contact on bearing 16 (see FIG. 4),
shoulders 227, 228
may be provided to minimize or prevent contact of projections 225, 226 with
nut 11. This
aspect of the invention may ensure that the compressive load applied by press
mechanism 44
is transmitted to bearing 16 and not borne by nut 11. Minimizing or preventing
contact
between extensions 212, 213 and nut 11 also permits nut 11 to be freely
rotated without
contact with extensions 212, 213.
[0069] Loading adapter 210 may also include an aligning arm 205 configured
(e.g., shaped
and dimensioned) to engage shaft slot 5 (FIG. 18) of spindle 14. Aligning arm
205 may be
pivotally connected to a connecting member 206 of plate 211. A pin may connect
arm 205 to
opposing portions of connecting member 206. Aligning arm 205 may be utilized
by a user as
a reference point relative to retaining nut 11. In particular, retaining nut
11 may include one
or more markings 510 corresponding to one or more roots 512 (i.e., low points
equidistant
between each pair of engaging teeth) of engaging teeth 511 thereof as depicted
in FIG. 8. For
example, the markings may be circular indentations in the nut. The location of
such markings
on outside surface 522 of nut 11 allows a user to selectively rotate the nut
relative to aligning
arm 205 (e.g., when pressure is applied to bearing 16 by press mechanism 44 to
allow rotation
of nut 11) to an engaging position where the arm is at a desired position
(e.g., at a location
where a line on the arm is aligned with one of the markings on the nut)
relative to one or more
of markings 510. In such position, engaging teeth 511 may be properly engaged
with keeper
teeth 520 such that radially inner side 534 engages shaft slot 5 of spindle
14, i.e., after preload
apparatus is removed and keeper 530 and keeper retaining member 540 engage nut
11.
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Further, keeper retaining member 540 may include a notch 541 in a nose 544
thereof with the
notch being located at about a geometrical central point of keeper retaining
member 540 (e.g.,
on an axis of symmetry thereof) such that an equal amount of retaining member
540, such as
first leg 542, is one side thereof while the remainder of retaining member
540, such as second
leg 543, is on another side thereof. Further, keeper 530 may be centered on
keeper retaining
member 540 such that a central engaging tooth 570 is aligned with notch 541.
Also, retaining
member 540 may be placed in slot 561 such that engaging tooth 570 engages a
tooth root
aligned with a marking of markings 510 to which notch 541 is aligned.
Alternatively,
markings 510 could correspond to a different feature of nut 11 (i.e., besides
the roots between
teeth 511) to facilitate the engagement of nut 11 with keeper 530 and/or
keeper 530 with shaft
slot 5 of spindle 14.
[0070] A shape of aligning arm 205 allows it to extend through nut 11 into
slot 5 as described
in co-owned U.S. Patent No. 8,650,752 issued on February 18, 2014. Such
engaging of
aligning arm 205 with slot 5 allows the alignment of markings 510 with the
aligning arm as
described above.
[0071] Although only two extensions 212, 213 are illustrated in FIGS. 3-6,
according to one
aspect of the invention, two or more extensions 212, 213 may be mounted to
plate 211. For
example, three or more extension 212, 213 may be provided, for example,
uniformly spaced
about plate 211. In one aspect, plate 211 may be a circular plate having two
or more
extensions 212, 213.
[0072] Press mechanism 44 may include a wrench 230 (FIGS. 1-6) having teeth
235 (FIG. 7)
engageable with teeth 511 (FIGS. 7-8) of nut 11 to allow a rotation of nut 11
via a rotation of
wrench 230 by a user. Wrench 230 may include a base 236 and wrench extension
arms 240
as depicted in FIGS. 3-6, for example.
[0073] For example wrench 230, including base 236 and wrench arms 240, may
circumferentially surround collar 46 and may be movable away from arms 50 and
handle 53
toward nut 11 and retractable in an opposite direction via a user pushing or
pulling some or all
of wrench 230 in a substantially axial direction relative to rod 40. For
example, base 236 may
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be annular and arms 240 may have longitudinal dimensions extending parallel to
an axis of
base 236 and toward nut 11.
[0074] Wrench 230 may have a circular outer surface with wrench arms 240
located thereon
and may be aligned coaxial to axes of rod 40, collar 46 and/or spindle 14. For
example,
wrench 230 may also be rotatable in a circumferential direction relative to
axes of rod 40 and
collar 46. Base 236 may include wrench lugs or grip portions 237 located
circumferentially
between wrench arms 240 and arms 240 and/or grip portions 237 may be utilized
by a user to
grip wrench 230 to rotate wrench 230. Grip portions 237 may also have
longitudinal portions
extending parallel to an axis of base 236 and toward nut 11 similar to arms
230, but grip
portions may only extend an axial width of base 236.
[0075] Wrench 230 may include multiple wrench extension arms 240 (e.g., 2
wrench
extension arms 240) as depicted in the figures and each of such arms may
include teeth 235 at
a distal end 239 of each of arms 240 opposite base 236 such that teeth 235 may
engage teeth
511 when wrench 230 is extended to contact nut 11 as depicted in a FIG. 7, for
example.
Teeth 238 may extend radially outwardly relative to a remainder of arms 240 to
allow
engagement of teeth 235 with teeth 511. Wrench extension arms 240 may be
configured
(e.g., shaped and dimensioned) such that the arms may extend toward nut 11 to
engage teeth
511 as described without arms 240 extending radially outwardly past aligning
arm 205 or
extensions 212, 213. Nut 11 may be surrounded by hub assembly 12, as in a
drive axle, such
that it would not be possible to utilize a conventional wrench having inside
flat portions to
engage outside flat surfaces or sidewalls 523 of the nut. The engagement of
teeth 235 of
wrench arms 240 with teeth 511 of nut 11 thus allows a user to tighten and
loosen nut 11
without accessing outer sidewalls of nut 11. Thus, the use of wrench 230
allows a user to
selectively rotate nut 11 without accessing outside surfaces of nut 11 when
nut 11 may be
surrounded by a hub assembly or other barrier as in a steer axle.
[0076] In one example, FIG. 4 depicts a retracted proximal position of wrench
230 relative to
press mechanism 20, and as depicted a distal end 242 of a first arm 243 of
arms 240 is located
proximal to a distalmost point 244 of collar 46.
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[0077] Wrench 230 may be pushed toward nut 11 by a user to engage teeth 235
with teeth
511 and wrench 230 (e.g., base 236 connected to arms 240). For example, FIG. 5
depicts
wrench 230 after being moved along collar 46 toward nut 11 (not shown in this
figure for
clarity) and away from handle 53 such that distal end 242 of first arm 243
extends distally
past collar 46 and engages nut 11, i.e., teeth 235 of arm 243 engage teeth 511
of nut 11 (not
shown in this figure for clarity).
[0078] FIG. 6. depicts wrench 230 after being rotated (e.g., arm 243 is
rotated counter
clockwise in a direction toward arm 212 as viewed in the figure) by a user
such that arms 240
engaged with nut 11 cause the nut to rotate to a particular position as
determined by the user,
e.g., to arrive at a desired preload on bearing assembly 10.
[0079] A first opening 250 is located between aligning arm 205 and first
loading arm 212 and
a second opening 255 is located between aligning arm 205 and second loading
arm 212. The
openings allow a user to access wrench 230 (e.g., grip portion 237 or wrench
arm 240) so that
the user may rotate wrench 230 are described above.
[0080] Although wrench 230 is described to include a base extending
circumferentially
around rod 40, such base could be engaged to, coupled to, contact, or be
connected to rod 40
otherwise to allow wrench 230 to remain with rod 40 while allowing wrench 230
to move
forward and away from nut 11 to engage and disengage nut 11 and to rotate to
cause a
rotation of nut 11. Further, any number of wrench arms could be connected to a
base of a
wrench to engage teeth of such arms with nut 11. For example, wrench 230 could
be a
cylinder extending circumferentially around rod 40 and having one or more sets
of teeth at a
distal end to engage teeth 511 or nut 11.
[0081] In another example depicted in FIGS. 11- 20, a preload apparatus 700
may be identical
to preload apparatus 20 except that an aligning ring 800 may be utilized in
place of aligning
arm 205. The remaining portions of preload apparatus are the same as preload
apparatus 20
and utilize the same reference numbers for identical parts.
[0082] Aligning ring 800 may include an aligning projection 805 that is
configured (e.g.,
shaped and dimensioned) to be received in shaft slot 5. For example,
projection 805 may
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have an end 806 that is circumferentially sized to be received in shaft slot 5
and which may
contact inner surfaces of spindle 14 bounding shaft slot 5 to minimize any
movement between
ring 800 and spindle 14 when projection 805 is received in shaft slot 5.
Projection 805 may be
located axially forward (i.e., to right as depicted in FIG. 18) of collar 46
while a remainder of
ring 800 may have an axial length that extends some or all of an axial length
of ring 800. The
location of projection 805 forward of collar 46 allows projection 805 to be
received in shaft
slot 5 prior to collar 46 being threaded onto end 13 of spindle 14 as a
preload apparatus is
attached to a bearing assembly. Projection 805 may be part of a forward ring
portion 808
(FIG. 11) of ring 800 located on a forwardmost or distal end (i.e., to the
right in FIG. 18) of
collar 46 with ring 800 receiving a portion of collar 46 in an interior
thereof and being
rotatable thereto.
[0083] In another example, after nut 11 is initially threaded onto spindle 14,
aligning
projection 805 of ring 800 may be received in shaft slot 5 and ring 800 may be
moved toward
shoulder 524 of nut 11. Collar 46 may then be extended through an interior of
ring 800 to
connect to end 13 of spindle 14 while wrench 230 may be located radially
outside of ring 800.
[0084] Ring 800 may include an indication or marking 815 on an outside surface
of ring 800
at a location of projection 805 to allow such an indication or marking to be
used as a reference
point similar to the description above relative to aligning arm 205. Other
markings or lines
816 may also be present on ring 800. Further, grip portions 237 of wrench 230
may include
markings, such as an indicator line 810 (FIG. 13).
[0085] A comparison of marking 815 and lines 816 with indicator line 810 may
allow a user
to selectively rotate (e.g., using wrench 230 engaging teeth 511 as depicted
in FIGS. 15-16)
the nut via a comparison of indicator line 810 (which would move with a
rotation of the nut
via the engagement of wrench 230 with teeth 511) with marking 815 and lines
816 of aligning
ring 800 (which would not move relative to slot 5 in spindle 14), similar to
the description
above of a rotation of nut 11 relative to aligning arm 205 (e.g., when
pressure is applied to
bearing 16 by press mechanism 44 to allow rotation of nut 11), to an engaging
position where
the projection is at a desired position relative to one or more of markings
510 of nut 11. In
such position, engaging teeth 511 may be properly engaged with keeper teeth
520 such that
radially inner side 534 engages shaft slot 5 of spindle 14, i.e., after
preload apparatus is
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removed and keeper 530 and keeper retaining member 540 engage nut 11. The
comparison of
an alignment of marking 815 and lines 816 with indicator line 810, i.e.,
instead of a
comparison of markings 510 with marking 815 and lines 816, is desirable since
markings 510
of nut 511 are not visible to a user when a drive axle, or other system
surrounding a lock nut
such that it is difficult to access the nut, is utilized as indicated above.
[0086] Further, ring 800 may be located radially inside wrench 230 such that
wrench arms
240 extend from base 236 axially along an outside surface of ring 800 as
depicted for example
in FIG. 17 in a cross-sectional top view similar to FIG. 3. FIG. 18 depicts
the subject matter
of FIG. 17 but as a side view which omits wrench 230 and more clearly depicts
ring 800 and
projection 805 being received in shaft slot 5 as described above. FIG. 19
depicts wrench 230
around collar 46 and ring 800 with the rest of press mechanism 20 not shown
for the sake of
clarity. FIG. 20 depicts wrench 230 and collar 46 as depicted FIG. 19 but from
an opposite
perspective and showing a distal end 807 of ring 800 and threads 47 of collar
46. Wrench 230
is extended relative to ring 800 such that teeth 235 would engage teeth 511
(not shown in
FIG. 20).
[0087] As depicted in FIGS. 11-13 (where nut 11 and the remainder of bearing
assembly 10 is
not shown for clarity), wrench 230 may move from a first position in FIG. 11
axially to a
second position in FIG. 12 where teeth 235 at distal end 239 engage teeth 511
of nut 11. In
FIG. 13, wrench 230 may be rotated relative to the two previous figures to
rotate nut 11 as
indicated above. FIG. 15 depicts a close up of teeth 235 engaging teeth 511
with ring 800
contacting shoulder 524 (FIG. 10) of 11. FIG. 14 depicts wrench 230 after
being retracted
from nut 11.
[0088] Similar to FIG. 2, FIG. 14 depicts hub assembly 10 engaging a bearing
preload
apparatus 20 with some of a section of the hardware removed to reveal inner
structure and
with ring 800 replacing aligning arm 205.
[0089] In another example depicted in FIGS. 21-23, a preload apparatus 900 may
be identical
to preload apparatus 700 except that an aligning ring 910 may be utilized in
place of aligning
ring 800. Ring 910 may include a plurality of axially extending markings or
lines 912 on an
outer surface thereof with a longer line 915 being located at a
circumferential location of
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aligning projection 805 to facilitate the use of such longer line 915 as a
reference point during
a rotation of nut 11 and alignment of indicator line 810 with line 915 and one
or more of lines
912. The remaining portions of preload apparatus 900 are the same as preload
apparatus 20
and utilize the same reference numbers for identical parts.
[0090] FIG. 22 depicts wrench 230 around collar 46 and ring 910 with the rest
of press
mechanism 20 not shown for the sake of clarity. FIG. 23 depicts wrench 230 and
collar 46 as
depicted in FIG. 21 but from an opposite perspective and showing a distal end
807 of ring 800
and threads 47 of collar 46. Wrench 230 is extended relative to ring 910 such
that teeth 235
would engage teeth 511 (not shown in FIG. 22).
[0091] In another example depicted in FIGS. 24-26, a preload apparatus 1000
may be
identical to preload apparatus 900 except that a wrench 1030 may be utilized
in place of
wrench 230 and extensions 1012, 1013 may be used in place of extensions 212,
213. Wrench
1030 may include a cylindrical portion 1035 and wrench arms 1040 extending
therefrom for
engaging nut 11 as described above relative to wrench 230 and wrench arms 240.
Wrench
1033 may circumferentially surround collar 46 and may be movable axially as
described
relative to wrench 230. Cylindrical portion 1035 may be aligned coaxial to an
axis of rod 40,
collar 46 and/or spindle 14 and may be rotatable about such axis or axes.
Wrench 1030 may
include a plurality of axially extending markings or lines 1011 on an outer
surface thereof to
allow an alignment of such lines with markings or lines 912 of ring 910 during
a preloading
process as described below.
[0092] Apparatus 1000 may also include a load arm stop ring 1050 configured to
limit a
radially inward movement of extensions 1012, 1013 toward each other as the
extensions
engage bearing 16 around nut 11. Extension 1012 and extension 1013 may have
arcuate
projections 1025, 1026 similar to projections 225, 226 described above but
without the
shoulders (i.e., shoulders 227, 228) for engaging bearing 16. Projections
1025, 1026 curve
inwardly around nut 11, as depicted in FIG. 26, for example.
[0093] As indicated, projections 1025, 1026 do not include shoulders in
contrast to shoulders
227, 228 of projections 225, 226. The shoulders (i.e., shoulders 227, 228)
described above
contact a bearing when the extensions engage the bearing with the engagement
of the
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shoulders with the bearing causing the remainder of extensions 212, 213 to be
at a desired
position relative to the bearing and nut such that the extensions could be at
a closest
reasonable clearance to the nut and to maximize a contact surface with the
bearing. The
bearings with which the projections engage may vary according to manufacturer
and even
within bearings manufactured by a single manufacturer.
[0094] Stop ring 1050 may be utilized instead of the shoulders described to
more consistently
and precisely position projections 1025, 1026 relative to the bearing and nut
with which it
engages. More specifically, stop ring 1050 maintains extension 1012 and
extension 1013,
including projections 1025, 1026, at a desired radial distance relative to
each other, and at a
same radial distance from a centerline or axis of the bearing assembly or the
preload
apparatus, while avoiding a potential variation in radial distance between the
extension caused
by differences in bearing shape and dimension. Stop ring 1050 does not depend
on a shape or
dimension of the bearing (since it contacts inner surfaces of the extensions)
which misaligns a
distance of extensions 1012 and extension 1013 relative to each other due to
the indicated
potential variations. More specifically, stop ring 50 is configured to
maintain the inner
surfaces of the extensions at a same distance from the centerline or axis of
the preload
apparatus or bearing assembly, such that the locations of the extensions
relative to each other
do not depend on a shape or dimension of the bearing to which the extensions
are engaged.
Stop ring 1050 thus allows a more consistent engagement of extensions 1012 and
extension
1013 with a bearing and thus a more consistent preload may be achieved.
[0095] As depicted in FIGS. 24-26, stop ring 1050 may abut plate 211 and may
surround rod
40 and/or collar 46. Stop ring 1050 may include a central portion 1052 having
a circular
opening 1054 for receiving rod 40. Stop ring arms 1056 may extend from central
portion 1052
to contact extension 1012 and extension 1013. Arms 1056 may include an axially
extending
portion 1058, an oblique portion 1060 and a contact portion 1062 extending
axially and
contacting extension 1012 or extension 1013. Arms 1056 may be configured to
minimize or
prevent contact of projections 1025, 1026 with nut 11 instead of shoulders
227, 228 engaging
the bearing to perform this function as described above.
[0096] As indicated, outer surfaces of Arms 1056 may be shaped and dimensioned
such that
projections 1025, 1026 are at a closest reasonable clearance to the nut to
maximize a contact
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surface of the projections with the bearing. Stop ring 1050 may be formed a
material
sufficiently rigid such that it does not deform in response to extension 1012
and extension
1013 abutting against the stop ring during engagement of the extensions with
the bearing and
a load being applied to the bearing via the extensions. By the projections
avoiding contact
with nut 11, a compressive load applied by press mechanism 44 is transmitted
to bearing 16
and not borne by nut 11 as described. Nut 11 may also freely rotate without
contact with the
extensions. The remaining portions of preload apparatus may be the same as
preload
apparatus 20 and utilize the same reference numbers for identical parts.
[0097] FIGS. 25 and 26 depict wrench 1030 around collar 46, stop ring 1050 and
ring 910
with the rest of press mechanism 20 not shown for the sake of clarity. In an
example depicted
in FIG. 31, a stop ring may be formed integrally or monolithically as one
piece relative to a
plate of a loading adapter 210, instead of attaching such a stop ring (e.g.,
stop ring 1050) to a
plate (e.g., plate 211) of a loading adapter 210. A loading adapter 1210 may
include a plate
portion 1211 formed monolithically relative to a stop ring portion 1250
configured (e.g.,
shaped and dimensioned) to control a position of extensions (not shown in FIG.
31) relative
to each other-similar to the extensions 212, 213 or extensions 1012, 1013
described herein.
The extensions may be attachable to attaching points 1202 of plate portion
1211.
[0098] In another example depicted in FIGS. 27-29, a preload apparatus 902 may
be similar
to preload apparatus 1000 except that wrench 1030 is missing and apparatus 902
may be
engageable with a trailer hub/axle assembly (as opposed to a drive axle) which
is configured
to allow a user to access outer flat surfaces of nut 11 to cause a rotation of
nut 11 without the
necessity of using a wrench (e.g., wrench 1030) which accesses teeth 511 of
nut 11 to tighten
nut 11. As depicted in FIGS. 27-29, portions of apparatus 902 are not shown
for ease of
illustration with loading adapter 210 including arms 1012 and 1013
transmitting a load from
press mechanism 44 (i.e., around nut 11) to bearing 16. Aligning ring 910 may
be located on
or near shoulder 524 of nut 11 and may include aligning projection 805
configured (e.g.,
shaped and dimensioned) to be received in shaft slot 5. Also, stop ring 1050
may be replaced
by stop ring 1051 when compared to preload apparatus 1000. The remaining
portions of
preload apparatus 902 are the same as preload apparatus 1000 and utilize the
same reference
numbers for identical parts.
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[0099] Stop ring 1051 is similar to stop ring 1050, and performs the same
function, except
that it may have a different shape including a stop ring arm 1076 being
similar to arms 1056
except that arm 1076 forms a complete circular ring. Stop ring arm 1076 may
extend from a
central portion 1072 to contact extension 1012 and extension 1013. Arms 107
may include an
axially extending portion 1078, an oblique portion 1080 and a contact portion
1072 extending
axially and contacting extension 1012 or extension 1013.
[00100] Further relative to preload apparatus 902, a space may exist between
outside flat
surfaces or sidewalls 523 of nut 11 and an inner surface of bearing assembly
(not shown) of
trailer hub/axle assembly. As indicated above, longer line 915 may be utilized
as a reference
point during a rotation of nut 11 with a user comparing longer line 915 (or
one or more of
lines 912) with one or more of markings 510 of nut 11 instead of one of lines
1011 of wrench
1030 during a preload process as described below. As indicated, nut 11 may be
accessible by
a user such that the user may manually rotate nut 11 to a desired position
taking into account a
relationship of the markings or lines on nut 11 and aligning ring 910.
[00101] In another example depicted in FIG. 30, a preload apparatus 1100 may
be similar to
preload apparatus 100 except that wrench 1030 is replaced by a wrench 1130.
Portions of
apparatus 1100 are not shown for ease of illustration with loading adapter 210
including arms
1012 and 1013 transmitting a load from press mechanism 44 (i.e., around nut
11) to bearing
16. Aligning ring 910 may be located on or near shoulder 524 of nut hand may
include
aligning projection 805 configured (e.g., shaped and dimensioned) to be
received in shaft slot
5, which are depicted in FIGS. 24-26, but not FIG. 30. Wrench arms of wrench
1130 are also
not depicted in FIG. 30 but are identical to wrench arms 1040 of wrench 1020
disclosed in
FIGS. 24-27. The remaining portions of preload apparatus 1100 are the same as
preload
apparatus 1000 and utilize the same reference numbers for identical parts.
[00102] Wrench 1130 may include grip portions 1137 to allow a user to more
easily grip and
rotate wrench 1130 similar to the use of grip portions 237 of wrench 230
described above.
Grip portions 1137 may be recesses or another variation in an outer surface
1136 of a
cylindrical portion 1135 to allow a user to better grip wrench 1130 to cause a
rotation thereof
For example, such a variation could be a roughened surface 1138, a recess 1139
or another
surface having increased frictional properties for a user relative to a
remainder of the outer
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surface of cylindrical portion 1135. Such variations, recesses or other
increased frictional
surfaces may be used together or separately for outer surface 1136. Further,
such grip
portions may be spaced evenly or otherwise circumferentially around
cylindrical portion
1135.
[00103] Press mechanism 44 may be any apparatus that is configured to provide
a
compressive load (e.g., utilizing nut 48 as disclosed in Patent'530) to
outboard bearing 16
(e.g., an inner race thereof). Further, press mechanism 44 may include a load
sensor or any
means for monitoring the compressive load transferred to bearing 16. For
example, an
indication of the compressive load transferred by press mechanism 44 may be
provided
mechanically, for example, by compression springs having a known spring
constant, for
example, coil springs or disc springs, and a deflection indicator, for
example, a dial indicator,
as is known in the art. In this aspect, a dial indicator may be mounted to
detect and indicate
the compression of one or more springs positioned in press mechanism 44 due to
the
advancement of nut 48, and the compression load calculated from the deflection
indicated and
the known spring constant of the springs used. This aspect of the invention
may provide a
reliable and repeatable means for monitoring the preload provided to inner
race 15 of
outboard bearing 16. The load sensor may be wired to an appropriate controller
or processor
and display to, for example, provide a digital readout of the compressive load
to the mechanic
operating a preload device (e.g., preload device 20, preload device 700,
preload device 1000,
preload device 902). The transmission of signals from the sensor may also be
practiced
wirelessly, for example, by means of an RF signal. This aspect of the
invention may also
provide a reliable and repeatable means for monitoring the preload provided to
bearing 16.
[00104] As depicted in FIGS. 1-4, for example, press mechanism 44 includes a
housing 52
and a movable piston 54 mounted for axial movement in housing 52. In this
aspect of the
invention, an internal cavity 56 is provided in housing 52 between the between
housing 52
and piston 54, for example, an annular cavity as described in co-owned U.S.
Patent
No. 8,650,752 issued on February 18, 2014. Internal cavity 56 is at least
partially filled, for
example, substantially completely filled, with a fluid, for example, a gas,
air, oil, water, and
the like, that produces a hydrostatic pressure, P, when housing 52 is
compressed by the
advancement of nut 48 on rod 40. Piston 54 may be provided with one or more
seals.
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[00105] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the compressive load applied by the advancement
of nut 48
is transmitted to housing 52, to the fluid in cavity 56, to piston 54, to
cylindrical housing 42,
to hub 12, and ultimately to the outer race 21 of bearing 18. Thus, according
to aspects of the
invention, the hydrostatic pressure induced in the fluid in the cavity 56 by
the advancement of
nut 48 provides a direct indication of the preload on bearing 18.
[00106] In one aspect, the pressure P in cavity 56 may be monitored, for
example,
continuously, by means of a pressure sensor or pressure gage. As shown in
FIGS. 1-3,
pressure P in cavity 56 may be monitored by one or more pressure indicators 60
which is
adapted to detect the pressure P in cavity 56 via a passage 58 in housing 52.
Pressure
indicator 60 may be an analog or digital pressure gage. Pressure indicator 60
may be a
pressure sensor adapted to detect the pressure P in cavity 56 and forward an
electrical signal
corresponding to the pressure P to a processor or controller adapted to
display the pressure,
record the pressure, energize a circuit in response to the pressure, and/or
provide a signal to
the mechanic, for example, a tone or bell that a pressure corresponding to a
desired preload on
bearing 16 has been achieved.
[00107] In another aspect of the invention, press mechanism 44 may include at
least one
fluid, for example, a gas, such as air; or a liquid, such as, water, oil, or
hydraulic fluid, the
pressure of which can be detected and monitored, for example, by means of a
pressure gage,
pressure sensor, or a mechanical indicator. In one aspect not illustrated, the
fluid pressure
may comprise the source of compressive load on bearing 16. Such an apparatus
would be
similar to that depicted in FIG. 7 of co-owned U.S. Patent No. 7,389,579
issued June 24, 2008
(Application No. 11/354,513, filed February 15, 2006), except that loading
adapter 210 is
substituted for frame 42 depicted in FIG. 9 of the indicated patent
application incorporated
herein by reference. In such an embodiment, the fluid may be retained in a
cavity for
example, a deformable cavity, such as a bladder or hose, for example, an air
spring; or a
cavity having rigid walls and at least one moveable wall, for example, as in a
cylinder and
piston. In one aspect, the deformable cavity or air spring may be made of
molded rubber,
somewhat like an inner tube.
[00108] When air is used as the fluid, the air may be provided by conventional
"shop air" at a
pressure of about 100 psig. The pressure of the fluid in the deformable cavity
may be
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monitored by means of sensor or pressure gage, for example, a pressure gauge
mounted to a
nozzle inserted the wall of the deformable or non-deformable cavity. In one
aspect, a
mechanical indicator may be activated, for example, a lever deflected when the
desired fluid
pressure in press mechanism 44 is reached advising the mechanic.
[00109] As discussed previously, press mechanism 44 and rod 40 thereof may be
adapted to
attach to exposed end 13 of spindle 14. Though this may be effected by many
conventional
means, including welding and mechanical fasteners, in the aspects of the
invention shown in
FIGS. 1-29, rod 40 is attached to end 13 of spindle 14 by collar 46. In the
aspect shown,
collar 46 is mounted to rod 40 by means of internal threads in collar 46 that
thread onto
external threads on rod 40. Collar 46 may also include a second set of
internal threads 47
(FIG. 4) that engage external threads on spindle 14. According to one aspect,
multiple collars
46 having varying diameters may be provided to accommodate varying diameters
of spindle
14. Each of these collars 46 may be adapted to engage external threads on rod
40.
[00110] Rod 40, housing 42, collar 46, nut 48, arms 50, housing 52, piston 54,
and housing
42 may be fabricated from any conventional structural metal, for example,
iron, steel,
stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, nickel, magnesium, brass, or bronze,
among others.
[00111] In one aspect of the invention, preload apparatus 902 (FIGS. 27-29)
may be used to
apply and monitor a preload to outboard bearing 16. In a typical procedure, a
wheel (not
shown) may be dismounted from hub assembly 10, for example, which was mounted
to studs
on hub 12, as exemplified by stud 100 in FIGS. 1-3. Nut 11 may be loosened or
hand
tightened prior to mounting apparatus 1000, though any light load on nut 11
will typically be
relieved with application of tension to spindle 14 by means of rod 40.
[00112] For example, a torque wrench and socket may be utilized to torque nut
11 and seat
the bearings. The nut may then be tightened to a "hand tight" position
followed by loosening
of the nut by backing it off about 1/4 turn. Alternatively, such tightening
and loosening may be
done using servo controlled wrench tools (not shown) which perform such tasks
in response
to a command by a user or which may be automatically performed in response to
a set of
instructions programmed and stored in the controller or a second controller or
computer
storage coupled to the controller.
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[00113] Apparatus 902 may then be mounted to hub assembly 10 by attaching rod
40 to
spindle 14 by means of collar 46. As a result, extensions 1012, 1013 are
brought into contact
with bearing 16 (e.g., an inner race thereof).
[00114] The loading of bearing 16 may be initiated by advancing, that, is
tightening, nut 48,
against housing 52 via bearing 62, for example, by means of arms 50. The
buildup of
pressure in cavity 56 as indicated by pressure indicator 60 may be monitored
by the mechanic.
The tightening of nut 48 continues until the target pressure (e.g., between
2000 and 4000,
preferably about 3000, pounds force) is achieved. The hub assembly may be
rotated at least
one time (e.g., three times) to provide proper seating of the rollers in
bearing 16, i.e., to
permit the bearing rollers to settle in a minimum clearance, that is to settle
with an essentially
perfect alignment eliminating angular position variations sometimes referred
to as skewed
condition of the rollers. For example, nut 48 including arm 50 may be rotated
three
revolutions (e.g., by hand or by wrench 1030 engaging nut 11 and the user or
mechanic
rotating wrench 1030) and such nut handle may then be counter-rotated slightly
to arrive at a
desired pressure (e.g., between 800-1600 pounds, and preferably about 1000
pounds) as
indicated on a pressure sensor (e.g., gauge 60). Once the target pressure is
achieved in cavity
56, and the desired preload is applied to bearing 16, nut 11 may be tightened
(e.g., by hand or
via wrench 1030) against inner race 15. In on example, the nut may be
tightened by hand
until it is felt by the user to be in contact with a backface of the outer
bearing to maintain the
preload after apparatus 1000 is removed.
[00115] As indicated, aligning ring 910 may include axially extending lines
912 on an outer
surface thereof with longer line 915 being located at the circumferential
location of aligning
projection 805. If the tightening causes lines 912 to align with one of
markings 510 on nut 11
apparatus 902 may be loosened and removed and retaining member 540 may be
engaged with
retaining nut 11 and spindle 14 such that keeper teeth 520 engage teeth 511 of
nut 11 and
engaging member 534 of keeper 530 engage shaft slot 5 of spindle 14. If the
tightening does
not cause lines 912 to align with one of markings 510 on nut lithe operator
may carefully
loosen nut 11 only until the one of lines 912 aligns with one of markings 510.
For example, a
space between each of marking 510 may be 1/60 of a circumference of nut 11 so
a 16 pitch
nut thread having 0.0625" per revolution will only be moved up to 0.0625/60 =
0.00104
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inches. For typical axles, a rotation from one of markings 510 to another of
markings 510
will reduce a preload about 250 to 350 pounds, leaving the wheel end assembly
inside of a
recommended range. For example, such recommended range could be a force range
recommended by SAE International in Specification J2535 originally published
in 2001 and
slightly revised in 2013 of about 500-1000 pounds. In another example, a
common coarser
axle thread pitch is 12 threads per inch or 0.0833" / rev. If a 60 space array
is used with this
thread the maximum preload range will be slightly more but still in the
indicated 500 to 1000
pound recommended range. Lines 912 may be similarly spaced about the
circumference of
aligning ring 910.
[00116] In another example, access to a locking nut (e.g., nut 11) could be
restricted by a
housing and a preload apparatus (e.g., preload apparatus 1000) could include a
wrench (e.g.,
wrench 1030) having lines 1011 on an outer surface thereof to allow an
alignment of such
lines with markings or lines 912 of ring 910 during a preloading process. In
such a situation
where the nut (e.g., nut 11) is inaccessible, the alignment of lines on ring
910 with markings
on nut 11 described above would be replaced by an alignment of lines on ring
910 with lines
(e.g., lines 1011) of the wrench (e.g., wrench 1030) as described further
above relative to
preload apparatus 1000.
[00117] Upon completion of the preloading, a preload apparatus (e.g., preload
apparatus 20,
preload apparatus 700, preload apparatus 1000, preload apparatus 902, preload
apparatus 900)
may be removed from wheel hub assembly 10, and keeper 530 and retaining member
540
may be engaged with retaining nut 11 and spindle 14 such that keeper teeth 520
engage
teeth 511 of nut 11 and engaging member 534 of keeper 530 engage shaft slot 5
of spindle 14.
As indicated above, nut 11 may be selectively rotated based on markings 510
and aligning
arm 205, aligning ring 800 or ring 910, or a portion of aligning ring 800 or
ring 910 and
wrench 230 or wrench 1030, such that keeper teeth 520 and engaging teeth 511
engage one
another and engaging member 534 engages shaft slot 5 in a manner to inhibit
movement of
spindle 14 relative to retaining nut 11 to maintain the preload. The wheel may
then, for
example, be remounted. Variations on this procedure while not deviating from
the desired
results may be apparent to those of skill in the art.
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[00118] The preloading of the bearings as described above is advantageous
relative to
endplay adjustment but was rarely recommended prior to the present invention
due to the
difficulty of creating and verifying a correct preload site. A load sensor
such as a pressure
indicator or gauge (not shown) may be used along with the selective
positioning of retaining
nut 11 on spindle 14 (e.g., relative to aligning arm or a portion of aligning
ring 800 or ring
910) provide for a repeatable correct and accurate preload setting.
[00119] In another example, press mechanism 44 may apply pressure by fluid
pressure to
provide the compressive load to bearing 16. In this aspect of the invention
(not shown)
described above relative to co-owned U.S. Patent No. 7,389,579 instead of the
compressive
force provided by the advancing of a nut (e.g., nut 48), the compressive force
provided by the
nut may be supplemented by or replaced by fluid pressure provided to cavity 56
in housing 52
having piston 54. In this aspect, the fluid pressure may be provided by a
conduit or hose (not
shown). The hose may supply fluid, for example, hydraulic fluid, from a
pressurized supply,
for example, a pump. The fluid supplied to the hose may vary from 500 to 3000
psig. In one
aspect, the fluid pressure provided through the hose may be the only supply of
compressive
force to the bearing.
[00120] Such a press mechanism applying pressure by fluid pressure may be used
to
automatically regulate the compressive load on bearing 16, for example, by
regulating the
pressure introduced to press mechanism 44 through the hose. In one aspect, the
invention
may include an automatic controller, for example, a PD controller, personal
computer, or
PLC controller adapted to regulate the pressure in the hose. For example, the
predetermined
preload and the parameters of the bearing being loaded may be entered into the
controller and,
after mounting a rod similar to rod 40, housing 42 and a press mechanism to
bearing 16 (e.g.,
an inner race thereof), the controller may automatically ramp up the fluid
pressure to provide
the desired preload or to verify an existing preload. This aspect of the
invention may be
suitable for production line applications, among others.
[00121] In one aspect, the fluid provided by the hose may be provided by a
pressure
increasing device, for example, a pressure intensifier, that is, a device that
converts one
pressure to a higher pressure. For example, the pressure-increasing device may
be provided
with a pressure supply of, for example, 100 psig (for instance, shop air) and
increased to, for
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example, 2000 psig hydraulic fluid, which is then supplied to the hose. Other
sources of high-
pressure fluid may be provided according to aspects of the invention.
[00122] Aspects of the invention may also be used to evaluate the preload or
endplay on an
existing bearing or bearing assembly. For example, an existing truck hub
assembly may be
evaluated for its existing preload and compared to the desired preload, and,
if necessary,
adjusted accordingly. First, the truck may be jacked up, if needed. (The hub
may be allowed
to cool, if necessary). A preload apparatus (e.g., preload apparatus 20,
preload apparatus 700,
preload apparatus 1000, preload apparatus 902) may then be mounted to bearing
16 and
spindle 14 (with reference to FIGS. 1-3) and the press mechanism 44 actuated
to introduce
tension to spindle 14 and compression to bearing 16. (The wheel may be
removed.) Press
mechanism 44 may be regulated to, for example, vary the fluid pressure, to
gradually increase
the preload on bearing 16. While the load is increased, a mechanic can
repeatedly check the
load on or the "tightness" of nut 11. When nut 11 begins to loosen, the
existing preload on
bearing 16 has been met or exceeded. A comparison of the actual preload
indicated by press
mechanism 44, for example, the fluid pressure, with the desired preload can
then be made.
Any adjustments to the preload, either higher or lower, can be made according
to the
procedures described above and in U.S. Patent No. 7,389,579.
[00123] Although aspects of the present invention were described above with
respect to their
application to wheel hub assemblies, for example, truck wheel hub assemblies,
it is
understood that aspects of the present invention may be applied to any
vehicle, machine, or
component having at least one bearing. Further, although press mechanism 44 is
described
above as applying a compressive load to an inner race of a bearing, such load
could be applied
elsewhere to the bearing or wheel assembly 10 such that a frictional or other
load on a
retaining nut is reduced to allow rotation of a retaining nut. Such rotation
may allow teeth of
the nut and teeth of a keeper to be aligned with each other to allow
engagement of a shaft
engaging portion of the keeper with a shaft, (e.g., a shaft slot thereof) to
inhibit rotation of the
nut relative to the shaft.
[00124] While several aspects of the present invention have been described and
depicted
herein, alternative aspects may be effected by those skilled in the art to
accomplish the same
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objectives. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all
such alternative
aspects as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *
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