Bearing cup rotational lock assembly
View Patent ↗A bearing cup having a ring and a shoulder extending radially inward from an inner surface of the ring. At least one tang extends axially outward from a first side of the ring. At least one tab extends axially outward from a second side of the ring opposite the first side. And, at least one slot is formed in the second side. The bearing cup prevents the outer race of a conventional rolling element bearing from rotating while allowing the bearing to move in an axial direction. The assembly is designed for use with either a single rolling element bearing or a set of two bearing assemblies or any number of closely spaced bearings. The advantage of the device is that it eliminates spinning of the bearing assembly outer race. The device also prevents frictional sliding between a bearing assembly outer race and a preload spring. Frictional sliding imposed on a bearing outer race can induce galling and subsequently lead to part failure.
1. A bearing assembly comprising:
a first bearing having an inner race and an outer race; and
a plurality of rolling elements disposed between said inner race and said outer race;
a first bearing cup disposed at least partially around the first bearing and secured to the outer race thereof, the first bearing cup having at least one tang adapted to interface with a portion of an apparatus to prevent the first bearing cup from rotating while allowing the first bearing cup with the first bearing to move in an axial direction;
a second bearing having an inner and a outer race;
a second bearing cup disposed at least partially around the second bearing and secured to the outer race thereof, the second bearing cup engaged with the first bearing cup such that a predetermined rotational movement is permitted between the second bearing cup and the first bearing cup; and
a generally flat spring in contact with both said first bearing cup and said second bearing cup to form said generally flat spring into a circumferential wave shape.
2. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bearing cups each include at least one tooth and at least one slot, the tooth of the bearing cup disposed within the slot of the second bearing cup and the tooth of the second bearing cup disposed within the slot of the first bearing cup.
3. The bearing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least one tooth of the first bearing cup moves a predetermined distance in a circumferential directional in the at least one slot of the second bearing cup and the at least one tooth of the second bearing cup move a predetermined distance in the circumferential direction in the at least one slot of the first bearing cup.
4. The bearing assembly of claim 3 , wherein the bearing cups are generally ring shaped, the first bearing cup having a first shoulder which abut the first outer race, and the second bearing cup having a second shoulder which abuts the second outer race.
5. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bearing cups each include a plurality of teeth disposed within a plurality of slots to form an interlocking mesh, and wherein the generally flat spring is protected between the shoulders and the interlocking teeth of the bearing cups.
6. The bearing assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a shim disposed between the inner races of the bearings to space the bearings apart from one another.
7. The bearing assembly of 1 , wherein the first and second bearing cups are secured to the respective first and second outer races through an interference fit.
8. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said circumferential wave shape generates an axial preload to both said first bearing cup and said second bearing cup.
9. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 8 , wherein said axial preload to both said first bearing cup and said second bearing cup axially preloads said first bearing relative to said second bearing.
10. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said axial preload remains generally constant irrespective of movement of said first bearing and said second bearing.
11. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 10 , wherein said first bearing cup and said second bearing cup carry radial loads and permit axial shaft travel of a shaft supported by said first bearing and said second bearing.
12. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein said generally flat spring includes raised areas on opposite sides of a flat surface, the raised areas distributed at circumferential locations such that the raised areas are circumferentially offset.
13. The bearing assembly of claim 12 , wherein each said raised areas extend from the flat surface to define a thickness greater than said flat surface at a radial location defined in part by said flat surface.
14. A bearing assembly comprising:
a first inner race defined about an axis;
a first outer race defined about the axis;
a plurality of first rolling elements disposed between said first inner and outer races;
a first bearing cup mounted at least partially about the first outer race and having a tang projecting therefrom adapted to interface with a structure in which said bearing assembly is located to prevent the first bearing cup from rotating while allowing the first bearing cup to move in an axial direction along a longitudinal axis of the bearing assembly;
a second inner race defined about the axis;
a second outer race defined about the axis;
a plurality of second rolling elements disposed between the second inner race and outer secondary races,
a second bearing cup mounted at least partially about the second outer race and engaged with the first bearing cup such that a predetermined rotational movement is permitted between the second bearing cup and the first bearing cup; and
a generally flat spring in contact with both said first bearing cup and said second bearing cup to form said generally flat spring into a circumferential wave shape to axially preload said first bearing cup relative said second bearing cup.
15. The bearing assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first bearing cup includes a multiple of slots and said second bearing cup includes a multiple of teeth, each of the plurality of slots are larger than each of the plurality of teeth to enable the teeth to move within the slots to provide the predetermined rotational movement.
16. The bearing assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first and secondary rolling elements comprise balls.
17. The bearing assembly of claim 14 , wherein said generally flat spring includes raised areas on opposite sides of a flat surface, the raised areas distributed at circumferential locations such that the raised areas are circumferentially offset.
18. The bearing assembly of claim 17 , wherein each said raised areas extend from the flat surface to define a thickness greater than said flat surface at a radial location defined in part by said flat surface.
19. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 14 , wherein said first bearing cup and said second bearing cup carry radial loads and permit axial shaft travel of a shaft.
20. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 19 , wherein said axial preload remains generally constant irrespective of movement of said first bearing and said second bearing.
21. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 14 , wherein said first bearing cup, said second bearing cup and said generally flat spring do not limit axial shaft travel of a shaft.
22. A bearing assembly comprising:
a first inner race;
a first outer race;
a first plurality of rolling elements disposed between the first inner and outer races;
a first bearing cup mounted at least partially about the first outer race, the first bearing cup including a plurality of first teeth;
a second inner race;
a second outer race;
a second plurality of rolling elements disposed between the second inner and outer races;
a second bearing cup mounted at least partially about the second outer race, the second bearing cup including a plurality of second teeth, said plurality of first teeth engaged with said plurality of second teeth; and
a generally flat spring in contact with both said first bearing cup and said second bearing cup to form said generally flat spring into a circumferential wave shape to axially preload said first bearing cup relative said second bearing cup.
23. The bearing assembly of claim 22 , wherein said generally flat spring is disposed axially between said first outer race and said second outer race for biasing said rolling elements against said first and second inner races, and thus providing a pre-load force to said rolling elements.
24. The bearing assembly of claim 22 , wherein said first bearing cup includes a plurality of circumferentially arranged slots around a perimeter portion thereof for engaging with the plurality of second teeth of said second bearing cup, said second bearing cup includes a plurality of circumferentially arranged slots around a perimeter portion thereof for engaging with the plurality of first teeth of said first bearing cup.
25. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 22 , wherein said axially preload of said first bearing cup relative said second bearing cup axially preloads said first bearing and said second bearing.
26. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 22 , wherein said axially preload of said first bearing cup relative said second bearing cup axially preloads said first outer race relative to said second outer race.
27. The bearing assembly of claim 22 , wherein said generally flat spring includes raised areas on opposite sides of a flat surface, the raised areas distributed at circumferential locations such that the raised areas are circumferentially offset.
28. The bearing assembly of claim 27 , wherein each said raised areas extend from the flat surface to define a thickness greater than said flat surface at a radial location defined in part by said flat surface.