Bearing in irregular shaped housings
View Patent ↗A bearing and housing assembly for irregular shaped housings including a circular extension, retention and distortion relief features that can mitigate shape distortion of bearings.
1. A bearing and housing assembly comprising:
a non-circular housing;
said housing having a bore extending from one axial end at least partially through said housing;
a circular extension extending axially outward from said housing coincident with an outer diameter of said bore;
a bearing;
said bearing having an outer ring, inner ring and rolling elements disposed therebetween;
said bearing having a running area axially bounded by planes perpendicular to axial end points of said rolling elements;
said circular extension having a lip extending radially from an inner radial surface of said circular extension towards the radial center of said housing bore, to a diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of said bearing outer ring;
said lip extending axially no further than said running area of said bearing;
said circular extension having a diameter larger than a diameter of said outer ring of said bearing at least over said running area.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said bore extends through the entire width of said housing.
3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein said housing includes at least one material projection extending radially from an inner radial surface towards the center of said housing bore, axially opposite said lip, to a diameter smaller than the diameter of said bearing outer ring for use as an end stop for said bearing.