Systems and methods for preloading a bearing
A system for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft includes an attaching member releasably connectable to the shaft and a press mechanism in fluid communication with a source of fluid and configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism includes a switch having a base and a piston in communication with the fluid such that an increase in a pressure of the fluid results in the piston extending upwardly from the base and a decrease in the pressure of the fluid results in the piston retracting toward the base. The switch includes a first lower proximity sensor and a second higher proximity sensor. The piston is configured to extend upwardly from the base past the first lower proximity sensor and to trip the second higher proximity sensor. The switch is configured to control the increase in the pressure in response to the piston tripping the higher proximity sensor.
1. A method for use in providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the method comprising:
mounting an attaching member to an end of the shaft;
coupling a press mechanism to the attaching member, the press mechanism configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing;
coupling the press mechanism to a source of fluid;
increasing a pressure of the fluid from the source to the press mechanism to provide the compressive load to the bearing;
the increasing causing a piston of a switch of the press mechanism to extend upwardly from a base of the switch to trip a proximity sensor of the switch; and
the switch controlling the pressure of the fluid to control the load on the bearing in response to the piston tripping the proximity sensor;
wherein the proximity sensor comprises a higher proximity sensor and the piston extending upwardly comprises the piston passing a lower proximity sensor of the switch prior to the piston tripping the higher proximity sensor.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the switch controlling the pressure of the fluid to control the load on the bearing in response to the piston tripping the proximity sensor comprises the switch inhibiting the increasing to inhibit an increase of the load.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising decreasing the pressure to reduce the compressive load.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the switch controlling the pressure of the fluid to control the load on the bearing in response to the piston tripping the proximity sensor comprises the switch inhibiting the increasing to inhibit an increase of the load.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the piston retracting toward the base in response to a decrease in the pressure of the fluid and the piston tripping the lower proximity sensor of the switch, the switch controlling the pressure of the fluid to control the load on the bearing in response to the piston tripping the lower proximity sensor.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the switch controlling the flow of the fluid to control the load on the bearing in response to the piston tripping the proximity sensor comprises the switch maintaining the pressure to maintain the load at a desired load.
7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the piston tripping the lower proximity sensor and the switch inhibiting the decrease in the pressure in response to the piston tripping the lower proximity sensor.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the piston tripping the proximity sensor of the switch in response to a decrease in the pressure and the switch inhibiting the decrease in the pressure in response to the piston tripping the proximity sensor.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the piston tripping the proximity sensor of the switch in response to a decrease in the pressure and the switch controlling the pressure in response to the decrease.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing the compressive load to the bearing comprises providing the load by a plurality of extensions of the press mechanism by engaging the extensions with an inner race of the bearing.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising engaging a lock nut with the shaft and rotating the lock nut to a particular position by an electronically controlled wrench to achieve a desired preload or endplay setting on the bearing.