Jimmy D Howard

US Patent:

20020040526, Apr 11, 2002

Filed:

Nov 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/016712

Inventors:

Mark Beduhn - Greenbrier AR, US
Jimmy Howard - Conway AR, US

International Classification:

B23P019/04
B21D053/10
B21K001/76
B23P017/00

US Classification:

029/898070, 029/724000, 029/898090

Abstract:

An apparatus and method of precisely preloading a bearing onto a shaft is disclosed. The apparatus includes a base plate and a support mounted to and extending upward from the base plate. The support is capable of supporting a shaft. The shaft has a shoulder, a tapered surface adjacent to the shoulder and a threaded portion adjacent to the tapered surface. A shim is positioned on the shaft adjacent to the shoulder and a bearing is positioned adjacent to the shim. The bearing has an inner race, an outer race and a plurality of roller elements positioned therebetween. The bearing is preloaded onto the shaft by a lock nut which is secured to the threaded portion of the shaft and which contacts the inner race of the bearing. The apparatus further includes a motor mounted to the base plate. The motor has an output shaft which is axially aligned with and connectable to the outer race of the bearing. The motor is capable of rotating the outer race of the bearing at a predetermined speed. A force sensor is attached to the motor which is capable of measuring the amount of torque required to rotate the outer race at a predetermined speed. The measured torque is then visually displayed on a display unit. When the measured torque is within the predetermined torque range, the bearing will be precisely loaded. The method includes sliding a first shim onto the support shaft until it abuts the shoulder. The first shim has a predetermined thickness. A bearing is then slid onto the tapered surface and a lock nut is tightened onto the threaded portion of the shaft. As the lock nut contacts the inner race of the bearing it causes the inner race to contact the first shim and also to radially expand outwardly, thereby preloading the bearing. The outer race of the bearing is then connected to a motor and the motor is operated at a predetermined, constant speed. The torque required to rotate the outer race of the bearing is measured and compared to a predetermine torque range to determine if the bearing is precisely preloaded.

US Patent:

60032294, Dec 21, 1999

Filed:

Dec 12, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/570950

Inventors:

Mark William Beduhn - Greenbrier AR
Jimmy Harrell Howard - Conway AR

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B23P 1500

US Classification:

2989809

Abstract:

An apparatus and method of precisely preloading a bearing onto a shaft is disclosed. The apparatus includes a base plate and a support mounted to and extending upward from the base plate. The support is capable of supporting a shaft. The shaft has a shoulder, a tapered surface adjacent to the shoulder and a threaded portion adjacent to the tapered surface. A shim is positioned on the shaft adjacent to the shoulder and a bearing is positioned adjacent to the shim. The bearing has an inner race, an outer race and a plurality of roller elements positioned therebetween. The bearing is preloaded onto the shaft by a lock nut which is secured to the threaded portion of the shaft and which contacts the inner race of the bearing. The apparatus further includes a motor mounted to the base plate and an output shaft which is axially aligned with and connectable to the outer race of the bearing. The motor is capable of rotating the outer race of the bearing at a predetermined speed.