Bearings – Rotary bearing – Plain bearing
Patent
1996-10-10
1998-04-07
Hannon, Thomas R.
Bearings
Rotary bearing
Plain bearing
384435, 384439, F16C 3502
Patent
active
057356114
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a bearing arrangement for the operating shaft of a multi-pole electric switching device with a chassis formed from central and outer walls that are parallel to each other. Shaft bearings are provided in two outside walls and two central walls.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A bearing arrangement of this type is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,540. Since a total of four shaft bearings are used, there have been problems in aligning these shaft bearings. However, it has not been possible to use a greater radial play to compensate for this alignment tolerance because that would not permit the required precision in the switching operation nor would it allow a sufficient service life for the shaft.
The object of the invention is to create a bearing arrangement that is easy to assemble and is especially suitable for the central walls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved according to this invention by dividing the shaft bearings into two half-shells. Each half-shell is provided with a groove on its outer periphery. In addition, the edges of each of the two central walls of the chassis are provided with an open recess. The recess has a bordering edge corresponding to the radius and width of the groove. This arrangement makes it possible to insert the completely finished operating shaft into the recess and assemble the shaft bearings. This can be done, for example, by placing one half-shell of the shaft bearing around the exposed end of the shaft and then making the groove engage the bordering edge by rotating the half-shell.
The arrangement according to the invention can be designed so that the bordering edge of the recess extends over only part of the periphery of the recess, and the remaining part of the recess has another bordering edge that corresponds to the outside diameter of the half-shell. This makes it possible to bring the periphery of a second half-shell, which is needed to form a complete shaft bearing, in contact with the expanded area of the recess by laterally displacing the second half-shell along the shaft. When completely assembled, this yields an offset by approximately the width of the above-mentioned groove. The second half-shell is secured using a suitable device in order to ultimately secure the shaft bearing. For example, this can be accomplished by designing one of the half-shells so it can be secured by a locking piece that is attached to the respective wall and has an end edge matching the groove in the half-shell; the locking piece also has at least one stop face that serves as an anti-rotation element for the half-shell not engaged by the locking piece.
This invention creates the possibility of mounting, under very tight spatial conditions, a shaft bearing with a high carrying power close to the area of the operating shaft where the main driving force is applied to the operating shaft. The same arrangement can also be provided at the ends of the operating shaft on the outside walls of the chassis. However, it has proven adequate to support the ends of the operating shaft only in the direction of the resulting counter-force such that only one half-shell need be inserted into the respective outside wall. This arrangement also makes it easier to maintain the required alignment tolerance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows an operating shaft for a low-voltage four-pole circuit-breaker having several shaft bearings.
FIG. 2 shows a view of a central shaft bearing with the operating shaft cut away.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Operating shaft 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is mounted in the chassis of a low-voltage circuit-breaker having two central walls 2 and 3 as well as outside walls 4, 5 and 6. These walls are parallel to each other and are joined together by a suitable method such as cross-bars or by connecting them to other component groups of the circuit-breaker. Central walls 2 and 3 accommodate between them a drive mechanism which includes a spring energy storage device and a lever arrangement for
REFERENCES:
patent: 1919319 (1933-07-01), Church
patent: 3584923 (1971-06-01), Goossens
patent: 3600540 (1971-08-01), Bould
patent: 3751122 (1973-08-01), Dubay
patent: 4025131 (1977-05-01), Bergquist et al.
patent: 4498790 (1985-02-01), Fisher
patent: 4502796 (1985-03-01), Wilczewski et al.
Hannon Thomas R.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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