Bearings – Rotary bearing – Antifriction bearing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-07
2001-09-04
Hannon, Thomas R. (Department: 3682)
Bearings
Rotary bearing
Antifriction bearing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283635
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to housed bearings and, more particularly, to housed bearings having bearing covers or caps, either for protecting bearing surfaces and lubrication from the environment or for protecting people from the rotating bearing itself.
For polymer bearing housings that are not painted, notches, grooves or slots may be molded into the housings for securing the covers or caps without major problems. Such features are of little detriment to the housing performance with respect to the environment. With such polymer housings, these features may also he machined into the housings without compromising the corrosion performance, since the material itself resists corrosion.
However, an overwhelming majority of housings are made of cast iron, such that the housings require a coating of some kind, e.g., liquid paint, powder paint or electro-coating, to improve their resistance to the environment. Additionally, cast iron housings have limitations associated with cast geometry and precision. Grooves, holes and indentations do not lend themselves to casting and require additional processing and expense.
Current practice involves fastening a bearing cover to a cast iron housing using screws that require pre-drilled holes, machined circumferential grooves in the housing, or precision machined seats to provide a press fit of a metal or polymer cap into the housing. Such machining increases the cost of the bearing housing, may weaken the bearing housing, and may expose uncoated cast iron to the environment, resulting in an expensive and vulnerable housed bearing.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present devices and methods. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the invention, this is accomplished by providing a bearing housing and cover assembly comprising a bearing housing including mounting means for securing the bearing housing to a support surface and a bore adapted for receiving a bearing. An intermediate ring having mechanical interlock means and configured to mount over the bearing housing is positioned adjacent the bearing housing bore. Adhesive connecting means between the bearing housing and the intermediate ring connects the intermediate ring to the bearing housing. A bearing cover is positioned over the housing bore and engages the intermediate ring such that the mechanical interlock means retains the bearing cover.
The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4054335 (1977-10-01), Timmer
patent: 5328276 (1994-07-01), Linteau
patent: 5380103 (1995-01-01), Lederman
patent: 5678934 (1997-10-01), Fischer et al.
patent: 5704719 (1998-01-01), Cook et al.
patent: 5711617 (1998-01-01), Scheller
patent: 5711618 (1998-01-01), Waskiewicz
patent: 5947612 (1999-09-01), Dennison Buck et al.
Downey George A.
Johnston Dean P.
Waskiewicz Walter P.
Willyard J. Russell
Bigler John C.
Hannon Thomas R.
The Torrington Company
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