Patent Application
20090199365
This invention relates generally to an arrangement for an axle which is anchored at two points situated at the ends of the axle and, more specifically, to an arrangement for an axle for a bearing-mounted hinge by means of which very stable fixing of the inner race of the bearing can be obtained.
The conventional way to achieve pivotability in a connection between two machine parts is to use a hinge journalled in bearings, comprising one or more bearings arranged on an axle which is fixed in between a pair of mounting cheeks or the like on one of the machine parts. The inner race of the bearing or bearings is disposed on the axle and, possibly with the aid of distancing rings, bridges the distance between the fixing cheeks, while the outer race of the bearing or bearings is effectively connected to the second machine part. Since relative movement between the inner bearing race and the axle produces progressively increasing wear resulting in excessive play and perhaps fracture of the axle, the race has to be fixed relative to the axle by means of nuts screwed onto the respective axle ends. It is important that the nuts are tightened just the right amount, since excessive tightening may jeopardize the attachment of the mounting cheeks, and excessive play may arise as a result of insufficient tightening, with the results mentioned above
Therefore, a need existed to provide a system and method to overcome the above problem. The system and method would provide an arrangement for an axle for a bearing-mounted hinge by means of which very stable fixing of the inner race of the bearing can be obtained, thereby preventing the disadvantages described above.
A pin assembly for providing a stable anchor on multiple ends has an axle having a pair of end members formed on each end of the axle. The axle is placed in a first opening in a first mounting end of a component part and extends to a second opening in a second mounting end of the component part. A bearing is mounted on a central section of the axle. A spacer is positioned between the bearing and one of the first or second mounting ends. A pair of expansion sleeves is provided wherein one of the pair of expansion sleeves is positioned over each of the end members of the axle. A pair of locking devices is provided wherein one of the pair of locking devices is coupled to each of the end members. When tightened, the locking devices cause the expansion sleeves to press against interior walls of the first and second openings to anchor the axle
A method of installing a pin assembly for providing a stable anchor on multiple ends comprises: providing a pin assembly comprising: an axle having a first and second end members formed on the axle; a bearing mounted on a central section of the axle; a spacer; a pair of expansion sleeves, wherein one of the pair of expansion sleeves is positioned over each of the end members of the axle; and a pair of locking devices; positioning the spacer between the bearing and one of the first or second mounting ends; positioning the axle so that the axle is placed in a first opening in a first mounting end of a component part and extends to a second opening in a second mounting end of the component part, the axle passing through the bearing and the spacer element and through the second opening; attaching one of the pair of fastening element to the second end member to eliminate axial play; placing one of the pair of expansion sleeves over the first end member of the axle; and attaching a second of the pair of fastening elements to the first end member and tightening so that the one of the pair of expansion sleeves expands and press against an interior wall of the first opening.
The present invention is best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and detailed description to indicate like elements.
The present invention provides an arrangement for an axle for a bearing-mounted hinge for which a very stable fixing of the inner race of the bearing can be obtained. Referring to
The pin assembly 102 will have an axle 110. A pair of end members 112 is formed on each end of the axle 110. In the embodiment shown in
The axle 110 is passed through through-bores 114 and 116 formed in the mounting cheeks 106 and fixed relative to them by means of a pair of fastening devices 118 coupled to each end member 112. In the embodiment depicted in
In the embodiment depicted in
Each housing 122A is hollow and has a pair of open ends. A plurality of slots 122B is formed in the housing 122A and goes through the housing 120 into the hollow section of the housing 122A. The slots 122B generally run along a length of the housing 122A. At least one of the plurality of slots 122B will run an entire length of the housing 122A. The slots 122B act as annular wedges, with the apex pointing towards the central section of the axle 110. The number of slots 122B formed in the housing 122 is based on the diameter of the housing 122. The larger the diameter of the housing 122 the more slots 122B are generally needed. In general, four to six slots 122B are formed in each housing 122. The slots 122B will run vertically down the side of the housing 122. One slot 122B may run the length of the housing 122. The housing 122 is generally made of a sturdy metallic material. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a treated yellow chrome oxide is used to form the housing 122.
The expansion sleeves 122 are used for anchoring of the axle 110 in the respective mounting cheeks 106. This is accomplished by causing the respective expansion sleeves 122 to expand over the end members 112 of the axle 110 by means of the fastening elements 118 and a pair of washer elements 124A and 124B so that the expansion sleeves 122 are pressed against the interior walls of the through-bores 114 and 116 respectively. When the fastening element 118 is tightened, the spacer element 108 presses the inner race of the bearing 120. The slots 122B allow the expansion sleeves 122 to expand and press against the interior walls of the through-bores 116 thus securing the inner race to be fixed properly without risk of deformation. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the fastening elements 118 are a pair of locking screws rotateably coupled to the end members 112 of the axle 110. Each locking screw would engage the threaded channel formed down a portion of the length of each of the end member 112.
After the fastening element 118 is tightened to a proper level, a lock nut 126 is attached. The lock nut 126 is used to further secure the pin assembly 102 in position and eliminate any possibility of axial movement. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a threaded washer 124A and a torque lock nut 126 is used. The torque lock nut 126 will engage threads formed on the threaded washer 124A. By tightening the torque lock nut 126 onto the threaded washer 124A, this will further secure the pin assembly 102 in position and eliminate any possibility of axial movement.
Referring to
As shown in
An expansion sleeve 122 is first placed over an upper end member 112 of the axle 110. One of the fastening elements 118 and the washer elements 124B is rotateably coupled to the upper end member 112 and tightened. The expansion sleeve 122 has an internal diameter such that the expansion sleeve 122 is not influenced when the fastening element 118 is tightened. When the fastening element 118 is tightened, the spacer element 108 presses the inner race of the bearing 120. The slots 122B allow the expansion sleeves 122 to expand and press against the interior walls of the through-bores 116 thus securing the inner race to be fixed properly without risk of deformation. In order to achieve secure mounting of the axle 110 relative to the mounting cheeks 102, the expansion sleeve 122 is first put on the axle end which is situated furthest away from the spacer element 108 which is rigidly fixed on the axle 10.
As shown in
The pin assembly 102 provides for an arrangement for an axle 110 which is anchored at two points situated at the end 112 of the axle 110, generally in mounting cheeks 106 or the like provided with through-bores 114 and 116 for the axle 110. Anchoring is accomplished by means of fastening elements 118 which can be rotateably coupled on outside the fixing points. On a central cylindrical part of the axle 110 is designed to have a bearing 120 mounted thereon which is fixed by means of a spacer element 108 disposed on the axle 110 and bridging the distance between the respective fixing points and the bearing 120. Two expanding sleeves 122 can be inserted in the through-bores 114 and 116 over the respective fixing points onto the ends 112 of the axle 110. The expansion sleeves 122 act as annular wedges with their apex pointing towards the cylindrical part of the axle 110 so that by means of the fastening elements 118 the respective expansion sleeves 122 can be caused to expand against or be pressed in by the wall of the through-bores 114 and 116 thereby accomplishing the anchoring of the axle 110.
After the fastening element 118 is tightened to a proper level, a lock nut 126 is attached. The lock nut 126 is used to further secure the pin assembly 102 in position and eliminate any possibility of axial movement. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a threaded washer 124A and a torque lock nut 126 is used. The torque lock nut 126 will engage threads formed on the threaded washer 124A. By tightening the threaded torque lock nut 126 onto the washer 124A, this will further secure the pin assembly 102 in position and eliminate any possibility of axial movement.
This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in structure, dimension, type of material and manufacturing process may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.
