The present invention relates to the disassembly of bearing assemblies and, in particular, to systems and methods for removing a bearing cup from a bearing casting of a bearing assembly.
The rebuilding of a bearing assembly requires the removal of a bearing cup from a bearing casting. Removal of the bearing cup from a bearing casting without damaging the bearing cup or the bearing casting can be difficult because typically only a small portion of the bearing cup is accessible when the bearing cup is fully received by the bearing casting.
The need thus exists for improved systems and methods for removing a bearing cup from a bearing casting.
The present invention may be embodied as a bearing cup removal tool for removing a bearing cup from a bearing casting comprising a collar assembly and a displacing assembly. The collar assembly comprises a clamp member and a clamp assembly, where the clamp member defines a clamp surface. The clamp assembly deforms the clamp member to alter a shape of the clamp surface such that the clamp member may be configured to surround at least a portion of the bearing cup and the clamp member may be configured to frictionally engage at least a portion of the bearing cup to secure the clamp member to the bearing cup. The displacing assembly engages the clamp member and is adapted to engage the bearing casting such that operation of the displacing assembly forces the clamp member away from the bearing casting.
The present invention may be embodied as a method of removing a bearing cup from a bearing casting comprising the following steps. A clamp member defining a clamp surface is provided. A clamp assembly is operatively connected to the clamp member to define a collar assembly. The clamp assembly is operated to deform the clamp member to alter a shape of the clamp surface such that the clamp member may be configured to surround at least a portion of the bearing cup. The clamp assembly is operated such that the clamp member frictionally engages at least a portion of the bearing cup to secure the clamp member to the bearing cup. A displacing assembly adapted to engage the bearing casting is provided. The displacing is arranged assembly to engage the clamp member and the bearing casting. The displacing assembly is operated to force the clamp member away from the bearing casting.
The present invention may be embodied as a bearing cup removal tool for removing a bearing cup from a bearing casting comprising a collar assembly and a displacing assembly. The collar assembly comprises a clamp defining a split gap and a clamp surface and a clamp bolt arranged across the split gap. Rotation of the clamp bolt in a first direction relative to the clamp member deforms the clamp member to alter a shape of the clamp surface such that the clamp member may be configured to surround at least a portion of the bearing cup. Rotation of the clamp bolt in a second direction relative to the clamp member deforms the clamp member to alter a shape of the clamp surface such that the clamp member frictionally engages at least a portion of the bearing cup to secure the clamp member to the bearing cup. The displacing assembly engages the clamp member and is adapted to engage the bearing casting such that operation of the displacing assembly forces the clamp member away from the bearing casting.
The present invention may take a number of forms, and two examples of bearing cup removal tools constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention will be described separately below.
Referring initially to
The example bearing assembly 24 comprises a bearing casting 26 defining a bearing cup opening 28. When fully assembled, the bearing cup 22 resides within the bearing cup opening 28. During the process of disassembling the bearing assembly 24, the bearing cup 22 is displaced relative to the bearing casting 26 such that the bearing cup 22 partly protrudes from the bearing cup opening 28 as shown in
The first example bearing cup removal tool 20 comprises a first example collar assembly 30 and a first example displacing assembly 32. The collar assembly 30 is clamped onto the protruding portion of the bearing cup 22 as shown in
With the foregoing general understanding of the principles of the present invention in mind, the details of the first example bearing cup removal tool will now be described with reference to
Referring to
The details of construction and operation of the first example collar assembly 30 will now be described in further detail.
The example clamp member 40 comprises a main portion 50, at least one brace portion 52, at least one draw portion 54, a first clamp projection 56, and a second clamp projection 58. The main portion of the example clamp member 40 further defines an internal clamp surface 60 defining a clamp opening 62. The example clamp surface 60 is generally cylindrical but is discontinuous at a clamp member split gap 64. The first and second projections 56 and 58 extend from the main portion 50 on either side of the clamp member split gap 64. Each brace portion 52 of the example clamp member 40 defines a brace through opening 66, while each draw portion 54 of the example clamp member 40 defines a draw opening 68. The term “through opening” as used herein refers to an opening, typically cylindrical, in a first member through which a second member passes, but which allows free movement of the second member relative to the first member.
The example clamp assembly 42 comprises a clamp bolt 80 defining a clamp bolt head 82 and a clamp bolt shaft 84. The example clamp bolt shaft 84 is sized and dimensioned to extend through the clamp through opening 70 and is threaded to engage the clamp threaded opening 72. Axial rotation of the clamp bolt 80 relative to the second clamp projection 58 thus displaces the clamp bolt along a clamp axis C relative to the clamp projection 58.
When the clamp bolt head 82 is in contact with the first clamp projection 58, axial rotation of the clamp bolt 80 in a tightening direction displaces the first clamp projection 56 towards to the second clamp projection 58 to reduce a dimension of the clamp member split gap 64 along the clamp axis C, while axial rotation of the clamp bolt 80 in a loosening direction allows the first clamp projection 56 to be displaced away from the second clamp projection 58 to increase a dimension of the clamp member split gap 64 along the clamp axis C. The example clamp member 40 may be sized and dimensioned and made of a resiliently deformable material such as spring steel that will inherently displace the first clamp projection 56 away from the second clamp projection 56 when the clamp bolt 80 is axially rotated in the loosening direction. In addition, the bias assembly 44 may be used to exert a biasing force on the first clamp projection 56 to displace the first clamp projection 56 away from the second clamp projection 58 as will be described below.
The first example collar assembly 30 allows the first example bearing cup puller to be secured onto the bearing cup 22. In particular, the bearing cup 22 is arranged within the clamp opening 62. The clamp bolt 80 is then axially rotated in the tightening direction until the clamp surface 60 is securely held against the bearing cup 22. When the clamp member 40 is sufficiently secured relative to the bearing cup 22, friction between the clamp surface 60 and the bearing cup 22 allows the bearing cup 22 to move with the clamp member 40 as the first example displacing assembly 32 is operated to displace the bearing cup 22 relative to the bearing casting 26 and out of the bearing cup opening 28.
The example optional bias assembly 44 comprises a bias transfer member 90, a bias set screw 92, a biasing member 94, a bias washer 96, and a bias washer retainer 98. The example biasing member 94 is arranged at least partly within the bias opening 76. The bias washer 96 is arranged within the bias opening 76 to engage a first end of the bias member 94. The bias washer retainer 98 is arranged to engage the bias opening annular recess to inhibit movement of the bias washer 96 in a first direction along a bias axis B relative to the second projection 58. The bias washer 96 thus inhibits movement of the bias member 94 in the first direction along the bias axis B. The bias transfer member 90 is arranged to engage a second end of the biasing member 94. The bias set screw 92 is threaded to engage the adjustment threaded opening 74 such that axial rotation of the bias set screw 92 displaces the bias set screw 92 in either direction along the bias axis B.
So configured, axial rotation of the bias set screw 92 to displaces the bias set screw 92 in the first direction along the bias axis B causes the bias set screw 92 to engage the bias transfer member 90. Further axial rotation of the bias set screw 92 to displace the bias set screw 92 in the first direction displaces the bias transfer member 90 in the first direction to force the biasing member 94 against the bias washer 96. At this point, continued axial rotation of the bias set screw 92 to displace the bias set screw 92 in the first direction compresses biasing member 94 such that the biasing member 94 biases the first and second projections away from each other to increase a dimension of the clamp member split gap 64 along the clamp axis C. The example biasing member 94 is a compression spring, but any other resilient member capable of biasing the first and second projections 56 and 58 away from each as described herein may be used as the biasing member 94.
The bias assembly 44 thus may be configured and, optionally, adjusted using the bias set screw 92, such that the first and second clamp projections 56 and 58 are normally forced away from each other a distance appropriate for the clamp opening to accommodate a particular bias cup 22. More specifically, the bias assembly 44 allows a dimension of the clamp opening 62 to be preset to a predetermined dimension that is slightly larger than the complementary dimension of the bearing cap 22 to facilitate mounting of the first example collar assembly 30 over the bearing cup 22 prior to operation of the clamp assembly 42 to secure the clamp member 40 onto the bearing cup 22.
As shown in
The first example displacing assembly 32 operates basically as follows. Operation of the example main bolt assembly 130 displaces the draw plate 122 towards and away from the base plate 120. The example draw bolt assemblies 132 transfer movement of the draw plate 122 to the first example collar assembly 30. The example brace rod assemblies 134 prevent movement of the base plate 120 towards the bearing casting 26 when the first example bearing cup puller 20 is in use. The brace rod assemblies 134 further guide movement of the draw plate 122 and first example collar assembly 30 during operation of the first example bearing cup puller 20.
The details of construction and operation of the first example displacing assembly 32 will now be described in further detail.
The example base plate 120 defines a base plate main through opening 140, at least one base plate brace opening 142, and at least one base plate stabilizer opening 144. The draw plate 122 defines a draw plate main threaded opening 150, at least one draw plate brace through opening 152, at least one draw plate stabilizer opening 154, and at least one draw plate draw opening 156.
The main bolt assembly 130 comprises a main bolt 160, a main washer 162, and a main bolt retainer 164. The main bolt 160 defines a main bolt head 166 and a main bolt shaft 168. The main bolt shaft 168 is sized and dimensioned to extend through the base plate main through opening 140 and threaded to engage the draw plate main threaded opening 150. The main washer 162 is arranged between the main bolt head 160 and a first side of the base plate 120 such that tension loads on the main bolt 160 are applied through the main bolt head 166 and the main washer 162 to the base plate 120. The main bolt retainer 164 engages a slot 168a in the shaft 168 and is adjacent to a second side of the base plate 120. Accordingly, axial rotation of the main bolt 160 in a first direction thus displaces the draw plate 122 towards the base plate 120, while axial rotation of the main bolt in a second direction thus displaces the draw plate 122 away from the base plate 120. The main bolt 160 defines a main axis A.
The example draw bolt assembly 132 comprises a draw bolt 170 and a draw bolt retainer 172. The draw bolt 170 defines draw bolt head 174, a draw bolt first shaft portion 176, and a draw bolt second shaft portion 178. The draw bolt head 174 engages a portion of the clamp member 40 within the draw opening 68 to transfer tension loads on the draw bolt 170 to the clamp member 40. The draw bolt second shaft portion 178 engages the draw plate opening 156. The draw bolt retainer 172 secures the draw bolt head 174 within at least a portion of the draw opening 68. So connected, each draw bolt 170 defines a draw axis D. Movement of the draw plate 122 along the draw axis D is transferred through the draw bolt 170 to the clamp member 40.
The example brace rod assembly 134 comprises a brace rod 180 and a brace rod screw 182. A first end of the brace rod 180 defines a screw opening 184. The brace rod screw 182 defines a screw head 186 and a screw shaft 188. The first end of the brace rod 180 is at least partly received within the base plate brace opening 142, and the shaft 188 of the brace rod screw 182 extends through a portion of the base plate opening 142 and into the screw opening 184 to secure the first end 180 of the brace rod 180 to the base plate 120. The brace rod 180 further extends through the draw plate brace through opening 154 and clamp member draw opening 68 such that a second end of the brace rod 180 is capable of engaging the bearing casting 26 during use of the first example bearing cup holder 20. Each brace rod 180 defines a brace axis G.
The example stabilizer bolt 136 defines a stabilizer bolt head 190, a stabilizer bolt first shaft portion 192, and a stabilizer bolt second shaft portion 194. The stabilizer bolt second shaft portion 194 is threaded to engages the threaded base plate stabilizer opening 144 such that a position of the stabilizer bolt 136 is fixed relative to the base plate 120 and defines a stabilizer axis S. The stabilizer bolt first shat portion 192 extends at least partly into the draw plate stabilizer opening 154 such that the draw plate 122 may move along the stabilizer axis S relative to the base plate 120 but the draw plate 122 may not rotate about the main axis A relative to the base plate 120.
The example bias set screw 92 defines a set screw shaft portion 264 and a set screw drive end 266. The set screw shaft portion 264 is threaded to engage the adjustment threaded opening 74 such that axial rotation of the bias set screw 92 causes movement of the bias set screw 92 towards and away from the biasing transfer member 90. The set screw drive end 266 facilitates axial rotation of the bias set screw 92. The bias set screw 92 allows adjustment of the bias force generated by the biasing member 94 to separate the first and second clamp projections 56 and 58 prior to axial rotation of the clamp bolt 80 to clamp the clamp member 40 onto the bearing cap 22.
Referring now to
In particular,
The first example collar assembly 30 may thus easily be converted for use with at least two types of bearing cups 22 simply by reversing the clamp member 40 such that the appropriate clamp surface portion 270 or 272 is exposed to the bearing cup 22 to be removed.
In the first example bearing cup puller 20, a single main bolt assembly 120 and two each of the draw bolt assemblies 132, brace rod assemblies 134, and stabilizer bolts 136 are used. The main axis A defined by the main bolt 160 is substantially aligned with a central region of a substantially cylindrical shape defined by the clamp opening 62. The draw axes D, brace axes G, and stabilizer axes S are all substantially parallel to each other and to the main axis A. The draw axes D, brace axes G, and stabilizer axes S are all offset from each other and from the main axis A. This arrangement allows the main bolt 160 to be located in line with a longitudinal axis of the bearing cup 22 and axially rotated to pull the first example collar assembly 30 along the main axis A. Axial rotation of just the main bolt 160 thus acts on the draw plate 122 through the main bolt 160 and on the first example collar assembly 30 through the draw bolts 170 such that a balanced pulling action is applied on the first example collar assembly 30.
It should also be noted that more than two draw bolt assemblies 132, brace rod assemblies 134, and stabilizer bolts 136 may be provided. Further, a single draw bolt assembly 132 and brace rod assembly 134 may be used but may create an unbalanced pulling action on the first example collar assembly 30. The stabilizer bolt or bolts 136 are optional and may be omitted but also contribute to the application of a balanced pulling action on the first example collar assembly 30.
Referring to
The example bearing assembly 324 comprises a bearing casting 326 defining a bearing cup opening 328. When fully assembled, the bearing cup 322 resides within the bearing cup opening 328. During the process of disassembling the bearing assembly 324, the bearing cup 322 is displaced relative to the bearing casting 326 such that the bearing cup 322 partly protrudes from the bearing cup opening 328 as shown in
The second example bearing cup removal tool 320 comprises a second example collar assembly 330 and a second example displacing assembly 332. The collar assembly 330 is clamped onto the protruding portion of the bearing cup 322 as shown in
With the foregoing general understanding of the principles of the present invention in mind, the details of the first example bearing cup removal tool will now be described.
Referring now to
The example clamp member 340 comprises a main portion 350, at least one displacement portion 352, a first clamp projection 354, and a second clamp projection 356. The main portion 350 of the example clamp member 340 further defines an internal clamp surface 360 defining a clamp opening 362. The example clamp surface 360 is generally cylindrical but is discontinuous at a clamp member split gap 364. The first and second projections 356 and 358 extend from the main portion 350 on either side of the clamp member split gap 364. Each displacement portion 352 of the example clamp member 340 defines a threaded displacement opening 366.
The clamp assembly 342 and optional bias assembly 344 may be constructed and operated in the same manner as the clamp assembly 42 and bias assembly 44 described above and thus will not be described in detail herein.
As shown in
With the clamp member 340 clamped on to the bearing cup 322, axial rotation of the displacement bolt 370 in a first direction causes the end of the bolt shaft 374 to come into contact with the bearing casting 326.
The example clamp member 340 defines two of the displacement openings 366, and the example displacing assembly 332 employs two of the displacement bolts 370. The example displacement openings 366 are arranged on opposite sides of the clamp opening 362. With this configuration, the displacement bolts 370 are alternately axially rotated in an alternating sequence such that each displacement bolt 370 is displaced only a short distance at a time. By alternating the sequence in which the displacement bolts 370 are advanced, the displacing force applied on the second example collar assembly 330 can be balanced sufficiently to remove the bearing cup 322 from the bearing cup opening 328 without damage to the bearing cup 322 or bearing casting 326.
Referring now to
The example first clamp member 430 comprises a first main portion 440, a first clamp brace portion 442, a first clamp draw portion 444, a first clamp projection 446, and a second clamp projection 448. The first main portion 440 of the first clamp member 430 defines a first clamp surface 450. A first clamp member brace through opening 452 is formed in the first clamp brace portion 442, while a first clamp draw opening 454 is formed in the first clamp draw portion 444. The first clamp projection 446 defines a first clamp through opening 456, while the second clamp projection 448 defines a first clamp threaded opening 458.
The example second clamp member 432 comprises a second main portion 460, a second clamp brace portion 462, a second clamp draw portion 464, a third clamp projection 466, and a fourth clamp projection 468. The second main portion 460 of the second clamp member 432 defines a second clamp surface 470. A second clamp member brace through opening 472 is formed in the second clamp brace portion 462, while a second clamp draw opening 474 is formed in the second clamp draw portion 464. The third clamp projection 466 defines a second clamp through opening 476, while the fourth clamp projection 468 defines a second clamp threaded opening 478.
The example first clamp assembly 434 comprises a first clamp bolt 480 and a second clamp bolt 482. The example first and second clamp bolts 480 and 482 are identical and each defines a clamp bolt head 484 and a clamp bolt shaft 486.
To form the third example collar assembly 420, the first clamp through opening 456 is aligned with the second clamp threaded opening 478 and the first clamp threaded opening 458 is aligned with the second clamp through opening 476. The first clamp bolt 480 is inserted through the first clamp through opening 456 and threaded into the second clamp threaded opening 478, while the second clamp bolt 482 is inserted through the second clamp through opening 476 and threaded into the first clamp threaded opening 458. At this point, a clamp opening 490 is formed, a first clamp gap 492 is formed between the first clamp projection 446, and the fourth clamp projection 468, and a second clamp gap 494 is formed between the second clamp projection 448 and the third clamp projection 466. In the example collar assembly 420, the first and second clamp gaps 492 and 494 are arranged on opposite sides of the clamp opening 490, but other configurations may be used as well.
Axial rotation of the first clamp bolt 480 causes the threaded shaft portion 486 thereof to engage the second clamp threaded opening 478, while axial rotation of the second clamp bolt 482 causes the threaded shaft portion 486 thereof to engage the first clamp threaded opening 458. At this point, axial rotation of the first and second clamp bolts 480 and 482 in a first direction displaces the first and second clamp members 440 and 442 towards each other, while axial rotation of the first and second clamp bolts 480 and 482 in a second direction allows the first and second clamp members 440 and 442 to be displaced away from each other.
The third example clamp assembly 420 is secured to the bearing cup by arranging at least a portion of the bearing cup within the clamp opening 490 and axially rotating the first and second clamp bolts 480 and 482 such that the first and second clamp surfaces 450 and 470 frictionally engage the bearing cup. At this point, the third example collar assembly 420 may be displaced away from the bearing casting to remove the bearing cup from the bearing opening.
The third example clamp assembly 420 is configured to be used with the first example displacing assembly 32 described above. However, the third example clamp assembly 420 may easily be configured to be used with the second example displacing assembly 332 described above.
This application (Attorney's Ref. No. P219495) claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/554,465 filed Sep. 5, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62554465 | Sep 2017 | US |