BEARING CONSTRUCTION WITH PRELOAD COMPENSATION

1373861 Bearings TIMKEN CO 18 July 1972 [20 Dec 1971] 33580/72 Heading F2A In a tapered roller bearing assembly, a ring 66 carried by a member 58 supported by the housing 4 is axially shiftable relative to the member 58 and the outer race, and means are provided for exerting an axial force on the ring for urging it toward and maintaining it in contact with the rollers 62, thereby axially positioning the rollers with respect to the raceways. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the member 58 and outer race are integral, and the means are hydraulic, comprising an annular chamber 78, an inlet 82, and an associated loading and control air-oil system. In a further embodiment (Fig. 6), the member has a threaded bore into which is screwed an annular ring-follower 158 having peripherally-arranged spring-pressed plungers 164 which apply pressure to the ring. The position of the follower 158 relative to the member is fixed by means of a plate having three releasable stud fasteners which engage in holes in the axially outer faces of the follower and the member.