Reliance Electric Industrial Company

Reliance Electric Company

Reliance Electric Technologies, LLC

Gary E DeWachter

John K Newton

Donald L Nisley

Yehia M El-Ibiary

Richard M Whiddon

Suresh S Tirumalai

John F Cook

A bearing apparatus having one or more integrated load sensors for determining the load imposed on a rotatable shaft. The bearing apparatus includes a bearing housing having a bearing set, such as a bearing insert, located therein. The load sensors are preferably configured as strain gauges having resistance characteristics that vary as the bearing housing is deformed. For example, the strain gauges may be angularly spaced in an arcuate recess defined below the bearing set in the bearing housing. Preferably, circuitry is also provided to condition the deformation signal to provide an indication of loading on the shaft. The conditioning circuitry may be advantageously attached to the exterior of the bearing housing.

Bearing apparatus having integrated load sensing arrangement

An elastomeric coupling system for securing axially aligned driving and driven shafts includes a pair of hubs coupled to one another by an annular flexible coupling element. The hubs are fixed to respective driving and driven shafts, and the coupling element is then secured between the hubs by anchoring assemblies. Each anchoring assembly includes anchoring members which are fixed to respective hubs by fasteners received in the hubs. The fasteners are oriented generally transverse to the aligned axes of the shafts, providing ready access for installation and servicing. As the anchoring members are secured about the hubs, axial and radial loads are exerted on peripheral beads of the coupling element to produce retaining forces sufficient to withstand considerable torsional loading during use.

Elastomeric coupling system

A lubrication system for a speed reducer, gear box, or the like. It may also be utilized as a retrofit lubrication system for speed reducers, gear boxes or the like having no filtering means previously provided for in an original design. An adapter plate is mounted to the housing of the speed reducer, gearbox or the like proximal to a shaft which is supported in the gear box. A lubricant filter is mounted to an outer surface of the adapter plate, lubricant directing bores are provided that direct flow of lubricant from a lower portion of the gear box through the adapter plate and into the filter which is pumped from the filter back into the gear box.

Lubricant filtering system

A novel bushing for use with industrial equipment such as a gear box is disclosed as being particularly adapted for long time usage in an adverse corrosive environment, such as salt water. The bushing is coated on all exposed surfaces with a fluorocarbon poller which is tough, resilient and is unaffected by the harsh environment. Preferably, the fluorocarbon is a polytetrafluoroethylene, and if applied as a first layer directly to the metal bushing, also includes a thermoset binder material such as a phenolic. Top or outer coatings may also be applied and such coatings do not contain a binder. A mechanical advantage is provided for assembly and disassembly as well as protection for the element.

Corrosion resistant bushing

A gear box or the like adapted for prolonged effective use in a harsh and/or corrosive environment such as found in the chemical industry and are in which salt water is prevalent. Components of the gear box are provided with protective polymer coatings which are low friction and impervious to attack from the environment and materials used therein. Exterior surfaces of the housing are coated with a polymer that also withstands impact from foreign objects as exemplified by polyamides, epoxies and fluorocarbons with nylon being preferred. Other components such as the input shaft, bushings and the like are preferably coated with one or more layers of fluorocarbon polymers, with layers in contact with the component including a thermosettable binder component such as a phenolic. Certain coating thicknesses are most preferred.

Corrosion resistant gear box

A carrier ring member is disclosed for holding one or more sealing devices in sealing engagement between a shaft and a bearing block, and having a snap-ring for maintaining the carrier member within the block. The snap-ring is held in its flexed condition to permit insertion of the carrier member within the block by a pin releasably retained on the ring when flexed and releases the free ends when manually pulled out of the member allowing the ring to assume its normal unflexed condition.

Growing community of inventors

Simpsonville, SC, United States of America

Gary E DeWachter