The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 19, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 12, 1997
Richard Kuchta, Vernon, CT (US);
Joseph Vivirito, South Windsor, CT (US);
Peter Hasiuk, Enfield, CT (US);
Gerber Technology, Inc., Tolland, CT (US);
Abstract
In an assembly including preloaded bearings, a sleeve is provided and has an exterior surface and an externally threaded section adjacent to an end of the sleeve. At least two bearings, each having an inner bearing race, an outer bearing race, and a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the inner and outer bearing races, are slidably mounted on the exterior surface of the sleeve. The sleeve further includes a bore extending part-way into the sleeve adjacent to the externally threaded section, the bore defining inner interior surface. A bearing retainer is also provided and includes an internally threaded section engaged with the external threads of the sleeve for urging the inner bearing race of one of the bearings toward the inner bearing race of the other bearing, thereby preloading the bearings. The exterior surface of the sleeve and the interior surface of the bore cooperate to define a cylindrical sleeve thickness that allows the sleeve to stretch as the bearing retainer is tightened against the inner race of one of the bearings, thereby urging the external threads of the sleeve against the internal threads of the retainer, preventing the retainer from loosening as the machine in which the assembly is installed, is operated.