Patent ID: 11933357
Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 17:
18. A method of preloading a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly including a housing, a bearing enclosed by the housing, the bearing including an inner ring defining a first groove and connected to a shaft, an outer ring connected to the housing and including a radially inner surface defining a second groove and a third groove, a cage radially disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, a plurality of balls retained by the cage and disposed in the first groove and in the second groove, and a preloaded resilient washer assembly with a resilient washer including a radially outermost surface disposed in the third groove and a washer directly connected to the resilient washer and in contact with the housing, the method comprising:
urging, with the resilient washer, in a first axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the bearing, and with a first force, the outer ring away from the washer and the housing, and into contact with the plurality of balls;
rotating the shaft and the inner ring, with respect to the housing, in a circumferential direction around an axis of rotation of the bearing; and,
displacing, with a second force, the outer ring in the first axial direction, and maintaining, with the preloaded resilient washer assembly, the contact of the outer ring with the plurality of balls; or,
displacing, with a second force, the outer ring in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, and maintaining, with the preloaded resilient washer assembly, the contact of the outer ring with the plurality of balls.