Patent ID: 6484403
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: F02B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of converting a traction motor assembly with sleeve bearings to roller bearings wherein the traction motor assembly includes sleeve bearings mounted on a axle/wheel assembly at a pinion end and commutator end and mounted in sleeve bearing housings that are secured to a motor frame through apertures in the motor frame sized to receive mounting bolts, the method comprising:removing the sleeve bearings, sleeve bearing housings and axle/wheel assembly from the motor frame; mounting upper and lower inserts at the pinion end and commutator end of the motor frame; machining recesses in the motor frame at the pinion end and commutator end, the recesses sized to receive a roller bearing; mounting a semi-cylindrical plate within a semi-cylindrical notch originally defined in the pinion end to accommodate the sleeve bearings, thus restoring strength to the machined frame; replacing the axle/wheel assembly with a second axle/wheel assembly, the second axle/wheel assembly having a pair of roller bearing seats for receiving and mounting a pair of roller bearings; providing a pair of roller bearing housings, each roller bearing housing having an integrally cast bore machined to receive the roller bearing, each roller bearing housing also having mounting holes sized to receive mounting bolts; attaching a semi-cylindrical axle shield between the pair of roller bearing housing; separately securing a pair of roller bearings on the pair of roller bearing seats and positioned on the axle within the mounting frame such that the roller bearings are received in the recesses; and aligning the mounting holes on the pair of roller bearing housings wither apertures in the motor frame such that the roller bearings are received in the recesses, and securing the pair of roller bearing housings to the motor frame via mounting bolts.