Patent ID: 6409390
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
A duplex bearing mount comprising:at least one duplex bearing having an inner race and an outer race, said inner race disposed within said outer race and being rotatable relative to said outer race about an axis, said inner race having substantially no relative movement relative to said outer race in at least one direction along said axis, said inner and outer races each having first and second axial faces which are respectively located at the same axial end of said duplex bearing; a housing, said duplex bearing radially supported by said housing; a shaft which extends through said inner race, said shaft radially and axially supported by said inner race; a first retainer connected to said housing and being engaged with the first axial surface of a bearing race, the movement of which race in a first direction along said axis being constrained by said first retainer; a second, resilient retainer connected to one of said housing and said shaft and being deflected through engagement with the second axial face of a bearing race, the movement of which race in a second direction along said axis, opposite to said first direction, being constrained by said deflected second retainer; wherein said bearing is preloaded by its being clamped between said first and second retainers, and said second retainer forms at least a portion of a spring having the characteristic of a substantially constant force value correlating to a range of various deflection values, whereby the preload of said bearing is substantially unaffected by variations in the deflection of said second retainer.