Abstract:
A bearing and housing support including a bearing outer ring overmolded with a thermoplastic bearing housing. The support arranged to support and engage with an intermediate drive shaft of a vehicle.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a bearing and overmolded thermoplastic housing arranged to engage and support an intermediate drive shaft of a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Intermediate drive shafts on vehicles require bearing support at the connection point to a half shaft. This support has relatively small load support requirements. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a bearing and housing support arrangement are provided, including a bearing having an outer and inner ring, and a thermoplastic housing connected to the outer ring. 
     According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, two or more metal mounts are each inserted into complementary mounting perforations in the thermoplastic bearing housing, with a retention tab extending from an axial face of the thermoplastic bearing housing adjacent the mounting perforation and extending axially and radially to seat against an axial face of the metal mount and retain the metal mount against the axial face of the thermoplastic bearing housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments are disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cylindrical coordinate system demonstrating spatial terminology used in the present application; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a an engine and transmission system including an intermediate drive shaft with a bearing and housing support assembly according to one example embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the intermediate drive shaft with a bearing and housing support assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the intermediate drive shaft with bearing and housing support taken along line Y-Y of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of portion A of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the bearing and housing assembly, according to one example embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the bearing and housing support of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of the bearing and housing support, taken along line X-X of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear view of the bearing and housing support of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the components of the bearing and housing support of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the disclosure. It is to be understood that the disclosure as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects. 
     Furthermore, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It should be understood that any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of cylindrical coordinate system  10  demonstrating spatial terminology used in the present application. The present application is at least partially described within the context of a cylindrical coordinate system. System  10  includes longitudinal axis  11 , used as the reference for the directional and spatial terms that follow. Axial direction AD is parallel to axis  11 . Radial direction RD is orthogonal to axis  11 . Circumferential direction CD is defined by an endpoint of radius R (orthogonal to axis  11 ) rotated about axis  11 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a an engine and transmission system  100  including intermediate drive shaft  1  with bearing and housing support  10  according to one example embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of intermediate drive shaft  1  with bearing and housing support  5  of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional perspective view of intermediate drive shaft  1  with bearing and housing support  10  taken along line Y-Y of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of portion A of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  is a front view of bearing and housing support  10  with axis AB, according to one example embodiment.  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of bearing and housing support  10  of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of bearing and housing support  10 , taken along line X-X of  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 9  is a rear view of bearing and housing support  10  of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the components of bearing and housing support  10  of  FIG. 6 . The following description should be viewed in light of  FIGS. 1 to 10 . 
     Intermediate shaft  1  is used to connect two half shafts  101  and  102 , respectively. At the connection of half shaft  101  to intermediate shaft  1 , a support is needed to align the two shafts. Bearing  6  connects to an outer cylindrical surface of intermediate shaft  1 , for example, by press fitting, and housing  7  connects to a support bracket assembly  2  and to half shaft  101  using securing fasteners. 
     Bearing  6  includes outer ring  8 , inner ring  9  and rolling elements  20  disposed between outer ring  8  and inner ring  9 . In one example embodiment a thermoplastic is molded directly onto outer ring  8 , in a size and form depending on a particular application. The thermoplastic is formed into housing  7 . Outer ring  8  can include retention feature  15 , including a groove or tab or other retention feature known in the art. A groove in outer radial surface  70  of outer ring  8  is shown in the present embodiment, the groove having a depth and extending around at least a portion of outer radial surface  70 . As thermoplastic is molded over outer ring  8 , at least a portion of the thermoplastic flows into the retention feature, and once the material hardens, axially retains the housing with respect to the bearing outer ring  8 . In the example embodiment shown, housing  7  has a generally triangular or tri-lobed form, having a ribbed support structure  30  extending from an inner cylindrical surface  22  adjacent bearing outer ring  8  to an outer radial surface  31 . Ribbed support structure  30  provides strengthening and rigidity to bearing and housing support  10 . At least one mounting perforation  40  is molded into housing  7 . In this example embodiment, in particular due to the triangular or tri-lobed form, there are three mounting perforations  40 A,  40 B and  40 C. A metal mount  50  is inserted into each of perforations  40 . Metal mounts  50  may be press fit into perforations  40 . In this example embodiment, in particular due to the triangular or tri-lobed form, there are three metal mounts  50 A,  50 B and  50 C. In the example embodiment shown retention tab  60  is integrally molded into housing  7  and extends axially from axial face  25  and has radial extension  61  that seats against axial face  27  of metal mount  50  and retains metal mount  50  against axial face  25 . 
     It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.