Split bearing cartridge assembly and split housed bearing assembly

A novel split bearing cartridge assembly is provided having an inner race, clamp collars for securing the inner race to a shaft, a plurality of rolling elements within a cage, an outer race, a bearing container for encapsulating those components, and seals that sit within the openings in the bearing container. All of the above components are split such that the bearing cartridge may be assembled and disassembled on and from a shaft with relative ease. The split inner race extends axially such that the seals act between the openings in the bearing container and the extended portions of the inner race. A split housed bearing assembly that incorporates the novel split bearing cartridge assembly is also provided.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to split bearings, split bearing cartridge assemblies, and split housed bearing assemblies.

BACKGROUND

Split bearings and split bearing assemblies are generally known in the art. They are often selected for use due to the relative ease with which they may be replaced on a shaft. However, certain deficiencies remain with the split bearing assemblies currently in the field that can lead to costly repairs and downtime. An object of the present disclosure is to address the deficiencies of existing split bearing assemblies.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a split bearing cartridge assembly for mounting on a shaft. The split bearing cartridge assembly may comprise a split inner race fixedly securable to the shaft and providing a first rolling element engaging surface; a plurality of rolling elements retained within a cage, wherein the cage is securable to allow rolling of the rolling elements around the first rolling element engaging surface; and, a split outer race rotatably securable to the rolling elements, wherein the split outer race provides a second rolling element engaging surface for the rolling elements. A split bearing container is also provided for substantially encapsulating the split inner race, split outer race, rolling elements and cage. In this aspect, sealing means are also provided for sealing between the split inner race and openings of the bearing container located axially outwardly from the rolling elements.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, a split housed bearing assembly for supporting a shaft is provided. The split housed bearing assembly comprises a split inner race fixedly securable to the shaft; a plurality of rolling elements retained within a cage; a split outer race rotatably securable to the rolling elements; a split bearing container for substantially encapsulating the split inner race, split outer race, rolling elements and cage; and a split housing for housing the split bearing container. First and second sealing means are provided for sealing between the split inner race and first and second openings, respectively, of the bearing container.

The rolling elements of the split bearing cartridge assembly may be rollers, and more specifically, cylindrical rollers. The seals of the assembly may be rotary seals and of a triple labyrinth construction. The split inner race of the cartridge assembly may extend axially beyond the first and second openings of the split bearing container. The split housing may be, a split pillow block housing, a split flange housing

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a split housing may be provided for housing the aforementioned split bearing cartridge assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the aforementioned figures. It is noted that the majority of the elements of the split bearing cartridge assembly and split housed bearing assembly are split elements, that is to say that they are formed in two parts to be joined to form a single working element when installed. In the figures, each of the parts of a split element have been identified with numerals including a lettered suffix, whereas there are no numerals to identify the element as a whole. For example, inFIG. 1, each part of the split inner race120a,120bare identified whereas there is no numeral to identify the inner race as a whole. Throughout this disclosure, whole elements may be described with reference to the appropriate numeral without the lettered suffix (e.g.120for the split inner race as a whole) and it should be understood that such a reference is a reference to the ensemble of the corresponding suffixed numerals (e.g.120aand120bfor the separate components of the split inner race).

FIG. 1shows, in exploded view, a split bearing cartridge assembly100in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. A split bearing container110, made up of two parts110a,110b, is provided as an enclosure for the other elements of the split bearing cartridge assembly100. The two parts of the split bearing container110a,110bcan be secured to one another using fastening means such as bolts114located on the exterior of the split bearing container. The skilled person would appreciate that other suitable fastening means may be used to allow selective assembly and disassembly of the split bearing container110.

The split bearing container110, when assembled, substantially encapsulates the other split bearing elements of the assembly, which include a split inner race120, a split cage130(the bottom half of the split cage is not shown inFIG. 2), a plurality of rolling elements136, and a split outer race140.

With reference toFIGS. 2 and 4, a split inner race120may be affixed to a shaft150so that the split inner race120and the shaft150rotate together. In the illustrated embodiment, the split inner race120is affixed to the shaft150through the use of split clamp rings122,124. The two components of the split clamp rings122a,124amay be fixed to their respective counterparts122b,124b(FIG. 5) using capscrews (hidden lines527inFIG. 5show the path of the capscrews) or other fastening means of the like that allow for selective assembly and disassembly of the split clamps rings122,124. The split inner race120is formed with recesses126for accommodating the split clamp rings122,124. The recesses126are appropriately positioned within the split inner race120so that, when assembled, the split clamp rings122,124also serve to substantially prevent axial movement of the split cage130and rolling elements136(FIGS. 6 and 7) with respect to the split inner race120.

With reference toFIGS. 2, 6 and 7, the split cage130and rolling elements136may be manufactured and assembled in accordance with methodology known in the art, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,659 to the Applicant, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Once the split clamp rings122,124have been installed, thus securing the split inner race120to the shaft150, the split cage130(including the rolling elements136) may be assembled such that the rolling elements136engage with the central landing portion128of the split inner race120. The central landing portion128of the split inner race120provides one of the surfaces with which the rolling elements136engage when in operation.

With reference toFIGS. 2 and 8, a split outer race140may be positioned around the rolling elements136within the split bearing cartridge assembly100. A portion of the inside surface144of the split outer race140provides the second surface with which the rolling elements136engage when in operation. Accordingly, when in operation, the rolling elements136will roll between the central landing portion128of the split inner race120and a portion of the inside surface144of the split outer race140. The split bearing container110is provided with a channel118for accommodating the split outer race140. When assembled, the split outer race140sits in the channel118thus preventing axial movement of the split outer race140within the split bearing container110.

The split outer race140shown inFIG. 2may be substituted for the split outer race340shown inFIG. 3. Whereas the geometry of the split outer race140inFIG. 2allows the shaft150, split inner race120and split cage130and rolling elements136to float, use of the split outer race340shown inFIG. 3will produce a fixed or held bearing. The bearing is considered to be fixed or held because the tabs342provided on the outer race340serve to restrict the axial movement of the rolling elements136, split cage130, split inner race110and clamp rings122,124. Typically, where thermal expansion of the shaft150in expected, it is desirable for the shaft to be supported by a floating bearing at one end and a fixed bearing at the other end.

With continued reference toFIG. 2, split seals160a,162aserve to help contain lubricant within the split bearing container110as well as prevent foreign contaminants from entering the split bearing container110and ultimately reaching and damaging the split cage130and rolling elements136. Lubricant may be introduced into the split bearing cartridge assembly100via lubrication fitting164. The lubricant may be a lithium-based grease or any other suitable lubricant known to those skilled in the art. The split seals160a,162aare rotary seals (e.g. triple labyrinth seals made predominantly of aluminum), and act to substantially seal the openings of the split bearing container110on either side of the rolling elements136. The split bearing container110may be provided with fingers116at each of its openings for engaging with the split seals160a,162ato help maintain a seal where the split seals160a,162ameet the split bearing container110. As best illustrated inFIG. 2, the split inner race120extends axially such that the split seals160a,162aride on an outer surface of the split inner race120.

As is generally known in the art, over time, the seals of a housed bearing unit may wear grooves into the shaft upon which they are installed. When installing a replacement split bearing cartridge assembly or split housed bearing assembly (as will be described in more detail below) on a shaft that has sustained damage at the areas of seal contact, the effectiveness of the seals of the replacement unit may be compromised due to poor contact between the new seals and the damaged surface of the shaft. This, in turn, may lead to an increased risk of premature failure of the replacement bearing unit. Conversely, when replacing a failed housed bearing unit with a split bearing cartridge assembly or split housed bearing assembly according to the present disclosure, the split inner race110extends far enough axially to seal against undamaged portions of the shaft when the split inner race110is tightly clamped over the shaft. The outer surface of the extended portions of the split inner race110provide a clean smooth surface for the split seals160a,162ato ride on, thereby greatly reducing, if not eliminating, the risk of premature failure associated with sealing on a damaged shaft. Furthermore, subsequent damage caused by the split seals160a,162ain the split bearing cartridge assembly of the present disclosure will be sustained by the split inner race110, which is inexpensive to replace as compared to the shaft.

A split housed bearing assembly900in accordance with the present disclosure will now be described with reference toFIGS. 9 and 10. InFIG. 9, the split bearing cartridge assembly100ofFIGS. 1 and 2is supported by a split housing970. The split housing selected to illustrate the embodiment shown inFIGS. 9 and 10is commonly referred to as a split pillow block housing and includes a base portion970aand a mating portion970b. The base portion970amay be secured to stable surface, for example a structurally secure steel beam, through the use of bolts974. With the base portion970asecured, the shaft150, which may be raised and suspended above its eventual resting position to facilitate assembly of the split bearing cartridge assembly100, may be lowered into its desired position with the split bearing cartridge assembly seated in the base portion970aof the housing. The mating portion970bmay then be positioned atop the base portion970aand secured to the base portion970ausing capscrews978or other suitable fastening means known to those skilled in the art.

The outer surface982of the central portion of the split bearing cartridge assembly may be arcuate to mate with a similarly arcuate inside surface986of the base portion970aand mating portion970bof the split pillow block housing. The corresponding arcuate mating surfaces982,986permit some misalignment of the split bearing cartridge assembly100within the split housing970. A pin190may be inserted into the outside of the split bearing container110to restrict the degree to which the cartridge100may misalign within the split housing970.

A split pillow block housing, such as the one shown inFIGS. 9 and 10is commonly used where the plane of the stable surface to which the housed unit is to be secured is parallel to the axis of the shaft. Another embodiment of the present disclosure involves a split flanged housing1170and will now be described with reference toFIGS. 11 and 12. This type of flange housing may be used where the plane of the stable surface to which the housed unit will be secured and the axis of the shaft are orthogonal.

Split housed bearing assembly1100comprises the split bearing cartridge assembly100ofFIGS. 1 and 2supported by a split flanged housing1170. The split flanged housing1170may be made up of a first portion1170aand a mating portion1170bthat come together and support the split bearing cartridge assembly100in a similar fashion to the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10. The first and mating portions1170a,1170bmay be secured together using capscrews1178or other suitable fastening means known in the art. In order to provide support for the shaft upon which the housed bearing assembly1100will be installed, the split flange1170may be secured to a stable surface by the use of bolts (not shown) through bolt holes1172provided in the split flange1170. Although there are four bolt holes1172in the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 12, any suitable number of bolt holes may be used provided the split housed bearing assembly can support the shaft once secured to the stable surface.

The present disclosure does not require any specific boundary dimensions for the split bearing cartridge assembly and split housed bearing assembly; however, selecting the boundary dimensions to correspond with existing housed bearing units being used in the field may be desirable in order to facilitate interchangeability.

Although the preceding description relates to particular preferred embodiments of the disclosure only, the skilled reader will appreciate that modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.