Releasable split bearing

Abstract: A bearing assembly (1) having a shroud (2) with an opening therethrough, a substantially cylindrical shell (3) with bearing material (9) extending radially inwardly thereof, the cylindrical shell (3) fitting within the opening, outwardly extending peripheral flanges on the semi-cylindrical shell and flanges (12,8) extending radially inwardly into the opening from the perimeter. One set of flanges is male (8) and the other set being female (12) and extends only partly around the periphery of the shell (3) to form an unflanged peripheral space. The other set of flanges extends only partly around the perimeter to form an unflanged perimeter portion of the opening. The perimeter portion is at least equal in length to the flange on said semi-cylindrical shell (4) and the peripheral space is at least equal in length to the flange on said perimeter. The male (8) and female flange (12) are complementary to each other, and the latter is adapted to receive former upon rotation of the semi-cylindrical shell (4) in said opening.

Description: The present invention is directed to an improved hanger bearing assembly, more specifically one which can be firmly held in place and readily dismounted. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A bearing assembly according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US-A-3 022 126, wherein two semi-cylindrical halves of bearing material are provided in a cylindrical shell having flanges to attach it within an opening of a self-aligning bearing hanger unit. This known assembly is e.g. used in a dryer for plaster board. The assembly of the present invention is particularly useful in connection with certain forms of drying ovens, although it is also useful in many other areas. Such drying ovens are usually of the tunnel type and the articles to be dried (often plywood sheets) are passed therethrough on rollers. Each roller requires a minimum of two bearings and, due to the high temperatures employed, these bearings must be able to withstand such temperatures for substantial periods of time without failing. Since these ovens are quite long (some exceed 91 meter (300 feet)), there are a large number of transverse rollers and, consequently, at least double that number of bearings supporting them. Should any substantial number of bearings fail, the plywood sheets could no longer be moved through the oven and the entire operation comes to a complete halt. Obviously, this is extremely serious and the economic losses are substantial. When this happens, it is imperative that the necessary bearing replacement take place as quickly as possible. Usually, substantially all of the bearings are replaced at the same time, in order to prevent a subsequent failure shortly after the bearings have been changed and to thereby minimize down time. Due to the high temperatures referred to above, it is necessary to allow the oven to cool down to a point at which workmen can handle the bearings. In order to minimize this time, the crew used to effect the change wears asbestos gloves and other similar protective clothing. This enables them to get started on the job while the equipment is still fairly hot. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide an assembly wherein the bearing can be quickly and firmly connected to the shroud which, in turn, is attached to the frame of the device. It is also the object of the present invention to provide such an assembly wherein the bearing can be easily and quickly dismounted. The present invention is a bearing assembly comprising a shroud having a opening therethrough as defined in claim 1 and the use of such an assembly as defined in claim 4. The bearing itself is a cylindrical shell having the bearing material therein; the actual bearing surface being at its radially most inward level. In its cylindrical form, the shell is appropriately sized so that it fits into the opening in the shroud. In accordance with the invention, the shell is divided into two parts at points diametrically opposite each other. A hinge is located at one point and a latch at the other. In a preferred form of the invention, the latch advantageously comprises a slot in one half of the shell adjacent the unhinged split point and a tongue on the other half of the shell adjacent the same point. The halves are moved with the aid of the hinge to the closed position in which the slot and tongue are abutting each other. The tongue passes through the slot and, since it is of bendable material, can be bent back so that it can no longer slip out. This securely holds the shell and bearing material in the closed cylindrical position. In a preferred form of the invention, the shell is provided with at least one flange on its periphery extending radially outwardly therefrom. A complementary flange extends radially inwardly from the periphery of the opening. One of these two parts carries a male flange and the other a female flange. The latter is adapted to receive the former upon insertion of the shell into the opening and rotation thereof. The flanges extend only partly around the perimeter of the opening and the periphery of the shell so that there are portions of the periphery and the perimeter which carry no flange whatsoever. The unflanged portion of the opening is at least as long as the flange on the cylindrical shell and the unflanged peripheral space on the cylindrical shell is at least equal in length to the flange on the perimeter of the opening. As a result, there is sufficient room to allow the flanges to enter between one another and be circumferentially aligned for rotation of the male flange into the complementary female flange. In another preferred form of the invention, there are two flanges provided on each of the perimeter of the opening and periphery of the shell, thereby forming two peripheral gaps on the shell and two circumferential spaces on the periphery of the opening. For additional security, there can be added to the foregoing device a lock for axially retaining the shell within the opening and properly mounted on the shroud. The lock advantageously comprises a substantially cylindrical rim having a gap therein and at least two axially directed projections extending only partly around the circumference of the rim. The unflanged portion of the opening in the shroud is at least equal in length to the projections, so that they can extend therethrough. The lock is of resilient material and the projections, when the lock is in its relaxed state, are somewhat farther apart than the diameter of the opening. The rim may then be compressed so that the distance between the projections becomes smaller than the diameter of the opening, thus permitting insertion thereof. When the projections extend through the opening, the lock can be released so that it springs apart and bears against the perimeter of the opening in the shroud. This securely holds the bearing axially place. A preferred form of this embodiment carries at least one protuberance on each of the projections. These are located so that, when the projections are inserted into the opening, the protuberances are on the side of the shroud away from the rim. These protuberances act together with the perimeter of the opening in order to assist in preventing the bearing from accidentally or unintentionally being axially removed from the shroud. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, constituting a part hereof, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts, Figure 1 is an axial view of the bearing assembly; Figure 2 is an axial view of the bearing in its open position showing a shaft located therein; Figure 3 is an edge view showing the two halves of the split bearing and the latch holding them together; Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 without the shaft and with the bearing in its closed position; Figure 5 is an edge view taken from the right side of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a cross section along line 6-6 of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the lock; and Figure 8 is an end view of an open face of the bearing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Bearing assembly 1 comprises shroud 2 and bearing 19. Holes 13 are provided on shroud 2 for mounting the bearing at any desired location. Bearing 19 comprises semi-cylindrical shell 3 and complementary semi-cylindrical shell 4. Bearing material 9 is on the inner surfaces of shells 3 and 4 and is provided with bearing surfaces 10. In a preferred form, bearing material 9 is housed in bearing holder 24. Shells 3 and 4 and bearing material 9 are split and connected by hinge 5, thus permitting shells 3 and 4 to move toward and away from each other. Diametrically opposite from hinge 5 is latch 20 composed of slot 7 and tongue 6. The latter is inserted into slot 7 and bent upwardly as shown in Figure 3, thereby securely and releasably latching shells 3 and 4 together in their closed, cylindrical position and forming hole 21 for receipt of shaft 11. This position is best shown in Figure 4. Shroud 2 is provided with an opening therethrough into which bearing 19 fits. Shroud 2 also carries female flanges 12 which project partially into the opening and shells 3 and 4 are provided with male flanges 8. Both female flanges 12 and male flanges 8 extend only partially around the perimeter of the opening and the circumferences of shells 3 and 4, respectively. As shown in Figure 7, lock 14 comprises rim 15 and projections 17. Gap 16 is provided at one point in rim 15 to permit lock 14, which is shown in its relaxed state in Figure 7, to be compressed. Projections 17 extend axially from rim 15 and are suitably sized so that they can pass through the unflanged portions of the perimeter of the opening shroud 2. Projections 17 also carry protuberances 18 which assist in holding the assembly together. These are best shown in Figure 5. In accordance with the invention, mating faces 22 of bearing material 9 are substantially planar. Recessed portions 25 are provided to enable hinge 5 to close without fracturing bearing material 9. Planar mating faces 22, as compared to previously known irregular mating surfaces, permit easier installation of bearing material 9 as well as replacement of one semi-cylindrical half of bearing material 9 while retaining the other half. Tabs 23 secure bearing material 9 on holder 24. It is also advantageous if the length of semi-cylindrical bearing material 9 is slightly less than the axial length of half shell 3 or 4. This, coupled with tabs 23, makes the manufacture and installation of bearing material 9 much easier as the axial dimension is no longer critical and tabs 23 secure material 9 in place even if the axial dimensions are different. To install the bearing of the present invention, bearing 19, in its open position as shown in Figure 2, is placed adjacent shaft 11. Shells 3 and 4 are then caused to rotate about hinge 5 and are pressed closed as shown in Figure 4. Tongue 6 passes through slot 7 and is bent upwardly (see Figure 3) to lock bearing 19 in its closed position. Bearing 19 is turned so that male flanges 8 are located at the circumferential spaces between female flanges 12 on shroud 2. Bearing 19 is then moved axially into the opening until male flanges 8 are aligned with female flanges 12. Bearing 19 is then rotated about its axis so that male flanges 8 enter female flanges 12 and are fully contained therein. This is shown in Figure 1 and in section in Figure 6. Thereafter, projections 17 on rim 15 of lock 14 are also placed circumferentially between female flanges 12 and lock 14 is axially inserted into the opening in shroud 2 until projections 17 assume the position shown in Figure 5. Protuberances 18 are located on the side of shroud 2 away from rim 15. Lock 14 is then released and, due to its resilience, springs apart and bears against the perimeter of the opening in shroud 2. This acts as a further lock and retains the bearing axially in place. To remove the bearing, the foregoing steps are simply reversed. Rim 15 of lock 14 is compressed (gap 16 permits this) and is withdrawn axially from shroud 2. Thereafter, bearing 19 is rotated so that male flanges 8 are circumferentially between female flanges 12. This permits bearing 19 to be withdrawn axially from shroud 2. Thereafter, if it is desired to replace bearing material 9, bearing 19 is opened by bending tongue 6 downward as shown in Figure 3 and withdrawing tongue 6 from slot 7. While only a limited number of specific embodiments of the present invention have been expressed disclosed, it is, nonetheless, to be broadly construed, and not to be limited except by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims: A bearing assembly (1) comprising a shroud (2) having an opening therethrough, said opening having a diameter and a perimeter, a substantially cylindrical shell (3, 4) having a periphery, an axis extending through said cylindrical shell (3, 4), two mating semi-cylindrical halves of bearing material (9) on said cylindrical shell extending radially inwardly thereof and forming a bearing surface, said cylindrical shell fitting within said opening, characterised in that said cylindrical shell (3,4) comprises a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical shells (3, 4) having a hinge (5) for motion in a direction perpendicular to said axis between a closed position wherein said semi-cylindrical shells form a cylinder and an open position wherein parts of said semi-cylindrical shells approximately diametrically opposite said hinge are spaced apart and a latch (20) releasably securing said shells in said closed position, said semi-cylindrical shells fitting within said opening when in said closed position, each said semi-cylindrical shell has one of said halves of semi-cylindrical bearing material thereon, and the mating faces of said halves of bearing material are substantially planar. The bearing assembly of Claim 1 wherein said halves of bearing material are secured in said semi-cylindrical shells by at least one tab (23) bearing against said halves of bearing material. The bearing assembly of Claim 1 wherein said latch comprises a slot (7) in one of said semi-cylindrical shells (4) adjacent said parts, a tongue (6) on another of said semi-cylindrical shells (3) adjacent said parts, said tongue (6) adapted to enter said slot (7) when said semi-cylindrical shells (3, 4) are in said closed position. Use of the bearing assembly according to Claim 1 in connection of drying ovens of the tunnel type, namely for drying plywood sheets.

Inventors: SCOTT MARTIN, SIEBERT CRAIG, SCOTT, MARTIN, SIEBERT, CRAIG
Applicants: METALLISED CARBON CORP, METALLISED CARBON CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: F16C35
IPC codes: F16C33, F16C35