Abstract:
The disclosure provides an improved split bearing cartridge assembly and split bearing housed bearing assembly. The split bearing cartridge assembly comprises a split inner race fixedly securable to a 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 first and second sealing means for sealing between the split inner race and first and second openings, respectively, of the bearing container. The split bearing cartridge assembly may be combined with a split housing resulting in an improved split housed bearing assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/237,207, filed Oct. 5, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to split bearings, split bearing cartridge assemblies, and split housed bearing assemblies. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    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 
       [0004]    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. 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    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 
         [0007]    In another aspect of the present disclosure, a split housing may be provided for housing the aforementioned split bearing cartridge assembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For illustration purposes, the following figures have been included to help the reader better understand the preferred embodiments of the disclosure: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1 , which is an exploded perspective view of a split bearing cartridge assembly in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2 , which is a perspective view, in partial section, of a split bearing cartridge assembly in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3 , which is an enlarged view of detail A of  FIG. 2 , with a variant split outer race; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4 , which is a perspective view, in partial section, of a split inner race in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5 , which is a perspective view of a split inner race clamp ring in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6 , which is a perspective view of an assembled cage and rolling element assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7 , which is a top view of the assembled cage and rolling element assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8 , which is a perspective view, in partial section, of a split outer race in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9 , which is a perspective view, in partial section, of a split housed bearing assembly in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10 , which is an alternate perspective view of the split housed bearing assembly of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11 , which is a perspective view, in partial section, of another split housed bearing assembly in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 12 , which is an alternate perspective view of the split housed bearing assembly of  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    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, in  FIG. 1 , each part of the split inner race  120   a ,  120   b  are 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.  120  for 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.  120   a  and  120   b  for the separate components of the split inner race). 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows, in exploded view, a split bearing cartridge assembly  100  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. A split bearing container  110 , made up of two parts  110   a ,  110   b , is provided as an enclosure for the other elements of the split bearing cartridge assembly  100 . The two parts of the split bearing container  110   a ,  110   b  can be secured to one another using fastening means such as bolts  114  located 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 container  110 . 
         [0023]    The split bearing container  110 , when assembled, substantially encapsulates the other split bearing elements of the assembly, which include a split inner race  120 , a split cage  130  (the bottom half of the split cage is not shown in  FIG. 2 ), a plurality of rolling elements  136 , and a split outer race  140 . 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a split inner race  120  may be affixed to a shaft  150  so that the split inner race  120  and the shaft  150  rotate together. In the illustrated embodiment, the split inner race  120  is affixed to the shaft  150  through the use of split clamp rings  122 ,  124 . The two components of the split clamp rings  122   a ,  124   a  may be fixed to their respective counterparts  122   b ,  124   b  ( FIG. 5 ) using capscrews (hidden lines  527  in  FIG. 5  show the path of the capscrews) or other fastening means of the like that allow for selective assembly and disassembly of the split clamps rings  122 ,  124 . The split inner race  120  is formed with recesses  126  for accommodating the split clamp rings  122 ,  124 . The recesses  126  are appropriately positioned within the split inner race  120  so that, when assembled, the split clamp rings  122 ,  124  also serve to substantially prevent axial movement of the split cage  130  and rolling elements  136  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) with respect to the split inner race  120 . 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIGS. 2, 6 and 7 , the split cage  130  and rolling elements  136  may be manufactured and assembled in accordance with methodology known in the art, such as described in US Patent  5 , 743 , 659  to the Applicant, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Once the split clamp rings  122 ,  124  have been installed, thus securing the split inner race  120  to the shaft  150 , the split cage  130  (including the rolling elements  136 ) may be assembled such that the rolling elements  136  engage with the central landing portion  128  of the split inner race  120 . The central landing portion  128  of the split inner race  120  provides one of the surfaces with which the rolling elements  136  engage when in operation. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 8 , a split outer race  140  may be positioned around the rolling elements  136  within the split bearing cartridge assembly  100 . A portion of the inside surface  144  of the split outer race  140  provides the second surface with which the rolling elements  136  engage when in operation. Accordingly, when in operation, the rolling elements  136  will roll between the central landing portion  128  of the split inner race  120  and a portion of the inside surface  144  of the split outer race  140 . The split bearing container  110  is provided with a channel  118  for accommodating the split outer race  140 . When assembled, the split outer race  140  sits in the channel  118  thus preventing axial movement of the split outer race  140  within the split bearing container  110 . 
         [0027]    The split outer race  140  shown in  FIG. 2  may be substituted for the split outer race  340  shown in  FIG. 3 . Whereas the geometry of the split outer race  140  in  FIG. 2  allows the shaft  150 , split inner race  120  and split cage  130  and rolling elements  136  to float, use of the split outer race  340  shown in  FIG. 3  will produce a fixed or held bearing. The bearing is considered to be fixed or held because the tabs  342  provided on the outer race  340  serve to restrict the axial movement of the rolling elements  136 , split cage  130 , split inner race  110  and clamp rings  122 , 124 . Typically, where thermal expansion of the shaft  150  in 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. 
         [0028]    With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , split seals  160 ,  162  serve to help contain lubricant within the split bearing container  110  as well as prevent foreign contaminants from entering the split bearing container  110  and ultimately reaching and damaging the split cage  130  and rolling elements  136 . Lubricant may be introduced into the split bearing cartridge assembly  100  via lubrication fitting  164 . The lubricant may be a lithium-based grease or any other suitable lubricant known to those skilled in the art. The split seals  160 ,  162  are rotary seals (e.g. triple labyrinth seals made predominantly of aluminum), and act to substantially seal the openings of the split bearing container  110  on either side of the rolling elements  136 . The split bearing container  110  may be provided with fingers  116  at each of its openings for engaging with the split seals  160 ,  162  to help maintain a seal where the split seals  160 ,  162  meet the split bearing container  110 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the split inner race  120  extends axially such that the split seals  160 ,  162  ride on an outer surface of the split inner race  120 . 
         [0029]    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 race  110  extends far enough axially to seal against undamaged portions of the shaft when the split inner race  110  is tightly clamped over the shaft. The outer surface of the extended portions of the split inner race  110  provide a clean smooth surface for the split seals  160 ,  162  to 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 seals  160 ,  162  in the split bearing cartridge assembly of the present disclosure will be sustained by the split inner race  110 , which is inexpensive to replace as compared to the shaft. 
         [0030]    A split housed bearing assembly  900  in accordance with the present disclosure will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . In  FIG. 9 , the split bearing cartridge assembly  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is supported by a split housing  970 . The split housing selected to illustrate the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  is commonly referred to as a split pillow block housing and includes a base portion  970   a  and a mating portion  970   b . The base portion  970   a  may be secured to stable surface, for example a structurally secure steel beam, through the use of bolts  974 . With the base portion  970   a  secured, the shaft  150 , which may be raised and suspended above its eventual resting position to facilitate assembly of the split bearing cartridge assembly  100 , may be lowered into its desired position with the split bearing cartridge assembly seated in the base portion  970   a  of the housing. The mating portion  970   b  may then be positioned atop the base portion  970   a  and secured to the base portion  970   a  using capscrews  978  or other suitable fastening means known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0031]    The outer surface  982  of the central portion of the split bearing cartridge assembly may be arcuate to mate with a similarly arcuate inside surface  986  of the base portion  970   a  and mating portion  970   b  of the split pillow block housing. The corresponding arcuate mating surfaces  982 , 986  permit some misalignment of the split bearing cartridge assembly  100  within the split housing  970 . A pin  190  may be inserted into the outside of the split bearing container  110  to restrict the degree to which the cartridge  100  may misalign within the split housing  970 . 
         [0032]    A split pillow block housing, such as the one shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  is 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 housing  1170  and will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 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. 
         [0033]    Split housed bearing assembly  1100  comprises the split bearing cartridge assembly  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  supported by a split flanged housing  1170 . The split flanged housing  1170  may be made up of a first portion  1170   a  and a mating portion  1170   b  that come together and support the split bearing cartridge assembly  100  in a similar fashion to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The first and mating portions  1170   a , 1170   b  may be secured together using capscrews  1178  or other suitable fastening means known in the art. In order to provide support for the shaft upon which the housed bearing assembly  1100  will be installed, the split flange  1170  may be secured to a stable surface by the use of bolts (not shown) through bolt holes  1172  provided in the split flange  1170 . Although there are four bolt holes  1172  in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 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. 
         [0034]    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. 
         [0035]    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.