GB2188683A - Bearing cap - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety and protective cap (30), for use with a flange bearing (10) having an axially extending generally cylindrical housing portion (16), comprises a cylindrical body (32) closed by an end wall (34) and having an opening (36) through which a radially extending grease nozzle (28) extends when installed on the bearing. The cap (32) is designed to be a close or friction fit on the bearing housing (16). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mounted bearing cap This application relates ta caps for bearings, especially for caps for mounted bearings, such as flange mounted bearings and other mounted bearings, and is primarily for the safety and protection of people where such bearings are used in congested areas, such as in airport conveyors for conveying luggage and other baggage from air-planes. Additionally, the caps substantially prevent the entrance of dirt, dust and debris into the bearing, thus increasing the useful life of the bearing and any lubricant used therein. Also, the caps protect the bearings from mechanical damage.

Reilly, patent no. 3,149,883, teaches a protective hub closure for an axle bearing which is a flexible member clamped by means of a strap on a hub. The purpose of the hub closure is to prevent the ingress of water into the bearing.

Kennedy, patent no. 2,379,529, teaches a rubber or rubber-like material cup adapted to be press-fit onto a grease fitting to prevent the entry of moisture and dirt to the grease fitting nozzle.

Okazaki et al, patent no. 4,167,294; Spisak, patent no. 4,183,587; and Muramatsu et al, patent no. 4,223,951, all show hub caps for wheels, each having clip means to connect the cap to the wheel.

Kaufman, patent no. 3,393,015, teaches a hub cap which is periodically submerged in water. The cap has a portion fitting within a cylindrical member and is sealed thereto by an O-ring. A grease fitting is fitted into the end wall of the cap.

According to this invention, a cup-like cap is assembled over a grease fitting extending radially from the generally cylindrical, axially extending portion of the body casting of an installed mounted bearing and is then pushed onto the axially extending portion of the housing, frictionally engaging that portion of the housing and covering the end of the bearing and the mounted rotating shaft extending therefrom. The cup-like cap has an inner diameter which is substantially the same as the external diameter of the mounted bearing housing to insure a friction fit therewith.

Usually the body casing of the bearing tapers slightly, making the initial engagement of the cap with the casting fairly easy. The cap is then driven home, as for example, with a rubber mallet. The caps are generally of metal and may be formed by a spinning operation or they can be deep drawn, or otherwise formed using known metal forming techniques.

In the event that the fit of the cap and the bearing housing it less than desired, one or more spring clips can be used to insure the frictional engagement of the cap and the housing.

The primary purpose of the caps of this invention is to protect people from the rotating inner race which extends beyond the bearing housing and also the rotating shaft suppoted by the bearing, the shaft also extending slightly beyond the end of the inner race.

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the cupliKe cap installed on a flange bearing; Figure 2 is a view of the first step of the installation of the cap on the flange bearing; Figure 3 is an exploded view showing the cap and the flange bearing with the shaft supported by the bearing being shown in broken lines; Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the optional clips for insuring the frictional fit of the cap and the bearing housing; and Figure 5 is an elevational view of an alternative cup-like cap for use in this invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing, there is illustrated a mounted bearing shown here for purposes of illustration and description as a flange bearing 10 having a housing 12 comprising extending flanges 14 and an axially extending, generally cylindrical part 16. The housing incorporates a bearing therein, the details of which are not shown, except for the axially extending inner race 18.

A shaft 20, shown in broken lines, is supported by the bearing and is connected to the inner race by a set screw or other shaft locking means (not shown). The housing is connected to a support by means of bolts 24.

The support may be the rails of a conveyor and the like, not shown. A grease fitting 26 is received in the bearing housing and its nozzle 28 extends radially therefrom.

The cap, identified with reference character 30, comprises a generally cylindrical part 32 having an inner diameter substantially equal to or just slightly larger than the largest outside diameter of the bearing body portion 16, an end wall 34 forming a closure for the portion 32, and an opening 36 in the portion 32 through which the grease fitting nozzle 28 extends when the cap is installed onto the flange bearing housing.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the cap 30 is placed such that the opening 36 is over the nozzle 28 and then is forced onto the portion of the flange bearing housing with a slight pivotal motion. Because of the slight taper of the portion 16, the cap slides onto the portion 16 and can be driven home by means such as a rubber mallet and the like.

In the event that the engagement of the cap and the flange bearing portion 16 is not as tight as desired (easily tested by attempting to remove the cap by hand), one or more spring clips 38, as illustrated in Fig. 4, can be used.

The clips have a slightly barbed edge 38A and when used are installed on the rim of the cap as indicated in Fig. 4, so that the barbed edge 38A digs into the housing casting. In that the corresponding parts of Fig. 4 are the same as the parts in Fig. 3, the same refer ence characters are used.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of the cap which is identified as 40. The cap 40 is cup like, having a rounded juncture of the cylindrical wall and the bottom. The cap 40 is provided with an opening 42 corresponding to the opening 36 in the cap 30. The cap 40 is installed in the same manner as the cap 30.

The appended claims are intended to cover all equivalents such as other types of munted bearings and are to interpreted as broadly as the prior art will permit.

Claims (5)

1. The combination of a mounted bearing and a safety and protective cap therefor, said bearing having a body housing comprising an axially extending generally cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion having a bearing grease fitting with a nozzle radially extending therefrom; said protective cap comprising a cylindrical body and an integral, end member forming a closure for said cylindrical body, said cap body having an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of said bearing cylindrical portion, and means defining as opening in said cylindrical body so positioned to receive said radially extending grease fitting nozzle when said cylindrical body is assembled with said bearing and the interior of said cylindrical body frictionally engages the extension of said bearing cylindrical portion.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said cap is constructed of a single piece of metal.

3. The combination as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one spring clip interposed between said bearing cylindrical portion and said cap to enhance the frictional engagement therebetween.

4. The combination of a mounted bearing and a one piece metal safety and protective cap therefor, said bearing having a body housing comprising a mounting portion and an axially extending generally cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion having a bearing grease fitting with a nozzle radially extending therefrom; said protective cap comprising an open-ended cup-like member having a generally cylindrical body with its inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of said bearing cylindrical portion, and means defining an opening in said cylindrical body so positioned to receive said radially extending grease fitting nozzle when said cap is assembled with said bearing and the interior of said cap frictionally engages the exterior of said bearing cylindrical portion.

5. The combination as recited in claim 4, further comprising at least one metallic clip means interposed between said bearing cylindrical portion and said cap to enhance the frictional engagement therebetween.