Importance

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Abstract

A bearing system for mounting a rotating shaft includes a bearing assembly and a bearing mounting structure. The bearing assembly has an inner race which contacts the rotating shaft, an outer race, and bearing elements positioned therebetween. The outer race has an exterior surface with an outer dimension. The bearing mounting structure has a region for affixing it to an external structure in which the bearing system is to function. An internal surface of the bearing mounting structure defines a bearing cavity in which the bearing assembly is to be disposed. The internal surface engages the exterior surface of the outer race. The retention force exerted by the internal surface on the outer surface is determined by the design of the inner surface of the bearing mounting structure that defines the bearing cavity. The internal surface has cut-outs, or scallops, extending axially (with respect to the shaft) along the internal surface. Furthermore, the internal surface is slightly pre-angled inwardly toward the shaft prior to the installation of the bearing assembly. As the installation of the bearing assembly occurs, the internal surface flexes outwardly as the spring action due to the pre-angle provides the requisite retention force. The amount of retention force for a given material with a known thickness depends on the geometry of the cut-outs on the internal surface and the pre-angle. Because the retention force associated with the spring action is a function of known variables, a bearing mounting structure can be designed for a specific retention force by selecting the variables to produce the retention force.

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First Claim