GB2278160A

GB2278160A - A bearing for a swing

Info

Publication number: GB2278160A
Application number: GB9309190A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hefin Jones
Original assignee: G L JONES ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: G L JONES ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 1993-05-05
Filing date: 1993-05-05
Publication date: 1994-11-23
Also published as: GB9309190D0

Abstract

A bearing (10) which is securable to a cross bar (12) of a children's swing comprises an inner ring (14) formed in two parts (14a) and (14b), a split bush (28) mounted on the inner ring (14) and a split outer casing (30) which is rotatable on the bush and which is provided with means (32) for the attachment of chains. The inner ring may be secured on the cross bar by a pair of split nuts (24, 26) formed with tapered threads. Alternatively, the inner ring may be unitary and may be welded to the cross bar. <IMAGE>

Description

Bearinq The present invention relates to bearings and in particular to bearings for use with childrens swings.

Childrens swings usually comprise a frame work having a cross bar and a seat which is attached by chains to the cross bar by means of a shackle. A common practice is to push the swing over the cross bar so that the chain is wrapped around the cross bar rendering the swing unusable.

In order to overcome this problem the upper ends of the chains are attached to the cross bar by means of a bearing so that if the swing is pushed over the cross bar the bearing rotates and prevents the chain from becoming wrapped around the cross bar.

The present invention seeks to provide a bearing construction in which either at least the whole or part of the bearing can be dismantled without the need to dismantle the swing so that the bearing components can be removed from the cross bar.

Accordingly the present invention provides a bearing, in particular for a swing, comprising an inner ring which is securable to the cross bar, a bearing member and a bearing casing, both of which are split, the outer casing including attachment means for chains or the like.

The inner ring can be unitary and can be welded to a swing cross bar.

Alternatively the inner ring can be. split into two components which can be secured together and which can be attached to the swing cross bar by means of a pair of split nuts, which are formed with a tapered thread.

The bearing member can be a split bush and the two halves of the outer casing can be secured together by fixing means such as bolts.

The present invention will now be more particular described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a part sectioned side elevation of one form of bearing construction according to the present invention; and Figure 2 shows an end elevation to a smaller scale on the bearing construction shown in figure 1.

Referring to the drawings there is shown one of two bearings (10) secured to a cross bar (12) of the frame work (not shown) of a childrens swing (not shown).

The bearing (10) comprises an inner ring (14) which is formed in two parts (14a) and (14b) which are clamped together by securing means (not shown). The inner ring (14) has an outer circumferential surface (16) and an internal bore (18) which is formed with a parallel thread (20).

The inner ring (14) is manufactured by producing the two parts (14a) and (14b) separately, eg by casting, forging or machining from solid. It will be noted that the parts (14a) and (14b) are provided with a step (22).

The parts (14a) and (14b) are attached together for example by bolts and the outer circumferential surface (16) and the bore (18) are formed concentrically. The threaded lengths (20) and (22) are then machined. The parts (14a) and (14b) can then be separated ready for assembly on the cross bar (12).

The split inner ring is assembled on the cross bar (12) by initially placing the parts (14a) and (14b) around the cross bar and then securing the parts (14a) and (14b) together by for example, bolts. It will be appreciated that the inner ring (14) is now loose on the cross bar (12) and can slide along the cross bar but can not be removed from the cross bar.

In order to clamp the inner ring (14) to the cross bar a pair of split nuts (24, 26) which are each provided with tapered threads and a parallel bore are screwed into the threaded bore (18) of the split inner ring (14) and because the co-operating threads taper the split nuts (24, 26) will be forced into contact with the cross bar (12) thereby clamping the inner ring to the cross bar (12).

The contact between the split nuts (24, 26) is substantially evenly distributed, so that upon tightening, the inner ring is not distorted ensuring that there are no high points, and the bearing runs true and evenly in use.

A bearing member in the form of a split bush (28) is then mounted on the outer circumferential surface (16) of the inner ring (14) and the split bush (28) is secured in position by means of a split outer casing (30) which is formed in two parts (30A, 30B), the lower part being formed with a bush (32). The two parts of the outer casing (30) are secured together by fixing bolts (34) as shown in figure 2.

The split bush (28) is prevented from rotating by any suitable means. For example, one or both parts of the bush (28) can be secured to the inner ring (14) by an adhesive, or by a pin or pins engaging both the bush and the inner ring.

The upper ends of the chains of the swing can then be attached to the outer casing (30) by means of shackles which engage the bushes (32) in the two bearings which are attached to the swing cross bar.

It will be appreciated that if the swing is then pushed over the cross bar the outer casing (30) will rotate about the fixed inner ring (14) on the split bush (28).

It will also be appreciated that the bearing (10) has been assembled on the cross bar (12) without having to dismantle the cross bar (12) from the remainder of the frame work of the swing.

In an alternative construction when a new swing is manufactured the inner ring can be of a unitary construction having a bore so that the inner ring can slide upon the cross bar. The inner ring can then be welded to the cross bar so that it is permanently fixed in position.

However the remainder of the bearing construction in such an arrangement is similar to the construction shown in figures 1 and 2. That is the bearing will include a split bush and a split outer casing so that when the bush and/or the casing wear, the outer casing and the bush can be removed from the cross bar without having to dismantle the cross bar from the remainder of the swing frame work.

Claims

1. A bearing for example a swing comprising an inner ring which is securable to the cross bar of a swing, a bearing member and a bearing casing, both of which are split, the outer casing including attachment means for chains or the like.

2. A bearing as claimed in claim 1 in which the inner ring is unitary and is welded or otherwise secured to the cross bar.

3. A bearing as claimed in claim 1 in which the inner ring is split into two components which are securable together and which are attachable to the cross bar by means of a pair of split nuts which are.formed with a tapered thread.

4. A bearing as claimed in claim 1 in which the bearing member comprises a split bush.

5. A bearing as claimed in claim 1 in which the two halves of the outer casing are securable together by fixing means for example bolts.

6. A bearing in particular for a swing constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawing.