WO2000020769A1

WO2000020769A1 - Bearing housing with a plurality of bearings

Info

Publication number: WO2000020769A1
Application number: PCT/SE1999/001611
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Leksell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-09-23
Filing date: 1999-09-15
Publication date: 2000-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 2001-03-23
Also published as: SE511839C2; SE9803218D0; SE9803218L; AU6490999A

Abstract

A bearing housing (1; 101) comprising at least two bearings (7a, 7b) arranged successively in a coaxial manner, for example ball bearings or roller bearings, for supporting a shaft (8), which is rotatably arranged in the respective bearings (7a, 7b), said bearing housing (1, 101) being designed in such manner that a space (9a, 9b) forms between the bearings (7a, 7b) and the bearing housing. At least one clamping means (10), for example one or more shims (10), is adapted to bridge the space (9a, 109a) between at least one optional bearing (7a) and the bearing housing (1), for optional activation of the bearing at issue (7a).

Description

BEARING HOU5ING WITH A PLURALITY OF BEARINGS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bearing housing which comprises at least two bearings arranged successively in a coaxial fashion, such as ball bearings or roller bearings, for supporting a shaft which is rotatably arranged m the respective bearings.

Background Art

When a bearing, for instance a sliding bearing or rolling bearing, which is mounted on a shaft is to be changed when being worn out or damaged, the shaft must normally be released from the shaft mounting so that the worn-out bearing can be removed. Then a new bearing can be mounted and the shaft be fixed again. If the shaft cooperates with other parts m an installation, it may be necessary to disconnect these parts or, if it comes to the worst, dismount them to be able to release the shaft.

This is a complicated and time-consuming process which causes interruption or shut-down. For instance, if the shaft is a part m a production process, a damaged shaft may cause expensive loss of production.

Summary of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a device which renders it possible to quickly change a bearing so as to minimise the operational disturbance.

This ob ect is achieved by a bearing housing of the above-mentioned type, the bearing housing being designed m such manner that a space forms between the bearings and the bearing housing, and that at least one clamping means is adapted to bridge the space between at least one optional bearing and the bearing housing, for optional activation of the bearing at issue. One or more optional bearings can be fixed m the bearing housing with the aid of the clamping means and thus be activated. This means that merely these bearings are used to support the shaft, while the other bearings are allowed to be unloaded.

The invention can be used to activate only one of a plurality of bearings which are arranged m the bearing housing. When required, for instance when the activated bearing has been worn out or damaged, the clamping means can instead be arranged to fill the space between another bearing and the bearing housing, thereby activating this bearing. The worn-out bearing is then completely disengaged from the bearing housing.

Alternatively, a plurality of bearings can be clamp- ed by the clamping means and activated. If one of the bearings is damaged or worn out, the clamping means can be arranged to disengage this bearing from the bearing housing. After that the intact bearing supports the shaft

The clamping means is suitably adapted so as to make it easy to activate and deactivate different bearings. This means that a change of bearing does not significantly interfere with the process m which the shaft is included. The damaged or worn-out bearing can then be replaced by a new bearing on a suitable occasion, preferably m connection with the next planned overhaul of the installation. In this way a better utilisation of machinery and processes is achieved, and shut-downs m addition to the planned ones can be minimised.

The bearing housing may consist of a bearing housing, which has a first part and a second part, which are adapted to clamp between them said bearings, the space being formed of a clearance between the outer bearing ring of the bearing and the bearing housing.

The clamping means bridges the space between the bearing housing and the outer bearing races of one or more bearings, said bearing races thus being fixed so that the bearings are activated.

The clamping means may consist of, for example, one or more spacers, preferably one or more shims. One or more spacers can be arranged m the space between an optional bearing and the bearing housing so that this bearing is held clamped and consequently supports the shaft. Another bearing, with which no spacer has been arranged, is not engaged with the bearing hous- mg and thus is unloaded.

When required, for instance when the used bearing has been worn out or damaged, one part of the bearing housing can be removed and the shaft be slightly displaced to allow removal of the spacers. Subsequently one or more spacers are arranged adjacent to the other, so far unloaded bearing, and the parts of the bearing housing are reassembled. The other bearing is then clamped and activated whereas the damaged or worn-out bearing is now disengaged from the bearing housing and thus is unloaded and does not support the shaft.

A change of which bearing or bearings are activated thus requires but a slight displacement of the shaft which therefore need not be disconnected from the rest of the installation. This means that the change will be very quick, and the interruption thus affects, for example, a manufacturing process to a very small extent.

The first part of the bearing housing can be mount - able m two positions and be designed so that, m each position, it is engaged with one of the bearings and dis- engaged from another bearing.

With such a function, clamping means need only be arranged between the activated bearing and the second part of the bearing housing. The change is effected as described above, except that the first part of the bear- ing housing is turned half a revolution before being mounted once more, so that after being mounted once more, it is engaged with the bearing unloaded so far. Seals can be arranged between the bearings to prevent chips from an activated bearing from damaging a neighbouring bearing.

The bearings can be spherical, m which case a sup- porting element can be arranged to fix the free bearing ring of an unloaded bearing.

According to a different aspect of the invention, the bearings are designed m such manner that a space forms between the bearings and the shaft, and that at least one clamping means is adapted to bridge the space between at least one optional bearing and the shaft, for optional activation of the bearing at issue.

The bearing housing can then be a bearing housing having a first part and a second part, which are adapt - ed to clamp between them said bearings, the space being formed of a clearance between the inner bearing ring of the bearing and the shaft .

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described m more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which for the purpose of exemplification illustrate currently preferred embodiments of the invention and m which

Fig. 1 is a cross-section of a bearing housing according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a cross-section along line II-II m Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a bearing housing according to a second embodiment of the invention, Fig. 4 is a cross-section along line IV-IV m Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of a bearing housing according to a third embodiment of the invention.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment

The bearing housing shown m Figs 1-2 consists of a bearing housing having a first part, m the shown exam- pie a cap 2, and a second part, m the shown example a base 3. These parts 2, 3 are fixedly secured to each other with the aid of fixing means 4, such as bolts 5, screws or clamps. In the space 6 forming between the cap 2 and the base 3, two bearings 7a, 7b, for example ball bearings, are arranged. The bearings 7a, 7b are arranged successively m a coaxial fashion, and a shaft 8 is rotatably arranged m the respective bearings 7a, 7b. The cap 2 is designed to extend further down above the one bearing 7a and is made to engage the outer bearing ring 12 of the bearing 7a. The base 3 is designed so that a space 9a, 9b, forms under each bearing 7a, 7b. A spacer, such as a shim 10, is arranged m the space 9a between the bearing 7a and the base 3. When the cap 2 and the base 3 are clamped against one another by means of the bolts 5, the outer bearing ring 12 of the bearing 7a is thus fixed between the cap 2 and the shim 10 whereas the bearing 7b has no contact at all with the bearing housing 1.

On both sides of each bearing 7a, 7b, seals, such as sealing rings of packings 11, are arranged, which are adapted to protect a bearing from chips from another, damaged bearing. Since only one bearing 7a is fixed between the cap 2 and the base 3 of the bearing housing 1, it is only this bearing 7a which is activated and supports the shaft 8 when rotating. The bearing 7b can be rotated by the shaft 8, but does not support the shaft 8 since it has no con- tact at all with the bearing housing 1.

In case of damage or when the bearing 7a is worn out and need be replaced, the cap 2 is released from the base 3. The shim 10 is removed from its position under the bearing 7a, normally by being turned half a revolution m the direction of rotation of the bearing 7a until it is located on top of the bearing 7a and can be removed. Subsequently the shim 10, or another shim if the old one has been worn out or damaged, is placed under the bearing 7b. The shaft 8 need only be raised about a tenth of a millimetre to enable such displacement of the shim 10. Finally the cap 2 of the bearing housing 1 is fixed once more after being turned half a revolution.

In this position the cap 2 extends further down towards the bearing 7b and fixes the outer bearing ring 12 of this bearing to the shim 10. Now the bearing 7a is disengaged from both the cap 2 and the base 3 of the bearing housing 1.

A different embodiment is illustrated m Figs 3-4 m which the parts identical with those m Figs 1-2 have the same reference numerals as m Figs 1-2. In contrast to the bearing housing 1 m Figs 1-2, the bearing housing 101 m Figs 3-4 has a cap 102 which is designed m the same way above both bearings 7a, 7b. For a bearing 7a to be fixed between the cap 102 and the base 3, spacers, such as shims 10, are placed m the spaces 9a, 109a both below and above the bearing 7a. When the cap 102 and the base 3 are screwed together by means of the bolts 5, the outer bearing ring 12 of the bearing 7a is clamped between the shims 10 and thus supports the shaft 8 when rotating. The bearing 7b is completely disengaged from the bearing housing 101. When the bearing 7a is to be changed, the cap 102 of the bearing housing 101 is removed, whereupon the shaft 8 is raised a distance so as to allow removal of the shims 10. Subsequently, shims 10 are arranged adjacent to the other bearing 7b, and the cap 102 is finally screwed on again. In this case the cap 102 thus need not be turned half a revolution since it is identically formed above both bearings 7a, 7b.

It will be appreciated that a large number of alternative embodiments are feasible within the scope of the inventive concept defined m the claims, which intends to activate at least one optional bearing m a bearing housing having a plurality of bearings. It goes without saying that it is not necessary for the space 9a, 9b, 109a to be filled along the entire circumference of the bearing. The space need only be filled so that the outer bearing race 12 of the bearing 7a, 7b is fixed and thus activated. It may be sufficient to provide engagement between the bearing housing 1, 101 and the bearing 7a, 7b m a number of positions.

It is also possible to utilise more than two bearings 7a, 7b. Then a plurality of changes of bearing could be carried out successively until all bearings m the bearing housing have been worn out or damaged. One possibility is that bearings are activated and deactivated, for example, m pairs or three at a time.

Instead of spacers, other forms of clamping means could be employed. For example, contact faces round the bearings can be arranged to be movable radially towards the bearings, or the bearing rings of the bearings can be fixable by clamping action m the axial direction. The contact faces or the means providing clamping action could also be operated from the outside of the bearing housing by means of straining screws or some other control means. In this way, it would not be necessary to open the bearing housing to accomplish activation and deactivation of bearings. According to a third embodiment which is shown m Fig. 5, the bearings are fixedly arranged between the first part 202 and the second part 203 of the bearing housing 201. Instead a distance forms between the shaft 8 and the inner bearing ring 13 of the bearing 7a. A bearing is then activated by this distance 14 being bridged, for instance by wedging m a spacer (not shown) or by fixing the inner bearing ring 13 of the bearing m some other manner.

Claims

1. A bearing housing (1; 101) comprising at least two bearings (7a, 7b) arranged successively m a coaxial manner, such as ball bearings or roller bearings, for supporting a shaft (8) , which is rotatably arranged m the respective bearings (7a, 7b) , c h a r a c t e r i s e d m that the bearing housing (1, 101) is designed m such manner that a space (9a, 9b, 109a) forms between the bearings (7a, 7b) and the bearing housing, and that at least one clamping means (10) is adapted to bridge the space (9a, 109a) between at least one optional bearing (7a) and the bearing housing (1), for optional activation of the bearing at issue (7a) .

2. A bearing housing as claimed m claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d m that the clamping means consists of one or more spacers (10) .

3. A bearing housing as claimed m claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d m that the clamping means consists of one or more shims (10) .

4. A bearing housing as claimed m any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d m that the bearing housing is a bearing housing (1, 101) which has a first part (2; 102) and a second part (3) , which are adapted to clamp between them said bearings (7a, 7b) , the space (9a, 9b) being formed of a clearance between the outer bearing ring (12) of the bearing (7a) and the bearing housing (1, 101) .

5. A bearing housing as claimed m claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d m that the first part (2; 102) is attachable to the second part (3) in two positions and is designed so that, m each position, it is engaged with one of the bearings (7a) and disengaged from another bearing (7b) .

6. A bearing housing as claimed m any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d m that a seal (11) is arranged between the bearings (7a, 7b) to prevent chips from one bearing (7a) from damaging the other bearing (7b) .

7. A bearing housing as claimed in claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the seal (11) is a packing, such as a packing ring.

8. A bearing housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the bearings (7a, 7b) are spherical.

9. A bearing housing as claimed in claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that a support element is arranged to fix the free bearing ring of the unloaded bearing.

10. A bearing housing (1; 101) comprising at least two bearings (7a, 7b) arranged successively in a coaxial manner, such as ball bearings or roller bearings, for supporting a shaft (8) which is rotatably arranged in the respective bearings (7a, 7b) , c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the bearings (7a, 7b) are designed in such manner that a space (14) forms between the bearings (7a, 7b) and the shaft (8) , and that at least one clamping means is adapted to bridge the space (14) between at least one optional bearing (7a) and the shaft (8), for optional activation of the bearing at issue (7a) .

11. A bearing housing as claimed in claim 10, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the bearing housing is a bearing housing (201) having a first part (202) and a second part (203), which are adapted to clamp between them said bearings (7a, 7b) , the space (14) being formed of a clearance between the inner bearing ring (13) of the bearing (7a) and the shaft (8) .