Mechanism for mounting and dismounting bearing

Abstract

A mechanism and method for locking a bearing to a shaft includes a split sleeve and a receptive flange adapted to be fixed to the bearing. A positioning flange is coupled to the split sleeve. A screw extends through the positioning flange and threadingly engages the receptive flange. Rotation of the screw in a first direction axially drives the sleeve into engagement with the bearing to collapse the split sleeve into engagement with the shaft.

1 . A mechanism for locking a bearing to a shaft, comprising:
 a split sleeve;   a receptive flange adapted to be axially fixed to the bearing;   a positioning flange coupled to said split sleeve; and   a screw extending through at least a portion of said positioning flange and said receptive flange, said screw threadingly engaging one of said positioning flange and said receptive flange, wherein rotation of said screw in a first direction axially drives said sleeve into engagement with the bearing to collapse the split sleeve into engagement with the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said screw is captured within a pocket formed in the other of said positioning flange and said receptive flange, wherein rotation of said screw in a second direction opposite said first direction disengages said sleeve from the bearing and the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The locking mechanism of  claim 2  wherein said pocket radially inwardly extends from an outer circumferential surface of the other of said positioning flange and said receptive flange. 
     
     
         4 . The locking mechanism of  claim 3  further including additional pockets formed in the other of said positioning flange and said receptive flange, said pockets being circumferentially spaced apart from one another, said additional pockets being in receipt of additional screws. 
     
     
         5 . The locking mechanism of  claim 3  wherein said positioning flange includes an end face including an aperture extending therethrough to allow a tool to pass through the aperture to drivingly engage the screw. 
     
     
         6 . The locking mechanism of  claim 2  wherein the receptive flange includes a recess in receipt of said positioning flange to substantially concentrically align the receptive flange and the positioning flange. 
     
     
         7 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the split sleeve includes an external thread terminating at a shoulder, said positioning flange being threadingly engaged with said split sleeve to engage said shoulder. 
     
     
         8 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said positioning flange and said split sleeve are axially translated substantially without rotation during rotation of said screw in said first direction. 
     
     
         9 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said split sleeve is adapted to be collapsed about the shaft and released from engagement with the shaft through access to said screw from one end of said split sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said receptive flange includes a ring groove in receipt of a retainer adapted to couple said receptive flange to said bearing. 
     
     
         11 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the split sleeve includes a portion having a tapered outer surface such that axial translation of the split sleeve relative to the bearing reduces an inner diameter of the split sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said split sleeve is constructed from a resilient material and defines a first inner diameter in a free state and defines a reduced inner diameter in an engaged state. 
     
     
         13 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1  further including a second screw threadingly engaged with the other of said positioning flange and said receptive flange, wherein rotation of said second screw causes said screw to apply a force to said receptive flange to disengage said split sleeve from said bearing. 
     
     
         14 . The locking mechanism of  claim 13  wherein rotation of said second screw in said first direction causes said split sleeve to axially translate in an opposite direction to a direction of split sleeve translation during rotation of said screw in said first direction. 
     
     
         15 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said screw includes an enlarged head drivingly engageable with an end face of the other of said positioning flange and said receptive flange. 
     
     
         16 . A mechanism for locking a bearing to a shaft, comprising:
 a split sleeve including a radially extending flange formed at one end, said flange including first and second bores, said second bore including an internal thread, said split sleeve having a tapered surface adapted to engage the bearing;   a first screw extending through said first bore and being adapted to threadingly engage the bearing, wherein rotation of said first screw axially drives said tapered surface into engagement with the bearing to collapse the split sleeve into engagement with the shaft; and   a second screw threadingly engaged with said internal thread of said second bore and adapted to engage said bearing, wherein rotation of said second screw axially drives said tapered surface out of engagement with the bearing to allow said split sleeve to be moved relative to the shaft.   
     
     
         17 . The locking mechanism of  claim 16  wherein said split sleeve includes a substantially cylindrically shaped outer surface positioned between said flange and said tapered surface. 
     
     
         18 . The locking mechanism of  claim 16  wherein said flange is discontinuous due to said split. 
     
     
         19 . The locking mechanism of  claim 16  wherein said split sleeve includes third and fourth bores in receipt of third and fourth screws. 
     
     
         20 . A method of locking a bearing to a shaft, the method comprising:
 coupling a positioning flange to a split sleeve;   coupling a receptive flange to the bearing;   threadingly engaging a screw with a threaded bore formed in one of the positioning flange and the receptive flange; and   rotating the screw in a first direction to move the positioning flange relative to the receptive flange and axially translate the split sleeve into engagement with the bearing to collapse the split sleeve into engagement with the shaft.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further including threadingly engaging another screw with the other of the positioning flange and the receptive flange and rotating the another screw to axially translate the split sleeve out of engagement with the bearing. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  further including positioning the screw within a pocket formed in the other of the positioning flange and the receptive flange and rotating the screw in a second direction opposite the first direction to axially translate the split sleeve out of engagement with the bearing. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein coupling the positioning flange to the split sleeve includes threadingly interconnecting the positioning flange and the split sleeve. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  wherein coupling the receptive flange to the bearing includes inserting a snap ring into a groove formed on the receptive flange. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20  further including driving a tapered surface of the split sleeve into contact with a tapered surface of the bearing to collapse the split sleeve.