Railway car bearing seal spacer assembly

Abstract

A bearing assembly is provided having a roller bearing with two cones defining an inner raceway fitted around the journal portion of an axle. A cup defines an outer raceway that combines with the inner raceway to receive roller elements. A spacer separates the cones, and a spacer support is provided to position and support the spacer.

1 . A roller bearing assembly comprising:
 a generally cylindrical cone having a generally cylindrical, outwardly directed raceway thereon,   a generally cylindrical cup having a generally cylindrical, inwardly directed raceway thereon,   a generally cylindrical spacer adjacent the cone,   the cone having a generally flat, axially inward face,   the cup having a radially inward facing cylindrical counterbore,   a generally cylindrical wear ring adjacent and axially inward from the generally flat, axially inward face of the cone,   the wear ring having a generally cylindrical outer surface,   a seal of generally cylindrical configuration,   the seal having a first end section, an intermediate section and a second end section,   the first end section received in the radially inward facing cylindrical counterbore of the cup,   a resilient sealing element affixed to the second end section of the sealing element, the resilient sealing element contacting the generally cylindrical outer surface of the wear ring,   and a spacer support of a generally cylindrical configuration having a radially inner edge adjacent the spacer and a radially outer edge adjacent the cup.   
     
     
         2 . The roller bearing assembly of  claim 1  wherein
 the spacer support is comprised of a plastic. 
 
     
     
         3 . The roller bearing assembly of  claim 1   wherein the spacer support is comprised of a high density polyethylene plastic.   
     
     
         4 . The roller bearing assembly of  claim 1   wherein the radially inner edge of the spacer support includes a plurality of raised sections that extend toward the spacer.   
     
     
         5 . The roller bearing assembly of  claim 1   wherein the cup includes a radially inward facing center section and the spacer includes a radially outward facing outer surface, and wherein the spacer support is between the radially inward facing center section of the cup and the radially outward facing surface of the spacer.   
     
     
         6 . The roller bearing assembly of  claim 5   wherein the radially inner edge of the spacer support engages the radially outward facing outer surface of the spacer and the radially outer edge of the spacer support engages the radially inward facing center section of the cup.   
     
     
         7 . A roller bearing assembly comprising:
 a generally cylindrical cone having a generally cylindrical, outwardly directed raceway thereon,   a generally cylindrical cup having a generally cylindrical, inwardly directed raceway thereon,   a generally cylindrical spacer adjacent the cone,   the cone having a generally flat, axially inward face,   the cup having a radially inward facing cylindrical counterbore,   a generally cylindrical wear ring adjacent and axially inward from the generally flat, axially inward face of the cone,   the wear ring having a generally cylindrical outer surface,   a seal of a generally cylindrical configuration,   the seal having a first end section, an intermediate section and a second end section, the first end section received in the inward facing cylindrical counterbore of the cup,   and a spacer support of a generally cylindrical configuration having a radially inner edge adjacent that spacer and a radially outer edge adjacent the cup.   
     
     
         8 . The roller bearing assembly of  claim 7  wherein,
 the spacer support is comprised of a plastic. 
 
     
     
         9 . The roller bearing assembly of  claim 7   wherein the spacer support is comprised of high density polyethylene plastic.   
     
     
         10 . The roller bearing assembly of  claim 7   wherein the radially inner edge of the spacer support includes four plurality of raised sections that extend toward the spacer.   
     
     
         11 . The roller bearing assembly of  claim 7   wherein the cup includes a radially inward facing center section and the spacer includes a radially outward facing outer surface, and wherein the spacer support is adjacent the radially inward facing center section of the cup and the radially outward facing surface of the spacer.   
     
     
         12 . The roller bearing assembly of  claim 11   wherein the radially inner edge of the spacer support engages the radially outward facing outer surface of the spacer and the radially outer edge of the spacer support engages the radially inward facing center section of the cup.