US 12,228,174 B2
Bearing assembly with a retainer
Dennis Roffe, Fort Mill, SC (US)
Assigned to Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed by Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed on Dec. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/064,545.
Prior Publication US 2024/0191756 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
Int. Cl. F16C 35/067 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 35/067 (2013.01) 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bearing assembly, comprising:
a housing having an annular interior portion;
a bearing disposed radially inboard of the annular interior portion and operable to move axially along the annular interior portion, comprising:
an inner ring;
an outer ring; and
a plurality of rolling elements disposed radially between the inner and outer rings;
a first retainer operable between an assembled condition, wherein the first retainer is coupled to the housing, the first retainer extends axially along the annular interior portion of the housing a first distance, and the first retainer limits axial displacement of the bearing along the annular interior portion of the housing, and a removed condition, wherein axial displacement of the bearing along the annular interior portion of the housing is uninhibited by the first retainer; and
a second retainer operable between an assembled condition, wherein the second retainer is coupled to the housing, the second retainer extends axially along the annular interior portion of the housing a second distance that is less than the first distance, and the second retainer limits axial displacement of the bearing along the annular interior portion of the housing when the first retainer is in the removed condition, and a removed condition, wherein axial displacement of the bearing along the annular interior portion of the housing is uninhibited by the second retainer.
 
8. A bearing assembly, comprising:
a housing having an annular interior portion that defines a first channel and an outer portion that extends radially outboard from the annular interior portion;
a bearing disposed radially inboard of the annular interior portion and operable to move axially along the annular interior portion, comprising:
an inner ring;
an outer ring; and
a plurality of rolling elements disposed radially between the inner and outer rings; and
a first retainer operable between an assembled condition, wherein a first portion of the first retainer extends along an outer portion of the housing, a second portion of the first retainer extends axially along the annular interior portion of the housing a first distance, and a third portion of the first retainer extends from the second portion into the first channel defined by the annular interior portion of the housing, such that the first retainer limits axial displacement of the bearing along the annular interior portion of the housing in a first direction to a first amount, and a removed condition, wherein axial displacement of the bearing along the annular interior portion of the housing in the first direction is uninhibited by the first retainer.
 
13. A retainer for limiting axial movement of a bearing within a housing of a bearing assembly, comprising:
a first portion that defines a receiver for receiving a fastener that is configured to fasten the first portion to the housing of the bearing assembly;
a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion and coupled to the first portion via a first corner, the second portion being configured to extend outward from the first corner in an axial direction along an annular interior portion of the housing of the bearing assembly; and
a tang that extends from the second portion distally from the first portion.