CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and entitled to priority based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/965, 189 filed 27-JAN-2014 and the disclosure materials therein including drawings and disclosure which bears the title Fixing Structure Of Bearing Seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a bearing seat, and more particularly to a sealed fixing structure of a bearing seat. 2. Description Of The Prior Art

[0002] The prior art includes a great variety of bearings, bearing assemblies and sealing assemblies. Many of these bearings, bearing assemblies and sealing assemblies are often specific to a particular application or device. Some of the prior art bearing and bearing assemblies are directly related to agricultural machinery and the repair maintenance and sealing of bearings in demanding off road in the field applications for tractors and agricultural machines.

[0003] One example of such a contamination resistant bearing assembly is the demanding agricultural environment is WO 201 1005987. WO 2011 005987 describes a self-aligning maintenance free bearing that are used in agricultural applications that accommodates deflections with a rugged sealing structure with inboard and outboard seals in a two component housing. The two component housing is not permanently joined together and the two component housing does not provide a single spring-like sealing structure that bridges the interfaces between bearing and housing.

[0004] Gutowski, et al. U.S. Patent 7,258,491 similar to WO 201 1 005987 provides a bearing seal for operation in agricultural equipment involving wet and muddy soil conditions encountered in the field. The seal and bearing of U.S. Patent 7,258,491 has a seal with a steal shroud disposed between the seal and the bearing housing. Gutowski, et al. U.S. Patent 7,258,491 also does not provide a single resilient spring like bridging connection between the bearing and the bearing housing that terminates in a fine hair thin lip that extends outwardly to engage tapering housing with a thin lip that extends outwardly in opposite directions on both ends of the bearing.

[0005] A commonly used conventional bearing seat by Deere & Company illustrated in prior art Fig. 1 has two seat bodies C and D that are not permanently attached to each other and have a gasket B between the two seat bodies and a bearing E clamped between the two seat bodies. The two seat bodies each have a plurality of connecting holes for bolts G thereon. When assembled, the bearing is first placed on one seat body, and then the gasket and other seat body are mated with one side of the seat body having the bearing and each seat body and gasket are adjusted for the connecting holes to align with each other as well as with structural elements on the agricultural machine. After that, a plurality of bolts each are inserted in one set of the corresponding connecting holes of each seat body and gasket and locked to the apparatus equipped with the bearing seat to complete the assembly as illustrated in Fig. 1, a drawing from a prior art John Deere parts catalogue.

[0006] However, the aforesaid bearing seat bodies and gasket do not have any fixing design itself, namely, the seat bodies, gasket and the baring of the conventional bearing seat are separate parts when they are completed in production and sent to the next user. The next user must assemble the parts by himself/herself which generally occurs in the field at the location of the machine. This is not convenient for the user to assemble the parts, and sometimes the size of the bearing is not suited for the seat bodies. For example, when the size of the bearing is smaller than the seat bodies, which causes a gap between the bearing and the seat bodies which results in noise and improper wear when running. When the size of the bearing is larger than the seat bodies, they are in some cases unable to be assembled and in other cases result in excessive wear. Accordingly, the inventors of the present invention have devoted themselves to solve these problems based on their many years of practical experiences in the construction, assembly and sealing of bearings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a fixing and sealing structure for a bearing seat. Through an advance assembly when completed in production, the bearing seat is convenient for the user to install and use and can ensure the quality of assembly. It is effective to prevent the occurrence that the sizes of the parts are unsuited during assembly process.

[0008] In order to achieve the aforesaid object, the fixing structure of the bearing seat of the present invention comprises a first seat body and a second seat body to mate with each other. A bearing is disposed and clamped between the first seat body and the second seat body and as a consequence of its novel arrangement allows for the elimination of the gasket between the first seat body and the second seat body. Wherein, the first seat body has a first flange around an outer circumferential edge thereof. The first flange has a plurality of spaced first positioning holes thereon. The second seat body has a second flange around an outer circumferential edge thereof. The second flange has second positioning holes thereon corresponding to the first positioning holes. The fixing structure further comprises a plurality of positioning members each inserted in one set of the first positioning holes and the second positioning holes, so that the first seat body and the second seat body are fixed to mate with each other.

[0009] The fixing structure of the bearing seat of the present invention uses the positioning members to insert in each set of the first positioning holes and the second positioning holes when completed in production, so that the first seat body and the second seat body are fixed to mate with each other without a gasket. This completes an advance assembly for the fixing structure of the bearing seat to form an integral structure in which sealing and lubrication as well as the grease fitting are moved from the flange to the hub assembly directly over the bearing. The hub and encased bearing assembly are isolated from the flanges which are joined together as an integral structure which is replaced in the field as a single component. This is convenient for the next user to install the bearing seat and ensures the quality of assembly. It is effective to prevent the occurrence that the sizes of the parts are unsuited during assembly process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a prior art bearing A with a gasket B, seat bodies C, D, bearing E, grease fitting F disposed on the flange D and bolts G for assembling the prior art bearing in the field to a component of an agricultural machine;

[0011] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention;

[0012] Fig. 2A is an enlarged portion of Fig. 2; and

[0013] Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

AND BEST MODE

[0014] As known by those skilled in the art assembling a bearing in the field requires considerable time and assembling the bearing seats C, D, gasket B and bearing E with bolts G in an agricultural machine. The replacement of these parts requires the proper size bearings in an environment with dust, dirt, ice, snow and sometimes mud that in addition to possible improper bearing type reduces the quality and operational life of the machine.

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention and advantages will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention and Fig. 2A is an enlarged portion of Fig. 2 illustrating the bridging of cylindrical wall of the bearing to the bearing seat by the elastomeric seal. Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the present invention. The present invention discloses a fixing structure 100 of a bearing seat. The sealing and fixing structure 100 of the bearing seat comprises a first hub or seat body 10, a second hub or seat body 20, a bearing 30 with an inner cylindrical wall 32 and a plurality of positioning members 40.

[0017] Referring now to Fig. 2, 2A and 3 the first seat body 10 has a flange 13 and a first annular wall 1 1, a first elastomeric seal or accommodation trough 12 surrounded by and bridging the first annular wall 1 1 and bearing inner cylindrical wall 32. The annular wall 1 1 terminates in a first flange 13 around an outer circumferential edge of the first annular wall 1 1. The first flange 13 has a plurality of spaced first connecting holes 14 and a plurality of spaced first positioning holes 15 thereon. In this embodiment, the first seat body 10 has a disk shape. The first positioning holes 15 are taper holes and include rivets or positioning members 40 for permanently attaching and sealing the first seat body to the second seat body without needing an intermediate gasket.

[0018] The second seat body 20 is permanently coupled to the first seat body 10. The second seat body 20 similarly has a flange 23 and second annular wall 21, a second elastomeric seal or accommodation trough 22 surrounded by and bridging the second annular wall 21 and bearing inner cylindrical wall 32 and a second flange 23 around an outer circumferential edge of the second annular wall 21. The second accommodation trough 22 corresponds to the first accommodation trough 12. The second flange 23 has a plurality of spaced second connecting holes corresponding to the first connecting holes 14 and a plurality of spaced second positioning holes 25 corresponding to the first positioning holes 15. In this embodiment, the second seat body 20 has a disk shape. The second positioning holes 25 are tapered holes which include the previously described rivets or positioning members 40 that permanently attach and seal the first seat body to the second seat body and encase the bearing.

[0019] The bearing 30 is disposed between the first accommodation trough 12 and the second accommodation trough 22 and is sealed at both ends from dirt and debris by the elastomeric seals or trough 12 and 22. Trough 12 and 22 are identical in construction and bridge and seal both ends of the bearing inner cylindrical wall 32 to seat body 10 and seat body 20 respectively. The V shape 17 of the single piece elastomeric trough 12 and 20 provide a tight spring like fit of the trough to bridge and seal the outside 18 of the cylindrical wall 32 to each of the tapered inner walls 19 of the seat body 10 and 20. Each single piece elastomeric trough 12 and 22 terminates in a fine hair like tapered lip 21 that virtually seamlessly covers and extends around the circumference around the inner tapered walls 19 of each seat body 10 and 20. The fine hair like lip 21 extends outwardly on both ends of each seat body 10 and 20 in an axially opposite direction to prevent dust, mud or dirt from entering the seal. Due to the novel troughs and the sealing and fixing structure 100 which seals flange 13 and 23 together a grease fitting 27 is placed on one of the seat bodies 10 and 20 to provide grease directly on to the bearing instead of between a gasket and a flange in the prior art.

[0020] The positioning members 40 are each inserted in one set of the first positioning holes 15 and the second positioning holes 25, so that the first seat body 10 and the second seat body 20 are fixed to mate with each other. Wherein, the positioning members 40 may be selected from a rivet or a bolt. Preferably, in this embodiment, the positioning members 40 are rivets for convenient manufacture. It is noted that the first positioning holes 1 and the second positioning holes 25 are taper holes to provide a guide effect for the positioning members 40 to be inserted in the first positioning holes 15 and the second positioning holes 25 conveniently.

[0021] For further understanding the structural features and technical means and expected effects of the present invention, the use of the present invention is described hereinafter.

[0022] Referring to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 the fixing structure 100 of the bearing seat of the present invention uses the positioning members 40 to insert in each set of the first positioning holes 1 and the second positioning holes 25 when completed in production, so that the first seat body 10 and the second seat body 20 are fixed to mate with each other permanently and without a gasket. This completes an advance assembly for the fixing structure 100 of the bearing seat to form an integral structure. For installation work, the next user just inserts the bolts into each set of the first connecting holes 14 and the second connecting holes and further lock to an apparatus equipped with the bearing seat so as to complete assembly work in the field without contamination or mismatching of bearings and bearing seats. There is no need to align the first seat body 10 with the second seat body 20 during the process of installing the fixing structure 100 of the bearing seat even to assemble and fix the parts of the fixing structure of the bearing seat. Accordingly, it is convenient to install and use the fixing structure of the bearing seat for the user, and the working time is shortened effectively.

[0023] Besides, through an advance fixing assembly for the fixing structure of the bearing seat to form an integral structure when completed in production, it is effective to prevent the occurrence that the sizes of the parts are unsuited when assembled at the scene so as to ensure the quality control of the assembly. Thus, the fixing structure 100 of the bearing seat can keep a good running state.

[0024] The features and advantages of the present invention are described as follows: [0025] 1. The fixing structure of the bearing seat of the present invention uses the positioning members to insert in each set of the first positioning holes and the second positioning holes when completed in production, so that the first seat body and the second seat body are fixed to mate with each other permanently without a gasket. This completes an advance assembly for the fixing structure of the bearing seat to form an integral structure with troughs or elastomeric seals closing the bearing from dirt and debris. This is convenient for the next user to install the bearing seat and ensures the quality of assembly. It is effective to prevent the occurrence that the sizes of the parts are unsuited during assembly process.

[0026] 2. Through an advance fixing assembly for the fixing structure of the bearing seat to form an integral structure when completed in production, it is effective to prevent the occurrence that the sizes of the parts are unsuited when assembled at the scene so as to ensure the quality of assembly. Thus, the fixing structure of the bearing seat can keep a good running state.

[0027] Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.