Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a roller bearing assembly.
Background of the invention
[0002] U.S. Patent Number 1966095 A describes a double tapered roller bearing, an inner race member having cylindrical surfaces at the opposite ends and at the center thereof, tapered race-ways between the cylindrical surfaces, spacer rings having cylindrical inner surfaces and tapered outer surfaces and apertures therein mounted on the cylindrical surfaces of the inner race member, rollers inserted in the apertures, pads on the lateral surfaces of the apertures so positioned as to lie along the axis of the rollers, outer race members having tapered inner surfaces mounted on the rollers, a rectangular cylindrical groove in the inner upper edge of each of the outer race members, and a resilient split ring mounted in the grooves to retain the outer race members spaced from each other and in contact with the rollers.
Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0003] Different modes of the invention are disclosed in detail in the
description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing:
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a roller bearing assembly in one embodiment of the
invention.
Detailed description of the embodiments
[0005] A roller bearing assembly 10 is described. The roller bearing assembly 10 comprises an inner race 12 comprising a plurality of tapered grooves defined on an outer circumference 14 of the inner race 12, the inner race 12 adapted to receive a rotatable shaft. A plurality of tapered rollers 16, each of the plurality of tapered rollers 16 positioned within each of the plurality of tapered grooves, each of the plurality of tapered rollers 16 adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

[0006] Figure 1 illustrates a roller bearing assembly 10 in one embodiment of the invention. The roller bearing assembly 10 comprises an inner race 12. The inner race 12 comprises a first side 22, a second side 26, and an outer circumference 14 defined between the first side 22 and the second side 26. A plurality of tapered grooves are defined around the outer circumference 14 of the inner race 12. Within each of the tapered grooves is defined a tapered roller 16 that is adapted to rotate about its axis when a tangential force is applied on the tapered roller 16. In an embodiment, the tapered rollers 16 may be removably coupled to the tapered grooves. In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the tapered rollers 16 may be rigidly coupled to the tapered grooves such that the tapered rollers 16 may not be removable from the tapered grooves. The inner race 12 may be secured to a shaft by inserting the bore of the inner race 12 onto the shaft in a press fit/interference fit arrangement.
[0007] The roller bearing assembly 10 comprises an outer race 20. The outer race 20 comprises a first portion 18 and a second portion 24. The first side 22 of the inner race 22 is secured within the first portion 18 of the outer race 20. In addition, the second side 26 of the inner race 22 is secured within the second portion 24 of the outer race 20. More specifically, the first side 22 of the inner race 12 is secured within a groove defined within the first portion 18 of the outer race 20 such that the inner race 12 is secured to the first portion 18 of the outer race 20. In addition, the second side 26 of the inner race 22 is secured within a groove defined within the second portion 24 of the outer race 20 such that the inner race 12 is secured to the second portion 24 of the outer race 20. The first portion 18 of the outer race 20 comprises at least one groove defined circumferentially around the periphery of the first portion 18. The second portion 24 of the outer race 20 comprises at least one notch defined circumferentially around the periphery of the second portion 24. The at least one groove defined circumferentially around the periphery of the first portion 18 of the outer race 20 is secured to the at least one notch defined circumferentially around the periphery of the second portion 24 of the outer race 20 to facilitate securing the first portion 18 of the outer race 20 to the second portion 24 of the outer race 20.

[0008] A dust seal 28 is inserted between the outer race 20 and the inner race 12 to prevent dust from entering from an external environment to the inner race 12. The dust seal 28 comprises an outer circumferential portion 29, an inner circumferential portion 31, and a solid body 33 defined between the outer circumferential portion 29 and the inner circumferential portion 31. The solid body 33 that is defined between the outer circumferential portion 29 and the inner circumferential portion 31 is inserted between the outer race 20 and the inner race 12, thereby preventing dust from entering between the outer race 20 and the inner race 12.
[0009] An assembly of the roller bearing assembly 10 is described as an example. The plurality of tapered rollers 16 are assembled on the outer circumference 14 by inserting each of the plurality of tapered rollers 16 within each of the plurality of grooves defined on the outer circumference (14). Each of the plurality of tapered rollers 16 are adapted to rotate about its own longitudinal axis. Therein, the first portion (18) of the outer race (20) is secured to the first side (22) of the inner race (12) by inserting the first side (22) of the inner race (12) within a groove defined in the first portion (18) of the outer race (18). The second portion (24) of the outer race (20) is secured to an opposite second side (26) of the inner race (12) by inserting the opposite second side (26) of the inner race (12) within a groove of the second portion (24) of the outer race (20). The notch defined circumferentially around the periphery of the first portion (18) of the outer race (20) is adapted to be inserted within the groove defined circumferentially around the periphery of the second portion (24 of the outer race 20 in a press fit. The dust seal (28) is inserted through a circumferential space defined between the inner race (12) and the outer race (20). The dust seal (28) is adapted to prevent dust from entering within the inner race (12).
[0010] The advantages of the present invention include assembling the roller bearing assembly (10) in a cost efficient manner. Moreover, the use of the dust seal (28) prevents dust from entering within the inner race (12). [0011] It must be understood that the embodiments explained in the above detailed description is only illustrative and does not limit the scope of this

invention. The scope of this invention is limited only by the scope of the claims. Many modification and changes in the embodiments aforementioned are envisaged and are within the scope of this invention.

Claims:We Claim:
1. A roller bearing assembly (10), said roller bearing assembly (10) comprising:
an inner race (12) comprising a plurality of tapered grooves defined on an outer circumference (14) of said inner race (12), said inner race (12) adapted to receive a rotatable shaft; and
a plurality of tapered rollers (16), each of said plurality of tapered rollers (16) positioned within each of said plurality of tapered grooves, each of said plurality of tapered rollers (16) adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

2. The roller bearing assembly (10) in accordance with Claim 1 further comprising a first portion (18) of an outer race (20) secured to a first side (22) of said inner race (12) by inserting the first side (22) of said inner race (12) within a groove defined in said first portion (18) of said outer race (20).

3. The roller bearing assembly (10) in accordance with Claim 2 further comprising a second portion (24) of the outer race (20) secured to an opposite second side (26) of said inner race (12) by inserting the opposite second side (26) of said inner race (12) within a groove of said second portion (24) of said outer race (20).

4. The roller bearing assembly (10) in accordance with Claim 3 wherein the first portion (18) of the outer race (20) comprises a circumferential notched portion, and the second portion (24) of the outer race (12) comprises a circumferential grooved portion, wherein said circumferential notched portion of the first portion (18) of the outer race (20) is adapted to be inserted within said circumferential grooved portion of the second portion (24) of the outer race (20) in a press fit.

5. The roller bearing assembly (10) in accordance with Claim 3 further comprising a dust seal (28) inserted through a circumferential space defined between the inner race (12) and the outer race (20), said dust seal (28) adapted to prevent dust from entering within said inner race (12).

6. A roller bearing assembly (10), said roller bearing assembly (10) comprising:
an inner race (12) comprising a plurality of grooves defined on an outer circumference (14) of said inner race (12), said inner race (12) adapted to receive a rotatable shaft therein;
a plurality of rollers (16), each of said plurality of rollers (16) positioned within each of said plurality of grooves, each of said plurality of rollers (16) adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis; and
an outer race (20) comprising a first portion (18) and a second portion (24), the first portion (18) of the outer race (20) secured to a first side (22) of said inner race (12) by inserting the first side (22) of said inner race (12) within a groove defined in said first portion (18) of said outer race (20) and the second portion (24) of the outer race (20) secured to a second side (26) of said inner race (12) by inserting the second side (26) of said inner race (12) within a groove defined in said second portion (24) of said outer race (20).

7. The roller bearing assembly (10) in accordance with Claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of rollers (16) is a tapered roller.
, Description:Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a roller bearing assembly.

Background of the invention
[0002] U.S. Patent Number 1966095 A describes a double tapered roller bearing, an inner race member having cylindrical surfaces at the opposite ends and at the center thereof, tapered race-ways between the cylindrical surfaces, spacer rings having cylindrical inner surfaces and tapered outer surfaces and apertures therein mounted on the cylindrical surfaces of the inner race member, rollers inserted in the apertures, pads on the lateral surfaces of the apertures so positioned as to lie along the axis of the rollers, outer race members having tapered inner surfaces mounted on the rollers, a rectangular cylindrical groove in the inner upper edge of each of the outer race members, and a resilient split ring mounted in the grooves to retain the outer race members spaced from each other and in contact with the rollers.

Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0003] Different modes of the invention are disclosed in detail in the description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing:
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a roller bearing assembly in one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0005] A roller bearing assembly 10 is described. The roller bearing assembly 10 comprises an inner race 12 comprising a plurality of tapered grooves defined on an outer circumference 14 of the inner race 12, the inner race 12 adapted to receive a rotatable shaft. A plurality of tapered rollers 16, each of the plurality of tapered rollers 16 positioned within each of the plurality of tapered grooves, each of the plurality of tapered rollers 16 adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
[0006] Figure 1 illustrates a roller bearing assembly 10 in one embodiment of the invention. The roller bearing assembly 10 comprises an inner race 12. The inner race 12 comprises a first side 22, a second side 26, and an outer circumference 14 defined between the first side 22 and the second side 26. A plurality of tapered grooves are defined around the outer circumference 14 of the inner race 12. Within each of the tapered grooves is defined a tapered roller 16 that is adapted to rotate about its axis when a tangential force is applied on the tapered roller 16. In an embodiment, the tapered rollers 16 may be removably coupled to the tapered grooves. In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the tapered rollers 16 may be rigidly coupled to the tapered grooves such that the tapered rollers 16 may not be removable from the tapered grooves. The inner race 12 may be secured to a shaft by inserting the bore of the inner race 12 onto the shaft in a press fit/interference fit arrangement.
[0007] The roller bearing assembly 10 comprises an outer race 20. The outer race 20 comprises a first portion 18 and a second portion 24. The first side 22 of the inner race 22 is secured within the first portion 18 of the outer race 20. In addition, the second side 26 of the inner race 22 is secured within the second portion 24 of the outer race 20. More specifically, the first side 22 of the inner race 12 is secured within a groove defined within the first portion 18 of the outer race 20 such that the inner race 12 is secured to the first portion 18 of the outer race 20. In addition, the second side 26 of the inner race 22 is secured within a groove defined within the second portion 24 of the outer race 20 such that the inner race 12 is secured to the second portion 24 of the outer race 20. The first portion 18 of the outer race 20 comprises at least one groove defined circumferentially around the periphery of the first portion 18. The second portion 24 of the outer race 20 comprises at least one notch defined circumferentially around the periphery of the second portion 24. The at least one groove defined circumferentially around the periphery of the first portion 18 of the outer race 20 is secured to the at least one notch defined circumferentially around the periphery of the second portion 24 of the outer race 20 to facilitate securing the first portion 18 of the outer race 20 to the second portion 24 of the outer race 20.
[0008] A dust seal 28 is inserted between the outer race 20 and the inner race 12 to prevent dust from entering from an external environment to the inner race 12. The dust seal 28 comprises an outer circumferential portion 29, an inner circumferential portion 31, and a solid body 33 defined between the outer circumferential portion 29 and the inner circumferential portion 31. The solid body 33 that is defined between the outer circumferential portion 29 and the inner circumferential portion 31 is inserted between the outer race 20 and the inner race 12, thereby preventing dust from entering between the outer race 20 and the inner race 12.
[0009] An assembly of the roller bearing assembly 10 is described as an example. The plurality of tapered rollers 16 are assembled on the outer circumference 14 by inserting each of the plurality of tapered rollers 16 within each of the plurality of grooves defined on the outer circumference (14). Each of the plurality of tapered rollers 16 are adapted to rotate about its own longitudinal axis. Therein, the first portion (18) of the outer race (20) is secured to the first side (22) of the inner race (12) by inserting the first side (22) of the inner race (12) within a groove defined in the first portion (18) of the outer race (18). The second portion (24) of the outer race (20) is secured to an opposite second side (26) of the inner race (12) by inserting the opposite second side (26) of the inner race (12) within a groove of the second portion (24) of the outer race (20). The notch defined circumferentially around the periphery of the first portion (18) of the outer race (20) is adapted to be inserted within the groove defined circumferentially around the periphery of the second portion (24 of the outer race 20 in a press fit. The dust seal (28) is inserted through a circumferential space defined between the inner race (12) and the outer race (20). The dust seal (28) is adapted to prevent dust from entering within the inner race (12).
[0010] The advantages of the present invention include assembling the roller bearing assembly (10) in a cost efficient manner. Moreover, the use of the dust seal (28) prevents dust from entering within the inner race (12).
[0011] It must be understood that the embodiments explained in the above detailed description is only illustrative and does not limit the scope of this invention. The scope of this invention is limited only by the scope of the claims. Many modification and changes in the embodiments aforementioned are envisaged and are within the scope of this invention.