The present disclosure relates to bearing press fitting apparatuses. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a tool for fitting and ascertaining the presence of a bearing in an intermediate shaft of a sub gearbox assembly.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
Currently, all modern tractors power attached implements or machines using power takeoff (PTO) which is primarily a rotating shaft, located usually at the back of a tractor. Typically, an intermediate shaft is used for providing power to the PTO shaft from the engine. The intermediate shaft is usually provided with a needle roller bearing for allowing smooth rotation and transmission of power. Needle roller bearings are used since they have high load capacity than single-row roller bearings or other roller bearings of comparable outer diameter. Needle roller bearings also have ability to handle a larger and more rigid shaft for a given application. If the needle roller bearing is missing from the intermediate shaft, the shaft will experience tremendous rotational friction and stress, which would result in breakage of the intermediate shaft and generation of heat.
To avoid this, it is important that the needle roller bearing is fitted properly in the intermediate shaft and is not missed or misaligned. Typically, a bearing pressing machine is used for pressing the needle roller bearing in the intermediate shaft. The pressing machine comprises a tool having a fixture. Conventionally, to assemble various bearings into the intermediate shaft, an operator places a first bearing (ball bearing) on the fixture of the tool. The operator then places a second bearing (ball bearing) on the first bearing and inserts the intermediate shaft through the first and second bearings. After that, the operator operates the bearing pressing machine to press the first and second bearings. The operator then puts the needle roller bearing in the shaft and presses it using the pressing machine. In this

process, there is always a possibility that the operator places needle roller bearing in an improper manner or entirely forgets to put needle roller bearing in the shaft. This can cause the bearing to get stuck inside the shaft and result in breakage of the bearing and/or the shaft, which is not desired.
There is, therefore, felt a need to provide a tool that eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a tool for fitting and ascertaining the presence of a bearing in an intermediate shaft.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a tool that facilitates proper alignment of the bearing in the intermediate shaft.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a tool that reduces the possibility of human error during press-fitting of the bearing into the intermediate shaft.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a tool that eliminates the probability of failure of bearing and/or shaft during operation.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a tool for fitting and ascertaining the presence of a bearing in an intermediate shaft that is simple in set-up and relatively inexpensive to install
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a tool for fitting and ascertaining the presence of a bearing in an intermediate shaft that is safe to use.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a tool having a dual function of fitting a bearing in an intermediate shaft and simultaneously detecting presence and alignment of the bearing during the fitting process.
In an embodiment, the intermediate shaft is connected to a base of a hydraulic press. For performing the first function of fitting the bearing in the intermediate shaft, the tool comprises a guide, an intermediate member, and a head. The guide includes at least two cylindrical members defining a space there between and is configured with a hole on its operative top surface. The intermediate member is attached to the guide. The intermediate member includes a bearing mounting member extending into the guide through the hole for facilitating fixing of the bearing. The head is attached to a top surface of the intermediate member. The guide is configured to accommodate the intermediate shaft within the defined space. The head is pressed using the hydraulic press for fitting the bearing fixed around the bearing mounting member in the intermediate shaft. For performing the second function of detecting presence and alignment of the bearing, the tool comprises a first conducting element, a second conducting, a battery, and an indicator. The first conducting element is fixed on the head. The second conducting element is fixed on a bottom surface of the intermediate member. The battery is connected to the first conducting element through a wiring harness. The indicator is connected between the battery and the second conducting element. Upon closing of the bearing detection circuit, the indicator glows to ascertain the presence and proper alignment of the bearing in the intermediate shaft. The intermediate member and the hydraulic press are made of metals.

The bearing detection circuit closes when a ram of the hydraulic press comes in contact with the first conducting element and the bearing mounting member makes contact with the intermediate shaft through the bearing. Upon closing of the bearing detection circuit, the battery causes a current to flow from its positive terminal to its negative terminal, through the indicator, the second conducting element, the bearing mounting member, the bearing, the intermediate shaft, the fixture, the base, the ram, and the first conducting element. The bearing detection circuit remains open when the bearing is missing from the intermediate shaft due to the presence of a gap between the bearing mounting member and the intermediate shaft.
In an embodiment, the bearing is a roller bearing selected from a group consisting of a needle roller bearing, a cylindrical roller bearing, a spherical roller bearing, a cam follower roller bearing, and a taper roller bearing. In another embodiment, the bearing is a ball bearing selected from a group consisting of a deep-groove ball bearing, an angular-contact ball bearing, a self-aligning ball bearing, and a thrust ball bearing.
Advantageously, the guide and the head are made of non-conducting materials selected from a group consisting of plastic, Nylon, Teflon, graphite-fiberglass composites, and silicon.
Advantageously, the first conducting element and the second conducting element are fasteners selected from a group consisting of a nut, a screw, a bolt, a stud, and any combinations thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A tool for fitting and ascertaining the presence of a bearing in an intermediate shaft of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a full sectional front view of a tool for fitting and ascertaining the presence of a bearing in an intermediate shaft of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates a half sectional view of the tool of Figure 1;
Figure 3 illustrates a half sectional view showing a gap between a bearing
5 mounting member and an intermediate shaft of the tool of Figure 1;
Figure 4 illustrates a half sectional view showing a bearing between the bearing mounting member and the intermediate shaft of the tool of Figure 1; and
Figure 5 illustrates a side view of a hydraulic press depicting closing of a bearing detection circuit of the tool of Figure 1.
10 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 – Tool
102 – Head
104 – Battery
106 – Wiring harness
15 108 – Indicator
110 – Intermediate member
112 – Guide
114 – Second conducting element
116 – Bottom surface of the intermediate member
20 202 – First conducting element
204 – Bearing mounting member
6

206 – Hole 302 – Gap
304 – Intermediate shaft
402 – Bearing
5 500 – Hydraulic press
502 – Ram of hydraulic press 504 – Fixture of hydraulic press 506 – Base of hydraulic press
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
10 Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to
the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the
present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details, are set forth,
relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete
15 understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the
person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
20 The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of
explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered
to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the
forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well,
unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises,"
7

"comprising," “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and
therefore specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements,
modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of
one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or
5 groups thereof.
As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.
The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of
the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to
10 distinguish one element, component, or section from another element, component,
or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.
A tool for fitting and ascertaining the presence of a bearing in an intermediate shaft (hereinafter referred as “tool 100”), of the present disclosure, is now being
15 described with reference to Figure 1 through Figure 5. The tool 100 is used in
conjunction with a bearing pressing machine 500 (alternatively referred to as “hydraulic press 500”) as the one shown in Figure 5. An operator uses a bearing pressing machine 500 for assembling an intermediate shaft 304 of the sub gearbox assembly. The bearing pressing machine 500 includes a fixture 504 on which the
20 operator places required bearings and inserts the intermediate shaft 304 through
the bearings. The fixture 504 is mounted on a base 506 of the hydraulic press 500. The operator presses the bearings on the intermediate shaft 304 with the help of the bearing pressing machine 500. A needle roller bearing 402 is also required to be fitted within the intermediate shaft 304. This requires careful and precise
25 positioning and pressing of needle roller bearing 402 within the intermediate shaft
304. It is very common for operators to entirely forget the step of fitting the needle roller bearing 402. Further, the needle roller bearing 402 may be misaligned if the positioning and pressing is not properly done. This can lead to
8

breakage of the bearing 402 and the intermediate shaft 304. To avoid this, the tool
100 of the present disclosure is used. The tool 100 allows an operator to properly
fit the needle roller bearing 402 in the intermediate shaft 304. The tool 100
achieves this by providing an indication if the bearing 402 is fitted properly and
5 providing no indication if the bearing 402 is entirely missing from the
intermediate shaft 304. Thus, the tool 100 of the present disclosure has dual
function of fitting the bearing 402 in an intermediate shaft 304 and simultaneously
detecting presence and alignment of the bearing 402 during the fitting process.
The intermediate shaft 304 is connected to the base 506 of the hydraulic press 500
10 through the base fixture 504.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, for performing the first function of fitting the bearing 402 in the intermediate shaft 304, the tool 100 comprises a guide 112, an intermediate member 110, and a head 102. The guide 112 includes at least two cylindrical members defining a space there between and is configured with a hole
15 206 on its operative top surface. The intermediate member 110 is attached to the
guide 112. The intermediate member 110 includes a bearing mounting member 204 extending into the guide 112 through the hole 206, for facilitating fixing of the bearing 402 on the bearing mounting member 204. Advantageously, the intermediate member 110 is made of metal. The head 102 is attached to the
20 intermediate member 110. The guide 112 is configured to accommodate the
intermediate shaft 304 within the defined space. The head 102 of the tool 100 is pressed using the hydraulic press 500 for fitting the bearing 402 fixed around the bearing mounting member 204 in the intermediate shaft 304. The intermediate shaft 304 and the hydraulic press 500 are made of metals.
25 Thus, for fitting the bearing 402 inside the intermediate shaft 304, the operator is
first required to mount the bearing 402 on the bearing mounting member 204. The operator is then required to put the tool 100 over the intermediate shaft 304 and press the bearing 402 into the intermediate shaft 304 using the pressing machine
9

500. The bearing mounting member 204 allows proper alignment of bearing 402 into the intermediate shaft 304.
For performing the second function of detecting presence and alignment of the
bearing 402, the tool 100 comprises a bearing detection circuit. The bearing
5 detection circuit is normally open and is configured to be closed when the bearing
402 is fitted inside the intermediate shaft 304. The bearing detection circuit comprises a first conducting element 202, a second conducting element 114, a battery 104, and an indicator 108. The first conducting element 202 is fixed on the head 102. The second conducting element 114 is fixed on a bottom surface 116 of
10 the intermediate member 110. The negative terminal of the battery 104 is
connected to the first conducting element 202 through a wiring harness 106. The indicator 108 includes two terminals. The first terminal of the indicator 108 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery 104 through the wiring harness 106 and a second terminal of the indicator 108 is connected to the second
15 conducting element 114. Upon closing of the bearing detection circuit, the
indicator 108 receives power supply from the battery 104 and glows, thereby ascertaining proper fitting of the bearing 402 in the intermediate shaft 304. The indicator 108 may be selected from a group consisting of a light emitting diode, an incandescent light, a fluorescent light, and the like.
20 As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the bearing detection circuit closes when (i) a ram
502 of the hydraulic press 500 comes in contact with the first conducting element 202 fixed on the head 102 of the tool 100 and (ii) the bearing mounting member 204 makes contact with the intermediate shaft 304 through the bearing 402. This causes the tool 100, the intermediate shaft 304, and the base fixture 504 to be in
25 physical metal to metal contact with each other and hydraulic press 500. Upon
closing of the bearing detection circuit, the battery 104 causes a current to flow from its positive terminal to negative terminal, through the indicator 108, the second conducting element 114, the bearing mounting member 204, the bearing 402, the intermediate shaft 304, the base fixture 504, the base 506, the ram 502,
10

and the first conducting element 202. In other words, the current flows from one
terminal of the battery 104 to its another terminal, when the ram 502, the tool 100,
the bearing 402, the shaft 304, and the base fixture 504 are in engage position
during press-fitting of the bearing 402. Thus, the indicator 108 glows, upon
5 closing of the bearing detection circuit, to indicate the presence and proper
alignment of the bearing 402 in the intermediate shaft 304.
Referring to Figure 3, the bearing detection circuit remains open when the
bearing 402 is missing from the intermediate shaft 304, due to the presence of a
gap 302 between the bearing mounting member 204 and the intermediate shaft
10 304. The gap 302 does not allow the circuit to be closed even when the ram 502 of
the hydraulic press 500 comes in contact with the first conducting element 202. Therefore, the indicator 108 does not glow. This alerts the operator about missing bearing 402 in the intermediate shaft 304.
In an embodiment, the bearing 402 can be a roller bearing selected from a group
15 consisting of a needle roller bearing, a cylindrical roller bearing, a spherical roller
bearing, a cam follower roller bearing, and a taper roller bearing. In another embodiment, the bearing 402 can be a ball bearing selected from a group consisting of a deep-groove ball bearing, an angular-contact ball bearing, a self-aligning ball bearing, and a thrust ball bearing.
20 Advantageously, the guide 112 and the head 102 are made of non-conducting
materials selected from a group consisting of plastic, Nylon, Teflon, graphite-fiberglass composites, and silicon. The usage of plastic or a nonconductive material for the guide 112 and the head 102 helps in establishing a full electric circuit while avoiding undesired metal to metal contact.
25 Advantageously, the first conducting element 202 and the second conducting
element 114 are fasteners selected from a group consisting of a nut, a screw, a bolt, a stud, and any combinations thereof.
11

Thus, the tool 100 of the present disclosure is simple and allows reliable detection of absence of bearing 402 from the intermediate shaft 304.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual 5 components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
10 The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a tool that:
• detects presence of a bearing in an intermediate shaft of a sub gearbox
assembly;
• is simple in set-up and relatively inexpensive to install;
15 • is safe to use;
• facilitates proper alignment of the bearing in the intermediate shaft;
• is reliable;
• reduces the possibility of human error; and
• Eliminates the probability of failure of bearing and/or shaft during 20 operation.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof
are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following
description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques
are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The
12

examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
The use of the expression "at least" or "at least one" suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.

WE CLAIM:

A tool (100) having a dual function of fitting a bearing (402) in an intermediate shaft (304) and simultaneously detecting presence and alignment of the bearing (402) during the fitting process.
The tool (100) as claimed in claim in 1, wherein said intermediate shaft (304) is connected to a base (506) of a hydraulic press (500) through a base fixture (504).
The tool (100) as claimed in claim in 2, wherein for performing the first function of fitting the bearing (402) in said intermediate shaft (304), said tool (100) comprises:
i. a guide (112) having at least two cylindrical members defining a space therebetween, said guide (112) configured with a hole (206) on its operative top surface; ii. an intermediate member (110) attached to said guide (112), said intermediate member (110) having a bearing mounting member (204) extending into said guide (112) through said hole (206) for facilitating fixing of said bearing (402); and iii. a head (102) attached to a top surface of said intermediate member
(HO), wherein said guide (112) is configured to accommodate said intermediate shaft (304) within said defined space and said head (102) is pressed using said hydraulic press (500) for fitting the bearing (402) fixed around said bearing mounting member (204) in said intermediate shaft (304).
The tool (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein for performing the second function of detecting presence and alignment of the bearing (402) during the fitting process, said tool (100) comprises a bearing detection circuit which is normally open and is configured to be closed when said bearing

(402) is fitted inside said intermediate shaft (304), said bearing detection circuit comprising:
• a first conducting element (202) fixed on said head (102);
• a second conducting element (114) fixed on a bottom surface (116) of said intermediate member (110);
• a battery (104) connected to said first conducting element (202) through a wiring harness (106); and
• an indicator (108) connected between said battery (104) and said second conducting element (114),
wherein said indicator (108) glows upon closing of said bearing detection circuit to ascertain the presence and proper alignment of said bearing (402) in said intermediate shaft (304).
The tool (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said intermediate member (110) and said hydraulic press (500) are made of metals.
The tool (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said bearing detection circuit closes when:
i. a ram (502) of said hydraulic press (500) comes in contact with
said first conducting element (202); and ii. said bearing mounting member (204) of said intermediate member (110) makes contact with said intermediate shaft (304) through said bearing (402).
The tool (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said battery (104) causes a current to flow from its positive terminal, through said indicator (108), said second conducting element (114), said bearing mounting member (204), said bearing (402), said intermediate shaft (304), said base fixture (504), said base (506), said ram (502), and said first conducting element (202), to its negative terminal, upon closing of said bearing detection circuit.

The tool (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said bearing detection circuit remains open when said bearing (402) is missing from said intermediate shaft (304) due to the presence of a gap (302) between said bearing mounting member (204) and said intermediate shaft (304).
The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing (402) is a roller bearing selected from a group consisting of a needle roller bearing, a cylindrical roller bearing, a spherical roller bearing, a cam follower roller bearing, and a taper roller bearing.
The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing (402) is a ball bearing selected from a group consisting of a deep-groove ball bearing, an angular-contact ball bearing, a self-aligning ball bearing, and a thrust ball bearing.
The tool (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said guide (112) and said head (102) are made of non-conducting materials selected from a group consisting of plastic, Nylon, Teflon, graphite-fiberglass composites, and silicon.
The tool (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first conducting element (202) and said second conducting element (114) are fasteners selected from a group consisting of a nut, a screw, a bolt, a stud, and any combinations thereof.