초록 ▼

A bearing isolator assembly comprises an inner support member, an outer support member, a resilient member, an elastomeric ring, and a support cap disposed over a bearing surface defined by the inner support member or the outer support member. A path of travel is defined between the inner support me

A bearing isolator assembly comprises an inner support member, an outer support member, a resilient member, an elastomeric ring, and a support cap disposed over a bearing surface defined by the inner support member or the outer support member. A path of travel is defined between the inner support member and the outer support member. The resilient member is disposed between the inner support member and the outer support member and is configured to resist compression between the inner support member and the outer support member within a first portion of the path of travel. The outer support member defines a ring envelope, in which the elastomeric ring is disposed. The inner support member defines a ring compression surface, and the elastomeric ring is configured to resist compression between the ring compression surface of the inner support member and the ring compression surface of the outer support member within a second portion of the path of travel.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A bearing isolator assembly comprising: an inner support member;an outer support member defining an outer bearing surface, the outer support member configured to cooperate with the inner support member so as to define a path of travel of the inner support member relative to the outer support memb

1. A bearing isolator assembly comprising: an inner support member;an outer support member defining an outer bearing surface, the outer support member configured to cooperate with the inner support member so as to define a path of travel of the inner support member relative to the outer support member;a resilient member; andan elastomeric ring;wherein the inner support member defines an inner spring seat directed toward the outer support member, the outer support member defines an outer spring seat directed toward the inner support member, the resilient member is disposed between the inner spring seat and the outer spring seat, and the resilient member is configured to resist compression between the inner support member and the outer support member within a first portion of the path of travel;wherein the outer support member defines a ring envelope, the elastomeric ring is disposed in the ring envelope, the inner support member defines a ring compression surface directed toward the elastomeric ring, and the elastomeric ring is configured to resist compression between the ring compression surface of the inner support member and the ring compression surface of the outer support member within a second portion of the path of travel;wherein the inner support member includes an inner member foot extending radially outward from an inner member guide surface at an end of the inner member guide surface distal from the inner spring seat;wherein the outer support member includes an outer member foot extending radially inward from an outer member guide surface at an end of the outer member guide surface distal from the outer spring seat; andwherein the inner member foot and the outer member foot are configured to engage each other to facilitate preventing movement of the outer support member and the inner support member away from each other. 2. The bearing isolator assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner support member comprises plastic. 3. The bearing isolator assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer support member comprises plastic. 4. The bearing isolator assembly of claim 1, wherein when the resilient member is uncompressed, the outer member foot directly contacts the inner member foot. 5. The bearing isolator assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner support member and the outer support member are each disposed about a common worm axis, and wherein the inner member foot is disposed between the outer member foot and the elastomeric ring along a direction parallel to the worm axis, and wherein the outer member foot is disposed between the inner member foot and the inner bearing surface along the direction parallel to the worm axis. 6. The bearing isolator assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner support member includes an annular portion having an outer diameter defined by the inner member guide surface; wherein the outer support member includes an annular portion having an outer diameter defined by the outer member guide surface; andwherein the outer diameter of the inner support member annular portion is less than the outer diameter of the outer support member annular portion such that the inner support member annular portion is disposed inside the outer support member annular portion. 7. A bearing isolator assembly comprising: an inner support member;an outer support member configured to cooperate with the inner support member so as to define a path of travel of the inner support member relative to the outer support member;a resilient member; andan elastomeric ring;wherein the inner support member defines an inner spring seat directed toward the outer support member, the outer support member defines an outer spring seat directed toward the inner support member, the resilient member is disposed between the inner spring seat and the outer spring seat, and the resilient member is configured to resist compression between the inner support member and the outer support member within a first portion of the path of travel;wherein the outer support member defines a ring envelope, the elastomeric ring is disposed in the ring envelope, the inner support member defines a ring compression surface directed toward the elastomeric ring, and the elastomeric ring is configured to resist compression between the ring compression surface of the inner support member and the ring compression surface of the outer support member within a second portion of the path of travel;wherein the inner support member includes an inner member foot disposed distally from the inner bearing surface;wherein the outer support member includes an outer member foot disposed distally from the outer bearing surface;wherein the outer member foot and the inner member foot are configured so as to contact each other to define a maximum limit of the range of travel of the inner support member from the outer support member along a common worm axis; andwherein the outer member foot contacts the inner support member, and the inner member foot contacts the outer support member. 8. The bearing isolator assembly of claim 7, wherein the inner member foot extends in a direction radially outward from an inner member guide surface, and wherein the outer member foot extends in a direction radially inward from the ring compression wall so as to extend radially inward relative to the radially outward extent of the inner member foot. 9. The bearing isolator assembly of claim 7, wherein the outer member foot and the inner member foot are configured such that the inner support member may be engaged to the outer support member by compressing the inner support member against the outer support member so that such compression causes the outer member foot to deform in a radially outward direction while the inner member foot deforms in a radially inward direction. 10. The bearing isolator assembly of claim 7, wherein the inner member foot and the outer member foot are configured such that, when the inner member foot and the outer member foot have deformed to bypass each other, the inner member foot and the outer member foot may pass one another along the worm axis, enabling the inner support member and the outer support member to move toward an engaged relationship relative to one another along the worm axis. 11. The bearing isolator assembly of claim 7, wherein the inner member foot and the outer member foot are mutually configured so that, once the inner support member and the outer support member have moved sufficiently toward one another, the inner member foot has travelled past the outer member foot such that the inner member foot and the outer member foot are no longer required to deform radially. 12. The bearing isolator assembly of claim 7, wherein the inner member foot and the outer member foot are mutually configured so that once the inner support member and the outer support member are in an engaged state, the inner member foot and the outer member foot cooperate so as to limit expansion of the bearing isolator assembly along the worm axis. 13. The bearing isolator assembly of claim 7, wherein the outer member foot directly contacts the inner support member and the inner member foot directly contacts the outer support member.