Combined insulator and conductor assembly for bearings with clip-mounted conductor

US11454285B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AKTIEBOLAGET SKF · SE

Inventors

• Benoit Arnault · Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, FR
• Nicolas Berruet · La Riche, FR
• Paul Feliciano · Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, FR
• Mathieu Hubert · Torino, IT
• Tommy Jullien · Ambillou, FR
• Gene A Kovacs · Brighton, US
• Thomas Perrotin · Saint Roch, FR
• Dave Christopher Rybski · White Lake, US
• Anthony Simonin · Tours, FR
• Collin Snyder · Northville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 25, 2021
• Grant date: Sep 27, 2022
• Expiry date: May 25, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16C2380/26
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A combined electrical insulator and conductor assembly for a bearing disposable between a shaft and a housing. An annular insulator is disposeable about the bearing and configured to prevent electric current flow between an outer ring and the housing. An electrical conductor has retainer(s) releasably engaged with the insulator so as to couple the conductor with the bearing, an outer radial end and an inner radial end. The conductor outer radial end, or/and a portion of the conductor between the outer and inner ends, is conductively engageable with the housing and the conductor inner radial end is conductively engageable with the shaft so as to provide an electrically conductive path between the shaft and the housing. Preferably, the conductor includes a conductive disk having arcuate retainer clips engageable with an insulator groove of the insulator and a brush subassembly including conductive fibers engaged with the shaft outer surface.