Roller bearing with cage fastener

Abstract

A roller bearing with cage fasteners that prevent cage separation under adverse operating conditions. The roller bearing has an inner race, outer race, a plurality of rollers, a roller cage, and cage fasteners. The inner race is disposed about a rotational axis and includes a peripheral surface facing the rotational axis with an inner nominal diameter of seven inches about the rotational axis. The outer race has a circumferential surface surrounding the inner race and includes an outer nominal diameter of twelve inches about the rotational axis. The roller cage is disposed between the inner race and the outer race and includes a first piece and a second piece connected together by the cage fasteners. Each of the cage fasteners includes a first surface having a first effective area in contiguous engagement with the first piece of the roller cage, and a second surface having a second effective area in contiguous engagement with the second piece of the roller cage. The first and second effective areas are generally equal to each other.

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . A method of determining a preload loss capability in a roller bearing having a two-piece cage, the roller bearing including an inner race with an inner nominal diameter of seven (7) inches and an outer race with an outer nominal diameter of twelve (12) inches, the two-piece cage having a first piece and a second piece, a roller cage disposed between the inner race and the outer race to support a plurality of rollers disposed between the inner and outer races, the roller cage having a first piece and a second piece connected together by at least one cage fastener, the at least one cage fastener including a first surface having a first effective area in contiguous engagement with the first piece of the roller cage and a second surface having a second effective area in contiguous engagement with the second piece of the roller cage by application of a predetermined preload, the first and second areas being generally equal to each other, the method comprising: 
 exposing the fastener and the two-piece cage at a temperature of at least approximately 250 degrees Celsius; and    determining whether the average loss of the predetermined preload on the at least one fastener is less than 50%.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the determining comprises assessing whether the average loss of the predetermined preload is less than 35%.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the exposing comprises preloading the fastener with at least 1000 pound of force at a temperature below 150 degrees Celsius.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the applying further comprises swaging the fastener proximate one of the first and second pieces.  
   
   
       30 . A method of preventing separation of a two-piece cage roller bearing in a two-piece cage having an inner race with a nominal inner diameter of seven (7) inches and an outer race with an outer nominal diameter of twelve (12) inches, the two-piece cage having a first piece and a second piece, a roller cage disposed between the inner race and the outer race to support a plurality of rollers disposed between the inner and outer races, the roller cage having a first piece and a second piece connected together by at least one cage fastener, the at least one cage fastener including a first surface in contiguous engagement with the first piece of the roller cage and a second surface in contiguous engagement with the second piece of the roller cage, each of the surfaces that engages the respective piece of the cage provides a respective effective area in which the first and second surfaces provide a retention force to the cage, the effective area of the first surface or the second surface being determined by the difference in the surface area that engages the cage at the respective portion less the surface area of an aperture of the cage in which the fastener is supported therein, the method comprising: 
 loading the fastener with a predetermined preload, the fastener having a shank less than ¼ inches in nominal diameter; and    distributing the predetermined preload equally over the first and second effective areas.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the loading comprises preloading the fastener with at least 1000 pound of force.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the distributing further comprises swaging the fastener proximate one of the first and second pieces of the cage.