A lock nut system includes a nut threadably engageable with a shaft and a keeper having a projection configured to fit within a slot of the shaft to engage the shaft. A retaining member is formed separate from the keeper and the nut. The retaining member is receivable within a slot of the nut to engage the nut. A portion of the retaining member engages the keeper by extending into a keeper cavity within the keeper. The nut is lockable onto the shaft when the projection of the keeper is fit within the slot and the keeper is abutted and supported by an inner shoulder of the nut and the retaining member engages the nut and the portion of the retaining member extends into the cavity within the keeper.

A mast spacer provided between a mast bearing and a mast nut in a main shaft of a helicopter, has a cylindrical spacer body. A first end of the mast spacer is a bearing contact end which is fittable to an inner race of the mast bearing. For example, the bearing contact end is provided with bearing projections which are fittable to recesses provided in the inner race of the mast bearing. The spacer body is provided with slits, for example, a spiral slits penetrating its side wall. The slits have a linear shape crossing an axial direction of the cylindrical spacer body.

A universal joint includes a bearing including a bearing cup fitted in a bearing hole of a yoke and rolling elements arranged between the bearing cup and a shaft portion of a cross shaft. A method for manufacturing the universal joint includes: simulating a shrunken state in which a sample bearing cup selected from bearing cups in a same lot is fitted in the bearing hole such that only an outside diameter is restrained, by press-fitting the sample bearing cup into a reference hole of a reference jig; measuring a diameter of an inscribed circle inscribed to the rolling elements in the shrunken state; setting an outside diameter of the shaft portion to a required outside diameter according to the diameter of the inscribed circle; and inserting the bearing cup with the rolling elements between the shaft portion having the required outside diameter and the bearing hole.

A product and method for assembling multiple components using an interference fit. An assembled product includes a first component, with a second component configured to mate with the first component so that the second component is removable from the first component for a positional adjustment. A third component is configured to mate with the first component and to be engaged therewith by a first interference fit. The first interference fit is configured to impart a resultant reaction in the first component that creates a second interference fit between the first and second components.

An axle assembly having a preload mechanism. The preload mechanism engages a bearing assembly and includes a preload element and an adjuster element. The preload element is disposed inside a housing and is rotatable about an axis. The adjuster element engages the preload element and is moveable to actuate the preload element and exert a preload force on a bearing assembly. The adjuster element is accessible from outside of the housing.

A packaged bearing unit is disclosed including an outer surface for receiving an aircraft landing gear wheel and an inner surface for receiving an axle. The unit may include first and second spaced-apart sets of tapered roller bearings, held between inner and outer raceways. There may be a bearing setting spacer which can be used when setting and pre-loading the bearings. The bearing unit may be a sealed unit which includes a pre-set amount of lubricant (grease) for lubricating the bearings. One or more sensors may be retained in a void between the sets of bearings.

A preload assembly for bearings comprising in combinations a threaded bolt, an anti-rotational washer, a serrated edge locking washer, and a threaded locking nut having a shallow outer profile and at least four locking notches in an outer edge thereof.

A device for producing a releasable clearance-free position of a rolling bearing, having a rolling bearing which has an outer ring, an inner ring mounted on a shaft and a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring, and having a tensioning device mounted on the circumference of the rolling bearing outer ring for generating a radial preload which is uniform over the outer circumference of the rolling bearing outer ring between the tensioning device and the rolling bearing outer ring, wherein the tensioning device has an axially adjustable tensioning element which can be brought into a first alignment in which the rolling bearing has play, and which can be brought into a second alignment in which the rolling bearing is free of play. A corresponding method is also described.

An axle assembly includes an axle housing having a passage. An axle extends through the passage. A bearing supports the axle in the passage. An adaptive bearing preload adjustment system is mounted adjacent the bearing. The adaptive bearing preload adjustment system is selectively activatable to adaptively adjust a preload force on the bearing.

An axle assembly includes an axle housing having a passage. An axle extends through the passage. A bearing supports the axle in the passage. An adaptive bearing preload adjustment system is mounted adjacent the bearing. The adaptive bearing preload adjustment system is selectively activatable to adaptively adjust a preload force on the bearing.