An apparatus for preloading a bearing includes an attaching member, a frame, a plurality of extensions, and an adjustment mechanism. The attaching member is releasably attachable to a threaded shaft of an axle or spindle of a wheel hub assembly. The frame is axially separated from, and coupled to, the attaching member to allow the frame to move relative to the attaching member in an axial direction along the longitudinal axis. The plurality of extensions is configured to contact at least one of a wheel hub or a bearing of the wheel hub assembly when the attaching member is attached to the threaded shaft. The adjustment mechanism is configured to move the frame and the plurality of extensions axially towards the wheel hub assembly to apply a preload to a bearing within the wheel hub assembly.

A system of gas lines for a processing chamber and a method of forming a gas line system for a processing chamber are provided. The system of gas lines includes electropolished multi-way valves that connect electropolished linear gas lines. By using multi-way valves rather than tee-fittings and electropolishing the linear gas lines, the nucleation of contaminating particles in the system of gas lines may be reduced.

A method of manufacturing a ball screw device includes a nut unit preparation step, a screw shaft preparation step, and an assembly step. In the nut unit preparation step, a nut unit is prepared in which a circulation component, a ball, and a temporary shaft that prevents the ball from falling off are assembled to a nut provided with an inner peripheral track surface. In the screw shaft preparation step, a screw shaft provided with an outer peripheral track surface is prepared. In the assembly step, after the nut unit preparation step and the screw shaft preparation step, the temporary shaft of an arbitrary nut unit is replaced with an arbitrary screw shaft to manufacture the ball screw device.

Methods and apparatus for preloading a bearing are provided. These methods and apparatus include preload monitoring devices whereby the mechanic can accurately monitor and regulate the preload on a bearing or bearing assembly. Aspects of the invention may also be used to adjust the endplay on a bearing or a bearing assembly. In one aspect, the preload on the bearing is transmitted through a housing having a fluid pressure that can be detected and monitored. An apparatus for precisely rotating a nut and a tool for precisely rotating a nut are also provided. A bearing retaining nut arrangement that permits the loading or evaluating of a bearing inner race is also provided. The bearing retaining nut arrangement includes a first load-setting nut, a lock washer, and a second jam nut that secures the arrangement to a shaft.

A method of assembling a bearing assembly includes fitting a first ring onto a first end of a gear shaft. A second ring is fed into a slot in the first ring. The second ring is driven through the slot in the first ring. The second ring is positioned within the first ring. The second ring is positioned about the gear shaft such that a first end and a second end of the second ring are covered by a solid portion of the first ring.

A method for adjusting an axial preload in a bearing assembly that has two rolling-element bearings that are axially pressable against each other, each of the two rolling-element bearings including at least one bearing outer ring and at least one bearing inner ring and at least one row of rolling elements disposed between the at least one bearing outer ring and at least one bearing inner ring. The method includes a) driving the bearing assembly by rotating one of the bearing outer ring and the bearing inner ring while holding other bearing ring fixed and measuring the rotational speed of the circulation of the rolling elements about the bearing assembly axis or of a bearing cage about the stationary bearing ring, and b) changing the axial preload in the bearing assembly until a desired rotational speed has been obtained.