METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING A BEARING

摘要

A method and apparatus for mounting a bearing (20) on a shaft (22). An intermediate member (24) is mounted on the shaft (22). An inner race (26) of the bearing is mounted onto the intermediate member (24). Two separable compression members (52, 54) are mounted on the outer diameter of the inner race (26). The compression members (52, 54) are mounted with an interference fit, thus inducing a state of compression in the inner race. The intermediate member (24) is radially compliant and compensates for thermal growth of the shaft (22) in excess of the thermal growth of the inner race (26). The state of compression in the inner race (26) persists to about 1000 DEG F. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an inner race (26) fabricated from a material with low fracture toughness or for which a state of compression is desirable, such as a ceramic material.