Coates Infinitely Self-Adjusting Wheel Bearing

___Infinitely Self-Adjusting Wheel Bearing

Gregory Coates, President of Technology, has created a new design for wheel bearings that will dramatically improve the long-term performance of an automobile. This brief informational memorandum introduces this innovation, the Coates Infinitely Self Adjusting Wheel Bearing and its inventor, Gregory G. Coates.

The front wheels of an automobile are normally mounted on a spindle with the wheel bearing supported in the spindle. The wheel is supported by an inner and outer wheel bearing, allowing the wheel to rotate freely. During the installation or replacement of the bearing the mechanic must position the locking nut so that the wheel rotates freely without any wobble or play. It is virtually impossible to know when the bearings are adjusted so that they are exactly right and not too loose or tight. This has always been a guess.

The Coates Infinitely Self-Adjusting Wheel Bearing was developed to alleviate the typical issues with standard wheel bearings.

The invention has two primary objectives for improving the wheel bearing. They are:

To provide a wheel bearing that self adjusts the pressure on the outer bearing during operation of the vehicle.
To provide a wheel bearing assembly that ensures the proper positioning of the wheel bearings during assembly. In effect, this turns the assembly process into an exact science.

Current Wheel Bearings

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the US Patent (Number 5,048,979), a standard wheel bearing consists of an inner and outer bearing. These wheel bearings support the spindle which is mounted by the wheel of an automobile. The outer bearing, the one that is replaced by the Coates invention, is threaded onto the spindle or axle and is secured by an adjustable nut. Between the nut and the bearing is a non-rotating washer. The nut is secured by the insertion of a pin through the locking nut.

The process for determining the bearing's pressure is simplistic and unscientific. The mechanic’s tightening of the locking nut places what s/he feels to be the appropriate amount of tension. The insertion of the pin secures the locking nut and bearing. However, the bearing through normal road use erodes, loosening the fit between the nut and bearing. Eventually the erosion process causes the wheel to fall out of balance, resulting in excessive tire wear and the destruction of a smooth ride.

The resulting repair process includes the replacement of the outer bearing, non-rotating washer and the threaded nut. If tire erosion was severe, the tires will need replacing and the wheel will need to be realigned. Only continued vigilance will prevent a similar repair scenario from occurring within a year or two.

Introducing The Coates Infinitely Self-Adjusting Wheel Bearing

The Coates Infinitely Self-Adjusting Wheel Bearing adds only three components to the current outer wheel bearing assemblage. It is these components that eliminate any need for repair or readjustments as the bearings wear.

The invention adds two additional non-rotating washers that secure a spring which applies constant pressure on the bearing. The washers and spring are strategically threaded onto the axle and secured by a pin that is stationary and not subject to wear. Erosion of the bearing from normal wear is counteracted by the spring. By keeping the pressure level constant on the bearing, the spring prevents the loosening of the bearing assemblage, removing the potential for wheel alignment problems and its after-effects.

Advantages

The Coates Infinitely Self-Adjusting Wheel Bearing has four principal advantages over the standard wheel bearings in use today:

Requires no manual adjustments or servicing
Significantly reduces wear on the bearings, brake disc, and brake pads
Produces more secure steering responsiveness over a long period
Reduces tire wear through smoother overall ride with virtually no chance of lock up

This component can easily be retrofitted to existing vehicles from cars and buses to military and industrial at very low cost.