Bearing retaining plate and assembly

Abstract

A bearing retaining plate 10 is removably connected to a gear 100 for a powertrain, the gear having a retaining portion 130. The plate comprises at least one fixing feature 14 for fixing the plate to a housing and one or more formations 30 complementary to the retaining portion of a gear. The plate is removably received on the retaining portion by a fixed fit between the one or more formations and the retaining portion of the gear. Further aspects of the invention relate to a gear for a powertrain, to a powertrain arrangement (300 fig. 6), to a vehicle and to a method of installing a shaft assembly in a housing (310).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a bearing retaining plate and assembly. Aspects of the invention relate to a bearing retaining plate, to a gear for a powertrain, to a powertrain arrangement, to a vehicle and to a method of installing a shaft assembly in a housing. BACKGROUND It is known to provide retaining plates to retain bearings in place. For example, when fixing a bearing in a gear box a retaining plate may be fixed to a gearbox housing after the bearing has been seated in a bearing seat of the gearbox housing. In such cases the retaining plate can then be fixed to the housing by bolts to retain the bearing in place, subsequently other features or fittings can then be loaded, such as gear shafts and gears. As will be apparent this is done after the bearing and retaining plate have been fitted resulting in a number of discrete manufacturing steps. In order to provide access to fit the retaining plate in practice windows are often provided to enable tool access to tighten any bolts. Such windows must subsequently be sealed to reduce likelihood of lubricant leaking from the gearbox which necessitates an extra step in the manufacturing process to lubricant being able to pass through said windows. It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide bearing retaining plate, to a gear for a powertrain, to a powertrain arrangement, to a vehicle and to a method of installing a shaft assembly in a housing as claimed in the appended claims. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a bearing retaining plate for removable connection to a gear for a powertrain, the gear having a retaining portion. The plate comprises: at least one fixing feature for fixing the plate to a housing; one or more formations complementary to the retaining portion of a gear; and wherein the plate is configured to be removably received on the retaining portion by a fixed fit between the one or more formations and the retaining portion of a gear. The bearing assembly plate is able to be removably coupled to the gear of a powertrain. This enables the gear to carry plate during assembly of a shaft assembly. This enables easier manufacturing of the assembly itself as the plate and gear can be loaded into a housing at the same time. The fixed fit enables the connection and disconnection of the plate and gear by means of a light pressing force (on the range of 10 to 200 N). A fixed fit is particularly advantageous as the two components that enable the fixed fit may be rotationally symmetrical which, for a rotating gear is important to prevent any unbalancing of the gear and the shaft on which it rotates. Moreover, a fixed fit enables the plate to be mounted in any orientation onto the gear using the one or more formations complementary to the retaining portion of the gear. The plate is configured to hold a bearing in a bearing seat of a housing when a powertrain arrangement is assembled. Optionally, the at least one fixing features are suitable for receiving at least a portion of a bolt or fixture that engages with a threaded portion of a housing wall of the housing. The plate therefore is configured in use to clamp or otherwise retain or hold the bearing in the bearing seat. In an embodiment of the invention, the plate is annular. Providing an annular bearing retaining plate enables the plate to be received on a gear having a shaft which extends through the gear. The annular plate is configured to receive a shaft through the annular opening. By providing an annular plate it prevents the plate from falling off the shaft or gear in a radial direction once the fixed fit between the gear and plate has been removed. Alternatively, the plate may be a different shape, such as a C-shaped plate, a rectangular plate with an opening therethrough, a semi-circular annular plate, or any other suitable shape. In an embodiment of the invention, the one or more formations radially extend towards or away from a point of the plate; each of the one or more formations having a tip; and wherein collectively the tips of the one or more formations define an interfacing surface configured to interface with the retaining portion. By providing one or more formations with tips it is easier to fit the bearing plate to the retaining portion as the individual tips may flex relative to each other to enable a fixed fit which is easier to attach and remove. Optionally, each tip comprises a taper. By tapering the tip of the tab any manufacturing tolerances can be accounted for that would otherwise prevent the fixed fit between the plate and the gear from working. If there is a large dimensional mismatch (gear is at the lower end of the machining tolerance and the plate is at the upper end of the tolerance) the fixed fit may not occur at all as the plate tabs may not touch the retaining portion of the gear. Likewise, the inverse may cause the fixed fit to be become more like an interference fit requiring greater force to fix the plate to the gear and thus remove the plate from the gear. By using the taper, the gear-plate interface accounts for the dimensional mismatch. Optionally, the taper may be at an angle of 3° to 5° in relation to a longitudinal axis of the plate. The tapered surface may be 4° + / - 0.5°. Optionally, the one or more formations may be defined by a plurality of tabs or a plurality of cutouts. By providing tabs, rather than an annular spacer, this may enable the tabs to advantageously flex relative to each other on the retaining portion of the gear as the radially inner surface is spaced away from the base of the tab. By providing the one or more formations defined by cutouts a weight saving for the plate can be produced. Collectively the ends of the tabs may define the tips and the interfacing surface. Collectively the regions of the plate between the plurality of cutouts may define the tips and interfacing surface, wherein the tips are interrupted by the cutouts. Optionally, the plurality of tabs are disposed equidistantly spaced in relation to each other around the plate; or the plurality of cutouts are disposed equidistantly spaced in relation to each other around the plate. By equidistantly spacing the tabs and / or cutouts around the plate the force of the fixed fit is shared equally by each of the tabs in use. Optionally, the plate may further comprise one or more lobes that radially extend away or toward a radial centre of the plate; and wherein the one or more lobes have the at least one fixing feature. By providing lobes on the plate which have a fixing feature there may be a weight saving in comparison to a single annular plate being provided where the fixing features are located between the inner and outer surface of the annular plate. Optionally, the one or more lobes are angularly offset in relation to the one or more formations. By angularly offsetting the one or more formations and one or more lobes when fixing the plate to a housing via the fixing feature on each lobe then a force will be applied to the formations either side of each lobe. By angularly offsetting the one or more formations and lobes the tightening of a bolt in one of the fixing features of the lobes will apply a substantially equal force to the formations either side of it. Optionally the number of formations, tabs or cutouts is six. Optionally the number of lobes is six. Optionally, there are an equal number of tabs and lobes. Optionally, the one or more formations may define an inner surface of the plate. By the one or more formations defining an inner surface of the plate there may be fewer formations as a result as compared to the formations being disposed on an outer surface of the plate. For example, for an annular plate, the inner surface of the annular opening will have a smaller circumference than the outer surface of the annular plate. By providing the formation(s) on the inner surface there is a weight saving as compared to the outer surface. Any weight saving may increase the performance of the vehicle as a result. Optionally, or alternatively, an inner surface of the plate defines the one or more formations. According to another aspect a gear for a powertrain is provided, the gear being suitable to permit removable connection therefrom of a bearing retaining plate having one or more formations. the gear having one or more gear through holes for passing at least a portion of a fixing tool therethrough; the gear having a retaining portion, the retaining portion being disposed on a side of the gear that faces a housing that the gear is located in, in use; the retaining portion having a surface complementary to the one or more formations of a bearing retaining plate; and wherein in use a bearing retaining plate is removably receivable on the retaining portion by a fixed fit between the one or more formations and the retaining portion of the gear. In an embodiment, the retaining portion may be a tapered surface. A tapered surface is advantageous as it accounts for gear manufacturing tolerance and plate manufacture tolerance to be compensated for and still enable the fixed fit to be present. Optionally, the tapered surface is at an angle of 3° to 5° in relation to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The tapered surface may be 4° + / - 0.5. According to yet another aspect a shaft assembly for a powertrain is described. A shaft assembly for a powertrain, the assembly comprising the bearing retaining plate of any of embodiment relating to the bearing retaining plate aspect, a gear according to any of the embodiments relating to a gear aspect and a shaft; the gear being disposed on the shaft and the shaft extending through the gear; and wherein the plate is removably received on the retaining portion by a fixed fit between the one or more formations and the retaining portion of the gear. By enabling the plate to be removably fixed upon the gear the shaft assembly may be supplied as an intermediate product for insertion into a housing of a powertrain or the like. This shaft assembly can be supplied as a single component which reduces the time required to prepare the assembly on the process line when assembling the vehicle. Optionally or additionally, the assembly has a plurality of fixing features on the bearing retaining plate and an equal number of gear through holes on the gear; the fixing features and gear through holes being configured to align when the bearing retaining plate is connected to the shaft. By aligning the through holes and fixing features together the bearing plate can more easily be fixed to a housing wall when being assembled. Optionally or additionally, the assembly further comprises a bearing, the bearing being disposed on the shaft between an end of the shaft and the retaining portion of the gear. The bearing may be is located on one end of the shaft such that the assembly is fully constructed and ready to be inserted into a housing and a housing bearing seat. Advantageously, the assembly may be prepared outside of the main assembly area and then slotted into place within a housing of a transmission system or the like. By fixing the bearing on the shaft at this stage there may be a more compact housing assembly provided. Moreover, there may be no need for a window or hole in a housing wall to enable a bearing to be connected to the shaft after such a shaft is inserted. The lack of a window or hole means that there is a reduced number of sites for potential leaking of the assembly in use. The shaft of the invention may carry all the components necessary for the function of the assembly itself. Optionally, the bearing is retained on the shaft by a retaining means. The retaining means may be a circlip. According to a further aspect of the invention a powertrain arrangement is provided. The powertrain arrangement comprising bearing retaining plate according to any embodiment of the bearing retaining plate aspect, the gear according to any embodiment of the gear aspect and further comprising: a shaft, a bearing, and a housing having a bearing seat and a housing wall; the gear being disposed on the shaft and the shaft extending through the gear; the bearing being disposed on the shaft between the plate and an end of the shaft; the bearing being received in the bearing seat; the plate being fixed to the housing wall by the one or more fixing features; and wherein the bearing is retained in the bearing seat by the plate. According to a yet further embodiment a vehicle comprising the powertrain arrangement according to the powertrain aspect is provided. Optionally, the vehicle comprises the shaft assembly of the shaft assembly aspect or the powertrain arrangement of the powertrain arrangement aspect. According to a still further aspect of the invention a method of installing a shaft assembly in a housing is provided. The method comprising the steps of: providing a housing having a housing wall and a bearing seat; providing a shaft assembly comprising: a bearing retaining plate: the plate having at least one fixing feature for fixing the plate to a housing; and one or more formations; a gear: the gear having one or more gear through holes for passing at least a portion of a fixing tool therethrough; and the gear having a retaining portion, the retaining portion being disposed on a side of the gear; a shaft with a bearing on an end of the shaft, wherein the gear is disposed on the shaft and extending through the gear; the one or more formations complementary to the retaining portion of the gear; and wherein the plate is configured to be removably received on the retaining portion by a fixed fit between the one or more formations and the retaining portion of the gear; and the method comprising the further steps of: removably receiving the plate onto the retaining portion by a fixed fit; inserting the bearing into a bearing seat of the housing; applying a force to the plate to uncouple the plate and gear; and fixing the plate to the housing wall to retain the bearing in the bearing seat. By assembling the assembly in this way, the process of placing all the components together can be simplified as it will require fewer steps to fit individual components. A shaft assembly is inserted into the housing as a single component as such there is no need to insert the shaft, gear and plate separately. Optionally, the step of fixing the plate to the housing wall further comprises the steps of: passing at least one bolt through one of the one or more gear through holes, at least partially into the at least one fixing feature and at least partially into a threaded portion of the housing wall; and tighten the bolt to engage a threaded portion of the bolt with the threaded portion of the housing wall to uncouple the plate from the gear; and fixing the plate to the housing wall by tightening the at least one bolt further to fully mount the plate to the housing. By partially tightening the bolt, e.g. 1 to 5 turns, the bolt head is forced into engagement with the plate and the bolt engages with complementary threads in the housing wall. By continuing to tighten the bolt after the 1 to 5 turns the force acting on the plate increases until the force provided by the bolt overcomes the fixing fit causing the plate and gear to become uncoupled. Continuing to turn the bolt enables the bearing plate to be mounted to the housing and therefore retain the bearing in place. Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a removable bearing plate and gear of a powertrain of the vehicle of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an additional view with the bearing plate connected to the gear; and Figure 4 shows a further view of the bearing plate in the process of being connected to the gear; and Figure 5 shows a shaft assembly; and Figure 6 shows the shaft assembly of Figure 5 being partially installed in a housing to form a powertrain arrangement; and Figure 7 shows an additional view of the powertrain arrangement being installed; and Figure 8 shows the installed powertrain arrangement; Figure 9 shows a flow chart of method steps of installing a shaft assembly in a housing of a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 10 shows an alternative removable bearing plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A bearing retaining plate 10 for removable connection to a gear 100 for a powertrain of a vehicle 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 10. As shown in Figure 1, showing an exemplary vehicle 1, the bearing retaining plate 10 is installed in the vehicle 1 as part of a shaft assembly 200 for a powertrain and powertrain arrangement 300. For reasons of brevity, the bearing retaining plate 10 is also referred to as the ‘plate’ 10. With reference to Figure 1, the vehicle 1 is shown as a passenger vehicle, such as a car or sports utility vehicle (SUV). However, the vehicle 1 may be any type of vehicle known in the art, such as a commercial goods vehicle (e.g. a van), a heavy goods vehicle (e.g. a lorry or a truck). The application of the present disclosure is not limited to a particular vehicle type and may be utilised with any type of vehicle. The bearing retaining plate 10, gear 100 and shaft 150 are shown in more detail in Figure 2 and 3. The bearing retaining plate is configured to be removably connected to a gear 100 of the powertrain. This enables the plate 10 to be carried by the gear 100 enabling easier assembly of a powertrain arrangement 300. The plate 10 has a body 12, the body 12 may be unitary and formed by a stamping, forging operation, casting, machining, laser cutting, waterjet cutting or other such suitable manufacturing method. The plate 10 and body 12 are annular. The annular opening of the plate 10 enables receipt of a portion of the gear 100 and or a portion of a shaft 150 therethrough. Alternatively, the plate may be a different shape, such as a C-shaped plate, a rectangular plate with an opening therethrough, a semi-circular annular plate, or any other suitable shape. The plate 10 has at least one fixing feature 14 that is used to fix the plate to a housing 310 of the powertrain arrangement 300. The fixing feature 14 of the plate 10 shown in Figure 2 is a through hole sized to receive a bolt 320 or other fixture therethrough. The fixing features 14 are located on lobes 20. The lobes 20 extend toward or away from a point on the plate. The point may be the surface of the plate 10 or it may be the radial centre of the plate 10 as is the case in the example in Figure 2 and 3. In the example in Figure 2, each lobe 20 has its own fixing feature 14. In alternative configurations, every alternate lobe 20 may have a fixing feature 14 or only one or two lobes 20 may have a fixing feature 14. The lobes 20 are disposed equidistantly around the plate 10. As is shown in Figure 2 and 3, the six lobes 30 are radially offset by approximately 60°. In alternative configurations alternative number of lobes 20 may be provided, e.g. one, two, three, four, five, six, or ten. In alternative embodiments, no lobes 20 may be present and the fixing features 14 may be through the body 12 of the plate 10 itself. The plate 10 further comprises one or more formations 30, the formations 30 are configured to be complementary to a retaining portion 130 of the gear 100. In use, the plate 10 is removably retained upon the retaining portion 130 by means of a fixed fit. The fixed fit enables the connection and disconnection of the plate 10 and gear 100 by means of a light pressing force F as shown in Figure 4 (on the range of 10 to 400 N, or on the range of 10 to 300 N, or on the range of 10 to 200 N) to engage and disconnect the one or more formations 30 and the retaining portion 130. In alternative configurations the retaining portion 130 may be disposed upon the shaft 150 instead of the gear 100. The formations 30 are tapered in relation to a longitudinal axis of the plate. The longitudinal axis of the plate being co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the gear 100 and a longitudinal axis of a shaft 150 that extends through gear 100. The taper may be 1° to 10° (+ / - 0.5°), or 2° to 8° (+ / - 0.5°), or 2° to 6° (+ / - 0.5°), or 3° to 5° (+ / - 0.5 ), and preferably 4 +1- 0.5 . The taper increases from a first side of the formation 30 to the second side of the formation 30. The retaining portion 130 of the gear 100 is also tapered. The taper may be 3° to 5° (+ / - 0.5°), and preferably 4° +1- 0.5°. The taper increases from a first end of the gear 100 towards the gearwheel. In alternative configurations a taper may be only provided on one of the formations 30 and the retaining portion 130. In such a case the formations 30 may alone be tapered and the retaining portion 130 is not tapered. Or, the retaining portion 130 is tapered and the formations 30 are not tapered. The retaining portion 130 is located on a first side of the gear 100 which in use faces a bearing seat 330 of a housing 310. As is shown in Figure 2 and 3, the one or more formations 30 radially extend towards a point of the plate. Alternatively, the one or more formations 30 extend away from a point of the plate 10. The point may be the radial centre of the plate 10. The one or more formations 30 each have a tip 32. The tips 32 collectively define an interfacing surface 34. The interfacing surface 34 is the surface which in use is configured to interface with the retaining portion 130 of the gear 100 to provide the fixed fit. The one or more formations 30 are defined by a plurality of tabs as is shown in Figure 2 and 3. The tabs are extensions of the plate 10 that extend from the main portion of body 12. Alternatively, the one or more formations are defined by a plurality of cutouts. The cutouts are regions which extend into the main portion of body 12. The formations 30 are disposed equidistantly around the plate 10. As is shown in Figure 2 and 3, the six formations 30 are radially offset by approximately 60°. In alternative configurations alternative number of formations 30 may be provided, e.g. one, two, three, four, five, six, or ten. The formations 30 and lobes 20 are preferably radially offset from each other as is shown in Figure 3. The gear 100 has one or more through holes 102. The through holes 102 are shown in Figure 2 and are configured to enable at least a portion of a fixing tool to pass therethrough. The fixing tool may be a portion of a wrench, pneumatic wrench, or other tool used to tighten bolts 320 or other fixing means to fix plate 10 to the housing 310 in use. The shaft 150 has an end 152. The shaft end 152 is configured to receive at least a portion of a bearing 160 (as shown in Figure 5). The bearing 160 is then retaining upon the shaft end 152 by a fixing means 162, such as a circlip 162 or bolt or other suitable device as is shown in Figure 5. The bearing 160 is configured to be seated in a bearing seat 330 of the housing 310 and held in place by the plate 10 in use as is shown in Figure 8. The shaft assembly 200 is shown in Figure 5. The shaft assembly 200 comprises the plate 10, the gear 100 and the shaft 150. As is shown in Figure 5 the gear 100 is disposed on the shaft 150 and the shaft 150 extends through the gear 100. In Figure 5, the plate 10 is retained on the gear 100 by the fixed fit. Also shown in Figure 5, the bearing 160 is disposed upon the shaft end 152 and is being retained by a circlip 162. The shaft assembly 200 is in its interstitial state whereby it can then by loaded into a housing and the plate 10 and bearing 160 fixed into place. By carrying all the components on a single shaft assembly 200 it reduces the number of components which must be individually loaded into place in a housing 310 to produce the powertrain arrangement 300. The powertrain arrangement 300 is shown in more detail in Figure 8 with the assembly installed therein. In this configuration, the plate 10 is decoupled from the gear 100 retaining portion 130. The plate 10 has been fixed to the housing 310 by the means of the bolts 320. The plate 10 forces engagement of the plate 10 and the bearing 160 to clamp (or otherwise retain) the bearing in the bearing seat 330. For reasons of clarity, only a portion of the powertrain is shown in Figure 8. As will be apparent, additional components (such as gears, bearings, sumps, etc...) are not shown for reasons of clarity. A method 400 of installing the shaft assembly 200 into a housing 310 will now be described with the aid of Figures 1 to 9. The method 400 enables the easier installation of a shaft in a housing 310, such as a powertrain housing 310. The ability to install the shaft assembly 200 as a single component and then fix a plate 10 to a wall of the housing, and therefore the bearing 160 fixed on the shaft 150 and gear 100 into the housing 310 means a that less complex installation method is required. Figure 9 illustrates the steps of method 400 according to an embodiment of the invention. The method 400 is a method of installing a shaft assembly 200 into a housing 310 of a vehicle 1, such as the vehicle 1 illustrated in Figure 1. The method 400 comprises the step of S410 that comprises the steps of: providing a housing 310 having a housing wall and a bearing seat 330; providing a shaft assembly 200 having a bearing retaining plate 10. The plate 10 having at least one fixing feature 14 for fixing the plate 10 to a housing 310. The plate 10 having one or more formations 30. The shaft assembly 200 further having a gear 100, with one or more gear through holes 102 for passing at least a portion of a fixing tool therethrough. The gear 100 having a retaining portion 130, the retaining portion 130 being disposed on a side of the gear 100. The shaft assembly 200 further having a shaft 150 with a bearing 160 on an end 152 of the shaft 150 and the gear 100 is disposed on the shaft 150 and the shaft 150 extends through the gear 100. Further in that, the one or more formations 30 complementary to the retaining portion 130 of the gear 100. The plate 10 is configured to be removably received on the retaining portion 130 by a fixed fit between the one or more formations 30 and the retaining portion 130 of the gear 100. Figure 6 shows the shaft assembly 200. The method 400 then moves on to step S420. Step S420 comprises removably receiving the plate 10 onto the retaining portion 130 by a fixed fit. Step S420 is shown in Figure 4, which, shows the plate 10 being pushed onto the retaining portion 130 of the gear 100 as indicated by the lines F indicating the direction of the pushing force F. The force may be applied by a tool, such as a manually operated tool or a robotic tool, or alternatively an assembler may use their hands to press the plate 10 onto the retaining portion 130. Step S420 may be undertaken prior to fixing the bearing 160 to shaft 150 or S420 may be undertaken after the bearing 160 is fixed on the shaft 150. After S420, at step S430, the bearing 160 (which is connected to shaft 150) is inserted into the housing 310 bearing seat 330. This is shown in Figure 6. Subsequently at step S440, the plate 10 is uncoupled from the retaining portion 130 of the gear 100 by action of a force which causes the fixing fit to be uncoupled. This may be achieved by the partial tightening of bolts 320 which when inserted through the gear through holes 30 and through fixing features 14 and into threaded engagement with the housing 310 cause a force to be applied to the plate 10 which uncouples the plate 10 and retaining portion 130 once sufficient actuation of the bolt 320 has been achieved. Finally, at step S450, the plate 10 is fixed to the housing wall. Optionally, or additionally, step S450 comprises one or more of the additional steps of: passing at least one bolt 320 through one of the one or more gear through holes 102, at least partially into the at least one fixing feature 14 and at least partially into a threaded portion of the housing wall 310; and tighten the bolt 320 to engage the threads of the bolt 320 with the threaded portion of the housing wall 310 to uncouple the plate 10 from the gear 100; and fixing the plate 10 to the housing wall 310 by tightening the at least one bolt 320 further to fully mount the bearing plate 10 to the housing 310. Once the steps have been completed, the bearing 160 is fixed to the housing 310 and bearing seat 330. In effect, the bearing 160 is clamped between the plate 10 and the bearing seat 330. As a result, the shaft 105 which is connected to the bearing 160 by circlip 162 is also fixed to the housing 310. Likewise, the gear 100 which is carried by the shaft 150 is now fixed to the housing 310 by the retention of the bearing 160 in the bearing seat 330 by the plate 10. The gear 100 and shaft 150 are able to rotate in the housing 310. An alternative bearing retaining plate 1000 is shown in Figure 10. As will be apparent, the bearing retaining plate 1000 shares a number of common features with the bearing retaining plate 10. These common features are indicated by common reference numerals in in Figure 10 which are shared with the plate 10. In this alternative embodiment there is a single formation 30. As with bearing retaining plate 10 the formation 30 may comprise a taper to fit with a taper on the retaining portion 130, or in alternative configurations a taper may be only provided on one of the formations 30 and the retaining portion 130. In such a case the formations 30 may alone be tapered and the retaining portion 130 is not tapered. Or, the retaining portion 130 is tapered and the formations 30 are not tapered. The retaining plate 1000 has fixing features 14 which are arcurate apertures sized to fit a bolt or other fixture to enable the plate 1000 to be retained on housing 310. The arcurate apertures enable easier fixing of the plate 1000 and holes in housing 310 to mount the plate 1000 in practice as perfect alignment of fixing features 14 and the threaded portion of housing 310 is not required only that the threaded portion of the housing 310 is uncovered by the body 12 of the plate 1000. In other words, such that the threaded portion is visible through the fixing feature 14. As will be apparent the bearing retaining plate 1000 may be utilised instead of bearing retaining plate 10 in any previously described aspect, embodiment, arrangement, system, method, step or vehicle without departing from the scope of the invention. It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A bearing retaining plate for removable connection to a gear for a powertrain, the gear having a retaining portion; wherein the plate comprises:at least one fixing feature for fixing the plate to a housing;one or more formations complementary to the retaining portion of a gear; andwherein the plate is configured to be removably received on the retaining portion by a fixed fit between the one or more formations and the retaining portion of a gear.

2. A bearing retaining plate according to claim 1, wherein the plate is annular.

3. A bearing retaining plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more formationsradially extend towards or away from a point of the plate;each of the one or more formations having a tip; andwherein collectively the tips of the one or more formations define an interfacing surface configured to interface with the retaining portion.

4. A bearing retaining plate, according to claim 3, wherein each tip comprises a taper.

5. A bearing retaining plate, according to claim 4, wherein the taper is at an angle of 3° to 5° inrelation to a longitudinal axis of the plate.

6. A bearing retaining plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more formations are defined by a plurality of tabs ora plurality of cutouts.

7. A bearing retaining plate according to claim 6, wherein:the plurality of tabs are disposed equidistantly spaced in relation to each other around the plate; or the plurality of cutouts are disposed equidistantly spaced in relation to each other around the plate.

8. A bearing retaining plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the plate further comprises one or more lobes that radially extend away or toward a radial centre of the plate; and wherein the one or more lobes have the at least one fixing feature.

9. A bearing retaining plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more formations defines an inner surface of the plate.

10. A gear for a powertrain, the gear suitable to permit removable connection therefrom of a bearing retaining plate having one or more formations;the gear having one or more gear through holes for passing at least a portion of a fixing tool therethrough;the gear having a retaining portion, the retaining portion being disposed on a side of the gear that faces a housing that the gear is located in, in use;the retaining portion having a surface complementary to the one or more formations of a bearing retaining plate; andwherein in use a bearing retaining plate is removably receivable on the retaining portion by a fixed fit between the one or more formations and the retaining portion of the gear.

11. The gear of claim 10, wherein the retaining portion is a tapered surface.

12. A powertrain arrangement, the powertrain arrangement comprising bearing retaining plate according to any of claims 1 to 9, the gear according to claim 10 or 11 and further comprising:a shaft, a bearing, and a housing having a bearing seat and a housing wall;the gear being disposed on the shaft and the shaft extending through the gear;the bearing being disposed on the shaft between the plate and an end of the shaft;the bearing being received in the bearing seat;the plate being fixed to the housing wall by the one or more fixing features; andwherein the bearing is retained in the bearing seat by the plate.

13. A vehicle comprising the powertrain arrangement according to 12.

14. A method of installing a shaft assembly in a housing; the method comprising the steps of:providing a housing having a housing wall and a bearing seat;providing a shaft assembly comprising:a bearing retaining plate:the plate having at least one fixing feature for fixing the plate to a housing; andone or more formations;a gear:the gear having one or more gear through holes for passing at least a portion of a fixing tool therethrough; andthe gear having a retaining portion, the retaining portion being disposed on a side of the gear;a shaft with a bearing on an end of the shaft, wherein the gear is disposed on the shaft and extending through the gear;the one or more formations complementary to the retaining portion of the gear; andwherein the plate is configured to be removably received on the retaining portion by a fixed fit between the one or more formations and the retaining portion of the gear; andthe method comprising the further steps of:removably receiving the plate onto the retaining portion by a fixed fit;inserting the bearing into a bearing seat of the housing;applying a force to the plate to uncouple the plate and gear; andfixing the plate to the housing wall to retain the bearing in the bearing seat.

15. A method according to claim 14, the step of fixing the plate to the housing wall further comprises the steps of:passing at least one bolt through one of the one or more gear through holes, at least partially into the at least one fixing feature and at least partially into a threaded portion of the housing wall; andtighten the bolt to engage a threaded portion of the bolt with the threaded portion of the housing wall to uncouple the plate from the gear; andfixing the plate to the housing wall by tightening the at least one bolt further to fully mount the plate to the housing.

Images