A device introduced into a bearing for an agricultural machine or implement.

Description

1 / 13 “ARRANGEMENT INTRODUCED IN A BEARING FOR AN AGRICULTURAL MACHINE OR IMPLEMENT” FIELD OF INVENTION

[001] The present invention belongs to the field of agricultural machinery and implements, applying to bearings intended to support and guide shafts associated with active agricultural work units, such as discs, knives, blades, rollers, rods, compacting wheels or functionally equivalent elements, used in soil preparation, management or cultivation operations, including, but not limited to, disc harrows.

[002] The main difference of the present invention, in relation to bearings known in the prior art, lies in the fact that it has an internal structure with conjugated curved surfaces that form a tilting / spherical articulation, which confers a greater degree of mechanical freedom to the bearing in relation to the shaft that passes through it. In this way, it is possible to correct any misalignments in the disc sections, reducing or eliminating overloads resulting from these misalignments. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[003] Bearings for agricultural implements that operate with rotating elements interacting with the soil are well known in the state of the art, comprising a mechanical assembly designed to support and guide the rotational movement of the shaft or hub that carries rotating elements interacting with the soil, ensuring the transmission of forces between the active working elements in the soil and the implement structure, with friction control, sealing against contaminants and the possibility of assembly and maintenance. Petition 870260007860, dated 01 / 27 / 2026, page 6 / 28 2 / 13 suitable. This bearing comprises a bearing assembly, sealing elements, mounting arrangements to the chassis and axle, and to the axle carrying the elements for interaction with the ground.

[004] The typical construction of a bearing for agricultural implements consists of a metal housing, usually made of steel or cast iron, dimensioned to withstand radial, axial, and bending forces imposed by the machine's work in the field. This housing internally defines a cylindrical recess in which the bearing unit is mounted. In several solutions known in the state of the art, this unit takes the form of a multi-row bearing assembly, for example, a double-row angular contact ball bearing, mounted between a rotating or stationary outer ring and a pair of inner rings mounted side-by-side on the shaft. The housing can be fixed to the implement structure by means of flanges with through holes, machined bearing surfaces, or external protrusions suitable for welding or bolting, ensuring load transfer to the main structure of the implement.

[005] Inside the housing, the bearing unit is responsible for allowing relative rotation between the axis of the element interacting with the ground and the housing. In a configuration widely used in agricultural implements, the outer ring of the bearing is held in axial and radial position by interference with the inner wall of the housing, while the inner rings are mounted on a trunnion or shaft integral to the tube or bar that supports the series of discs, or directly to a hub that carries a single disc. Petition 870260007860, dated 01 / 27 / 2026, page 7 / 28 3 / 13 independent. Between the inner and outer rings are arranged two rows of rolling elements, often spheres, allowing the bearing to simultaneously support high radial loads, resulting from the penetration and displacement of the elements interacting with the ground, and significant axial loads, associated with the angle of attack of the elements and the lateral reaction of the ground, in addition to bending moments resulting from the distance between the plane of action of the forces and the bearing support plane.

[006] The bearing's operation during field operation can be described based on the flow of forces and the kinematics of the components. When the implement structure is in operation, each cutting disc penetrates the soil under the action of the implement's own weight and the traction force transmitted by the tractor. The soil exerts radial forces on the disc, tending to push it towards the chassis, and axial forces, resulting from the angle of the disc relative to the line of travel. These forces are transmitted from the disc to the hub or support shaft, and from there to the inner rings of the bearing. The rolling elements distribute these forces over the raceways of the inner and outer rings, converting sliding contact into rolling contact and reducing energy dissipation by friction. Then, the outer ring transmits the forces to the housing, which in turn directs them to the implement's crossbeams and longitudinal members.

[007] In many hub designs for independent soil preparation discs, the outer bearing ring is integral with the hub that rotates with the disc, and the inner rings are fixed to the stationary shaft attached to the chassis. In others, Petition 870260007860, dated 01 / 27 / 2026, page 8 / 28 4 / 13 The function is reversed: the inner ring rotates together with the shaft, while the outer ring remains attached to the housing, which is fixed by flanges to the disc-bearing arm. In both cases, the operating principle is the same: the bearing unit maintains proper alignment between shaft and housing, limits radial and axial play, and allows smooth rotation of the disc assembly around its geometric axis, even under shocks, vibrations, and contamination by solid particles.

[008] A relevant aspect of the operation of agricultural bearings is the sealing and lubrication regime. As the component operates in an environment of loose soil, moisture, plant debris and, frequently, chemicals, the seal design aims to prevent the entry of abrasive particles and the loss of lubricant. The state of the art also includes hub units for cultivation discs, which describe sealing arrangements that combine rubber rings, lip-type seals, axial and radial labyrinths and protective metal caps, forming tortuous paths for the entry of contaminants. In "grease-lubricated" bearings, the interior of the unit is filled with grease, and the seal is designed to retain this lubricant.In "oil-immersed" or "oil bath" type bearings, the housing is configured as a reservoir partially filled with lubricating oil; during rotation, the internal elements are immersed in the oil and distribute it to the raceways and rolling elements, with the seal designed to prevent leaks and the entry of water and particles.

[009] The dynamic behavior of the unit during operation is influenced by the type of bearing used. Petition 870260007860, dated 01 / 27 / 2026, page 9 / 28 5 / 13 Double-row angular contact ball bearings, such as those used in agricultural hubs from specialized manufacturers, are capable of withstanding high combinations of radial and axial loads in both directions and exhibit adequate rigidity to maintain disc positioning. In certain solutions described in patents, the unit also includes an elastic body interposed radially between the hub and the outer ring of the bearing, forming a damping element that absorbs impacts and vibrations transmitted by the disc to the shaft and frame. This allows the bearing to function not only as a rotational support but also as a shock-filtering element, reducing load peaks on the rolling elements and chassis, which contributes to increasing the service life of the assembly.

[0010] Some agricultural implement bearings integrate, within the housing, engagement and articulation elements with the implement's own structure. An example described in patents such as US patent 2,877,067 “Bearing construction” filed on March 10, 1953, and Brazilian document BR 102018070611-0 entitled “Assembly of oscillating bearing and improved bearing support for connecting it to agricultural equipment” filed on October 5, 2018, comprises a bearing housing incorporating engagement members, such as diametrically opposed protrusions or plates with holes, positioned near the bearing, intended to couple to the implement's bars or intermediate supports. In this type of construction, the bearing is not only a rotating support but also a structural element connecting sections of the implement, transmitting movements and allowing controlled articulation according to the irregularities of the terrain. Petition 870260007860, dated 01 / 27 / 2026, page 10 / 28 6 / 13 land .

[0011] Although they function relatively satisfactorily, bearings known in the prior art have a number of disadvantages, including high sensitivity to angular deviations between the shaft carrying the ground interaction elements and the support structure, so that small misalignments resulting from chassis or axle deformations, assembly inaccuracies or wear of structural components generate load concentrations on the bearing races and rolling elements, increasing contact stresses, accelerating surface and internal fatigue and increasing the probability of cracks, spalling and premature seizure.In order to compensate for this limitation, it becomes common to oversize the assembly, increasing the diameter and width of the bearings, thickening the housing walls, and enlarging the shaft sections. This results in additional mass, greater rotational inertia, increased drag resistance torque, and increased forces transmitted to the chassis mounting points. Furthermore, it increases material consumption, manufacturing and replacement costs, and the implement's weight without effectively addressing the root functional problem, which is the bearing's inability to accommodate misalignments in a controlled manner.On the other hand, articulated solutions known in the state of the art, which seek to allow additional degrees of freedom between the housing and the support or between the shaft and the structure, generally employ a large number of components, such as spherical bushings, intermediate bearings, support washers, spacer rings, multiple seal assemblies, and fasteners. Petition 870260007860, dated 01 / 27 / 2026, page 11 / 28 7 / 13 additional, which increases machining time, the number of heat treatment and assembly operations, the need for strict dimensional control to avoid excessive clearances or unwanted interferences, and the number of interfaces susceptible to wear and clearances throughout the service life, resulting in higher production and maintenance costs and greater logistical complexity for spare parts.

[0012] Thus, the objective of the present invention is to provide an arrangement introduced in a bearing for agricultural implements including, but not limited to, disc harrows, in which the inner body of the bearing is a subassembly of conjugate curved surfaces that form a tilting / spherical joint, which allows a greater degree of mechanical freedom for this subassembly in relation to the support on which it is mounted.

[0013] It is also an objective of the present invention to provide an arrangement introduced in a bearing for agricultural implements, which has the bearings mounted in an inverted manner in the median portion of the housing, with the bearings side by side, which reduces the thickness and size of the housing.

[0014] It is additionally an objective of the present invention to provide an arrangement introduced in a bearing for agricultural implements including, but not limited to, disc harrows, which has permanently lubricated bearings that employ lubricants developed for operation at high temperatures, exhibiting high thermal stability and resistance to degradation.

[0015] Finally, the objective of the present invention is to provide an arrangement introduced in a bearing for Petition 870260007860, dated 01 / 27 / 2026, page 12 / 28 8 / 13 agricultural implements including, but not limited to, disc harrows, that are easy to build, maintain, and cost-competitive.

[0016] These and other advantages and benefits are achieved by the present arrangement, which is distinguished by having a subset of internal structure with partially spherical or functionally equivalent geometry coupled to a support, which confers a greater degree of mechanical freedom to the bearing in relation to the shaft that passes through it. In this way, it becomes possible to compensate for any misalignments in the shaft carrying the elements of interaction with the ground, reducing or eliminating overloads resulting from these misalignments.

[0017] The bearing also features bearings mounted in an inverted manner in the middle portion of the housing, arranged side by side, which reduces the thickness and size of the housing, with a consequent decrease in mass and better dimensional utilization of the assembly.

[0018] Additionally, the bearing uses permanently lubricated bearings that employ a lubricant developed for operation at high temperatures, exhibiting high thermal stability and resistance to degradation, increasing the reliability of the assembly and reducing the need for relubrication.

[0019] The proposed construction arrangement ultimately provides easy construction and maintenance, with competitive costs, simplifying manufacturing, facilitating field interventions and contributing to the reduction of the total cost of ownership of the equipment. Petition 870260007860, dated 01 / 27 / 2026, page 13 / 28 9 / 13 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0020] The invention will be better described based on the attached drawings, given by way of example, in a possible form of idealization, in which:

[0021] Figure 01 - Represents a front perspective view of the arrangement introduced in a bearing for agricultural implements, object of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 02 - Represents a side plan view in section of the arrangement introduced in a bearing for agricultural implements, object of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 03 - Represents a front plan view of the arrangement introduced in a bearing for agricultural implements, object of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 04 - Represents an exploded perspective view of the arrangement introduced in a bearing for agricultural implements, the subject of the present invention. PREFERRED CONFIGURATION

[0025] According to the drawings and figures described above, the invention relates to a bearing assembly for agricultural implements including, but not limited to, disc harrows, designed to support and guide the shaft of the elements interacting with the soil and, at the same time, accommodate misalignments resulting from assembly tolerances, deformations of shafts and chassis during operation, and load variations during interaction with the soil. As indicated in the drawing, the bearing is conceived as a two-part body composed of a front housing and a rear housing, associated with upper and lower articulation supports of the functional tilting / spherical type and a coupling support to the implement chassis, so as to form a Petition 870260007860, dated 01 / 27 / 2026, p. 14 / 28 10 / 13 single module that can be fixed to the chassis and that internally receives the axle hub, bearings, sealing elements and a bearing separation plate. In the perspective view of the assembly, the upper articulation support (01) and the front (02a) and rear (02b) support washers are observed as immediate external interfaces to the assembly.

[0026] The external construction of the bearing is structured to combine rigidity and angular accommodation capacity. The upper (01) and lower (08) articulation supports constitute the support and linkage regions of the bearing body, allowing the assembly to work with a degree of mechanical freedom in relation to the axis that passes through it, reducing the transmission of parasitic moments to the bearings when there is misalignment between the plane of the elements interacting with the ground and the chassis reference. This articulation, in addition to reducing concentrated forces, tends to stabilize the operation over time, as it minimizes abnormal heating and undue radial and axial loads typical of rigid assemblies in implements subject to vibration and impacts.The coupling support on the implement chassis (09) acts as a fixing base, concentrating the module mounting points on the chassis and providing a seating geometry that facilitates assembly, maintenance and replacement in the field.

[0027] The front (02a) and rear (02b) support washers cooperate as support and protection elements at the ends, helping to compose the contact interface and, depending on the configuration adopted, may also contribute to the axial positioning of the assembly, for the Petition 870260007860, dated 01 / 27 / 2026, page 15 / 28 11 / 13 protection against peripheral impacts and for improving the flow of contaminants, by reducing direct particle entry zones.

[0028] Inside the assembly, the main function of the front housing (03) and the rear housing (04) is to house the bearings (06) and form the sealing and support seats for the shaft hub (05). As the exploded view shows, between the front housing (03), the rear housing (04), the shaft hub (05), there are two bearings (06), the lower articulation support (08), the sealing elements (07) and the bearing separation plate (10).

[0029] The axle hub (05) is the component that couples to the axle that passes through the bearing, serving as a load transmission piece and geometric reference for the inner races of the bearings. In operation, radial loads from soil resistance and interaction with the elements and axial loads generated by lateral stress components are transferred from the axle to the hub (05), and from there to the bearings (06), which distribute them to the housing seats (03, 04). The split into front and rear housings allows for controlled assembly, with better accessibility to bearings, seals and fasteners, reducing maintenance time and allowing inspections without the need for extensive disassembly of the rest of the implement.

[0030] A relevant functional aspect of the assembly is the arrangement of the bearings (06) in the median portion of the housing, arranged adjacently or substantially side by side, mounted in an inverted manner, with the cones oriented towards each other. This configuration tends to reduce the Petition 870260007860, dated 01 / 27 / 2026, p. 16 / 28 12 / 13 total thickness of the assembly and the effective length of the housing, as it concentrates the load-bearing capacity in a compact central region, reducing internal lever arms and contributing to the overall rigidity of the module. From a tribological point of view, the controlled proximity between bearings improves the predictability of the load path and favors a more stable internal alignment, provided there is adequate separation to avoid lubrication interference, excessive heating and unwanted transfer of forces between raceways. It is at this point that the bearing separation plate (10) acts as a spacer and organizer, maintaining the defined distance between the two bearings (06), contributing to the integrity of the mounting arrangement and to the dimensional stability of the internal stacking.In practice, the plate (10) helps to ensure that each bearing works in the expected condition, avoiding accidental preloads resulting from accumulated tolerances and facilitating assembly repeatability between manufactured units.

[0031] Protection against contaminants is ensured by sealing elements (07) arranged to isolate the interior of the bearing from the external environment, which in agricultural implements is typically laden with dust, moisture, abrasive particles and plant debris. The sealing elements (07), positioned between the shaft / hub entry regions and the housings, form barriers against particle intrusion and lubricant loss, extending the service life of the bearings (06). In conjunction with the proposal for permanently lubricated bearings that employ lubricants developed for operation in high Petition 870260007860, dated 01 / 27 / 2026, page 17 / 28 Operating at 13 / 13 temperatures, exhibiting high thermal stability and resistance to degradation, the system reduces the need for frequent relubrication, minimizes leaks, and decreases the formation of preferential contamination paths, which is especially advantageous in prolonged operations and under thermal variations. The combination of effective sealing and permanent lubrication tends to reduce failures due to premature wear, moisture corrosion, and lubricant film degradation, increasing the reliability of the assembly and reducing unscheduled downtime.

[0032] Although only one constructive form for the arrangement introduced in a bearing for agricultural implements has been described, it is obvious that any changes in forms or arrangements may occur without departing from the scope of one or more claims accompanying this descriptive report. Petition 870260007860, dated 01 / 27 / 2026, page 18 / 28

Claims

1 / 3 CLAIM 1. ARRANGEMENT INTRODUCED IN A BEARING FOR AN AGRICULTURAL MACHINE OR IMPLEMENT characterized by: a. Having a bearing housing (03, 04) configured to house at least one axle hub (05) and at least two bearings (06), wherein said bearing housing is associated with at least one upper articulation support (01) and at least one lower articulation support (08), said supports and bearing housing being provided with conjugate curved surfaces, of partially spherical or functionally equivalent geometry, which cooperate with each other in order to define a tilting / spherical articulation integrated into the bearing housing, conferring to the bearing housing controlled angular freedom in relation to the shaft that passes through it, capable of accommodating angular misalignments during the operation of the implement, wherein said bearings (06) are arranged adjacently or substantially side by side in a median region of the bearing housing and mounted in an inverted manner,with their faces with the highest load capacity oriented towards each other, so as to form a compact assembly capable of supporting simultaneous radial and axial loads, with a reduction in load concentrations resulting from structural misalignments; b. The bearing body comprises a front housing (03) and a rear housing (04), configured in a split manner, allowing the assembly and disassembly of the assembly without removing the implement axle; Petition 870260070327, dated 07 / 15 / 2026, p. 6 / 10, 2 / 3 c. The tilting / spherical articulation allows limited angular tilting of the bearing body in at least two orthogonal planes, maintaining the load transmission essentially centered on the bearings; d. Comprising a spacer plate (10) disposed between the bearings (06), which defines the axial spacing between them and prevents the application of unwanted preloads resulting from assembly tolerances; e. The bearings (06) being of the angular contact bearing type, capable of supporting high radial loads combined with axial loads in both directions; f. The bearings (06) being provided with permanent lubrication, using lubricants developed for operation at high temperatures, with high thermal stability and resistance to degradation; g.Understanding sealing elements (07) arranged between the bearing body and the shaft hub, configured to prevent the entry of abrasive particles and the loss of lubricant during operation in an agricultural environment; h. The bearing body includes a coupling support to the implement chassis (09) configured to transmit structural loads to the chassis, keeping the tilting / spherical joint functionally uncoupled from rigid fastening forces; i. The integrated tilting / spherical joint reduces bending moments transmitted to the bearings, increasing the service life of the assembly and reducing Petition 870260070327, dated 07 / 15 / 2026, page 7 / 10. 3 / 3 need for structural oversizing of the bearing. Petition 870260070327, dated 07 / 15 / 2026, page 8 / 10

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