Rolling bearing device and rolling bearing

Abstract

The present invention discloses a rolling bearing device having at least two rolling bearings, at least one surrounding retaining body being arranged between the rolling bearings, the retaining body being fixed in position between the bearing rings by radial sections respectively, and a rolling bearing having a surrounding retaining body, the retaining body serving as an axial limiting structure for the lubricant space. The retaining body is, for example, an I-shaped or flat or L-shaped profile.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rolling bearing device, the rolling bearing device having at least two rolling bearings, the bearing rows of the rolling bearings being respectively arranged in a lubricant space, the bearing rows being respectively defined in the radial direction by two bearing rings, and the axial ends of the bearing rows being respectively defined by sealing elements at their mutually divergent axial ends, and being defined by at least one retaining body for retaining lubricant at their mutually facing axial ends. The present invention also relates to a rolling bearing for such a rolling bearing device. Background Art

[0002] Radial and axial rolling bearings are used to support two objects rotatably relative to each other. A rolling bearing has at least two bearing rings, which can be arranged on the object to be supported and rotate around a common axis. In order to achieve a frictionless relative movement between the bearing rings, rolling bodies are arranged between the bearing rings, which roll or roll on the rolling surfaces of the bearing rings. In radial rolling bearings, the bearing ring arranged on the object to be supported with its inner surface is called the inner ring and the bearing ring arranged on the object to be supported with its outer surface is called the outer ring. The inner ring therefore has a smaller diameter than the outer ring.

[0003] In order to reduce the rolling friction of rolling bearings, linear guides or ball screw drives, ensure the quietest and most uniform operation possible, reduce operating temperatures and achieve low wear, the rolling elements and the running surfaces have surfaces that are as smooth and uniform as possible and are made of hard, low-wear, preferably corrosion-resistant materials. In addition, rolling bearings, linear guides and ball screw drives have lubrication, such as grease lubrication or oil lubrication, in order to further reduce rolling friction.

[0004] It is also known to combine rolling bearings into a multi-row rolling bearing arrangement and to transport them in the fully mounted state, in particular lying flat, since lying flat transport is particularly safe, in particular for particularly large rolling bearings, and the rolling bearings are easier to handle lying flat. For multi-row rolling bearings, lying flat transport often presents the problem that bearing grease can migrate from one bearing row to another due to the influence of gravity and / or temperature and / or vibrations. "Lying flat" here means having a vertically oriented bearing axis of rotation. Such grease migration can lead to problems such as increased friction, temperature peaks, increased bearing internal pressure and / or grease leakage, in particular during the start-up phase of the rolling bearing.

[0005] Furthermore, patent specification DE 10 2015 204 432 A1 discloses a rolling bearing arrangement whose lubricant chamber is substantially separated from adjacent bearing rows by a circumferential I-shaped retaining body or a circumferential U-shaped retaining body. Summary of the invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an improved rolling bearing device and an improved rolling bearing.

[0007] This object is achieved by the rolling bearing arrangement according to the invention and the rolling bearing according to the invention.

[0008] The rolling bearing arrangement has at least two rolling bearings, the bearing rows (or roller rows) of which are respectively arranged in a lubricant space, the bearing rows are respectively defined in the radial direction by two bearing rings and are respectively defined by sealing elements at the axial ends of the bearing rows facing away from each other, and are defined (or delimited) by at least one retaining body for retaining lubricant at the axial ends of the bearing rows facing each other. According to the invention, the retaining bodies are respectively circumferential profiles. The retaining bodies are respectively fixed in position between the bearing rings by radial sections.

[0009] The advantage provided by at least one retaining body is that lubricant, in particular bearing grease, remains in the lubricant space and cannot overflow from one of the lubricant spaces into the other lubricant spaces. This advantage or effect has already been produced in the so-called I-shaped or strip-shaped or flat profile. This is particularly advantageous for transporting rolling bearing devices that are laid flat, because the grease exchange between the bearing rows is usually promoted due to the flat transportation, in particular due to the combined effects of gravity, temperature and vibration. The grease exchange between the bearing rows is prevented or at least limited to a large extent by means of at least one retaining body. The risk of one of the bearing rows running dry is significantly reduced. Therefore, there is no need to relubricate the rolling bearing device. The entry of foreign objects, such as dust or dirt particles, into the lubricant space is significantly reduced by external sealing elements. An exemplary rolling bearing device is, for example, a radial double-row cylindrical roller bearing.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, two retaining bodies are provided, each of which has a circumferential L-shaped profile with an axial section that extends into the lubricant chamber close to the other bearing ring. "Close" here means a smaller radial distance than to the other bearing ring.

[0011] The bearing ring on which the retaining body is held is preferably the outer ring of the rolling bearing, and the other bearing ring is the inner ring of the rolling bearing. This measure simplifies the installation of the rolling element arrangement. The fact that the retaining body is arranged with its free end on the more distant bearing ring, which does not hold the retaining body, and extends into the lubricant space here reduces the resistance between the retaining body and the adjacent bearing ring, and makes the transfer of lubricant or the outflow of lubricant more difficult.

[0012] It is advantageous in terms of device technology if the radial sections are each arranged in an annular groove of the outer ring, which is open toward the corresponding lubricant chamber and axially outward. When the rolling bearing is installed, the retaining body is thus tensioned or clamped between the outer rings.

[0013] If the retaining bodies are positioned relative to one another in such a way that they abut against one another on the back side, the retaining bodies are stabilized. The retaining bodies thus support one another or stabilize one another. A plurality of retaining bodies are preferably constructed as one element, which simplifies installation by correspondingly reducing the number of components. In addition, the one-piece construction reliably excludes the low probability of lubricant accumulating between the retaining bodies in the abutment area.

[0014] The retaining body is designed in such a way that it retains bearing lubricant, in particular bearing grease. The retaining body therefore comprises a material that is resistant to lubricants, for example a suitable metal alloy or a suitable plastic. The retaining body and in particular the radial section of the retaining body advantageously has an open material structure, for example a fabric, knitted fabric or the like, which can accommodate the close-fitting lubricant.

[0015] It is advantageous in terms of production technology if the radial section and the axial section have a constant thickness. The retaining body has, for example, the following dimensions: an outer diameter of 140 mm to 320 mm, an inner diameter of 105 mm to 280 mm and a thickness of 2 mm to 4 mm.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment, the bearing rings are axially spaced apart from each other by an inner intermediate ring and an outer intermediate ring, and the retaining body is clamped between the bearing ring and the intermediate ring. The intermediate rings can be used to adjust the axial length of the rolling bearing without changing the axial dimensions of the bearing rings.

[0017] The rolling bearing according to the invention, in particular the rolling bearing arrangement consisting of at least two such rolling bearings, has a bearing row arranged in a lubricant space. The lubricant space is radially delimited by two bearing rings and by a sealing element at one axial end of the lubricant space and by a retaining body for retaining lubricant at the other axial end. According to the invention, the retaining body is a circumferential profile. The retaining body is fixed in position on one of the bearing rings by its radial section.

[0018] Such rolling bearings make it possible to create rolling bearing arrangements by axially positioning the second rolling bearing, in which an exchange of lubricant between adjacent lubricant spaces is prevented. Furthermore, sealing elements and retaining bodies prevent lubricant from escaping from the lubricant spaces and dirt from entering the lubricant spaces during horizontal transportation or when individual rolling bearings are supported horizontally.

[0019] The retaining body is preferably a circumferential L-shaped profile and adjoins the other bearing ring with an axial section, wherein the axial section extends into the lubricant chamber.

[0020] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the further dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the attached drawings which are simplified to a greater extent. In the drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of a rolling bearing arrangement according to the invention,

[0023] Figure 2 shows a section through the rolling bearing arrangement along the line AA between two adjacent retaining bodies, and

[0024] Figure 3 A longitudinal section through a second exemplary embodiment of a rolling bearing arrangement according to the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Figure 1 A preferred first embodiment of a rolling bearing arrangement 1 according to the invention is shown, which is designed as a double-row cylindrical roller bearing. The rolling bearing arrangement 1 in the embodiment shown here has two radial rolling bearings 2, 4, each with a rolling row. The rolling bearings 2, 4 each have a radially outer outer ring 6a, 6b and a radially rear inner ring 8a, 8b, which are arranged with their rolling bodies 12 between the outer ring and the inner ring. The rolling bearings 2, 4 are oriented axially aligned with respect to the bearing center axis or the rotation axis x and are connected to each other at the end. All the following descriptions, such as "radially inside" and "radially outside", refer to the rotation axis x. The outer rings 6a, 6b abutting against each other and the inner rings 8a, 8b abutting against each other are preferably axially clamped to each other, for example by means of screws (not shown).

[0026] The rolling bodies 1 are cylindrical rollers. The cylindrical rollers roll along the outer ring side rolling surface 14 and along the inner ring side rolling surface 16 between the outer rings 6a, 6b and the inner rings 8a, 8b. In order to prevent the adjacent rolling bodies 12 of the rolling row from contacting each other, the rolling bodies 12 are respectively positioned in the bearing frame 18.

[0027] The outer rings 6a, 6b and the opposing inner rings 8a, 8b define lubricant spaces 20a, 20b, respectively. The lubricant spaces 20a, 20b are filled with lubricant and accommodate the rolling elements 12 via their respective bearing frames 18.

[0028] The lubricant chambers 20a, 20b are delimited axially on the outside on their axial sides facing away from each other by a sealing element 22. The lubricant chambers 20a, 20b are delimited axially on the inside on their axial sides facing each other by a retaining body 24.

[0029] The sealing element 22 has a closed profile that is circumferential and bent multiple times. The sealing element 22 prevents the lubricant from flowing out of the lubricant space 20a, 20b and prevents dirt from entering the lubricant space. The sealing element is respectively placed in the descending step 28 (Zurückstufe) on the outer side of the outer ring through a hook-shaped retaining section 26, flush with the outer surface 30 of the outer ring 6a, 6b. The sealing element 22 extends axially into the lubricant space 20a, 20b with an axial section or a free end section 32 on the radial inner side of the sealing element, so that there is an axial overlap between the circumferential section 32 and the opposing inner surface 34 of the inner ring 8a, 8b. An annular gap 36 is formed between the axial section 32 and the inner surface 34, so that the axial section 32 does not contact the inner ring 8a, 8b. The axial section 32 is thus arranged close to the inner ring 8a, 8b and away from the outer ring 6a, 6b. The annular gap 36 preferably has a height of 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

[0030] The material of the sealing element 22 is resistant to lubricants. The material is, for example, a metal or a metal alloy or a polymer or a plastic mixture.

[0031] The retaining bodies 24a, 24b have a circumferential L-profile. The retaining bodies prevent lubricant from escaping from one lubricant space 20a into the other lubricant space 20b and vice versa. The retaining bodies are arranged with radial sections 38 in annular grooves 40 on the radial inner side of the outer rings 6a, 6b. The annular grooves 40 are respectively constructed in the edge areas of the contact surface 42 and the inner surface 44 of the outer rings 6a, 6b. The annular grooves 40 and the correspondingly assigned retaining bodies 24a, 24b are adapted to each other so that the retaining bodies extend flush with the contact surfaces 42 of the outer rings 6a, 6b with their radial sections 38 in the installed state.

[0032] The retaining bodies 24a, 24b extend into the lubricant chambers 20a, 20b with an axial section or with a radially inner free end 46 of the retaining bodies, respectively, so that there is an axial overlap between the axial section 32 and the opposing inner surface of the inner ring 8a, 8b. An annular gap 50 is formed between the axial section 46 and the inner surface 48, respectively, so that the axial section 46 does not come into contact with the inner ring 8a, 8b. The axial section 46 is thus arranged close to the inner ring 8a, 8b and away from the outer ring 6a, 6b. The annular gap 50 preferably has a height of 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

[0033] In the assembled state of the rolling bearing arrangement 1 , radial sections of the retaining bodies 24 a , 24 b are clamped between the outer rings 6 a , 6 b of the rolling bearings 2 , 4 , wherein the retaining bodies bear against one another at the rear.

[0034] The retaining bodies 24 a , 24 b preferably have a constant thickness D over their radial section 38 and axial section 46 .

[0035] like Figure 2 As shown in the cross-sectional view of the example on the retaining body 24a, the radial section 38 is at least composed of an open material structure, such as a fabric, knitted fabric, mesh, etc. for accommodating the lubricant. The material of the retaining bodies 24a, 24b is resistant to the lubricant. The material is, for example, a metal or a metal alloy or a polymer or a plastic mixture.

[0036] exist Figure 3 A second embodiment of a rolling bearing arrangement according to the invention with two L-shaped retaining bodies 24a, 24b is shown in FIG. Figure 1 and Figure 3 Corresponding reference numerals in the drawings denote the same elements.

[0037] According to Figure 1 The embodiment is different in that, according to Figure 3 In the second embodiment, the outer bearing rings 6a, 6b and the inner bearing rings 8a, 8b are axially spaced apart from each other by the outer intermediate ring 52 and the inner intermediate ring 54. The second embodiment thus has a larger axial dimension than the first embodiment with the same bearing rings.

[0038] The retaining bodies 24a, 24b are clamped or fixed with their axial sections 32 between the outer bearing rings 6a, 6b and the outer intermediate ring 52. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the two retaining bodies 24a, 24b do not lie against each other at the back, but rather a circumferential gap 56 is created between the two retaining bodies. In order to prevent lubricant from entering the gap 56, the inner intermediate ring 52 is radially guided to the retaining bodies 24a, 26b and lies against them.

[0039] The present invention discloses a rolling bearing device having at least two rolling bearings, at least one surrounding retaining body being arranged between the rolling bearings, the retaining body being fixed in position between the bearing rings by radial sections respectively, and a rolling bearing having a surrounding retaining body, the retaining body serving as an axial limiting structure for the lubricant space. The retaining body is, for example, an I-shaped or flat or L-shaped profile.

[0040] Reference numerals list

[0041] 1 Rolling bearing device

[0042] 2 Rolling bearings

[0043] 4 Rolling bearings

[0044] 6a, 6b Outer ring / bearing ring

[0045] 8a, 8b Inner ring / bearing ring

[0046] 12 Rolling elements

[0047] 14 Rolling surface

[0048] 16 Rolling surface

[0049] 18 Bearing frame

[0050] 20a, 20b Lubricant space

[0051] 22 Sealing element

[0052] 24a, 24b Retention body

[0053] 26 Holding section

[0054] 28 Descending Step

[0055] 30 External surface

[0056] 32 Axial section / free end section

[0057] 34 Inner surface

[0058] 36 Annular gap

[0059] 38 radial segments

[0060] 40 Annular groove

[0061] 42 Contact surface

[0062] 44 Inner surface

[0063] 46 Axial section / free end section

[0064] 48 Inner surface

[0065] 50 Annular gap

[0066] 52 Outer intermediate ring

[0067] 54 Inner middle ring

[0068] 56 Gap

[0069] D Thickness

[0070] X Bearing center axis / rotation axis

Claims

1. A rolling bearing device (1), comprising at least two rolling bearings (2, 4), wherein the bearing rows of the rolling bearings are respectively arranged in lubricant spaces (20a, 20b), the bearing rows are respectively defined in the radial direction by two bearing rings and are respectively defined by sealing elements (22) at the axial ends of the bearing rows facing away from each other and are respectively defined by at least one retaining body (24a, 24b) for retaining lubricant at the axial ends of the bearing rows facing each other, characterized in that: The at least one retaining body (24a, 24b) is a circumferential profile, wherein the retaining body is fixed in position between the bearing rings by means of radial sections (38), wherein the bearing rings are axially spaced apart from one another by means of an outer intermediate ring (52) and an inner intermediate ring (54), and the retaining bodies (24a, 24b) are clamped between the bearing rings and the intermediate rings (52, 54), respectively.

2. The rolling bearing device according to claim 1, wherein: Two retaining bodies (24a, 24b) are provided, each of which is a circumferential L-shaped profile and extends with its mutually facing axial sections close to the corresponding outer ring or inner ring into the lubricant chamber (20a, 20b).

3. The rolling bearing device according to claim 2, wherein: The bearing ring on which the retaining body (24a, 24b) is held is the outer ring of the rolling bearing (2, 4) and the corresponding bearing ring is the inner ring of the rolling bearing (2, 4).

4. The rolling bearing device according to claim 3, wherein: The radial sections (38) are each inserted into an annular groove (40) of the outer ring, which is open toward the respective lubricant chamber (20a, 20b) and is open axially outward.

5. The rolling bearing device according to claim 2, wherein: The retaining bodies (24a, 24b) are positioned relative to one another in such a way that they bear against one another on the rear side.

6. The rolling bearing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: At least radial sections of the retaining bodies (24a, 24b) have an open material structure in some regions for accommodating lubricant.

7. The rolling bearing device according to claim 2, wherein: The radial section (38) and the axial section (46) have a constant thickness (D).

8. A rolling bearing (2, 4), which is used in a rolling bearing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing row of the rolling bearing is arranged in a lubricant space (20a, 20b), the bearing row is radially defined by two bearing rings and is defined at one axial end of the bearing row by a sealing element (22) and at the other axial end of the bearing row by a retaining body (24a, 24b) for retaining lubricant, wherein: The retaining body (24a, 24b) is a circumferential profile and is fixed in position on one of the bearing rings by a radial section (38).

9. The rolling bearing (2, 4) according to claim 8, wherein: The retaining body (24a, 24b) is a circumferential L-shaped profile and extends with an axial section (46) into the lubricant chamber (20a, 20b) close to the other bearing ring.

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