Bearing cage for roller bearing
By arranging multiple recesses and/or tapered notches on the ring element of the bearing cage to increase its radial flexibility, the problem in the prior art that it is difficult to increase the load carrying capacity of the bearing cage and insert larger rollers is solved, achieving It improves the load carrying capacity and simplifies the installation process while the bearing height remains unchanged.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202410948668.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-07-19
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-21
AI Technical Summary
The existing bearing cages for tapered roller bearings are difficult to maintain the narrow design of the bearing when increasing the bearing load bearing capacity, and it is difficult to insert larger rollers during installation due to radial height limitations.
Design a bearing cage that increases the radial flexibility of the ring elements by providing a plurality of recesses and/or tapered notches on at least one ring element so that a higher step can be formed between the radially outer diameters of the inner rings , thus pushing the roller over the raceway lower than the normal position.
It is possible to increase the load carrying capacity of the bearing while maintaining the same height of the bearing, and simplify the installation process of larger rollers.
Smart Images
Figure CN119333479A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to a bearing cage for a roller bearing according to the preamble of claim 1 . Background Art
[0002] Cages for tapered roller bearings, for example in bearing units for wheel bearings of vehicles, usually have two ring elements connected together via a plurality of webs, wherein the ring elements and the webs form pockets designed to guide and retain the tapered rollers. The bearing unit usually comprises an outer ring and an inner ring, wherein the inner ring is provided with a retaining flange on the axial inner end, the retaining flange being configured to retain the rolling elements in the raceway. Usually, the clip ring region, in which the two inner rings are held together via a clip ring, is positioned adjacent to the retaining flange. However, in order to mount the cage provided with the rollers, it may be necessary to push the cage over the clip ring region and the retaining flange so that the cage rests in front of the retaining flange. However, bearing cages have only limited radial flexibility / expandability, even when they are made of glass fiber reinforced plastic.
[0003] The radial height through which the bearing cage provided with the rollers has to be pushed is determined firstly by the radial height of the clamping ring area and the retaining flange and secondly by the radial material thickness of the inner ring in the raceway area. Depending on the design of the bearing unit, it may be necessary that the material thickness in this area does not fall below a certain value, because, for example, the inner ring is constructed as a two-part ring, wherein the two ring parts are firmly connected together by means of a clamping ring, wherein the clamping ring is received in a groove formed in the area of the inner ring in which the retaining flange is also located.
[0004] For example, the diameter of the rollers can be increased in order to increase the load rating of the bearing. However, in order to be able to insert larger rollers together with the cage into the bearing, in some cases it is necessary to reduce the above-mentioned radial height through which the bearing cage provided with the rollers must be pushed. To this end, the material thickness of the raceway can be slightly reduced, but without reducing the radial diameter in the area of the clamping ring and the retaining flange, thereby producing a step higher relative to the raceway, which cannot be overcome by known cages whose dimensions are designed for positioning the rollers on the raceway. In other words, maintaining the material thickness counteracts the increase in the load-bearing capacity of the bearing while maintaining the radial height that must be overcome and is determined by the flexibility of the cage.
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bearing cage for a roller bearing which allows the load carrying capacity of the bearing to be increased. Summary of the invention
[0006] This object is achieved by a bearing cage for a roller bearing according to technical solution 1.
[0007] A bearing cage for a roller bearing, in particular a bearing cage for a tapered roller bearing, is provided below. The bearing cage has at least one first ring element with a first diameter and at least one second ring element with a second diameter, which are connected to each other via a plurality of webs. The ring elements and the webs form pockets designed to guide and retain rolling bodies. The second diameter can in particular be greater than the first diameter. As a further alternative, the second diameter can also be equal to the first diameter. The roller bearing can have an outer ring and an inner ring, wherein the outer ring and the inner ring each have a raceway on which the rolling bodies can roll. Preferably, the inner ring region is constructed in two parts, wherein the two inner ring parts are connected together by means of a clamping ring. For this purpose, in particular, a groove can be provided on the radial inner face of the inner ring part, into which the clamping ring can be inserted. Furthermore, the bearing cage can be made of a plastic material, in particular, the bearing cage can be made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material. For example, the bearing cage can be made of fiber-reinforced polyamide PA 66.
[0008] In order to design the bearing cage in a flexible manner on at least one ring element side in radial diameter so that the rolling elements inserted into the cage can be pulled over a higher step between the radial outer diameter of the inner ring onto a raceway located below normal, the first ring element has at least one first recess in the outer edge region and / or in the inner edge region, which is configured so that the diameter of the first ring element can be changed. For example, at least one recess can be configured in the radial edge region and / or in the axial edge region. In particular, the diameter of the first ring element can be changed in an elastic manner. In other words, the diameter can return to its original size after it has been pulled over the step. As a result, larger rolling elements can be inserted into the interior of the bearing, which increase the load-bearing capacity of the bearing while maintaining a narrow design of the bearing.
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the first ring element has at least one second recess, which is constructed in an edge region opposite to the edge region in which the at least one first recess is constructed. For example, when the at least one first recess is arranged in the radially outer region of the ring element, the at least one second recess can be arranged in the radially inner region of the first ring element, and vice versa. In addition, when the at least one first recess is arranged in the axially outer region of the ring element, the at least one second recess can be arranged in the axially inner region of the first ring element, and vice versa. In particular, at least one first recess and at least one second recess can be U-shaped. The radial flexibility of the first ring element can be further increased by the first recess and the second recess extending in different radial directions.
[0010] In the case where at least one first recess is arranged in a radially outer region and / or a radially inner region of the first ring element, at least one first recess may extend through the first ring element in an axial direction. As another option, in the case where at least one first recess is arranged in an axially outer region and / or an axially inner region of the first ring element, at least one first recess may extend through the first ring element in a radial direction. In particular, at least one recess may be configured as a radial incision extending over the entire axial range of the first ring element or the entire radial range of the first ring element. This allows further increasing the flexibility of the first ring element. In particular, a plurality of recesses may be arranged adjacent to each other so that the recesses in the first ring element form a wave-shaped pattern or a meandering spring structure having radial slots or axial slots.
[0011] Preferably, the depth of at least one first recess and the depth of at least one second recess overlap. In other words, depending on the direction in which the at least one recess is formed, both the at least one first recess and the at least one second recess extend over at least half of the thickness of the first ring element in the radial direction or the axial direction. This allows the rigidity of the first ring element to be reduced to a certain extent, whereby the diameter of the first ring element can be more easily enlarged.
[0012] Furthermore, at least one first recess and at least one second recess may be configured to be adjacent to each other on the circumference. For example, at least one first recess and at least one second recess may be configured in groups. Furthermore, more than one first recess may be configured as a group with the second recess, or more than one second recess may be configured as a group with the first recess. In particular, two first recesses and one second recess may be provided, wherein the second recess is provided between the two first recesses in the circumferential direction. Since the recesses are provided alternately from the outside and the inside in the first ring element of the cage, the flexibility of the ring element may be further increased, so that the rolling element may be pushed over the obstacles of the clamping ring area or the retaining flange more easily, and when the rolling element reaches the raceway, the ring element may spring back again to the original diameter to bring the rolling element in the bearing into the actual raceway area, so that the cage may perform its roller guiding function in the original sense.
[0013] Preferably, at least one first recess and at least one second recess are configured in the region of the cell. The rigidity of the first ring element is lower in the region of the cell (i.e. between the two webs) so that a sufficient increase in flexibility can be achieved by one or more recesses.
[0014] According to a further preferred embodiment, at least one recess is configured as a tapering notch extending through the first ring element in the axial direction. In particular, the notch can be of V-shaped design. When the bearing cage is inserted into the tapered roller bearing, it is preferred that the notch is configured in the region of the web in the vicinity of the small roller end. Advantageously, the notch can extend in the axial direction beyond the ring element to the web, or the notch is formed only on the web. The notch makes it possible to hold the first ring element of the cage rigidly, as in a cage without recesses, but to make the cage web more flexible, in particular in the region of the small end of the rolling element.
[0015] Preferably, the notch extends in the axial direction at least as far as the contact point of the rolling element with the web. This makes it possible to reduce the wall thickness of the web radially outwards from the contact point, whereby the contact surface of the web with the rolling element has a lower rigidity, so that the end of the rolling element located in this area can slide radially upward to a certain extent by slight deformation of the web. As another alternative or in addition, a central axially extending slot can also be provided in at least one web, whereby the rigidity of the contact surface of the web with the rolling element can be reduced.
[0016] Preferably, the first ring element is provided with a plurality of recesses which are arranged to be evenly distributed over the circumference. For example, the first ring element can have both a notch in the region of the web and a group of a first recess and a second recess in the region of the cell. This makes it possible to increase the flexibility of the first ring element and also to reduce the rigidity of the web in the region of the contact surface with the rolling elements, making it easier to push the cage provided with the rolling elements through the clamping ring region and the retaining flange.
[0017] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments are specified in the description, the drawings and the claims. In particular, the combinations of features specified in the description and the drawings are only by way of example, so that the features may also exist alone or in different combinations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiments and the combinations shown in the exemplary embodiments are merely exemplary and are not intended to specify the scope of protection of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.
[0019] In the attached picture:
[0020] Figure 1 : shows a bearing retainer according to a first embodiment,
[0021] Figure 2 : shows a bearing cage according to a second embodiment, and
[0022] Figure 3 : shows a bearing retainer according to a third embodiment.
[0023] Reference numerals list
[0024] 1 Bearing cage
[0025] 2 First ring element
[0026] 4 Second ring element
[0027] 6. Belly
[0028] 8 Rolling elements
[0029] 10 First recess
[0030] 12 Second recess
[0031] 14 Gap
[0032] d diameter
[0033] t Radial depth DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] In the following, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.
[0035] Figure 1 A bearing cage 1 for a roller bearing (not shown) according to a first embodiment is shown. Figure 1 In the embodiment of the present invention, the roller bearing is a tapered roller bearing which can be used, for example, in a bearing unit of a wheel bearing arrangement.
[0036] The bearing cage has at least one first ring element 2 with a first diameter d and at least one second ring element 4 with a second diameter, which are connected together via a plurality of webs 6. The ring elements 2, 4 and the webs 6 form pockets which in each case accommodate rolling elements 8, in particular tapered rollers. Figure 1 , a tapered roller bearing is shown, so the first diameter d of the first ring element 2 is smaller than the second diameter of the second ring element 4. Therefore, the first ring element can also be denoted as a small ring element. In use, the first ring element is located in the axial inner region of the roller bearing.
[0037] exist Figure 1 In the bearing retainer 1 shown in FIG. 1 , the first ring element 2 has a plurality of first recesses 10 disposed in a radially outer region of the first ring element 2 and a plurality of second recesses 12 disposed in a radially inner region of the first ring element 2. Figure 1 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the first recess 10 and the second recess 12 are arranged in groups, wherein one group is composed of a first recess 10 and two second recesses 12. In the circumferential direction, the first recess is located between the two second recesses. Figure 1 In the embodiment, the recess group is arranged in the region of the cell, i.e. between two webs 6. Of course, it is also possible to provide only the first recess 10 or only the second recess 12 or a recess group consisting of the first recess 10 and the second recess 12 or more than three recesses 10, 12. Preferably, the recess group or the recesses 10, 12 are arranged to be evenly distributed over the circumference.
[0038] The recesses 10, 12 extend through the first ring element 2 in the axial direction and are configured, for example, as U-shaped radial incisions extending over the entire axial extent of the first ring element 2. The radial depths of the first recess 10 and the second recess 12 are selected such that the radial depth of the first recess 10 and the radial depth of the second recess 12 overlap. In other words, both the first recess 10 and the second recess 12 extend in the radial direction over at least half of the radial extent of the first ring element 2.
[0039] The recesses 10, 12 have the following advantages in particular: they make it possible to change the diameter d of the first ring element 2 in a resilient manner, whereby the first ring element 2 can be pulled over a step formed on the inner ring (which can be a retaining flange, for example) and then still return to its original size. Thus, larger rolling elements can be inserted into the interior of the bearing, which increase the load-carrying capacity of the bearing while maintaining a narrow design of the bearing.
[0040] As another option, the recesses 10, 12 can also be designed in the axial direction instead of in the radial direction, such as Figure 1 In this case, recesses configured in the first ring element from the axial inner direction (i.e. from the roller cells) alternate with recesses configured in the first ring element 2 from the axial outer direction (i.e. from the front side of the first ring element 2). The desired flexibility of the ring element 2 can also be achieved by such a spring structure.
[0041] Figure 2 A bearing cage 1 for a roller bearing (not shown) according to a second embodiment is shown. Figure 2 Bearing cage and Figure 1 The bearing cage 1 of FIG. 1 is different in that a conical notch 14 is formed instead of the recesses 10 , 12 . The notch 14 can be formed in a V-shaped manner, for example. Figure 2 As can be seen in the figure, the notch 14 extends in the axial direction through the first ring element 2 and beyond the ring element 2 to the web 6. As another alternative, the notch 14 can also be simply formed on the web 6. In the axial direction, the notch 14 extends at least as far as the contact point of the roller bearing 8 with the web 6.
[0042] The recess 14 enables the first ring element 2 of the cage 1 to remain sufficiently rigid, as in a cage without recesses, but makes the cage web 6 more flexible in the end region of the rolling elements 8. The axial extension of the recess 14 beyond the ring element 2 to the web 6 enables the wall thickness of the web 6 to decrease radially outwards from the contact point, whereby the contact surface of the web 6 with the rolling elements 8 has a lower rigidity, so that when the cage 1 is pulled over the retaining flange, the ends of the rolling elements 8 located in this region can slide radially upwards to a certain extent.
[0043] Figure 3 A bearing cage 1 for a roller bearing (not shown) according to a third embodiment is shown. Figure 2 Bearing cage and Figure 2 The bearing cage 1 is different in that, in addition to the notch 14, it also has Figure 1The recesses 10, 12 are shown. This makes it possible to increase the flexibility of the first ring element 2 due to the recesses 10, 12 and also to reduce the rigidity of the web 6 in the area of the contact surface with the rolling elements 8, making it easier to push the cage 1 provided with the rolling elements over the retaining flange.
[0044] In summary, a bearing cage 1 is provided which makes it possible to increase the load carrying capacity of the bearing, wherein the diameter of the inserted rolling elements 8 can be increased while still maintaining the bearing height. This is achieved by the axially inner ring element 2 of the bearing cage 1 being provided with recesses 10, 12 (increasing the flexibility of the ring element 2) and / or with notches 14 (reducing the rigidity of the web in the region of the ring element 2), so that during assembly of the rolling elements 8 and the cage 1, the rolling elements can overcome the retaining flange on the inner ring.
Claims
1. A bearing cage (1) for a roller bearing, in particular a bearing cage (1) for a tapered roller bearing, the bearing cage (1) having at least one first ring element (2) with a first diameter (d) and at least one second ring element (4) connected to each other via a plurality of webs (6), wherein: The ring elements (2, 4) and the webs (6) form a cavity designed to guide and retain rolling bodies (8), characterized in that the first ring element (2) has at least one recess (10, 12, 14) in an outer edge region and / or an inner edge region, and the at least one recess (10, 12, 14) is constructed so that the diameter (d) of the first ring element can be changed.
2. The bearing retainer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first ring element (2) has at least one second recess (12) which is formed in an edge region opposite to the edge region in which the at least one recess (10, 12) is formed.
3. The bearing retainer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The at least one recess (10, 12, 14) is arranged in a radially outer region and / or a radially inner region of the first ring element (2) and extends through the first ring element (2) in an axial direction, or the at least one recess (10, 12, 14) is arranged in an axially outer region and / or an axially inner region of the first ring element (2) and extends through the first ring element (2) in a radial direction.
4. The bearing retainer (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The depth (t) of the at least one first recess (10, 14) and the depth (t) of the at least one second recess (12) overlap.
5. The bearing retainer (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The at least one first recess (10) and the at least one second recess (12) are arranged to be circumferentially adjacent to each other.
6. The bearing cage (1) according to at least one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that The at least one first recess (10) and the at least one second recess (12) are formed in the region of the cell.
7. The bearing cage (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that The at least one first recess (10) and the at least one second recess (12) are of U-shaped configuration.
8. The bearing retainer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The at least one recess (10, 12, 14) is configured as a conical notch (14) extending through the first ring element (2) in the axial direction.
9. The bearing retainer (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that: The recess (14) is formed in the region of the web (6), and preferably the recess (14) extends in the axial direction beyond the ring element (2) to the web (6).
10. Bearing cage (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The first ring element (2) is provided with a plurality of recesses (10, 12, 14), and the plurality of recesses (10, 12, 14) are configured so as to be evenly distributed on the circumference.