Bearing arrangement
By designing sealing elements and cages with multiple recesses and notches in the bearing configuration, the problem of insufficient mixing of the aging part of the lubricant with fresh lubricant in electric drive vehicles is solved, achieving thorough mixing and delivery of the lubricant, and extending the bearing life service life.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202410948657.4
- 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 configurations in electric drive vehicles are insufficiently mixed with fresh lubricant due to braking energy recovery, which affects the service life of the bearing.
A bearing configuration is designed, including the outer ring, the inner ring, and the cone rolling component between the outer ring and the inner ring. By setting multiple concave parts on the second element of the sealing element Set multiple gaps on the top to achieve thorough mixing and transportation of lubricants.
By improving the thorough mixing and transportation of lubricants, the use of the bearings is extended, and the fresh state of the lubricant is maintained during operation.
Smart Images
Figure CN119333481A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a bearing arrangement according to claim 1. Background Art
[0002] In a bearing unit or arrangement containing at least one row of tapered rollers and sealed against environmental influences such as dust and splashing water, the lubricant used in the bearing unit is usually pumped through the conical bearing rings into the cavity with the largest diameter. The cavity is usually located axially outside the bearing in front of the seal. It is an area in the bearing where, although lubricant is always present, it does not contribute to the lubrication of the bearing.
[0003] The raceways of the bearing and / or the flanged flanges for the rollers are in contact with the moving rollers and require lubrication provided by the lubricant. During the service life of the bearing, a portion of the lubricant located in the right place inside the bearing unit performs this lubrication by gradually discharging the base oil contained in the lubricant into the rolling and / or sliding contact. The portion discharging the base oil is rolled and heated, causing the portion to age and gradually lose its lubricating function.
[0004] In order to extend the service life of the bearing unit, it is advantageous to mix and blend the amount of lubricant which is located in the bearing but not in contact with the moving bearing components with the gradually aged part of the lubricant. This can be achieved, for example, by heating the bearing, such as when, with the bearing unit installed in a vehicle, severe braking occurs and the brake disc temperature heats the bearing unit and the introduced lubricant, thereby softening the lubricant and mixing the entire lubricant charge until a certain range is reached. However, in the case of vehicles with electric drive, the energy released during braking is usually recovered, with the result that heating of the bearing is lower or occurs less frequently, so that mixing of the lubricant charge occurs less frequently or no longer occurs at all.
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bearing arrangement which allows for improved mixing of the lubricant. Summary of the invention
[0006] This object is achieved by the bearing arrangement according to solution 1.
[0007] A bearing arrangement is proposed below, in particular for a wheel bearing of a vehicle. The bearing arrangement comprises at least one outer ring, at least one inner ring and at least one set of rolling elements arranged between the outer ring and the inner ring. The rolling elements may in particular be tapered rollers. A lubricant is also provided in the bearing arrangement, which is designed to lubricate the rolling elements and the bearing rings. For example, the lubricant may be grease. At least one of the bearing rings (e.g. the inner ring) may have a flange arranged externally in the axial direction, which flange may be designed, for example, to guide the rolling elements.
[0008] In addition, the bearing arrangement has at least one sealing element, which is arranged on the axial outside of the bearing arrangement and is designed to seal the bearing arrangement. The at least one sealing element comprises at least one seal carrier and at least one second element, the at least one seal carrier being fastened to one of the bearing rings (i.e., to the outer ring or the inner ring), and the at least one second element being attached to the seal carrier. The seal carrier can be fastened to the outer ring or the inner ring, for example, by form-fitting, force-fitting and / or material bonding. In particular, the seal carrier can be fastened by an interference fit. In use, the lubricant can be collected in an annular space between the flange of the inner ring and the at least one sealing element, in particular in an annular space located on the axial outside of the bearing.
[0009] In order to achieve improved thorough mixing of the lubricant and / or to convey the lubricant that has accumulated in the annular space axially outside the bearing back toward the interior of the bearing, the face of the second element opposite to the rolling element has at least one recess, which is designed to act in combination with at least the rolling element to convey the lubricant to the at least one inner ring. In particular, when the inner ring and the outer ring rotate relative to each other, the rolling element moves in the region forming the annular space, which extends axially between the axially outer end face of the rolling element and the at least one sealing element, and the lubricant can accumulate in the annular space.
[0010] When a bearing component (such as, for example, the rolling element) moves along the side of the at least one sealing element, the at least one recess formed in the second element can be filled with lubricant. The lubricant can move radially more toward the inside of the bearing along the at least one recess and, for example, reach the vicinity of the guide flange, whereby, in particular, the contact between the rolling element and the flange can be lubricated. The lubricant pumped out from the annular space on the axial outer side of the bearing can be mixed as fresh lubricant with an aged portion of the following lubricant: the lubricant is located in the area where the roller contacts the flange and lubricates this area. With this renewed lubricant in the area where the rolling element contacts the flange and the accumulated lubricant on the axial side of the bearing, some of the lubricant between the rolling elements can also migrate to the area where the rolling element contacts the raceway. This renewal of the lubricant or the improved thorough mixing of the lubricant during operation enables the service life of the bearing to be extended.
[0011] Preferably, the bearing arrangement further comprises a bearing cage having a first ring element and a second ring element, the first ring element and the second ring element being connected to each other via a plurality of webs, the ring elements and the webs realizing pockets for guiding and retaining the rolling elements. Since the axially outer ring elements of the bearing cage are usually positioned axially outwards than the end faces of the rolling elements, the axially outer ring elements of the bearing cage move through or at least in the vicinity of an annular chamber in which the lubricant is collected in an axially outer region of the bearing and is usually always fresh and / or in a new state. Due to the rotation of the bearing cage, in particular an improved thorough mixing of the lubricant can be achieved.
[0012] According to another preferred embodiment, the first ring element has at least one notch (cut-out) on its axial outer side, the axial outer side of the first ring element being opposite to the second element of the at least one sealing element. The at least one notch on the first ring element can further improve the delivery of lubricant.
[0013] Preferably, the at least one recess and / or the at least one indentation is delimited in the circumferential direction by a first side ( / lateral face) and a second side face which converge radially outwards. In other words, the at least one recess and / or the at least one indentation may be conical radially outwards. For example, at least one side ( / lateral face), preferably both side faces, may be straight or curved and / or angled, in particular concave. Due to the flat, curved or angled shape of the side ( / lateral face), lubricant which for example still adheres to the first ring element of the cage may move further radially to the interior of the bearing, i.e. out of the region of the bearing having the largest diameter.
[0014] The first side face and the second side face (lateral face) may also be mirror-symmetrical with respect to one another. This allows the lubricant delivery characteristics of the at least one cut-out and / or the at least one recess to be identical for different directions of rotation of the bearing. If the bearing is configured for an application with a preferred direction of rotation, the lateral faces of the at least one cut-out and / or the at least one recess may also differ from one another, thereby further optimizing the delivery of the lubricant in the case of this specific application.
[0015] According to another preferred embodiment, the at least one sealing element has a plurality of recesses and / or the first ring element of the cage has a plurality of notches. Preferably, the plurality of recesses and / or the plurality of notches are evenly distributed around the circumference. Alternatively, the plurality of recesses and / or the plurality of notches may also be arranged in a non-uniform distribution, for example at a variable spacing.
[0016] Preferably, the at least one sealing element can be provided with recesses around the entire circumference of the at least one sealing element. Furthermore, the first ring element can also be provided with notches around the entire circumference of the first ring element. Due to the plurality of notches and / or recesses, the delivery of the lubricant to the radially inner region of the bearing arrangement can be improved.
[0017] Preferably, the at least one notch and / or the at least one recess extends in the circumferential direction on at least one rolling element, preferably two rolling elements. In addition, when multiple recesses are provided, the circumferential ranges of the corresponding recesses may be different from each other. In addition, when multiple notches are provided, the circumferential ranges of the corresponding notches may be different from each other.
[0018] The circumferential extent of the notch may also be the same as or different from the circumferential extent of the recess. For example, the notch may extend on one rolling element and extend into the recess on two rolling elements. Due to the circumferential extent of the at least one notch and / or at least one recess, the "shearing" of the side edges (lateral edges) of the notch or recess that are continuous ( / running) relative to each other can be very flat. Therefore, the radial conveying effect of these side edges or shearing edges of the notch or recess can be improved compared to steeper edges. For example, if the circumferential extent of the at least one notch and / or at least one recess is smaller than the diameter of the rolling element, the side edges of the at least one notch and / or at least one recess may be too steep, so that the lubricant can remain in the at least one notch and / or at least one recess, instead of moving inward against the centripetal force due to the flat shear surface.
[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one recess is delimited at the inner end in the radial direction by a lower surface, which extends obliquely inwardly in the axial direction towards the inner ring. In particular, the lower surface can be implemented as a lubricant routing edge and can not only be located on the flat lateral face of the second element of the at least one sealing element, but can also advantageously continue a short distance below the cage so that the lower surface is close to the side face of the rolling element and / or a part of the lubricant that lubricates the contact between the rolling element and the flange. The lubricant pumped out from the bearing cavity with the maximum diameter can contribute to the delivery of the lubricant so that the pumped lubricant can be mixed as fresh lubricant with the aged part of the lubricant at the contact between the rolling element and the flange. This renewal of the lubricant during operation makes it possible to extend the service life of the bearing.
[0020] Preferably, the second element is made of an elastomeric material and is designed to achieve a seal to the inner ring and / or the outer ring. The second element may also achieve at least one sealing lip. For example, there may be a centrifugal disk fastened to the inner ring, on which the at least one sealing lip continues. Furthermore, there may be a sealing structure achieved in the radially outer second element, which provides a seal on the outer ring.
[0021] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments are indicated in the description, the drawings and the claims. In particular in this respect, the combinations of features indicated in the description and the drawings are merely examples, such that the features may also exist alone or in other combinations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] 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 establish the scope of protection of the present invention. This is limited only by the appended claims.
[0023] In the attached picture:
[0024] Figure 1 : shows a perspective cross-sectional view of an axially outer portion of a sealing element of a bearing arrangement according to one embodiment,
[0025] Figure 2 : Shows Figure 1 a perspective cross-sectional view of an axially outer portion of a bearing cage of a bearing arrangement, and Figure 3 : Shows Figure 1 Perspective view of a detail of a bearing cage of a bearing arrangement.
[0026] Description of Reference Numerals
[0027] 1 Bearing arrangement
[0028] 2 Outer ring
[0029] 4 Inner ring
[0030] 6 Tapered Roller
[0031] 8 Guide flange
[0032] 10 End face
[0033] 12 Bearing cage
[0034] 14 First circle element
[0035] 16 Second circle element
[0036] 18 belly plate
[0037] 20 Sealing element
[0038] 22 Sealed Carrier
[0039] 24 Second Element
[0040] 26 Sealing lip
[0041] 28 Centrifugal disc
[0042] 30 concavity
[0043] 32 Gap
[0044] 34, 36, 38, 40 side
[0045] 42 Lower surface DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] In the following, identical or functionally identical elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0047] refer to Figures 1 to 3 , shows a bearing arrangement 1 that can be used, for example, for a wheel bearing of a vehicle (such as, for example, a passenger car or a lorry). The bearing arrangement 1 comprises an outer ring 2 and an inner ring 4. A plurality of tapered rollers 6 are arranged between the outer ring 2 and the inner ring 4, and the tapered rollers 6 roll on associated raceways on the outer ring 2 and the inner ring 4. The inner ring 4 can be fastened, for example, to an axle stub or a wheel hub.
[0048] The inner ring 4 comprises, on its axially outer side, a guide flange 8 which guides the tapered rollers 6. Thus, the end faces 10 of the tapered rollers 6 run against the guide flanges 8. The tapered rollers 6 are also held in a cage 12 which has first and second ring elements 14, 16 and a plurality of webs 18 forming cavities in which the tapered rollers 6 are housed.
[0049] A sealing element 20 is arranged axially outside the bearing arrangement 1, which has a second element 24 and a seal carrier 22, for example made of metal. The seal carrier 22 is fastened to the outer ring 2 by an interference fit. The second element 24 is made of an elastomeric material and realizes at least one sealing lip 26, which for example continues directly against the inner ring 4 or against a centrifugal disk 28 fastened to the inner ring 4, so that the bearing arrangement 1 is sealed.
[0050] The surface of the second element 24 facing the tapered rollers 6 has a plurality of recesses 30, which are evenly distributed around the circumference and extend in the circumferential direction on the two tapered rollers 6. As another option, the plurality of recesses 30 may also have variable spacings from one another and / or extend in the circumferential direction on only one tapered roller 6 or on more than two tapered rollers 6. Likewise, the recesses 30 may have different extents in the circumferential direction.
[0051] The recess 30 is designed to act in combination with the axially external components of the bearing arrangement 1 (such as the first ring element 14 and the end face 10 of the tapered roller 6, for example) to deliver lubricant to the inner ring 4 or the guide flange 8. For this purpose, when the first ring element 14 and / or the end face 10 of the tapered roller 6 moves along the side of the sealing element 20, the recess 30 is filled with lubricant.
[0052] The first ring element 14 also has a plurality of cut-outs 32 on its axial outer side opposite to the second element 24 of the sealing element 20, which are evenly distributed on the circumference and also extend in the circumferential direction on the two tapered rollers 6. As another option, the plurality of cut-outs 32 may also have a variable spacing from one another and / or extend in the circumferential direction on only one tapered roller 6 or on more than two tapered rollers 6. Likewise, the cut-outs 32 may have different extents in the circumferential direction.
[0053] As another alternative, the bearing arrangement 1 may have only the recess 30. The circumferential extent of the recess 32 may also differ from the circumferential extent of the recess 30. For example, the recess 32 may extend over one rolling element and the recess 30 may extend over two rolling elements.
[0054] exist Figures 1 to 3 In the case of the bearing arrangement 1 shown, the recess 30 and the notch 32 are delimited in the circumferential direction by a first side surface 34 and a second side surface 36 and a first side surface 38 and a second side surface 40, respectively, which converge radially outwards. In other words, the recess 30 and the notch 32 are conical radially outwards. In this case, the lateral faces 34, 36, 38, 40 have a concave curvature. As another option, the lateral faces 34, 36, 38, 40 can also be straight or angled. The course of the lateral faces 34, 36 of the notch 30 can also be different from the course of the lateral faces 38, 40 of the recess 32. For example, the lateral faces 34, 36 of the notch 30 can be curved, and the lateral faces 38, 40 of the notch 32 can be straight. Due to the flanks 34 , 36 , 38 , 40 , lubricant which for example still adheres to the first ring element 14 of the cage 12 can move radially further into the interior of the bearing 1 , ie out of the region of the bearing having the largest diameter.
[0055] Furthermore, the first side 34 and the second side 36 of the recess 30 and the first side 38 and the second side 40 of the notch 32 are mirror-symmetrical relative to each other. This makes the lubricant conveying properties of the notch 32 and / or the recess 30 identical for different rotation directions of the bearing.
[0056] Furthermore, the recess 30 is delimited at the radially inner end by a lower surface 42 which extends obliquely inwardly in the axial direction towards the inner ring 4. This lower surface 42 can be implemented as a lubricant route edge and can be located not only on the flat side of the second element 24 of the sealing element 20, but can also advantageously continue a short distance below the cage 12 so that it is close to the end face 10 of the tapered roller 6 and / or the part of the lubricant that lubricates the contact between the tapered roller and the guide flange 8. This lubricant pumped out from the bearing cavity with the largest diameter can facilitate the transport of the lubricant so that the pumped lubricant can be mixed as fresh lubricant with the aged part of the lubricant at the contact between the rolling element and the flange. This renewal of the lubricant during operation makes it possible to extend the service life of the bearing.
[0057] In summary, the lubricant can move radially more toward the inside of the bearing along the recess 30 and, for example, reach the vicinity of the guide flange, so that, in particular, the contact between the rolling element (such as the tapered roller 6) and the guide flange 8 can be lubricated. The lubricant pumped out from the annular space axially outside the bearing can be mixed with the aged part of the lubricant as fresh lubricant. With this renewed lubricant in the area where the rolling element contacts the flange and the accumulated lubricant on the axial side of the bearing, some lubricant between the rolling elements can also migrate to the area where the rolling element contacts the raceway. This renewal of the lubricant or the thorough mixing of the lubricant improved during operation enables the service life of the bearing to be extended.
Claims
1. A bearing arrangement (1) comprising at least one outer ring (2), at least one inner ring (4) and at least one set of rolling elements (6), the rolling elements being in particular tapered rollers, the at least one set of rolling elements (6) being arranged between the outer ring (2) and the inner ring (4), the bearing arrangement (1) further comprising at least one sealing element (20), the at least one sealing element (20) being arranged axially outside the bearing arrangement (1) and being designed to seal the bearing arrangement (1), the at least one sealing element (20) comprising at least one sealing carrier (22) and at least one second element (24), the at least one sealing carrier (22) being fastened to one of the bearing rings (2, 4), the at least one second element (24) being attached to the sealing carrier (22), characterised in that The surface of the second element (24) opposite to the rolling element (6) has at least one recess (30), and the at least one recess (30) is designed to act in combination with at least the rolling element (6) to transport lubricant to the at least one inner ring (4).
2. The bearing arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The bearing arrangement (1) also comprises a bearing cage (12), which has a first ring element (14) and a second ring element (16), wherein the first ring element (14) and the second ring element (16) are connected to each other via a plurality of webs (18), wherein the ring elements (14, 16) and the webs (18) realize cavities for guiding and retaining rolling elements (6).
3. The bearing arrangement (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that The first ring element (14) has at least one notch (32) on the axial outer side of the first ring element (14), and the axial outer side of the first ring element (14) is opposite to the second element (24) of the at least one sealing element (20).
4. The bearing arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least one recess (30) and / or the at least one notch (32) are delimited in the circumferential direction by a first side surface and a second side surface (34, 36, 38, 40) that converge radially outward.
5. The bearing arrangement (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that At least one side (34, 36, 38, 40) is straight or curved, in particular, at least one side (34, 36, 38, 40) is concave, preferably, two side surfaces (34, 36, 38, 40) are straight or curved, in particular, two side surfaces (34, 36, 38, 40) are concave.
6. The bearing arrangement (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that The first side surface and the second side surface (34, 36, 38, 40) are mirror-symmetrical with respect to each other.
7. A bearing arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The at least one sealing element (20) has a plurality of recesses (30) and / or the first ring element (14) has a plurality of indentations (32).
8. The bearing arrangement (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The plurality of recesses (30) are evenly distributed around the circumference, and / or the plurality of notches (32) are evenly distributed around the circumference.
9. The bearing arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least one notch (32) and / or the at least one recess (30) extend in the circumferential direction on at least one rolling element (6), and preferably, the at least one notch (32) and / or the at least one recess (30) extend in the circumferential direction on two rolling elements.
10. The bearing arrangement (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that The circumferential range of the notch (32) is the same as or different from the circumferential range of the recess (32).
11. Bearing arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least one recess (30) is delimited at a radially inner end by a lower surface (42) which extends obliquely inwardly in the axial direction toward the inner ring.
12. Bearing arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The second element (24) is made of an elastomeric material and is designed to achieve sealing relative to the inner ring (4) and / or the outer ring (2).