Hybrid cage and application thereof

Abstract

A hybrid cage (1) includes a main frame (2) integrally formed in a circumferential direction, and an attachment member (3) provided so as to be fixedly attachable to the main frame (2). Wherein the attachment component (3) is used for forming a retainer pocket (4) for restraining a bearing rolling body (5) independently or in cooperation with the main framework (2). The hybrid cage allows different members (materials) to contribute different attributes, thereby satisfying application requirements of the rolling bearing in various aspects such as performance, cost, workability and the like. In addition, the invention further provides a large rolling bearing (10) with the outer diameter being 400 mm or above, and the large rolling bearing (10) is provided with the hybrid cage (1). The large bearing has a larger internal space, and the limitation of a narrow space on complex connection is naturally eliminated, so that the use of the hybrid retainer is particularly facilitated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hybrid cage and a large rolling bearing using such a cage. Background Art

[0002] Large rolling bearings generally use copper cages or steel (or iron) cages. The copper cage has a low friction coefficient between the cage and the rolling elements, good wear resistance, thus a high limiting speed and low vibration and noise. However, limited by the material strength, the copper cage has a weak ability to withstand higher loads (especially impact loads). Compared with the copper cage, the steel (or iron) cage has a high material strength and can thus withstand greater loads. However, the steel (or iron) cage has poor wear resistance and is prone to generating iron filings when rubbing against the rolling elements, thus posing a potential threat to the safe operation of the bearing. Moreover, although the steel (or iron) cage has a low material cost, due to its hard texture, its processing cost is high. Overall, its manufacturing cost is comparable to that of the copper cage and does not have an obvious cost advantage.

[0003] There is a need in reality for a cage that combines the properties and / or performance advantages of two or more materials. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a hybrid cage, comprising a main frame integrally formed in the circumferential direction and an attachment member configured to be fixedly assembled on the main frame, wherein the attachment member is used to independently or cooperate with the main frame to form a cage pocket for constraining the rolling elements of the bearing.

[0005] The hybrid cage allows different components (materials) to contribute different properties. For example, the main frame has a high strength, while the attachment member has better friction properties, and / or the main frame has a low weight, while the attachment member has good machinability. Thus, the diverse properties of the components (materials) can meet the application requirements of rolling bearings in terms of performance, cost, machinability, etc. In addition, the hybrid cage is also conducive to degrading an integrally formed cage with a relatively complex structure into cage components with a relatively simple structure, thereby simplifying the production process and reducing the manufacturing cost.

[0006] In addition, the present invention also provides a large rolling bearing with an outer diameter of more than 400 mm, equipped with the above-mentioned hybrid cage.

[0007] The large bearing has a large internal space, which naturally eliminates the limitation of narrow space on complex connections, and is thus particularly conducive to the application of the hybrid cage.

[0008] The following will describe in detail various embodiments of the present invention and the beneficial technical effects with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] Figure 1 Showing a perspective view of the overall structure of the hybrid cage;

[0010] Figure 2 Showing an enlarged view of a partial structure of the hybrid cage;

[0011] Figure 3 Showing a perspective structural view of the cage beam as an attachment member; and

[0012] Figure 4 Showing a perspective view of a partial structure of a spherical roller bearing equipped with a hybrid cage. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0013] In the following description, the same or similar reference numerals are always used to denote the same or similar components. In addition, terms indicating directions, such as "axial direction", "radial direction" and "circumferential direction", refer to the axial, radial and circumferential directions of the described components, unless otherwise defined or specified.

[0014] Figure 1 and Figure 2 respectively show perspective views of the overall and partial structures of the hybrid cage. As can be seen from the figures, the hybrid cage 1 includes a main structural frame (main frame, abbreviated as "main framework") 2 integrally formed in the circumferential direction and fitting members 3 provided to be fixedly assembled to the main framework 2. In the illustrated specific embodiment, there are a large number of fitting members 3, which can form pocket holes 4 independently or in cooperation with the main framework 1. The pocket holes 4 are recessed spaces in the cage 1 for accommodating and restraining the rolling elements 5, as Figure 4 shown, so that the rolling elements 5 can be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction.

[0015] In Figure 1 and Figure 2 the illustrated specific embodiment, the main framework 2 is independently formed by a bar-shaped backbone, on which connection structures 6 such as grooves, holes, and cavities are formed for fastening the fitting members 3 thereto with fasteners such as nails, bolts, and pivots. It is not difficult to understand that the connection between the main framework 2 and the fitting members 3 is not limited to the above connection method. More general connections, including but not limited to bonding, welding, snap-fastening, etc., can be used to implement the hybrid cage described in the present invention as long as the main framework and the fitting members can be reliably fixedly connected in a predetermined manner.

[0016] Figure 3 Showing a perspective view of the structure of the fitting member 3. Combining Figure 1 and 2It can be seen that the attachment member 3 is independently constituted by generally strip-shaped cage beams with a unified outer shape. After being assembled onto the main body 2, these cage beams form pockets 4 for holding rolling elements 3 between each other. In order to make the shape of the pockets 4 fit the shape of the rolling elements 5, the cage beams 3 can be formed with different outer contour shapes.

[0017] Figure 4 A partial structural perspective view showing a spherical roller bearing equipped with a hybrid cage is shown. It can be seen therefrom that adjacent cage beams 3 are formed with concave spherical surfaces facing each other in the circumferential direction, and the shape is complementary to the spherical surface of the rolling element. Similarly, the cage beams 3 can also cooperate with the main body 2 to form pockets 4 of other shapes for accommodating bearing rolling elements such as cylindrical rollers, tapered rollers or spherical rollers (i.e., ball bearings).

[0018] An important feature of the present invention also lies in that different components of the cage 1 can use different materials. For example, the main frame 2 can be made of a first material, while the attachment member 3 can be made of a second material different from the first material. Since different materials have different properties, the cage is endowed with various performances and / or advantages. For example, the first material can have better strength properties than the second material, while the second material can have better friction properties than the first material. The formed cage has a strong main body structure strength while also having a lower friction coefficient with the rolling elements, thus having various performances and / or advantages that a cage made of a single material cannot have simultaneously.

[0019] It is necessary to point out that the material properties are not limited to mechanical properties such as strength and wear resistance, but also include other properties of important value in production and application such as weight, cost, and machinability. As a specific embodiment, the first material can be steel, iron or aluminum alloy, and the second material can be copper, copper alloy, aluminum or high molecular wear-resistant material. Among them, steel and iron have higher strength and lower material cost, while copper and copper alloy have better wear resistance and machinability. As a preferred embodiment, the main frame 2 can be made of steel or iron, and the attachment member 3 can be made of copper or copper alloy. The above material combination endows the cage with higher main body strength, better antifriction and wear resistance properties, and relatively lower manufacturing cost at the processing level, thus having both performance advantages at the technical level and cost advantages at the economic level.

[0020] It is not difficult to understand that mixing is conditional on connection, and connection sometimes comes at the cost of space. Large bearings have a large internal space, which naturally eliminates the limitation of narrow space on complex connections (structures), and thus is particularly conducive to the application of hybrid cages. Therefore, hybrid cages are particularly suitable for large rolling bearings, especially large rolling bearings with an outer diameter of more than 400 mm.

[0021] The hybrid cage described above and the rolling bearing using the cage are not limited by the specific implementation manners, and the more general technical solutions will be subject to the limitations in the appended claims. Any changes and improvements to the present invention that comply with the limitations in the appended claims fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hybrid retainer (1), comprising a main frame (2) formed integrally in the circumferential direction and an attachment member (3) configured to be fixedly mounted on the main frame (2), wherein: The attachment member (3) is used to form a cage pocket (4) for restraining a bearing rolling element (5) independently or in cooperation with a main frame (2).

2. The hybrid cage (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main frame (2) is composed of a ring-shaped main core.

3. The hybrid cage (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The trunk (2) is provided with a connection structure (6) for matching and connecting the attachment member (3).

4. The hybrid cage (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The attachment member (3) is fixedly assembled on the connection structure (6) by means of fasteners.

5. The hybrid cage (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The attachment member (3) is a strip-shaped cage beam with a uniform appearance. After being assembled on the connection structure (6), the pockets (4) are formed between adjacent cage beams.

6. The hybrid cage (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that: The shape of the pocket (4) matches that of a cylindrical roller, a tapered roller or a spherical roller.

7. The hybrid cage (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The main frame (2) is made of a first material, and the attachment member (3) is made of a second material different from the first material.

8. The hybrid cage (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first material has superior strength properties to the second material, and the second material has superior friction properties to the first material.

9. The hybrid cage (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that: The first material is steel, iron or aluminum alloy, and the second material is copper, copper alloy, aluminum or polymer wear-resistant material.

10. A large rolling bearing (10) with an outer diameter of more than 400 mm, equipped with a hybrid cage (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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