High-torque adjustable bearing

Abstract

The invention relates to a high-torque adjustable bearing which comprises an outer ring and an inner ring, a plurality of rolling bodies are arranged between assembly grooves of the outer ring and the inner ring, the rolling bodies are evenly distributed through a retainer arranged between the outer ring and the inner ring, and a sealing ring is further connected between the outer ring and the inner ring. The inner ring is provided with an extending part, a compressible spring and an adjusting piece are arranged on the extending part, the far end of the spring abuts against one face of the friction plate, and the other face of the friction plate abuts against the end face of the outer ring; the extension part is arranged on the inner ring, the threads are arranged on the extension part, and the torsion adjusting precision can be improved through threaded connection of the adjusting part. By precisely and linearly controlling the pressure applied to the friction plate, the output torque of the bearing can be continuously adjusted in a wide range from 0.2 Nm to 0.8 Nm with high precision.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of bearings, and more particularly to high torque adjustable bearings. Background Technology

[0002] In a car tailgate system, the strut (also known as a "gas spring" or "hinge") is the core component that enables the tailgate to open and close smoothly and reliably hover at any position. In existing technology, a "bearing with a brake" structure is commonly used to achieve the tailgate's safe hovering function at any angle. This structure typically consists of a rotating bearing combined with a separate mechanical brake (or damper) module.

[0003] The basic working principle of the above structure is as follows: the bearing is responsible for bearing the radial load and realizing rotation, while the additional brake generates a controllable static friction torque through internal friction plates or a locking mechanism. When the tailgate moves to the expected position, the brake is triggered and locked, generating sufficient resistance torque to counteract the thrust of the strut itself and the gravity torque of the tailgate, thereby achieving hovering.

[0004] However, the above-mentioned structure with brake bearing has the following problems: (a) Because the brake is an independent precision functional component, which includes parts such as friction pairs and locking mechanisms, the manufacturing cost of this bearing is higher than that of ordinary bearings.

[0005] (ii) If a brake is added to the narrow tailgate installation space, the length or volume of the entire suspension module will increase, which will cause difficulties in layout or limit the tailgate shape, which goes against the development trend of compact and lightweight automotive parts.

[0006] (iii) The additional brake components increase the weight of the tailgate strut assembly, which is not conducive to the overall vehicle weight reduction and energy consumption reduction. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a high torque adjustable bearing to solve one or more problems in the prior art.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows: A high-torque adjustable bearing includes an outer ring and an inner ring. Multiple rolling elements are disposed between mounting grooves of the outer and inner rings. Each rolling element is evenly distributed within a cage between the outer and inner rings. A sealing ring connects the outer and inner rings. The inner ring has an extension, on which a compressible spring and an adjusting member are disposed. The distal end of the spring abuts against one side of a friction plate, and the other side of the friction plate abuts against the end face of the outer ring. The spring is configured to apply axial pressure to the friction plate, causing the friction plate to press against the corresponding end face of the outer ring to generate friction. The adjusting member is configured to change its axial position on the extension to adjust the compression of the spring.

[0009] Furthermore, the extension is arranged along the axial direction of the inner ring.

[0010] Furthermore, the outer side of the extension is provided with threads.

[0011] Furthermore, spring mounting slots are symmetrically formed on the extension, and the spring mounting slots are open structures extending radially along the inner ring.

[0012] Furthermore, a first rolling element assembly groove and an installation groove are respectively formed inside the outer ring, and a second rolling element assembly groove is formed outside the inner ring. The inner ring also has a first through hole.

[0013] Furthermore, the spring is a disc spring.

[0014] Furthermore, a second through hole is formed at the center of the spring, and a pair of radially extending protrusions are provided along the wall of the second through hole.

[0015] Furthermore, the inner diameter of the spring is φ12±0.05mm, the outer diameter is φ23.8±0.05mm, and the thickness of the spring is 0.2mm±0.02mm.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial technical effects of the present invention are as follows: This invention improves torque adjustment accuracy by providing an extension with threads on the inner ring and connecting it via an adjusting member. With a threaded connection, the axial displacement is 0.5mm per revolution of the adjusting member, achieving micron-level fine adjustment of spring compression. By precisely and linearly controlling the pressure applied to the friction plate, high-precision continuous adjustment of the bearing output torque is achieved over a wide range from 0.2Nm to 0.8Nm.

[0017] Furthermore, by setting a spring mounting groove that mates with the protrusion, relative rotation between the inner ring and spring 7 is effectively prevented during use, ensuring that the spring pressure is always accurately transmitted axially, avoiding preload loss due to relative sliding, and ensuring the reliability of torque setting.

[0018] Furthermore, the spring thickness is 0.2 mm. Due to the thinness of the spring, its force deformation is more sensitive within a given compression stroke. It generates significant elastic force changes through small changes in compression, thereby efficiently converting the small axial displacement of the adjusting component into stable pressure acting on the friction plate. This pressure acts directly on the end face of the friction plate in contact with the outer ring, generating residual sliding friction resistance torque, enabling the bearing to provide torque to meet high torque conditions.

[0019] Furthermore, the friction plate is preferably a ceramic friction plate, which can generate a stable coefficient of friction under high pressure to ensure torque output and can significantly reduce the amount of wear between the friction plate and the outer ring end face of the bearing, thereby maintaining the stability of torque output during long-term use and extending the service life of the entire bearing unit. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a high torque adjustable bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0021] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the outer ring structure in a high torque adjustable bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0022] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the inner ring of a high torque adjustable bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0023] Figure 4 A top view of the inner ring of a high torque adjustable bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0024] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the friction plate structure in a high-torque adjustable bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0025] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the disc spring in the high torque adjustable bearing of the present invention is shown.

[0026] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the locking nut in a high-torque adjustable bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0027] The following markings in the attached diagram indicate: 1. Outer ring; 100. First rolling element assembly groove; 101. Mounting groove; 2. Sealing ring; 3. Inner ring; 300. Inner ring body; 301. Second rolling element assembly groove; 302. Extension; 303. First through hole; 304. Thread; 305. Spring assembly groove; 4. Rolling element; 5. Cage; 6. Friction plate; 7. Spring; 700. Second through hole; 701. Protrusion; 8. Locking nut. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the high-torque adjustable bearing proposed in this invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The advantages and features of this invention will become clearer from the following description. It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are in a very simplified form and use non-precise proportions, only for the purpose of conveniently and clearly illustrating the embodiments of this invention. Please refer to the accompanying drawings to make the objectives, features, and advantages of this invention more apparent and understandable. It should be understood that the structures, proportions, sizes, etc., depicted in the accompanying drawings are only for the purpose of assisting those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the content disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to limit the implementation conditions of this invention. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in the proportional relationships, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and objectives achieved by this invention, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in this invention.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 1 A high-torque adjustable bearing includes an outer ring 1 and an inner ring 3. Multiple rolling elements 4 are disposed between mounting grooves on the outer ring 1 and the inner ring 3. Specifically, a first rolling element mounting groove 100 and a mounting groove 101 are respectively formed on the inner shoulder of the outer ring 1, wherein the mounting groove 101 is located on both sides of the outer ring 1 and is used to mount sealing rings 2. A second rolling element mounting groove 301 is formed on the outer side of the inner ring 3, and a first through hole 303 is formed at the center of the inner ring 3. Each rolling element 4 is evenly distributed between the outer ring 1 and the inner ring 3 by a cage 5, so that the rolling elements 4 are evenly distributed at intervals between the outer ring 1 and the inner ring 3. The outer ring 1 and the inner ring 3 are sealed on both sides by sealing rings 2, with the outer side of the sealing ring 2 abutting against the aforementioned mounting groove 101.

[0030] For further information, please refer to the following: Figure 1 The inner ring 3 includes an inner ring body 300, which has an extension 302. A compressible spring 7 and an adjusting member are provided on the extension 302. The distal end of the spring 7 abuts against one side of the friction plate 6, and the other side of the friction plate 6 abuts against the end face of the outer ring 1. The spring 7 is configured to apply axial pressure to the friction plate 6, causing the friction plate 6 to press against the corresponding end face of the outer ring 1 to generate friction. The adjusting member 8 is configured to change its axial position on the extension 302 to adjust the compression of the spring 7. The adjusting member 8 is preferably a locking nut.

[0031] For further details, please refer to... Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4The extension 302 is radially arranged along the inner ring 3, and a thread 304 is provided on the outer side of the extension 302. The thread 304 facilitates the assembly of the adjusting member 8. The thread 304 is preferably M12×0.5. By connecting the adjusting member with the thread 304 on the outer side of the inner ring 3, the torque adjustment accuracy can be improved. Specifically, since the pitch is only 0.5mm, the axial displacement is 0.5mm for each rotation of the adjusting member, achieving micron-level fine adjustment of the spring 7 compression. By precisely and linearly controlling the pressure applied to the friction plate 6, a wide range of high-precision continuous adjustment of the bearing output torque from 0.2Nm to 0.8Nm can be achieved.

[0032] For further details, please refer to... Figure 3 and Figure 4 Symmetrical spring mounting slots 305 are also provided on the extension 302. Each spring mounting slot 305 is an open structure extending radially along the inner ring 3. The spring mounting slot 305 is used to mate with a spring 7, which is preferably a disc spring. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 6 The spring 7 has a second through hole 700 at its center, which is used to mate with the extension 302. A pair of radially extending protrusions 701 are also provided along the wall of the second through hole 700, which mate with the spring mounting groove 305. By providing the spring mounting groove 305 and its mate with the protrusions 701, relative rotation between the inner ring 3 and the spring 7 is effectively prevented during use, ensuring that the spring pressure is always accurately transmitted axially, avoiding preload loss due to relative sliding, and ensuring the reliability of the torque setting.

[0033] Furthermore, the inner diameter of spring 7 is φ12±0.05mm, the outer diameter is φ23.8±0.05mm, and the thickness is 0.2mm±0.02mm. Due to the thinness of spring 7, its force deformation is more sensitive within a given compression stroke. A small change in compression produces a significant change in elastic force, thus efficiently converting the minute axial displacement of the adjusting element 8 into stable pressure acting on the friction plate 6. This pressure acts directly on the end face of the friction plate 6 in contact with the outer ring 1, generating residual sliding friction torque, enabling the bearing to provide torque and meet high-torque operating conditions.

[0034] Furthermore, the friction plate 6 is preferably a ceramic friction plate, which can generate a stable coefficient of friction under high pressure to ensure torque output and can significantly reduce the amount of wear between the friction plate and the end face of the outer ring 1 of the bearing, thereby maintaining the stability of torque output during long-term use and extending the service life of the entire bearing unit.

[0035] The specific working process of this invention is as follows: By rotating the adjusting component 8, the compression and pressure of the spring 7 are changed. After the spring 7 is compressed, it applies pressure to the friction plate 6, causing the friction plate 6 to contact the outer ring 1 and increase the friction. The adjustment mechanism is relatively simple, which greatly improves the operability of the product. It is especially suitable for high-torque automotive tailgate strut bearings and other working conditions that require high friction.

[0036] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0037] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A high-torque adjustable bearing, comprising an outer ring and an inner ring, wherein a plurality of rolling elements are disposed between a mounting groove of the outer ring and the inner ring, and the rolling elements are evenly distributed within a cage disposed between the outer ring and the inner ring, and a sealing ring is further connected between the outer ring and the inner ring; characterized in that: The inner ring has an extension, on which a compressible spring and an adjusting member are disposed. The distal end of the spring abuts against one side of a friction plate, and the other side of the friction plate abuts against the end face of the outer ring. The spring is configured to apply axial pressure to the friction plate, causing the friction plate to press against the corresponding end face of the outer ring to generate friction. The adjusting member is configured to change its axial position on the extension to adjust the compression of the spring.

2. The high torque adjustable bearing as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The extension is arranged along the axial direction of the inner ring.

3. The high torque adjustable bearing as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The extension is threaded on its outer side.

4. The high torque adjustable bearing as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Symmetrical spring mounting slots are provided on the extension, and the spring mounting slots are open structures that extend radially along the inner ring.

5. The high torque adjustable bearing as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outer ring has a first rolling element assembly groove and an installation groove inside, and the inner ring has a second rolling element assembly groove on the outside. The inner ring also has a first through hole.

6. The high torque adjustable bearing as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The spring is a disc spring.

7. The high torque adjustable bearing as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A second through hole is formed at the center of the spring, and a pair of radially extending protrusions are provided along the wall of the second through hole.

8. The high torque adjustable bearing as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The spring has an inner diameter of φ12±0.05mm, an outer diameter of φ23.8±0.05mm, and a thickness of 0.2mm±0.02mm.

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