Self-lubricating weight-reducing bearing retainer and using method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a self-lubricating weight-reducing bearing retainer and a using method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of bearing retainers, the self-lubricating weight-reducing bearing retainer comprises a retainer base body, the retainer base body is annular and is provided with a plurality of pockets used for containing rolling bodies, the pockets are annularly and uniformly arranged at set intervals along the retainer base body, and the pockets are arranged in the retainer base body. A connecting beam is arranged between every two adjacent pockets for fixed connection; a grease storage cavity structure is arranged at the position, corresponding to the connecting beam, of the bottom of the retainer base body, a first through hole is formed in the position, corresponding to the connecting beam, of the grease storage cavity structure, a second through hole is formed in the connecting beam, a variable-diameter flow channel is arranged between the first through hole and the second through hole, and lubricating grease is arranged in the grease storage cavity structure and the variable-diameter flow channel. The self-weight of the bearing retainer is reduced, so that the centrifugal load is reduced, self-adaptive long-acting lubrication along with working conditions is realized, vibration friction is reduced, the use stability is improved, the service life is prolonged, and noise is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of bearing cage technology, and more specifically to a self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage and its method of use. Background Technology

[0002] As one of the core components of a rolling bearing, the cage's main function is to evenly separate and guide the rolling elements, preventing them from colliding with each other. In the home appliance industry, such as in the application of cross-flow fan motors in indoor air conditioning units, bearings not only need to withstand certain speeds and loads, but also require low vibration and noise during operation, rotational stability, and ease of maintenance. In these scenarios, the design of the bearing cage is particularly critical, as its weight, lubrication method, and structural strength directly affect the overall performance of the bearing.

[0003] The current cages are quite heavy, and when rotating at high speeds, they generate significant centrifugal force. This increases the additional load between the rolling elements and the raceways, leading to increased frictional vibration and noise over long-term use.

[0004] Meanwhile, current cage lubrication methods mainly rely on pre-mixing solid lubricant during molding or applying a certain amount of grease to the pocket area before assembly. In the cold start stage of the bearing, if too much grease is applied or the viscosity is too high, it is difficult to quickly distribute to the critical raceway contact area, causing start-up wear. If too little or uneven grease is applied, frictional vibration can easily occur during bearing use. Furthermore, when the bearing rotates at high speed, centrifugal force can easily throw the grease off the working interface, resulting in insufficient local lubrication and uneven application, making it difficult to ensure effective lubrication of the bearing in the long term.

[0005] Furthermore, this static lubrication reserve will gradually dry out during long-term operation, leading to increased friction, abnormal noise, and the inability to replenish it, ultimately forcing the bearing to fail prematurely or requiring shutdown for disassembly and maintenance, thus significantly shortening its service life. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this invention provides a self-lubricating weight-reducing bearing cage and its usage method, which reduces the self-weight of the bearing cage, thereby reducing centrifugal load, and achieves long-term adaptive lubrication according to operating conditions, reducing vibration and friction, thereby improving usage stability, extending service life and reducing noise.

[0007] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0008] In a first aspect of the invention, a self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage is provided, comprising a cage base, the cage base being annular and having a plurality of pockets for accommodating rolling elements, the plurality of pockets being evenly spaced at a predetermined distance along the annular shape of the cage base, and adjacent pockets being fixedly connected by a connecting beam; a grease reservoir structure is provided at the bottom of the cage base corresponding to the connecting beam, the grease reservoir structure having a first through hole at the location corresponding to the connecting beam, the connecting beam having a second through hole, a variable diameter flow channel being provided between the first through hole and the second through hole, and grease being disposed in the grease reservoir structure and the variable diameter flow channel.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present invention, the bottom of the retainer base is provided with a protruding structure at the position corresponding to the pocket.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present invention, the diameter of the first through hole is larger than the diameter of the second through hole.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present invention, the variable diameter flow channel is configured such that the diameter gradually decreases from the first through hole to the second through hole.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, the second through hole is provided radially on the outer sidewall of the connecting beam along the cage base.

[0013] In some embodiments of the invention, the grease is configured such that its solid-liquid phase transition temperature range matches the expected operating temperature rise range of the bearing cage.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the cage substrate is made of a high-strength, lightweight composite material.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present invention, the radial thickness of the connecting beam along the cage base is less than the radial thickness of the pocket along the cage base, and the distance between the connecting beam and the inner periphery of the cage base is the same as the distance between the connecting beam and the outer periphery of the cage base.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present invention, the pocket is configured as an annular strip structure, the inner contour of the pocket is adapted to the outer contour of the rolling element, and the top of the pocket is provided with an opening structure.

[0017] In a second aspect of the invention, a method of using a self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage is provided, comprising: Lubricating grease is placed in the grease storage cavity structure and the variable diameter flow channel, and the cage base is installed in the designated position and assembled with the rolling elements for use. During use, the cage substrate increases in temperature, which enhances the fluidity of the grease. Under centrifugal force, the fluidized grease flows from the grease reservoir structure through the first through hole, the variable diameter channel, and the second through hole to the outside, and lubricates the rolling elements.

[0018] One or more technical solutions of the present invention have the following beneficial effects: Firstly, by incorporating a grease-storing cavity structure at the connecting beam of the cage base and opening the first and second through holes, the solid material in some non-core load-bearing areas is essentially replaced with functional cavities and channels, directly removing excess mass and achieving overall cage weight reduction. The lighter cage significantly reduces the centrifugal force generated during high-speed rotation, thereby reducing the additional dynamic load applied between the rolling elements and raceways. This effectively alleviates the resulting increased frictional vibration, laying a structural foundation for reducing bearing operating noise and improving rotational stability.

[0019] Secondly, the grease reservoir structure, as a large-capacity grease storage structure, has a storage capacity far exceeding that of traditional surface coatings, ensuring a long-lasting lubrication source. Furthermore, when the bearing operates and generates a temperature rise, the grease within the reservoir structure becomes more fluid. Simultaneously, the centrifugal force generated by rotation acts on the more fluid grease, driving it from the reservoir structure through the first through-hole, the variable-diameter flow channel, and finally through the second through-hole to be delivered to the external rolling element working area. This achieves active grease supply from storage to precise delivery, breaking the limitations of traditional one-time lubrication.

[0020] Finally, by matching the solid-liquid phase transition temperature range of the grease with the expected operating temperature rise range of the cage, the grease is viscous during the low-temperature start-up phase and mainly exists within the grease reservoir structure, reducing agitation and waste. As the operating temperature rises to the matching range, the grease's fluidity increases significantly, enabling smooth supply under centrifugal force. This achieves on-demand lubrication, avoiding start-up wear and ensuring continuous and effective lubrication at high speeds, thus resolving the contradiction between lubrication efficiency and operational stability. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the cage base provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the cage base provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 3 This is a front view of the overall structure of the cage base provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a bottom schematic diagram of the overall structure of the cage base provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a top view of the overall structure of the cage base provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Cage base; 2. Pocket; 3. Connecting beam; 4. Grease storage cavity structure; 5. First through hole; 6. Second through hole; 7. Protrusion structure. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0024] Example 1 In a typical embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, a self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage is proposed, including a cage base 1. The cage base 1 is annular and has multiple pockets 2 for accommodating rolling elements. The multiple pockets 2 are evenly arranged at a predetermined distance along the annular distance of the cage base 1. Adjacent pockets 2 are fixedly connected by connecting beams 3. A grease storage cavity structure 4 is provided at the bottom of the cage base 1 corresponding to the connecting beams 3. The grease storage cavity structure 4 has a first through hole 5 corresponding to the connecting beams 3. A second through hole 6 is provided on the connecting beams 3. A variable diameter flow channel is provided between the first through hole 5 and the second through hole 6. Grease is provided in the grease storage cavity structure 4 and the variable diameter flow channel.

[0025] By incorporating a grease reservoir structure 4 at the bottom of the cage base 1 corresponding to the connecting beam 3, a large-capacity internal grease reserve is achieved. Compared to the traditional method of applying grease only to the surface of the pocket 2, this significantly increases the grease reserve, providing a material basis for long-term lubrication of the bearing throughout its entire lifespan. The grease reservoir structure 4 and the grease placement within the variable-diameter flow channel ensure that the grease is contained within the cage, rather than being completely exposed to the rolling element movement area. This effectively reduces the resistance and heat generated by the rolling elements agitating excess grease during bearing startup or low-speed operation, thus lowering starting torque and operating noise.

[0026] The second through hole 6 on the connecting beam 3 is connected to the first through hole 5 on the grease reservoir structure 4 via a variable-diameter flow channel, forming a grease delivery path from the inside of the grease reservoir to the outside. When the bearing operates and generates a temperature rise, the fluidity of the grease in the grease reservoir structure 4 increases. At the same time, the centrifugal force generated by the bearing rotation acts on the fluidized grease, driving it from the grease reservoir structure 4 through the first through hole 5, the variable-diameter flow channel, and the second through hole 6 in sequence, and finally being delivered to the outside of the cage and the working area of ​​the rolling elements. This process realizes the active and directional supply of grease, and its supply power comes from the temperature rise and rotation of the bearing itself, eliminating the need for an external lubrication system and achieving self-lubrication.

[0027] The variable-diameter flow channel regulates and guides the flow of grease, helping to smoothly control the grease supply rate. Furthermore, the grease reservoir structure 4, first through-hole 5, and second through-hole 6 on the cage base 1 directly remove material from some non-load-bearing areas, reducing the overall mass of the cage. This reduced mass directly decreases the centrifugal force generated during high-speed rotation, which not only reduces the additional load acting between the rolling elements and raceways, thus reducing friction and wear and suppressing vibration, but also improves the bearing's rotational smoothness and limiting speed potential. The connecting beam 3, while improving the structural stability of the cage base 1, also balances the weight distribution of the entire cage base 1, enabling stable rotation.

[0028] The above structural design achieves both weight reduction and self-lubrication, and the two functions work synergistically through the integrated structural design.

[0029] The bottom of the cage base 1 is provided with protruding structures 7 at the positions corresponding to the pockets 2. The protruding structures 7 make the overall weight distribution of the cage base 1 more balanced, and at the same time, they can be easily adapted to the structure at the installation position for convenient use.

[0030] In other embodiments of the present invention, a bottom cover may be provided at the bottom of the cage base 1. The bottom cover is configured as an annular structure adapted to the cage base 1, and the bottom cover is detachably connected to the bottom of the cage base 1. The bottom cover allows the bottom of the grease reservoir structure 4 to form an openable closed structure. When the grease in the grease reservoir structure 4 deteriorates or is depleted after prolonged use, it is not necessary to replace the entire cage or bearing. Only the bottom cover needs to be removed to clean the grease reservoir structure 4 and the variable diameter flow channel and refill with fresh grease. This greatly extends the maintainable service life of the bearing assembly and reduces the total life cycle cost.

[0031] The ring-shaped structure of the bottom cover is adapted to the bottom of the cage base 1, which can ensure the sealing and structural integrity after assembly, and prevent grease from leaking or external contaminants from entering under unexpected circumstances.

[0032] The diameter of the first through hole 5 is larger than the diameter of the second through hole 6.

[0033] First, the larger diameter of the first through-hole 5 serves as the inlet for grease to flow out of the grease reservoir structure 4, providing lower flow resistance and facilitating the smooth entry of grease into the variable-diameter flow channel under centrifugal force. Second, the smaller diameter of the second through-hole 6 serves as the final outlet for grease to flow into the rolling element area, acting as a flow limiter. This prevents the grease from being thrown out too quickly and in excessive amounts under high centrifugal force, avoiding grease waste, environmental pollution, or unnecessary agitation resistance due to excessive accumulation. This design with a large inlet and a small outlet helps maintain a certain grease pressure inside the grease reservoir cavity and achieves a continuous, stable, and minute supply of grease.

[0034] The variable diameter flow channel is configured such that the diameter gradually decreases from the first through-hole 5 to the second through-hole 6. This tapered flow channel design allows the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the grease to gradually decrease as it flows through the variable diameter flow channel, potentially increasing the flow velocity. At the same time, the flow resistance distribution is more gradual, promoting a smoother flow of the grease to the second through-hole 6. This helps maintain the continuity and stability of the grease supply, further optimizing the grease delivery efficiency and the control precision of the delivery volume.

[0035] The outlet of the second through hole 6 is positioned on the radially outer sidewall of the connecting beam 3, i.e., towards the outer ring of the cage. This allows the grease outlet to more directly point to the area where the rolling elements contact the outer raceway or its vicinity. When the bearing rotates, the centrifugal force is also radially outward. When the grease flows out from this position, it receives direct acceleration and dispersion from the centrifugal force, thus being more effectively delivered to the outer raceway working interface that requires the most lubrication. This optimizes the accuracy of grease delivery, improves lubrication efficiency, and ensures that the lubrication effect directly acts on the high-load contact area.

[0036] The grease is configured such that its solid-liquid phase transition temperature range matches the expected operating temperature rise range of the bearing cage.

[0037] Specifically, this refers to the temperature range within which the grease transitions from a solid or highly viscous state to a more fluid liquid or less viscous state, designed to fall within the temperature range reached during normal cage operation. This design achieves automatic coupling between lubrication supply and operating conditions. During bearing startup or low-temperature, low-load operation, the cage temperature is low, and the grease remains primarily viscous, mostly stored in the grease reservoir structure 4, resulting in minimal outflow and reducing cold-start wear and ineffective agitation. As the bearing operates and the temperature rises, when the temperature enters the grease's phase transition range, the grease's fluidity significantly increases. At this point, under centrifugal force, the grease can be supplied more smoothly and in larger quantities to the lubrication points through the variable-diameter flow channel, meeting the lubrication requirements during operation.

[0038] Research shows that the operating temperature rise of the cross-flow fan motor in the indoor unit of a household air conditioner is relatively stable, usually between 40°C and 70°C.

[0039] In this embodiment, the grease may specifically be a high-performance polyurea-based grease. The phase change temperature range of the grease is obtained by adjusting the type and ratio of the base oil, thickener, and additives to achieve the desired rheological properties, including the target phase change temperature range, which is the temperature range in which it changes significantly from a paste-like state to a flowable state. This range can be configured to be approximately 50°C to 70°C, which matches the expected operating temperature rise range of the cross-flow fan motor bearing under normal operation, 40°C to 70°C.

[0040] When the bearing is initially started or operating under low load, the cage temperature is below 50°C, and the grease is mainly in a viscous paste form, mostly stored in the grease reservoir cavity, effectively reducing resistance and losses caused by agitation. As the motor continues to run, bearing friction and the environment cause the cage temperature to rise above 50°C and enter a stable operating range (e.g., 55-65°C). Within this phase transition temperature range, the grease's fluidity is significantly enhanced, allowing it to be more effectively delivered to the lubrication points through the through-holes under centrifugal force. This design ensures active adaptation of lubrication supply to thermal conditions, achieving a smooth transition from grease storage to on-demand lubrication.

[0041] The cage base 1 is made of high-strength, lightweight composite material.

[0042] This design reduces the mass of the cage base 1 from the material source, achieving weight reduction and centrifugal force reduction. The high strength characteristics ensure that even after the weight-reducing structure of the grease reservoir cavity 4, the first through hole 5, and the second through hole 6 is implemented, the cage still possesses sufficient mechanical strength and rigidity to withstand the loads of the rolling elements, maintain the shape stability of the pocket 2, and maintain its guiding relationship with the bearing rings, thus guaranteeing the bearing's operational accuracy and reliability. In this embodiment, the cage base 1 is made of carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone material through injection molding, and its long-term operating temperature limit is far higher than the actual temperature rise of the applied motor.

[0043] The radial thickness of the connecting beam 3 along the cage base 1 is less than the radial thickness of the pocket 2 along the cage base 1, and the distance between the connecting beam 3 and the inner circumference of the cage base 1 is the same as the distance between the connecting beam 3 and the outer circumference of the cage base 1.

[0044] The radial thickness of the connecting beam 3 is less than that of the pocket 2, and the connecting beam 3 is roughly in the center of the radial direction. This arrangement, with its smaller radial thickness, is an effective weight-reduction design. This is because, under the premise of meeting the connection strength and stiffness requirements, reducing the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting beam 3 can directly reduce the mass of this part. Since the number of connecting beams 3 is comparable to that of pocket 2, the cumulative weight reduction effect is significant.

[0045] The connecting beam 3 is radially centered, which means that its center of mass is closer to the theoretical rotation center of the cage. This helps to optimize the mass distribution of the cage and reduce the dynamic unbalanced force that may be generated during high-speed rotation due to uneven mass distribution, thereby further improving the smoothness and quietness of the bearing operation.

[0046] The pocket 2 is designed as a ring-shaped strip structure, and the inner contour of the pocket 2 is adapted to the outer contour of the rolling element. The top of the pocket 2 is provided with an opening structure.

[0047] The pocket 2 is designed as an annular strip structure with its inner contour matching the outer contour of the rolling element. This provides a suitable guiding and containing space for the rolling element, ensuring that the rolling element is stable in position during movement and preventing skewing or collisions. The opening structure at the top of the pocket 2 facilitates the loading and unloading of the rolling element.

[0048] In a second aspect of the invention, a method of using a self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage is provided, comprising: Lubricating grease is placed in the grease storage cavity structure 4 and the variable diameter flow channel. The cage base 1 is installed in the designated position and assembled with the rolling elements for use. During use, the temperature rise of the cage base 1 increases the fluidity of the grease. Under the action of centrifugal force, the fluidized grease flows from the grease reservoir structure 4 through the first through hole 5, the variable diameter flow channel and the second through hole 6 to the outside, and lubricates the rolling elements.

[0049] First, by placing grease into the grease reservoir structure 4 and the variable diameter flow channel and assembling it into the designated position, the initialization and sealing of long-term lubrication are completed. If a bottom cover is provided, the bottom cover is assembled into the bottom of the cage base 1 and sealed in the same way. This lays the foundation for maintenance-free operation. Then, after assembly and use, the grease flow is changed by the temperature rise naturally generated by the bearing operation, and the centrifugal force inevitably generated by the bearing rotation is used as the conveying power. The entire lubrication process does not rely on external energy input or manual intervention, realizing self-driven and self-adaptive lubrication.

[0050] While the specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications or variations that can be made by those skilled in the art without creative effort based on the technical solutions of the present invention are still within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage, characterized in that, The cage includes a ring-shaped cage base with multiple pockets for accommodating rolling elements. The multiple pockets are evenly spaced at a predetermined interval along the ring of the cage base, and adjacent pockets are fixedly connected by connecting beams. The bottom of the cage base, corresponding to the connecting beams, has a grease reservoir structure. The grease reservoir structure has a first through hole corresponding to the connecting beams, and the connecting beams have a second through hole. A variable-diameter flow channel is provided between the first and second through holes. The grease reservoir structure and the variable-diameter flow channel are filled with lubricating grease.

2. The self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the cage base is provided with protruding structures at the corresponding pocket positions.

3. The self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The diameter of the first through hole is larger than the diameter of the second through hole.

4. The self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The variable diameter flow channel is configured such that the diameter gradually decreases from the first through hole to the second through hole.

5. A self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second through hole is provided radially on the outer sidewall of the connecting beam.

6. A self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The grease is configured such that its solid-liquid phase transition temperature range matches the expected operating temperature rise range of the bearing cage.

7. A self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cage base is made of high-strength, lightweight composite material.

8. A self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The radial thickness of the connecting beam along the cage base is less than the radial thickness of the pocket along the cage base, and the distance between the connecting beam and the inner periphery of the cage base is the same as the distance between the connecting beam and the outer periphery of the cage base.

9. A self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pocket is configured as an annular strip structure, the inner contour of the pocket is adapted to the outer contour of the rolling element, and the top of the pocket is provided with an opening structure.

10. A method of using a self-lubricating, weight-reducing bearing cage as described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, include: Lubricating grease is placed in the grease storage cavity structure and the variable diameter flow channel, and the cage base is installed in the designated position and assembled with the rolling elements for use. During use, the cage substrate increases in temperature, which enhances the fluidity of the grease. Under centrifugal force, the fluidized grease flows from the grease reservoir structure through the first through hole, the variable diameter channel, and the second through hole to the outside, and lubricates the rolling elements.

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