Claw mouth splicing type retainer

Abstract

This application discloses a claw-type splicing cage, belonging to the field of bearing cages. It includes a cage body and multiple claw assemblies. The claw assemblies include a first claw and a second claw made of an elastic material. Through the modular splicing design of the cage body and the elastic claw assemblies, synergistic optimization of structure and function is achieved. The cage body is made of graphite, which fully utilizes its excellent properties of high temperature resistance, self-lubrication, and corrosion resistance, making it suitable for extreme working conditions such as low or high temperatures and oil-free lubrication. The first and second claws are detachably engaged with the limiting groove on the columnar reinforcing rib via an insert section. The arc-shaped guide section smoothly transitions into the inner wall of the groove, forming a complete pocket and constituting a locking structure with pre-tightening force.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of bearing cages, and particularly relates to a claw-type splicing cage. Background Technology

[0002] As a core component of mechanical transmission systems, rolling bearings directly determine the operating efficiency and lifespan of the main machine through their performance and reliability. The cage, a key component of the bearing, is primarily used to evenly separate the rolling elements, guide their movement, and reduce friction and wear. Its material and structural design must be matched to the bearing's operating conditions. Traditional ball bearing cages are mainly made of stamped steel plates, engineering plastics (such as PA series, PEEK, etc.), and ordinary metals. While mature in conventional operating conditions, they have significant technical limitations in extreme environments such as high temperatures and oil-free lubrication, making it difficult to meet the demands of high-end equipment for long bearing life and high reliability.

[0003] To overcome the limitations of traditional materials, carbon graphite materials, due to their excellent high-temperature resistance, self-lubrication, thermal shock resistance, and corrosion resistance, are increasingly being used in bearing cage manufacturing. Carbon graphite materials do not melt or carbonize at high temperatures. During operation, fine graphite powder can shed, forming a uniform transfer film on the contact surfaces of the rolling elements and the inner and outer raceways. This effectively isolates the metal / ceramic contact surfaces, achieving oil-free lubrication and significantly reducing the risk of friction and wear. Simultaneously, it is adaptable to diverse and harsh operating conditions such as low temperatures and corrosion, providing a material basis for the reliable operation of bearings in extreme environments.

[0004] To effectively enclose and guide the rolling elements, carbon graphite crown cages typically have a necessary locking amount (i.e., interference fit) at the pocket. However, the inherent brittleness and weak impact resistance of carbon graphite material mean that even a small amount of interference fit during assembly can cause brittle fracture at the edge of the cage pocket, directly resulting in product scrap. Existing technologies include solutions for carbon graphite cages; for example, patent document CN102052395B discloses a graphite integral cage made of carbon graphite material. This cage has a crown-shaped structure with one open end and no locking amount, but suffers from significant axial movement, making it only suitable for low-speed applications. To improve the strength defects of the crown-shaped structure, patent document CN102852977B proposes a split-combination closed carbon graphite cage rolling bearing. This design, through a combination of a locking-free crown-shaped cage and a sealing reinforcing ring, improves the cage strength, bearing limit speed, and load-bearing capacity. However, this solution still has significant shortcomings: the sealing reinforcement ring and the steel ball are in point contact, resulting in a small contact area, which easily leads to stress concentration and makes it difficult to withstand large loads; the bonding method between the ring and the cage poses a risk of failure under high temperature and steel ball impact conditions, and once the ring falls off, it will directly lead to bearing failure; the riveted bottom reinforcement ring structure further compresses the axial space inside the bearing, making the processing technology complex and the manufacturing cost high; the structure without locking has poor wrapping of the rolling elements, which easily leads to irregular movement of the rolling elements, resulting in significant vibration and noise problems during operation, and it also loses the core advantages of the crown cage.

[0005] In summary, current carbon graphite crown cages still face irreconcilable technical contradictions in terms of structural design and operational adaptability. Their core drawbacks are as follows: First, while the traditional crown structure design with interference fit can achieve good wrapping and axial limiting characteristics for the rolling elements, carbon graphite itself is brittle and lacks toughness. Even a small interference fit during assembly can easily cause brittle fracture, directly leading to cage failure and bearing assembly failure. Second, if the interference fit is removed to avoid the risk of brittle fracture, the original axial limiting function of the crown cage is lost, making the rolling elements prone to axial movement, severely disrupting the smoothness of bearing operation and failing to meet the requirements of high-speed, high-precision operation. Third, existing technologies, to compensate for the defects of the non-interference fit structure, employ a split-type improvement scheme with added sealing rings. While this achieves axial limiting, this structure completely destroys the crown cage's "overall wrapping and uniform guidance of the rolling elements." The core structural characteristics of the crown cage cause it to lose the key advantages of a crown cage, such as precise rolling element guidance and uniform load distribution, thus becoming a "pseudo-crown" structure in form. Furthermore, the addition of the sealing ring not only increases the number of internal bearing components but also complicates the machining and assembly process. The bonding and riveting methods used to connect the ring to the cage further compress the axial space inside the bearing, limiting the optimization of key structural parameters such as the cage pocket thickness, ultimately restricting the improvement of the bearing's load-bearing capacity and limiting speed. Therefore, the existing technology needs further improvement and enhancement. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention provides a claw-type splicing cage to at least solve or alleviate one or more technical problems in the prior art, or at least provide a beneficial alternative.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A claw-type splicing retainer includes: a retainer body made of graphite, wherein a plurality of columnar reinforcing ribs are evenly spaced along the axial direction on the circumferential side of the retainer body; a groove is formed between two adjacent columnar reinforcing ribs; and a limiting slot is formed between the circumferential sides of the columnar reinforcing ribs and the groove. Multiple claw assemblies, each including a first claw and a second claw, wherein the elastic modulus of the materials used to manufacture the first and second claws is less than that of graphite; the first and second claws are detachably engaged in two limiting slots on the same columnar reinforcing rib; both the first and second claws have an insertion section and an arc-shaped guide section, the insertion section being adapted to engage with the limiting slot, and the arc-shaped guide section smoothly transitioning to the inner wall of the groove to form a pocket in the main body of the cage; the two claws on both sides of the groove circumferentially constitute a locking structure with preload to limit the axial movement of the rolling element.

[0008] This invention achieves synergistic optimization of structure and function through the modular splicing design of the cage body and the elastic claw assembly, and has significant beneficial effects: on the one hand, the material of the cage body includes graphite material, which gives full play to its excellent properties of high temperature resistance, self-lubrication and corrosion resistance, and is suitable for extreme working conditions such as high temperature and oilless lubrication. On the other hand, the first and second claws, made of elastic material, are detachably engaged with the limiting slots on the columnar reinforcing ribs via the insertion section. The arc-shaped guide section smoothly transitions and connects with the inner wall of the groove, forming a complete pocket and constituting a locking structure with preload. During assembly, the rolling elements can be easily inserted by opening the elastic claws. After assembly, the claws spring back to their original position. This not only utilizes the preload to reliably limit the axial movement of the rolling elements, preventing them from falling off or moving axially, but also completely solves the technical problem of traditional carbon graphite crown cages being brittle and prone to breakage due to interference fit through splicing between the claws and the main body of the cage. At the same time, it retains the core advantages of crown cages in accurately guiding the rolling elements and uniformly distributing the load, simplifies the assembly process, reduces processing and maintenance costs, and significantly improves the assembly yield, operational stability, and reliability of bearings under extreme environments, meeting the high-speed, high-precision, and long-life requirements of high-end equipment.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the limiting slot includes a vertical slot and a horizontal slot. The vertical slot extends axially along the columnar reinforcing rib. The horizontal slot extends from the bottom of the vertical slot toward the circumferential direction of the columnar reinforcing rib and communicates with the vertical slot. In the two limiting slots located on both sides of the same columnar reinforcing rib, the vertical slot depth of one limiting slot is greater than the vertical slot depth of the other limiting slot.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the vertical groove extends radially through the main body of the retainer, and the horizontal groove extends radially through the columnar reinforcing rib; in the first and second claws, the radial dimension of the insertion section is equal to the radial dimension of the arc-shaped guide section.

[0011] The radial through-groove is easy to process and has a high yield. The corresponding jaws and through-groove can be matched to improve the connection strength between the two.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, both the vertical groove and the horizontal groove are arc grooves; the insertion section is configured as an arc shape adapted to the arc groove; the first claw and the second claw are installed by their arc-shaped insertion sections engaging with the corresponding arc grooves.

[0013] During bearing operation, the groove wall of the arc-shaped groove abuts against the arc surface of the arc-shaped insertion section, preventing the first and second jaws from disengaging radially under centrifugal force. When the jaws are subjected to radially outward centrifugal force, the groove wall of the arc-shaped groove directly absorbs and disperses the centrifugal force through its large arc surface, forming a reliable radial constraint. This effectively prevents the jaws from disengaging radially, maintaining a stable connection between the jaws and the groove even under extreme conditions of high-speed rotation and high centrifugal force, ensuring the overall stability of the cage structure. Simultaneously, the arc-shaped fitting structure reduces frictional resistance during jaw assembly, making the engagement and disassembly of the jaws and groove smoother, improving assembly and maintenance convenience, and further optimizing the production and usage efficiency of the cage.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, a clearance portion is provided at the connection between the arc-shaped guide segment and the insertion segment, and the clearance portion contacts the axial end face of the groove sidewall.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the cage body has a fixing hole that extends circumferentially through the side wall of the groove and the columnar reinforcing rib; the first claw and the second claw have corresponding connecting holes; the fixing post passes through the fixing hole and the connecting hole to lock the claw to the cage body.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the limiting groove is a radially closed structure; a horizontal transition portion is provided between the side of the arc-shaped guide section away from the groove and the surface of the insertion section; the surface of the horizontal transition portion is flush with the axial end face of the columnar reinforcing rib; a sealing piece is attached to the end face of the columnar reinforcing rib, and the sealing piece presses on the horizontal transition portion.

[0017] In a preferred implementation, the arc-shaped guide segments of the first claw and the arc-shaped guide segments of the second claw, located on opposite sides of the same groove in the circumferential direction, are connected to form an integral structure.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the axial end face of the columnar reinforcing rib is not lower than the axial end face of the groove, and is also lower than the axial end face of the chuck.

[0019] In a preferred implementation, the axial depth of the limiting slot is not greater than the axial depth of the groove.

[0020] The above structure has the following beneficial effects: The claw-type splicing cage of this application solves the technical problem of traditional carbon graphite crown cages, which are prone to brittle fracture due to the high brittleness of the material and interference fit during assembly, through the modular splicing design of the cage body and the elastic claws. During assembly, the rolling elements only need to open the elastic claws to be in place, avoiding the hard compression between the rigid graphite material and the rolling elements, completely eliminating the risk of brittle fracture during assembly, and significantly improving the assembly yield and production efficiency.

[0021] Meanwhile, by utilizing the pre-tightening force after the jaws are assembled, a substantial locking structure is constructed while retaining the advantages of the crown cage's overall wrapping and precise guidance of the core structure. Compared to the split ring structure without locking, the pockets in this solution form a tight semi-wrap or full circumferential wrapping constraint on the rolling elements, with high fit and large contact area, effectively dispersing contact stress.

[0022] Furthermore, through diverse limiting slot structures such as L-shaped arc slots, I-shaped slots, and non-through slots, combined with the adaptive connection between the claws and the slots, a comprehensive dual limiting protection is constructed. On one hand, the vertical slots of the L-shaped / I-shaped slots can reliably limit the axial movement of the claws, preventing axial displacement; on the other hand, the fit between the arc slot surface and the claws, and the wrapping of the non-through slot walls, can effectively resist the radial centrifugal force generated by high-speed rotation, preventing the claws from radially dislodging. This dual constraint of axial and radial forces ensures that the claws and the main body of the cage form a stable whole, maintaining reliable limiting even under extreme working conditions of high load and high impact, significantly improving the operational stability and service life of the cage. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and form part of this invention, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with their description, serve to explain this application and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the claw-joint graphite cage of this application is shown; Figure 2 A schematic perspective view of the main body of the claw-joint graphite cage according to a first embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 3 A schematic internal structural view of the main body of the first embodiment of the claw-joint graphite cage of this application is shown. Figure 4 A partially enlarged view of the splicing portion of the main body of the first embodiment of the claw-joint graphite cage of this application is shown. Figure 5A perspective view of the first jaw of the first embodiment of the jaw-jointed graphite retainer of this application is shown; Figure 6 A perspective view of the second claw of a first embodiment of the claw-type graphite retainer of this application is shown; Figure 7 A schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the claw-joint graphite cage of this application is shown; Figure 8 A schematic perspective view of the main body of the claw-joint graphite cage according to a second embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 9 A schematic internal structural view of the main body of the claw-joint graphite cage according to a second embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 10 A partially enlarged view of the splicing portion of the main body of the second embodiment of the claw-joint graphite cage of this application is shown. Figure 11 The illustration shows a perspective view of the first and second jaws of a second embodiment of the jaw-jointed graphite cage of this application; Figure 12 A perspective view of the fixing column of a second embodiment of the claw-joint graphite cage of this application is illustrated; Figure 13 A schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of the claw-joint graphite cage of this application is shown. Figure 14 A schematic perspective view of the main body of the claw-type graphite cage according to a third embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 15 The illustration shows a perspective view of the first and second jaws of a third embodiment of the jaw-jointed graphite retainer of this application. Figure 16 A perspective view of the sealing sheet of a third embodiment of the claw-joint graphite retainer of this application is shown; Figure 17 A schematic perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the claw-joint graphite cage of this application is shown; Figure 18 A schematic perspective view of the main body of the claw-joint graphite cage according to the fourth embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 19 A perspective view of the jaws of a fourth embodiment of the jaw-jointed graphite cage of this application is illustrated. Label Explanation: 10. Main body of the cage; 11. Columnar reinforcing rib; 110. Limiting slot; 1100. Vertical slot; 1101. Horizontal slot; 111. Fixing hole; 12. Groove; 20. First claw; 21. Second claw; 22. Full-coverage claw; 200. Insertion section; 201. Arc-shaped guide section; 202. Clearance section; 203. Horizontal transition section; 204. Connecting hole; 3. Fixing post; 4. Sealing plate. Detailed Implementation

[0024] In the following description, only certain exemplary embodiments are briefly described. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the drawings and description are considered to be exemplary in nature and not restrictive.

[0025] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] The specific solution adopted is as follows: like Figure 1-19 As shown, the present invention provides a claw-type splicing retainer, comprising: a retainer body 10 made of graphite, wherein a plurality of columnar reinforcing ribs 11 are evenly spaced along the axial direction on the circumferential side of the retainer body 10; a groove 12 is formed between two adjacent columnar reinforcing ribs 11, and the groove 12 constitutes part of the retainer pocket. Limiting grooves 110 are formed between the circumferential sides of the columnar reinforcing ribs 11 and the grooves 12.

[0027] The cage also includes multiple claw assemblies, with one claw assembly configured for each groove 12, meaning the number of claw assemblies is the same as the number of grooves 12.

[0028] Specifically, the claw assembly includes a first claw 20 and a second claw 21. The elastic modulus of the materials used to manufacture the first claw 20 and the second claw 21 is less than that of graphite. The first claw 20 and the second claw 21 are detachably fitted into two limiting slots 110 on the same columnar reinforcing rib 11. Both the first claw 20 and the second claw 21 have an insertion section 200 and an arc-shaped guide section 201. The insertion section 200 is adapted to engage with the limiting slot 110, and the arc-shaped guide section 201 smoothly transitions to the inner wall of the groove 12, forming a pocket. The claws on both sides of the pocket constitute a locking structure with pre-tightening force. That is, the distance between the ends of the arc-shaped guide sections 201 of the first claw 20 and the second claw 21 on both sides of the same pocket circumferential direction away from the insertion section 200 is less than the diameter of the rolling element.

[0029] In this embodiment, the elastic modulus of the material used to manufacture the first claw 20 and the second claw 21 is less than that of graphite. That is, when the claws (first claw 20 and second claw 21) are subjected to the same force as the cage body 10, the claws will first undergo significant deformation. Thus, during the assembly of the rolling element, the rolling element enters the pocket by opening the elastic claw. After assembly, the claw springs back to its original position and forms an axial limit on the rolling element.

[0030] This design, through a combination of a modular main body and flexible splicing claws, avoids the assembly risks posed by the brittleness of carbon graphite materials, while retaining the core advantages of the crown cage. The cage main body (graphite material) only serves as a semi-enclosure and structural support, avoiding direct interference fit. The flexible first and second claws act as locking mechanisms, responsible for axially limiting the rolling elements. During assembly, external force only needs to overcome the elastic deformation of the claws to push the rolling elements into the pockets, avoiding hard compression between the rigid graphite material and the rolling elements.

[0031] Because the main graphite portion has no interference fit, the risk of assembly breakage due to material brittleness is completely eliminated, greatly improving the yield of finished products. Although the assembly process is interference-free, the final cage has axial locking capability for the rolling elements. The rolling elements are firmly confined within the semi-enclosed pockets, which not only solves the axial movement problem in structures without locking fit, but also realizes the core functions of the crown cage in precisely guiding the rolling elements and evenly distributing the load.

[0032] By eliminating the complex sealing ring or rivet structures found in existing technologies, ample space was provided for optimizing key parameters such as the bottom thickness of the pockets in the main body of the cage. At the same time, the number of structural components was reduced, lowering the complexity of the processing technology and manufacturing costs.

[0033] This invention transfers the interference fit stress, originally borne by brittle graphite materials, to the jaws made of elastic materials. The graphite cage body only needs to be machined into a conventional semi-hollow structure, eliminating the risk of assembly stress. During rolling element assembly, the jaws are simply elastically spread to allow for smooth insertion, completely solving the technical problems of easy breakage and high scrap rate in traditional locking-type structures, significantly reducing production costs and improving production efficiency. Through the preload design of the jaws, a locking-type graphite crown-shaped cage is formed in the physical structure. This splicing structure allows the pockets to form a tight semi-enclosed constraint on the rolling elements, with high fit and large contact area, effectively dispersing contact stress and improving the smoothness of bearing operation.

[0034] Example 1, see Figures 1-6The limiting groove 110 includes a vertical groove 1100 and a horizontal groove 1101. The vertical groove 1100 extends axially along the columnar reinforcing rib 11. The horizontal groove 1101 extends from the bottom of the vertical groove 1100 towards the circumferential direction of the columnar reinforcing rib 11 and connects with the vertical groove 1100 in a vertical arrangement, i.e., in an L-shape. The L-shaped fitting design of the insertion section 200, after assembly, creates a double constraint from both axial and circumferential dimensions. This ensures that the rolling elements are always on the preset motion trajectory, significantly improving the smoothness and positioning accuracy of the bearing operation.

[0035] Meanwhile, in the two limiting slots 110 located on both sides of the same columnar reinforcing rib 11, the depth of the vertical slot 1100 of one limiting slot 110 is greater than the depth of the vertical slot 1100 of the other limiting slot 110, and the distance between the horizontal slot 1101 of one limiting slot 110 and the horizontal slot 1101 of the other limiting slot 110 is more than 2mm, so as to avoid stress concentration in the claw assembly caused by the consistent slot depth and ensure the structural strength of the columnar reinforcing rib 11.

[0036] Of course, the specific dimensions of the axial distance between the two horizontal grooves 1101 are determined according to the product dimensions, and are not specifically limited in this embodiment.

[0037] In addition, the horizontal groove 1101 extends from the bottom of the vertical groove 1100 toward the circumferential inner side of the columnar reinforcing rib 11, avoiding the groove 12 facing the pocket surface, maintaining a complete graphite material contact surface, ensuring the contact area between the ball and the graphite part, and ensuring lubrication performance.

[0038] See Figures 3-4 Both the vertical groove 1100 and the horizontal groove 1101 are arc-shaped groove structures. The insertion sections 200 of the first claw 20 and the second claw 21 are set as arc-shaped structures adapted to the arc-shaped grooves. The first claw 20 and the second claw 21 are installed by their arc-shaped insertion sections 200 engaging with the corresponding arc-shaped grooves. During the operation of the bearing, the groove wall of the arc-shaped groove abuts against the arc surface of the arc-shaped insertion section 200, preventing the claws from disengaging radially under centrifugal force.

[0039] During bearing operation, as the rotational speed increases, the chuck is subjected to a centrifugal force acting radially outward along the bearing. This centrifugal force always points radially outward and is the main force causing the chuck to easily disengage from the slot. In this design, the arc-shaped insertion section 200 of the chuck fits tightly with the arc-shaped groove surface of the slot, and the mating surface of the two is an arc surface. In this case, to make the chuck disengage radially, the contact resistance between the arc surfaces must be overcome.

[0040] More importantly, the mating structure between the arc-shaped insertion section 200 and the arc groove determines that the disassembly of the claw requires the application of a tangential force, that is, a force along the circumferential direction of the arc groove, in order to allow the arc-shaped insertion section 200 to break free from the constraint of the arc groove. The centrifugal force generated when the bearing is running is a pure radial force, which cannot provide a tangential force to disengage the claw. Therefore, even under high-speed operation and high centrifugal force conditions, the mating between the arc groove and the arc-shaped insertion section 200 can effectively prevent the claw from coming out radially, avoiding the claw from loosening or falling off, and ensuring the stability of the cage structure.

[0041] In this embodiment, the groove 12, the arc-shaped guide section 201 of the first claw 20, and the arc-shaped guide section 201 of the second claw 21 are all concave spherical surfaces, so that the inner wall of the pocket formed by the three can limit the rolling element in the circumferential, axial and radial directions.

[0042] The vertical groove 1100 extends axially along the columnar reinforcing rib 11, and the horizontal groove 1101 is vertically connected to the vertical groove 1100. After the L-shaped arc insertion section 200 of the claw is inserted into the groove, the groove wall will form an axial limiting constraint on the claw insertion section 200, preventing the claw from displacing along the bearing axis. Then, the arc-shaped guide section 201 of the claw forms a stable axial limit on the rolling element, avoiding axial movement of the rolling element. Finally, a radial and axial dual limiting mechanism is formed, which not only ensures the stability of the claw after assembly, but also ensures the accurate positioning of the rolling element during operation, further improving the reliability and adaptability of the cage, and adapting to the demanding working conditions such as high speed and high load.

[0043] See Figure 5 and Figure 6 An avoidance part 202 is provided at the connection between the arc-shaped guide section 201 and the plug-in section 200 to realize the transition between the arc-shaped guide section 201 and the plug-in section 200.

[0044] The arc-shaped guide section 201 needs to smoothly transition with the arc of the groove 12 of the cage body 10 to form a complete and fitting rolling element receiving space, ensuring uniform wrapping and precise guidance of the rolling elements. If the avoidance part 202 is not provided, and the insertion section 200 is directly placed below the arc-shaped guide section 201, the insertion section 200 will directly contact and interfere with the inner wall of the pocket, compromising the integrity of the pocket.

[0045] The setting of the avoidance part 202 is equivalent to forming a transition buffer structure between the arc-shaped guide section 201 and the insertion section 200. By reasonably avoiding the inner wall space of the groove 12, the snap-fit ​​assembly can be completed smoothly, while not affecting the smooth transition between the arc-shaped guide section 201 and the pocket.

[0046] In addition, the avoidance section 202 can optimize the stress distribution at the connection between the arc-shaped guide section 201 and the plug section 200, avoid stress concentration caused by structural abrupt changes, prevent the claw from breaking or being damaged at the connection under the impact of long-term elastic deformation and high-speed operation of the bearing, further improve the structural strength and service life of the claw assembly, and ensure the stable operation of the cage as a whole.

[0047] In this embodiment, the vertical groove 1100 penetrates the main body of the retainer 10 radially, and the horizontal groove 1101 penetrates the columnar reinforcing rib 11 radially. This arrangement facilitates the radial placement of the claws on the main body of the retainer 10 and increases the connection strength between the claws and the main body of the retainer 10.

[0048] In this embodiment, the first jaw 20 and the second jaw 21 are made of polymeric organic materials. For cages used in high-temperature applications, the first jaw 20 and the second jaw 21 are made of at least one of PEEK, thermosetting PI, and thermoplastic PI. For cages used in low-temperature applications, the first jaw 20 and the second jaw 21 can be made of fluoropolymer resin.

[0049] Optionally, to ensure the structural strength of the chuck, inorganic materials can be doped into the manufacturing material of the chuck.

[0050] Example 2 differs from Example 1 in that the limiting slot 110 and the insertion section 200 of the gripper are I-shaped, and the limiting slot 110 is radially through-type. (See [reference]). Figures 7-12 The main body 10 of the retainer has a fixing hole 111 that penetrates the columnar reinforcing rib 11 and the peripheral wall of two grooves 12 adjacent to the columnar reinforcing rib 11; the first claw 20 and the second claw 21 are respectively provided with connecting holes 204; when the first claw 20, the second claw 21 and the limiting groove 110 of the columnar reinforcing rib 11 are installed in place, the fixing post 3 is inserted into the fixing hole 111 and the connecting hole 204 in sequence to lock the claw and the main body 10 of the retainer into one piece, and restrict the claw from moving relative to the limiting groove 110.

[0051] The diameter of the fixing post 3 is equal to the diameter of the fixing hole 111, or the fixing post 3 and the fixing hole 111 are interference fit.

[0052] Compared to L-shaped slots, I-shaped slots have a simpler structure, are easier to manufacture, and ensure the structural strength of the columnar reinforcing rib 11. The rigid locking achieved through the fixing post 3 makes the jaws and the main body 10 of the cage a solid whole. When the bearing rotates at high speed and is subjected to enormous centrifugal force and impact loads, the jaws will not slip circumferentially or loosen axially relative to the slot. The symmetrical I-shaped jaw design, with the first and second jaws having identical shapes, reduces parts processing and inventory management costs.

[0053] The materials used to manufacture the fixed column 3 include at least one of PEEK, thermosetting PI, thermoplastic PI, and graphite.

[0054] Example 3, see Figures 13-16 Compared to Embodiment 2, the limiting groove 110 is a radially closed structure. This design structurally cuts off the path of radial displacement of the claw. Compared to the radially through groove, the non-through structure retains the complete radial structure of the columnar reinforcing rib 11. The groove wall forms an all-round radial enclosure constraint on the claw insertion section. Even if the bearing operates at high speed and generates a large centrifugal force, the claw cannot come out radially, which fundamentally suppresses the possibility of radial displacement of the claw and greatly improves the stability of the claw after assembly.

[0055] A horizontal transition section 203 is provided between the surface of the arc-shaped guide section 201 facing away from the pocket cavity and the surface of the insertion section 200. When the first claw 20, the second claw 21 and the limiting groove 110 are installed in place, the surface of the horizontal transition section 203 is flush with the axial end face of the columnar reinforcing rib 11. This flush design ensures that the sealing piece 4 can fit tightly against the end face of the columnar reinforcing rib 11 and press firmly on the horizontal transition section 203. Through the pressing action of the sealing piece 4, a reliable axial limit is formed on the claw, effectively preventing the claw from slipping or falling off along the axial direction. Combined with the limiting action of the radial non-through groove, a double stable constraint of "radial + axial" is formed to ensure the stability of the overall structure of the cage.

[0056] Optionally, the sealing sheet 4 and the columnar reinforcing rib 11 are bonded together with an adhesive, which is a high-temperature resistant adhesive.

[0057] The material for the retainer claws is no longer limited to high-temperature resistant plastics; even brittle materials like graphite can meet the application requirements. The core reason is that the cage in this embodiment adopts an assembly sequence of first installing the steel balls and then assembling the cage, completely avoiding the interference fit problem between the steel balls and the retainers in traditional assembly methods. During assembly, there is no need to forcibly pry the steel balls open to insert the retainers into the pockets, and therefore the retainers do not need to have elastic deformation capabilities to withstand assembly stress. Thus, even if the retainers are made of brittle graphite, they will not break due to assembly stress. This fully utilizes the excellent high-temperature resistance and self-lubricating properties of graphite, while also expanding the range of cage material choices to adapt to more demanding extreme working conditions such as high temperatures and oil-free lubrication.

[0058] The sealing piece 4 has a simple structure and is easy to assemble. Compared with the locking method of the fixing post 3 in Embodiment 2, it does not require the processing of complex fixing holes 111 and connecting holes 204, thus reducing the complexity of the processing technology.

[0059] The chuck is made of at least one of the following materials: polymeric organic materials, metallic materials, and inorganic materials. The specific polymeric organic materials are described above and will not be repeated here. The metallic materials are high-temperature alloys, and the inorganic materials include graphite, ceramics, and hexagonal boron nitride, among others.

[0060] The sealing sheet 4 is made of at least one of the following materials: PEEK, thermosetting PI, thermoplastic PI, graphite, ceramic, and high-temperature alloy.

[0061] Example 4, see 17 and Figure 19 The arc-shaped guide section 201 ends of the first claw 20 located on both sides of the same groove 12 circumferentially connect with the arc-shaped guide section 201 ends of the second claw 21, forming a full-circumferential wrapping structure for the rolling element, i.e., a full-wrap claw 22. Compared with a semi-wrap structure, the full-circumferential wrapping pocket can constrain the rolling element from the entire circumference, completely limiting the offset space of the rolling element in the circumferential and radial directions. Especially for high-speed operation scenarios, where the rolling element is subjected to large centrifugal forces, the full-circumferential wrapping pocket can provide full-circumferential radial support, which can evenly bear the centrifugal force generated by the high-speed rotation of the rolling element, preventing the rolling element from local offset and shaking due to centrifugal force, making the rotation of the rolling element more stable, effectively reducing vibration and noise during bearing operation, and improving the operating accuracy and stability of the bearing.

[0062] Meanwhile, this embodiment simplifies and optimizes the structure of the jaws. Since the ends of the arc-shaped guide section 201 can achieve a tight fit, the first jaw 20 and the second jaw 21 no longer need to be designed as two independent components; they can be directly molded into a single integral part. This integrated design not only simplifies the parts processing flow, reduces the number of parts, and lowers processing and assembly costs, but also avoids problems such as gaps and misalignments that may occur at the joint of two independent jaws, ensuring the integrity and sealing of the full-circumferential wrapping structure, and further improving the wrapping accuracy and limiting reliability of the pocket for the rolling element.

[0063] Whether it is the L-shaped arc groove of Embodiment 1, the I-shaped groove + fixing post 3 of Embodiment 2, or the radial non-through groove + sealing piece 4 of Embodiment 3, they can all be used with the integrated fully enclosed claw of this embodiment.

[0064] The materials used to manufacture the claws and sealing sheet 4 in Example 4 are the same as those in Example 3, and will not be repeated here.

[0065] Example 5 combines Examples 1 and 2. On the same columnar reinforcing rib 11, two limiting slots 110 are designed with different structures. One limiting slot 110 adopts the L-shape of Example 1 (an arc or straight slot where the vertical slot 1100 and horizontal slot 1101 are vertically connected), with a matching L-shaped claw insertion section 200. The other limiting slot 110 adopts the I-shape of Example 2, with a matching I-shaped claw insertion section 200. During assembly, the L-shaped slot and claw cooperate to achieve circumferential and axial dual limiting, while the I-shaped slot and claw cooperate to achieve rapid axial assembly. This approach balances the limiting reliability of the L-shaped structure with the assembly convenience of the I-shaped structure, adapting to medium-high speed and medium load conditions, flexibly balancing limiting performance and assembly efficiency.

[0066] Example 6 is a combination optimization of Examples 2 and 3. On the same columnar reinforcing rib 11, both limiting slots 110 are I-shaped structures as in Example 2, but with different designs: one I-shaped limiting slot 110 radially penetrates the columnar reinforcing rib 11, while the other I-shaped limiting slot 110 does not radially penetrate the columnar reinforcing rib 11. The through-type I-shaped slot facilitates quick assembly of the jaws, while the non-through-type I-shaped slot fundamentally suppresses radial displacement of the jaws. Simultaneously, it can be used with the horizontal transition portion 203 and sealing piece 4 of Example 3 to achieve axial locking, retaining the processing convenience of the I-shaped structure while possessing the limiting stability of the non-through structure, and is also compatible with graphite jaws, expanding the range of applicable materials.

[0067] Example 7 is an optimized combination of Examples 1 and 3. On the same columnar reinforcing rib 11, the two limiting slots 110 adopt differentiated structures. One limiting slot 110 is L-shaped as in Example 1 (including vertical slot 1100 and horizontal slot 1101), and the other limiting slot 110 is I-shaped as in Example 3 and does not penetrate the columnar reinforcing rib 11 radially. The L-shaped slot and the claw cooperate to achieve reliable circumferential limiting, and the non-penetrating I-shaped slot ensures radial limiting stability. At the same time, it can be used with the horizontal transition part 203 and the sealing piece 4 to achieve axial locking, taking into account the limiting accuracy of the L-shaped structure and the material compatibility of the non-penetrating structure, and is suitable for harsh working conditions such as high temperature and high speed.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the inner diameter of the groove 12 is set to be greater than the diameter of the rolling element to form an assembly reserved space; the height of the graphite column reinforcing rib is set to be less than or equal to the distance from the center of the pocket ball to the end face of the cage; the distance from the center of the pocket ball to the end face of the cage is equal to the sum of the pocket radius and the pocket bottom thickness.

[0069] The inner diameter of the groove 12 is set to be larger than the diameter of the rolling element, thereby forming a preset assembly space between the pocket and the rolling element. This design provides sufficient clearance for the smooth installation of the rolling element, effectively reducing the assembly difficulty and avoiding assembly damage or jamming risks caused by interference fit.

[0070] Simultaneously, the height of the columnar reinforcing rib 11 is limited to be less than or equal to the distance from the center of the pocket ball to the end face of the cage, which in turn is equal to the sum of the pocket radius and the pocket bottom thickness. This dimensional matching relationship ensures that the columnar reinforcing rib 11 has sufficient structural height to provide the necessary support strength. Specifically, during the operation of the rolling bearing, the contact stress at the contact points between the rolling elements and the inner and outer raceways is extremely high, and mainly acts on the radial section passing through the center of the ball. If the splice seam happens to fall on the center of the ball or its immediate vicinity, the huge contact load during operation will be directly applied to the splice seam. The height setting of the columnar reinforcing rib 11, designing the splice seam above the center of the ball, i.e., close to the axial end face of the cage, means that the splice seam avoids the main contact stress zone between the rolling elements and the inner and outer raceways. When the rolling elements are subjected to radial loads, the main compressive force is transmitted through the ball center to the lower side of the ball center in the pocket, while the upper area where the splice is located is subjected to relatively less force. This ensures the rationality and compactness of the overall cage structure and lays a reliable structural foundation for the stable operation of the bearing under high-speed and high-precision conditions.

[0071] In the above embodiments, the axial end face of the columnar reinforcing rib 11 is not lower than the axial end face of the groove 12, and is lower than the axial end face of the claw.

[0072] While ensuring the structural strength of 11, it can avoid interference with the chuck (when the rolling element is inserted, the chuck needs to change shape and requires space).

[0073] For any parts not mentioned in this invention, existing technologies can be used or referenced.

[0074] The above are merely specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various variations or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention, and these should all be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A claw-jaw splicing type retainer, characterized in that, include: The main body (10) of the retainer is made of graphite. A plurality of columnar reinforcing ribs (11) are evenly spaced along the axial direction on the circumferential side of the main body (10). A groove (12) is formed between two adjacent columnar reinforcing ribs (11). A limit slot (110) is formed between the circumferential sides of the columnar reinforcing ribs (11) and the grooves (12). Multiple claw assemblies, the claw assembly including a first claw (20) and a second claw (21), the elastic modulus of the material of the first claw (20) and the second claw (21) is less than the elastic modulus of graphite; the first claw (20) and the second claw (21) are respectively detachably clamped into two limiting grooves (110) on the same columnar reinforcing rib (11); the first claw (20) and the second claw (21) each have an insertion section (200) and an arc-shaped guide section (201), the insertion section (200) is adapted to engage with the limiting groove (110), the arc-shaped guide section (201) smoothly transitions to the inner wall of the groove (12), forming a pocket of the main body of the cage (10), the two claws on both sides of the groove (12) constitute a locking structure with pre-tightening force to limit the axial movement of the rolling element.

2. The claw-jaw splicing type retainer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting slot (110) includes a vertical slot (1100) and a horizontal slot (1101). The vertical slot (1100) extends axially along the columnar reinforcing rib (11). The horizontal slot (1101) extends from the bottom of the vertical slot (1100) toward the circumferential direction of the columnar reinforcing rib (11) and communicates with the vertical slot (1100). Among the two limiting slots (110) located on both sides of the same columnar reinforcing rib (11), the depth of the vertical slot (1100) of one limiting slot (110) is greater than the depth of the vertical slot (1100) of the other limiting slot (110).

3. The claw-jaw splicing type retainer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The vertical groove (1100) penetrates the main body of the retainer (10) radially, and the horizontal groove (1101) penetrates the columnar reinforcing rib (11) radially; in the first claw (20) and the second claw (21), the radial dimension of the insertion section (200) is equal to the radial dimension of the arc-shaped guide section (201).

4. The claw-jaw splicing type retainer according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both the vertical groove (1100) and the horizontal groove (1101) are arc grooves; the plug section (200) is set to be arc-shaped to match the arc groove; the first claw (20) and the second claw (21) are installed by their arc-shaped plug section (200) in cooperation with the corresponding arc groove.

5. The claw-jaw splicing type retainer according to claim 1, characterized in that, A clearance portion (202) is provided at the connection between the arc-shaped guide section (201) and the plug section (200), and the clearance portion (202) contacts the axial end face of the side wall of the groove (12).

6. The claw-jaw splicing type retainer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body of the retainer (10) has a fixing hole (111) that passes through the side wall of the groove (12) and the columnar reinforcing rib (11) in the circumferential direction; the first claw (20) and the second claw (21) are respectively provided with connecting holes (204); the fixing post (3) passes through the fixing hole (111) and the connecting hole (204) to lock the claw to the main body of the retainer (10).

7. The claw-jaw splicing type retainer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting groove (110) is a radially closed structure; a horizontal transition part (203) is provided between the side of the arc-shaped guide section (201) away from the groove (12) and the surface of the insertion section (200); the surface of the horizontal transition part (203) is flush with the axial end face of the columnar reinforcing rib (11); a sealing piece (4) is attached to the end face of the columnar reinforcing rib (11), and the sealing piece (4) is pressed on the horizontal transition part (203).

8. The claw-jaw splicing type retainer according to claim 7, characterized in that, The arc-shaped guide section (201) of the first claw (20) located on both sides of the same groove (12) and the arc-shaped guide section (201) of the second claw (21) are connected to form an integral structure.

9. The claw-jaw splicing type retainer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The axial end face of the columnar reinforcing rib (11) is not lower than the axial end face of the groove (12) and is lower than the axial end face of the claw.

10. The claw-jaw splicing type retainer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The axial depth of the limiting slot (110) is not greater than the axial depth of the groove (12).

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