Bearing arrangement

Abstract

The present application relates to a bearing device in which a rolling bearing is installed in a housing. The rolling bearing of the bearing device has an inner ring fixed to an outer circumferential surface of a shaft that is a rotating shaft, an outer ring fixed to a housing, rolling elements that roll between the inner ring and the outer ring, and a retainer that maintains a gap between the rolling elements. The bearing device is provided with a discharge port that discharges lubricating oil in the housing. The bearing device discharges lubricating oil from the discharge port to a position on the center side of the inner ring with respect to the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring of the rolling bearing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to bearing devices. Background Technology

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-087597 discloses a bearing device having an oil supply unit that discharges lubricating oil toward the balls, which are rolling elements of a rolling bearing.

[0003] When supplying lubricating oil to the bearing assembly, if the supplied lubricating oil collides with the rotating rolling elements and retainers, the speed of the lubricating oil will generate resistance that hinders the rotational movement of the rolling elements and retainers. Due to this resistance, the driving force of the rotating shaft is reduced. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The bearing assembly used to solve the above problems has rolling bearings installed in the housing section.

[0005] The rolling bearing of the bearing assembly has: an inner ring fixed to the outer circumferential surface of a rotating shaft; an outer ring fixed to the housing; rolling elements that roll between the inner ring and the outer ring; and a retainer that maintains the spacing between the rolling elements.

[0006] The bearing assembly has a discharge port for discharging lubricating oil in the housing section.

[0007] The bearing assembly discharges lubricating oil from the outlet to a position closer to the center of the inner ring than the outer periphery of the inner ring of the rolling bearing.

[0008] According to the above-described bearing device, when supplying oil to the rolling bearing, it is possible to suppress the collision between the lubricating oil and the rolling elements and the retainer, thereby preventing the generation of resistance that hinders the rotation of the rotating shaft. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Hereinafter, the features, advantages, technical and industrial importance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same constituent elements, wherein:

[0010] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a bearing assembly according to one embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 Viewed from the opening side of the storage section Figure 1 Front view of the housing in the bearing assembly.

[0012] Figure 3 This is a sectional view of a modified bearing assembly.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of a bearing assembly in another modified example. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The following is for reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 Bearing device 10, as one embodiment of a bearing device, will be described. Figure 1 In the diagram, the central axis of the bearing assembly 10 is shown as central axis C by a single-dotted line. Central axis C extends horizontally. Figures 1-4 The central axis C is shown in the diagram. Figures 1-4 In the diagram, the vertical direction is indicated by arrows, showing the area above and below the vertical.

[0015] Configuration of bearing assembly 10

[0016] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the bearing assembly 10 taken along a vertical plane along the central axis C. The bearing assembly 10 is, for example, installed in a transmission having multiple rotating shafts.

[0017] like Figure 1 As shown, the bearing assembly 10 supports the end of the shaft 50, which is one of the rotating shafts. A housing 21 is provided in the housing 20 of the bearing assembly 10. A rolling bearing 11 is housed in the housing 21. The bearing assembly 10 is part of the transmission. Therefore, the housing 20 of the bearing assembly 10 is part of the transmission housing.

[0018] like Figure 1 As shown, the storage section 21 consists of a storage hole 27 and a storage groove 29 provided in the opening of the storage hole 27. The storage hole 27 is a circular hole provided in the housing 20.

[0019] The depth direction of the receiving hole 27 is aligned with the axial direction of the central axis C. The bottom surface 28 of the receiving hole 27 is orthogonal to the central axis C.

[0020] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a storage groove 29 is provided at the opening of the storage hole 27. The diameter of the opening in the storage hole 27 is enlarged by the storage groove 29.

[0021] Hereinafter, the portion of the storage hole 27 that is closer to the bottom surface 28 than the storage groove 29 will be referred to as the small diameter portion 25. The portion of the storage hole 27 that is closer to the storage groove 29 will be referred to as the large diameter portion 23.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the rolling bearing 11 has an outer ring 12, a cage 14, an inner ring 15, and a plurality of rolling elements 13. The rolling bearing 11 is a ball bearing having spherical rolling elements 13.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, the inner ring 15 is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 50. The outer ring 12 is fixed inside the housing 20 while embedded in the receiving groove 29.

[0024] Each rolling element 13 slides in contact with the inner ring 15 and the outer ring 12 while rolling between the inner ring 15 and the outer ring 12. The cage 14 maintains the spacing between the rolling elements 13 and inhibits the offset of the rolling elements 13.

[0025] Figure 1 The central axis C, indicated by the single-dotted line, is the central axis of the rolling bearing 11. That is, central axis C is the central axis of both the outer ring 12 and the inner ring 15 of the rolling bearing 11. Central axis C coincides with the rotation axis of shaft 50. Figure 1 As shown, the axial direction of the central shaft C is orthogonal to the vertical direction. That is, the axial direction of the central shaft C is aligned with the horizontal direction. Thus, in the bearing assembly 10, the rolling bearing 11 is mounted on the housing 21 with the axial direction of the central shaft C of the inner ring 15 aligned with the horizontal direction.

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, the end of the shaft 50, which is fixed to the inner ring 15 of the rolling bearing 11, is opposite to the bottom surface 28.

[0027] As described above, the storage portion 21 is closed by the rolling bearing 11 embedded in the storage groove 29 and the end of the shaft 50.

[0028] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a discharge port 40A for discharging lubricating oil is provided on the bottom surface 28 of the receiving hole 27. The discharge port 40A is located on the extension line of the central axis C of the shaft 50 in the bottom surface 28. The discharge port 40A is connected to an oil pump via an oil supply passage provided in the housing 20. The oil supply passage connected to the discharge port 40A extends horizontally along the axial direction of the central axis C. Lubricating oil supplied by the oil pump is discharged from the discharge port 40A.

[0029] Incision 41

[0030] like Figure 1 As indicated by the middle arrow 71, the outlet 40A discharges lubricating oil toward the center of rotation of the shaft 50 at its end. Figure 1 As shown, the receiving portion 21 has a circular cross-section space formed by a small-diameter portion 25 at a position closer to the outlet 40A than the rolling bearing 11. The diameter of the small-diameter portion 25 is equal to the inner diameter of the outer ring 12.

[0031] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the bearing assembly 10 has a cutout 41 on the lower surface of the receiving portion 21, positioned closer to the outlet 40A than the rolling bearing 11. The lower surface is the vertically lower surface of the inner circumferential surface of the receiving portion 21. The cutout 41 is connected to the receiving groove 29 and adjacent to the outer ring 12. The cutout 41 is a roughly rectangular cutout when viewed from above.

[0032] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the bottom surface 43 of the cut, which is the bottom surface of the cut portion 41, is located at the same position as the outer diameter of the outer ring 12 of the rolling bearing 11. That is, the depth of the cut portion 41 is equal to the thickness of the outer ring 12.

[0033] The function of this implementation method

[0034] The lubricating oil discharged from the outlet 40A accumulates in the portion surrounded by the cutout 41 and the outer ring 12, i.e., the oil reservoir 42. In the bearing assembly 10, the cage 14 and each rolling element 13 are located between the inner ring 15 and the outer ring 12. That is, the cage 14 and each rolling element 13 are located radially outward relative to the inner ring 15. In the bearing assembly 10, as... Figure 1 As indicated by the middle arrow 71, the discharged lubricating oil is discharged towards the center of the inner ring 15, which is located on the outer periphery of the inner ring 15 of the rolling bearing 11. Therefore, the lubricating oil discharged from the outlet 40A does not directly collide with the cage 14 and each rolling element 13 located on the outer side of the inner ring 15. In the bearing assembly 10, the lubricating oil that has lost momentum due to collision with the inner ring 15 or the shaft 50 is supplied to the cage 14 and each rolling element 13.

[0035] Effects of this implementation method

[0036] (1) According to the bearing assembly 10, when oil is supplied to the rolling bearing 11, it is possible to suppress the resistance that would hinder the rotation of the shaft 50 due to the collision between the lubricating oil and the retainer 14 and each rolling element 13.

[0037] (2) The rolling bearing 11 of the bearing assembly 10 is mounted in the housing 21 with the axial direction of the central axis C of the inner ring 15 aligned with the horizontal direction. The housing 21 has a space formed by a small diameter portion 25 with a diameter less than the inner diameter of the outer ring 12 at a position closer to the outlet 40A than the rolling bearing 11. A cutout portion 41 is provided adjacent to the outer ring 12 on the lower surface of the housing 21, which is part of the wall of this space, at a position closer to the outlet 40A than the rolling bearing 11. The bottom surface 43 of the cutout is located radially outward of the outer ring 12 from the inner surface of the outer ring 12.

[0038] In bearing assembly 10, such as Figure 1 As indicated by the middle arrow 71, the lubricating oil that collided with shaft 50 is as follows: Figure 1 As indicated by the middle arrow 72, the lubricating oil falls towards the lower surface of the receiving portion 21. The fallen lubricating oil accumulates in the cutout 41 provided on the lower surface of the receiving portion 21. Therefore, for the bearing assembly 10, the fallen lubricating oil is unlikely to bounce back on the lower surface of the receiving portion 21 and directly collide with the retainer 14 and each rolling element 13.

[0039] like Figure 1As indicated by the middle arrow 73, the lubricating oil accumulated in the oil reservoir 42 is supplied to the inside of the outer ring 12. The bearing assembly 10 uses the lubricating oil with weakened momentum accumulated in the cut-out portion 41 to lubricate the retainer 14 and each rolling element 13.

[0040] According to the bearing assembly 10, when oil is supplied to the rolling bearing 11, it is possible to suppress the collision between the high-speed lubricating oil that bounces back on the lower surface of the receiving part 21 and the retainer 14 and each rolling element 13, and to properly lubricate the retainer 14 and each rolling element 13.

[0041] (3) The end of the bearing assembly 10 supports the rolling bearing 11 of the bearing assembly 10. The housing portion 21 of the bearing assembly 10 is closed when the rolling bearing 11 is inserted into the housing groove 29 with the end of the shaft 50 facing the bottom surface 28 of the housing hole 27. The housing groove 29 is provided at the opening of the circular housing hole 27 provided on the wall of the housing 20. For the housing portion 21 of the bearing assembly 10, the diameter of the portion of the housing hole 27 that is closer to the bottom surface 28 of the housing hole 27 than the housing groove 29, i.e., the small diameter portion 25, is less than the inner diameter of the outer ring 12 and greater than the outer diameter of the inner ring 15. The discharge port 40A of the bearing assembly 10 is provided on the bottom surface 28 of the housing hole 27, and discharges lubricating oil toward the rotation center of the shaft 50 at the end of the shaft 50.

[0042] The further the lubricating oil collides with the center of rotation of the inner ring 15 and shaft 50, the greater the resistance acting when the discharged lubricating oil collides with the inner ring 15 and shaft 50. For example... Figure 1 As indicated by the middle arrow 71, the bearing assembly 10 discharges lubricating oil towards the center of rotation at the end of the shaft 50. Therefore, the resistance caused by the impact of the lubricating oil can be minimized.

[0043] (4) For the bearing assembly 10, the diameter of the portion of the receiving hole 27 on the bottom surface 28 side, that is, the small diameter portion 25, is equal to the inner diameter of the outer ring 12.

[0044] For bearing assembly 10, such as Figure 1 As indicated by the middle arrow 73, the above-mentioned effect is achieved by supplying the lubricating oil overflowing from the oil reservoir 42 to the inside of the outer ring 12.

[0045] Change Example

[0046] This embodiment can be implemented with modifications as follows. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical inconsistency.

[0047] The discharge port 40A of the bearing assembly 10 is located on the extension line of the central axis C of the shaft 50 in the bottom surface 28. However, the location of the discharge port on the bottom surface 28 is not limited to the aforementioned location. For example, the discharge port may be located on the bottom surface 28 at a position offset in any direction (up, down, left, or right) from the location on the extension line of the central axis C of the shaft 50 in the bottom surface 28. Furthermore, the discharge port may be located within the small-diameter portion 25 on the side of the receiving hole 27.

[0048] The bearing assembly 10 discharges lubricating oil toward the center of rotation of the shaft 50 at its end. Lubricating oil can be discharged from the outlet toward a position closer to the center of the inner ring 15 than the outer periphery of the inner ring 15 in the rolling bearing 11, or it can be discharged away from the center of rotation of the shaft 50. For example, the outlet can also discharge lubricating oil toward a position offset from the center of rotation of the shaft 50 in any direction (up, down, left, or right).

[0049] As an example, the bearing assembly 10 can also discharge lubricating oil towards a position offset downward from the center of rotation at the end of the shaft 50. In this bearing assembly 10, the height from which the lubricating oil falls is reduced, thus making it difficult for the lubricating oil that collides with the inner ring 15 or the shaft 50 and falls due to gravity to bounce back at the lubricating oil surface at the cutout 41 on the lower surface of the receiving portion 21. According to this bearing assembly 10, the lubricating oil that bounces back at the lubricating oil surface at the cutout 41 on the lower surface of the receiving portion 21 is less likely to collide with the retainer 14 and each rolling element 13.

[0050] ·Reference Figure 3 Specific examples of the bearing device 10 that utilize the two modifications described above will be explained. For example... Figure 3 As shown, in the modified example, the outlet 40B of the bearing assembly 10 is located on the bottom surface 28 at a position vertically upper than the center. Figure 3 As shown, the outlet 40B is set to face diagonally downwards.

[0051] like Figure 3 As indicated by the middle arrow 81, lubricating oil is discharged from the end of the shaft 50 at a position offset upwards from the center of rotation, from the outlet 40B. Figure 3 As indicated by the middle arrow 82, the lubricating oil that collided with the end of shaft 50 falls toward the cutout 41. Then, as... Figure 3 As indicated by the middle arrow 83, lubricating oil is supplied from the cutout 41 to the inside of the outer ring 12.

[0052] • The outlet can discharge lubricating oil toward the side of the inner ring 15 of the rolling bearing 11.

[0053] • The diameter of the minor diameter portion 25 of the bearing assembly 10 is equal to the inner diameter of the outer ring 12. The diameter of the minor diameter portion 25 of the bearing assembly 10 can be less than the inner diameter of the outer ring 12 and greater than the outer diameter of the inner ring 15, or it can be different from the inner diameter of the outer ring 12.

[0054] The bottom surface 43 of the cut in the bearing assembly 10 is located at the same position as the outer ring 12 in the radial direction of the rolling bearing 11. The bottom surface 43 of the cut in the bearing assembly 10 can be located radially outward from the inner surface of the outer ring 12, or it can be located radially inward from the outer surface of the outer ring 12. By changing the position of the bottom surface 43, the amount of lubricating oil that can accumulate in the oil reservoir 42 can be changed.

[0055] The bearing assembly 10 is a bearing at the end of the support shaft 50. The bearing assembly 10 is not limited to a bearing at the end of the support shaft 50.

[0056] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the internal structure of the shaft 50 inserting into the bearing assembly 10. For example... Figure 4 As shown, in the modified example, the housing 21 of the bearing assembly 10 has a circular cross-section space, namely a small-diameter portion 30, located on the side closer to the outlet 40C than the rolling bearing 11. The shaft 50 is inserted into the small-diameter portion 30. The diameter of the small-diameter portion 30 is equal to the inner diameter of the outer ring 12.

[0057] In the modified bearing assembly 10, the discharge port 40C is provided within the range of the small-diameter portion 30 on the lower surface of the receiving portion 21. The discharge port 40C is provided on the lower surface in an obliquely upward orientation. For example, as Figure 4 As indicated by the middle arrow 91, lubricating oil is discharged from the side of the outlet 40C towards the outlet 40C side of the inner ring 15. For example... Figure 4 As indicated by the middle arrow 92, the lubricating oil that collided with the side of the inner ring 15 fell towards the cutout 41. Then, as... Figure 4 As indicated by the middle arrow 93, lubricating oil is supplied from the cutout 41 to the inside of the outer ring 12.

[0058] • In the modified example, the diameter of the minor diameter portion 30 of the bearing assembly 10 may not be equal to the inner diameter of the outer ring 12. The diameter of the minor diameter portion 30 only needs to be less than or equal to the inner diameter of the outer ring 12.

Claims

1. A bearing assembly comprising a rolling bearing mounted in a housing portion thereof, the rolling bearing comprising: an inner ring fixed to the outer circumferential surface of a rotating shaft; an outer ring fixed to the housing; rolling elements that roll between the inner ring and the outer ring; and a retainer for maintaining the spacing between the rolling elements, wherein... The receiving section is provided with a discharge port for discharging lubricating oil. Lubricating oil is discharged from the outlet to a position closer to the center of the inner ring than the outer periphery of the inner ring of the rolling bearing.

2. The bearing device according to claim 1, wherein, The rolling bearing is mounted in the receiving part with the axial direction of the central axis of the inner ring aligned with the horizontal direction. The receiving portion has a circular cross-section space with a diameter less than the inner diameter of the outer ring at a position closer to the outlet side than the rolling bearing. A cutout is provided on the lower surface of the receiving portion, which is part of the wall of the space, at a position closer to the outlet side than the rolling bearing, adjacent to the outer ring. The bottom surface of the cutout is located radially outward of the outer ring than the inner surface of the outer ring.

3. The bearing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The rolling bearing supports the end of the rotating shaft. The storage portion is closed when the end of the rolling bearing with respect to the rotating shaft is embedded in the storage groove provided in the opening of the storage hole, with the bottom face of the circular storage hole provided in the wall of the housing facing each other. The diameter of the portion of the receiving hole that is closer to the bottom surface of the receiving groove is less than the inner diameter of the outer ring and greater than the outer diameter of the inner ring. The outlet is located on the bottom surface of the receiving hole, and discharges lubricating oil toward the rotation center of the rotating shaft at the end of the rotating shaft.

4. The bearing device according to claim 3, wherein, The diameter of the bottom side portion of the receiving hole is equal to the inner diameter of the outer ring.

5. The bearing device according to claim 3, wherein, The outlet is located on the extension line of the central axis of the rotating shaft in the bottom surface of the receiving hole.

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