Bearing structure and vehicle

Abstract

The application provides a bearing structure and a vehicle, and the bearing structure comprises: a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly comprising an outer ring, an inner ring and rolling bodies, the outer ring being arranged along the circumference direction of the inner ring, and the rolling bodies being located between the outer ring and the inner ring; a sealing member, the sealing member being connected with at least one of the outer ring and the inner ring, and the sealing member being located between the outer ring and the inner ring; a conductive member, the inner diameter end of the conductive member being electrically connected with the inner ring, the outer diameter end of the conductive member being electrically connected with the outer ring, the conductive member being connected with the sealing member, the conductive member being located between the outer ring and the inner ring, and the conductive member being located on the side of the sealing member away from the rolling bodies; and wherein the inner diameter end of the conductive member is arranged at a distance from the end of the sealing member close to the inner ring. By arranging the conductive member on the outer side of the sealing member and spacing the inner diameter end of the conductive member from the sealing member, the technical problem of the substantial decline in the conductive performance of the traditional conductive sealing ring caused by the oil on the lip is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of bearing sealing and electrical conductivity technology, and more specifically, to a bearing structure and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Existing anti-electrostatic corrosion bearings mainly adopt a dynamic sealing design with built-in conductive rubber, which uses the contact between the conductive rubber and the inner ring of the bearing to conduct shaft voltage; however, this contact-type sealing lip will gradually wear down and shorten due to friction during long-term operation, eventually leading to a non-contact state and causing the conductive function to fail.

[0003] There is currently no effective solution to the aforementioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a bearing structure and vehicle to solve the problem that the conductivity of traditional conductive seals is greatly reduced due to oil contamination at the lip.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, according to one aspect of the present invention, a bearing structure is provided, comprising: a bearing assembly including an outer ring, an inner ring, and rolling elements, the outer ring being disposed circumferentially along the inner ring, and the rolling elements being located between the outer ring and the inner ring; a seal connected to at least one of the outer ring and the inner ring, the seal being located between the outer ring and the inner ring; and a conductive element, the inner diameter end of the conductive element being electrically connected to the inner ring, the outer diameter end of the conductive element being electrically connected to the outer ring, the conductive element being connected to the seal, the conductive element being located between the outer ring and the inner ring, and the conductive element being located on the side of the seal away from the rolling elements; wherein the inner diameter end of the conductive element is disposed at a distance from the end of the seal near the inner ring.

[0006] Furthermore, at least one of the inner wall of the outer ring and the outer wall of the inner ring is provided with a mounting groove, and both the sealing element and the conductive element are located in the mounting groove.

[0007] Furthermore, the inner wall of the outer ring is provided with an installation groove, and the sealing element includes: a sealing ring, the outer diameter end of which is located in the installation groove, the sealing ring being connected to the conductive element, and the sealing ring being located between the conductive element and the rolling element; and a sealing lip, one end of which is connected to the inner diameter end of the sealing ring, the other end of which extends along the thickness direction of the sealing ring, and the other end of which extends towards the inner ring along the radial direction of the sealing ring.

[0008] Furthermore, both the outer diameter end and the inner diameter end of the sealing ring extend away from the rolling element along the thickness direction of the sealing ring, and the outer diameter end and the inner diameter end of the sealing ring are respectively connected to the conductive component.

[0009] Further, the sealing lip includes: a first component segment, one end of which is connected to the inner diameter end of the sealing ring, the other end of which extends toward the rolling element along the thickness direction of the sealing ring, and the other end of which extends toward the inner ring along the radial direction of the sealing ring; and a second component segment, one end of which is connected to the other end of the first component segment, the other end of which extends away from the rolling element along the thickness direction of the sealing ring, and the other end of which extends toward the inner ring along the radial direction of the sealing ring, and the other end of which is movably connected to the inner ring.

[0010] Furthermore, the conductive component is interference-fitted with the inner ring.

[0011] Furthermore, the conductive component includes: a conductive ring located within a mounting groove, the inner diameter end of the conductive ring being electrically connected to the inner ring, the outer diameter end of the conductive ring being electrically connected to the outer ring, the conductive ring being located on the side of the seal away from the rolling element, and the conductive ring being connected to the seal; wherein, the conductive ring is a flexible structure, the conductive ring having an initial state in its initial shape, and the conductive ring having a connected state connected to the inner ring.

[0012] Further, the conductive ring includes: a conductive ring body located within a mounting groove, the inner diameter end of the conductive ring body electrically connected to the inner ring, the outer diameter end of the conductive ring body electrically connected to the outer ring, the conductive ring body located on the side of the seal away from the rolling element, and the conductive ring body connected to the seal; a folded section, one end of which is connected to the inner diameter end of the conductive ring body, and the second end of which extends radially along the conductive ring body, the inner diameter of which is smaller than the outer diameter of the inner ring; wherein, when the conductive ring is in the connected state, the second end of the folded section extends away from the seal along the axial direction of the inner ring, and the folded section abuts against the inner ring.

[0013] Furthermore, there are multiple folded segments, which are spaced apart circumferentially along the conductive ring body; and / or, the outer diameter end and the inner diameter end of the sealing ring are respectively bonded to the conductive element; and / or, the conductive ring is made of conductive paper or carbon fiber; and / or, there is grease between the sealing element and the rolling element.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided having a bearing structure, wherein the bearing structure is the aforementioned bearing structure.

[0015] By applying the technical solution of this invention, the conductive element is located outside the seal and its inner diameter end is spaced apart from the seal, which solves the technical problem that the conductivity of traditional conductive sealing rings is greatly reduced due to oil on the lip. This extends the service life of anti-electro-corrosion bearings and ensures conductivity reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the bearing structure according to the present invention is shown;

[0018] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0019] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the seal according to the present invention is shown;

[0020] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a seal according to the present invention is shown;

[0021] Figure 5 It shows Figure 4 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0022] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the conductive element according to the present invention is shown.

[0023] The above figures include the following reference numerals:

[0024] 10. Bearing assembly;

[0025] 100. Mounting slot;

[0026] 11. Outer ring;

[0027] 12. Inner circle;

[0028] 13. Rolling elements;

[0029] 20. Sealing components;

[0030] 21. Sealing ring;

[0031] 22. Sealing lip;

[0032] 221. First paragraph; 222. Second paragraph;

[0033] 30. Conductive components;

[0034] 31. Conductive ring;

[0035] 310. Conductive ring body;

[0036] 311. Folded section;

[0037] 40. Lubricating grease. Detailed Implementation

[0038] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0039] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0040] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms can be used interchangeably where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented, for example, in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0041] Exemplary embodiments according to this application will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. It should be understood that these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure of this application is thorough and complete, and that the concept of these exemplary embodiments is fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, for clarity, the thickness of layers and regions may be exaggerated, and the same reference numerals are used to denote the same devices, and therefore their description will be omitted.

[0042] Combination Figures 1 to 6 As shown, according to a specific embodiment of this application, a bearing structure is provided.

[0043] Specifically, the bearing structure includes a bearing assembly 10, a seal 20, and a conductive element 30. The bearing assembly 10 includes an outer ring 11, an inner ring 12, and rolling elements 13. The outer ring 11 is arranged circumferentially along the inner ring 12, and the rolling elements 13 are located between the outer ring 11 and the inner ring 12. The seal 20 is connected to at least one of the outer ring 11 and the inner ring 12, and is located between the outer ring 11 and the inner ring 12. The inner diameter end of the conductive element 30 is electrically connected to the inner ring 12, and the outer diameter end of the conductive element 30 is electrically connected to the outer ring 11. The conductive element 30 is connected to the seal 20 and is located between the outer ring 11 and the inner ring 12. The conductive element 30 is located on the side of the seal 20 away from the rolling elements 13. The inner diameter end of the conductive element 30 is disposed at a distance from the end of the seal 20 near the inner ring 12.

[0044] The conductive element 30 is mainly responsible for axial or radial conductivity, while the sealing element 20 is used to prevent impurities from entering and maintain the dynamic seal of the grease. The conductive element 30 is arranged on the side of the sealing element 20 away from the rolling element 13. This arrangement avoids the problem of direct mixing between the conductive packing and the sealing lip in traditional conductive seal designs, thereby ensuring the excellent elasticity, resilience, and fatigue resistance of the sealing element 20 and extending its service life under dynamic operating conditions.

[0045] During long-term bearing operation, the internal grease may melt due to heat, forming oil, which may migrate to the inner area of ​​the seal 20 due to capillary action or centrifugal force. Because the inner diameter end of the conductive element 30 maintains a distance from the end of the seal 20 near the inner ring 12, and the conductive element 30 is located on the outer side of the seal 20, the inner diameter end of the conductive element 30 can avoid the area where oil easily accumulates at the lip of the seal 20. The oil only contacts the lip of the seal 20 and does not directly cover or soak the interface between the conductive element 30 and the inner ring 12, thus preventing the formation of an insulating oil film on the conductive contact surface. This ensures that the common-mode shaft voltage can be stably and with low impedance introduced into the bearing outer ring 11 through the conductive element 30, solving the technical problem of a significant decrease in conductivity caused by oil contamination at the lip of traditional conductive seals.

[0046] Because the conductive element 30 and the seal 20 are radially spaced, conductive impurities or debris generated by the wear of the conductive element 30 are mainly distributed on the outside of the seal 20 or in the external space of the bearing, rather than falling directly into the precision raceway area containing the rolling element 13. This prevents conductive impurities from entering the bearing and scratching the rolling element 13 or the raceway surface, thereby reducing the bearing NVH deterioration caused by wear particles and improving the operational smoothness and overall reliability of the electric drive system.

[0047] Furthermore, at least one of the inner wall of the outer ring 11 and the outer wall of the inner ring 12 is provided with a mounting groove 100, and the seal 20 and the conductive element 30 are both located in the mounting groove 100.

[0048] By accommodating the seal 20 and the conductive element 30 within the mounting groove 100, both can be securely held in their predetermined positions within the bearing assembly 10. This mounting method not only simplifies the bearing assembly process and improves assembly efficiency, but also effectively prevents the seal 20 and the conductive element 30 from axially shifting or radially displacing due to centrifugal force or vibration during the high-speed rotation of the bearing, ensuring the stability of the conductive path connection.

[0049] In one embodiment of this application, the inner wall of the outer ring 11 is provided with a mounting groove 100.

[0050] The mounting groove 100 is located on the inner wall of the outer ring 11, which cleverly utilizes the radial space between the outer ring 11 and the seal 20, effectively avoiding the risk of motion interference between the conductive component and the rolling element. This layout ensures that the conductive component 30 can be firmly embedded and closely attached to the outer ring 11, forming a reliable electrical connection path.

[0051] In one embodiment of this application, the outer wall of the inner ring 12 is provided with a mounting groove 100.

[0052] The mounting groove 100 is located on the outer wall of the inner ring 12, allowing the conductive ring 31 to directly and tightly contact the rotating inner ring 12. Current can then be directly conducted along the inner ring 12 to the shaft and grounded. This arrangement simplifies the conductive path, reduces resistance loss in intermediate connections, and improves conductivity. Furthermore, since the inner ring 12 is used directly as the conductor, there is no need for the outer ring 11 as an intermediary, resulting in a faster response and more timely static electricity release.

[0053] In one embodiment of this application, the inner wall of the outer ring 11 and the outer wall of the inner ring 12 are respectively provided with mounting grooves 100.

[0054] Mounting grooves 100 are simultaneously provided on the inner wall of the outer ring 11 and the outer wall of the inner ring 12, forming a dual conductive protection mechanism. Regardless of which side the shaft voltage tends to leak through, a low-impedance loop can be formed through the corresponding conductive element 30, significantly reducing the risk of single-point failure. This design greatly improves the bearing's resistance to electro-corrosion under extreme operating conditions or after wear along a single conductive path, enhances the overall reliability and safety margin of the system, and extends the overall service life of the bearing.

[0055] Furthermore, the inner wall of the outer ring 11 is provided with an installation groove 100, and the sealing element 20 includes a sealing ring 21 and a sealing lip 22. The outer diameter end of the sealing ring 21 is located in the installation groove 100, and the sealing ring 21 is connected to the conductive element 30. The sealing ring 21 is located between the conductive element 30 and the rolling element 13. One end of the sealing lip 22 is connected to the inner diameter end of the sealing ring 21, and the other end of the sealing lip 22 extends along the thickness direction of the sealing ring 21 and extends towards the inner ring 12 along the radial direction of the sealing ring 21.

[0056] Combination Figure 2 As shown, by placing the sealing ring 21 between the conductive element 30 and the rolling element 13, and with the sealing lip 22 extending towards the inner ring 12, the grease inside the bearing mainly accumulates within the enclosed space formed by the sealing lip 22 and the inner ring 12. Since the conductive element 30 is located outside the sealing ring 21, the solid material of the sealing ring 21 blocks the contact between the conductive element 30 and the oil environment inside the bearing. Even if the bearing operates for a long time, causing the grease to melt or overflow, the oil will only contact the outer surface of the sealing lip 22 and will not directly wet the conductive element 30. This effectively avoids the formation of an insulating layer at the contact interface between the conductive element 30 and the inner ring 12, ensuring that the common-mode shaft voltage can be stably and with low impedance conducted through the conductive element 30, preventing conductive failure due to oil contamination.

[0057] The structure of the sealing lip 22 extending radially toward the inner ring 12 provides a reliable dynamic sealing effect, effectively preventing external impurities from entering and internal grease from leaking. The sealing lip 22 forms a tight contact seal with the surface of the inner ring 12, which can prevent external dust, moisture and other impurities from entering the bearing, while preventing internal grease from leaking out, thus maintaining the cleanliness and lubrication condition of the bearing.

[0058] Furthermore, both the outer diameter end and the inner diameter end of the sealing ring 21 extend away from the rolling element 13 along the thickness direction of the sealing ring 21, and the outer diameter end and the inner diameter end of the sealing ring 21 are respectively connected to the conductive element 30.

[0059] The conductive element 30 is connected to the outer diameter end and the inner diameter end of the sealing ring 21. This bidirectional connection effectively prevents the sealing ring 21 from falling off the conductive element 30 or from slipping relative to it, ensuring that the conductive element 30 and the sealing ring 21 work together as a rigid whole, thus improving the reliability of the component under harsh working conditions.

[0060] Further, the sealing lip 22 includes: a first component segment 221 and a second component segment 222. One end of the first component segment 221 is connected to the inner diameter end of the sealing ring 21, and the other end of the first component segment 221 extends toward the rolling element 13 along the thickness direction of the sealing ring 21 and extends toward the inner ring 12 along the radial direction of the sealing ring 21. One end of the second component segment 222 is connected to the other end of the first component segment 221, and the other end of the second component segment 222 extends away from the rolling element 13 along the thickness direction of the sealing ring 21 and extends toward the inner ring 12 along the radial direction of the sealing ring 21. The other end of the second component segment 222 is movably connected to the inner ring 12.

[0061] Combination Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, one end of the first segment 221 is connected to the inner diameter end of the sealing ring 21, and the other end extends toward the rolling element 13 and radially toward the inner ring 12, serving as a preliminary guide and blocking external impurities. One end of the second segment 222 is connected to the first segment 221, and the other end extends toward the inner ring 12 and is movably connected to the inner ring 12. This folded lip design ensures that the inner end face of the second segment 222 always applies radial pressure to the surface of the bearing inner ring 12. As the surface of the inner ring 12 wears or its diameter changes slightly during bearing operation, the sealing lip can adaptively compensate for the clearance, ensuring a continuous and effective dynamic seal, preventing external dust and moisture from entering the bearing, and also preventing internal grease leakage, maintaining the cleanliness and lubrication of the bearing interior.

[0062] Furthermore, the conductive element 30 is interference-fitted with the inner ring 12.

[0063] The interference fit ensures a low-impedance, high-stability electrical conduction path between the conductive element 30 and the inner ring 12 of the bearing. The radial clamping force generated by the interference fit ensures that the inner surface of the conductive element 30 is tightly fitted to the outer surface of the inner ring 12, greatly reducing contact resistance. During the operation of the electric drive system of new energy vehicles, the leakage current generated by the common-mode shaft voltage can be quickly discharged to the outer ring 11 of the bearing through this tight contact surface, thereby effectively suppressing the accumulation of shaft voltage and preventing electric spark discharge caused by the voltage exceeding the insulation strength of the bearing oil film. This fundamentally avoids electro-erosion damage to the bearing raceway and rolling element surfaces, extending the service life of the bearing.

[0064] Furthermore, the conductive element 30 includes a conductive ring 31, which is located within the mounting groove 100. The inner diameter end of the conductive ring 31 is electrically connected to the inner ring 12, and the outer diameter end of the conductive ring 31 is electrically connected to the outer ring 11. The conductive ring 31 is located on the side of the seal 20 away from the rolling element 13, and the conductive ring 31 is connected to the seal 20. The conductive ring 31 is a flexible structure, having an initial state in its initial shape and a connected state connected to the inner ring 12.

[0065] The flexible structure of the conductive ring 31 and its morphological changes from the initial state to the connected state give the conductive sealing assembly excellent adaptability and fault tolerance. In the initial state, the conductive ring 31 maintains its preset geometry; when installed into the bearing assembly 10 and connected to the inner ring 12, the flexible conductive ring 31 can elastically deform according to the minute tolerances of the outer diameter of the inner ring 12, coaxiality deviations, or radial runout during bearing operation. This elastic deformation ensures that the inner diameter end of the conductive ring 31 can always fit tightly against the outer surface of the inner ring 12, maintaining stable electrical contact even when the inner ring 12 has slight eccentricity or vibration, avoiding poor contact or intermittent power outages caused by rigid mechanical contact, thereby ensuring the continuity and reliability of the common-mode shaft voltage discharge path.

[0066] With initial state (e.g.) Figure 6 (as shown) and connection status (as shown) Figure 2 The flexible conductive ring 31 (shown) helps simplify the assembly process and improve assembly consistency. The conductive ring 31 is assembled in its initial shape. During assembly, the conductive ring 31 is embedded in the mounting groove 100. After the entire assembly is installed in the bearing, the flexible conductive ring 31 can elastically deform according to the minute tolerances of the outer diameter of the inner ring 12, coaxiality deviations, or radial runout during bearing operation. Under the action of radial clamping force, it naturally transitions to a connection state where the inner diameter end is folded and tightly fitted to the inner ring 12. This design, which automatically aligns and contacts without additional complex adjustments, reduces assembly difficulty, improves production efficiency, and, due to the high tolerance of the flexible structure to positional deviations, results in more uniform and consistent electrical contact performance of the final product, which is beneficial for improving product quality stability under mass production.

[0067] Further, the conductive ring 31 includes a conductive ring body 310 and a folded section 311. The conductive ring body 310 is located in the mounting groove 100. The inner diameter end of the conductive ring body 310 is electrically connected to the inner ring 12, and the outer diameter end of the conductive ring body 310 is electrically connected to the outer ring 11. The conductive ring body 310 is located on the side of the seal 20 away from the rolling element 13, and the conductive ring body 310 is connected to the seal 20. One end of the folded section 311 is connected to the inner diameter end of the conductive ring body 310, and the second end of the folded section 311 extends along the radial direction of the conductive ring body 310. The inner diameter of the folded section 311 is smaller than the outer diameter of the inner ring 12. When the conductive ring 31 is in the connected state, the second end of the folded section 311 extends away from the seal 20 along the axial direction of the inner ring 12, and the folded section 311 abuts against the inner ring 12.

[0068] The contact between the folded section 311 and the inner ring 12 achieves both electrical conduction and mechanical fixation. Because the inner diameter of the folded section 311 is smaller than the outer diameter of the inner ring 12, when the conductive ring 31 is installed in the connection state, the folded section 311 is forced to undergo elastic deformation to wrap around or adhere to the surface of the inner ring 12. This interference fit generates a radial preload, which not only ensures that the conductive ring body 310 forms a low-resistance metal-metal (or conductive material-metal) contact with the inner ring 12 through the folded section 311, effectively dissipating common-mode shaft voltage and preventing electro-corrosion; but also firmly constrains the conductive ring 31 to the inner ring 12, preventing axial movement or radial detachment under the centrifugal force or vibration generated by the high-speed rotation of the bearing, thus improving the structural stability of the assembly.

[0069] Furthermore, there are multiple folded segments 311, which are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the conductive ring body 310.

[0070] Combination Figure 6 As shown, by arranging multiple folded segments 311 at intervals along the circumference, an effective electrical connection path is ensured for the conductive ring 31 throughout the entire circumference of the inner ring 12. This not only reduces the overall contact resistance and avoids current concentration or local overheating caused by poor single-point contact, but also makes the discharge of common-mode shaft voltage more uniform, further improving the anti-electrolytic corrosion effect.

[0071] In one embodiment of this application, a clearance space is formed between adjacent folded segments 311.

[0072] The adjacent folded sections 311 form a clearance space, which can effectively accommodate the lubricating grease that melts and flows due to high temperature during bearing operation, preventing the grease from accumulating on the conductive contact surface and causing a decrease in insulation or conductivity. At the same time, this space can also buffer the dimensional changes caused by radial wear, ensuring that the conductive ring 31 always maintains elastic contact with the inner ring of the bearing during long-term operation, thereby ensuring the continuous stability of the conductive path and avoiding electro-corrosion problems caused by shaft voltage discharge due to poor contact.

[0073] In one embodiment of this application, the outer diameter end and the inner diameter end of the sealing ring 21 are respectively bonded to the conductive element 30.

[0074] By simultaneously bonding the conductive element 30 to both the outer and inner diameter ends of the sealing ring 21, a bidirectional fixation is formed on both the inner and outer sides of the sealing ring 21. This bidirectional fixation prevents the sealing ring 21 from axially shifting, radially displacing, or slipping relative to the conductive element 30 under the centrifugal force, vibration, or impact load generated by the high-speed rotation of the bearing, ensuring the mechanical stability of the conductive path.

[0075] In one embodiment of this application, the conductive ring 31 is made of conductive paper or carbon fiber.

[0076] The conductive paper or carbon fiber material gives the conductive ring 31 excellent flexibility and foldability. Compared with traditional metal conductive rubber or metal sheets, the conductive paper or carbon fiber material has a higher bending fatigue life and lower bending stiffness. This allows the folded section 311 to more easily conform to the outer diameter contour of the inner ring 12 during installation, and it is less prone to breakage or permanent plastic deformation under the cyclic bending stress generated during long-term operation, thus ensuring the long-term stability and reliability of the conductive contact surface.

[0077] In one embodiment of this application, grease 40 is provided between the seal 20 and the rolling element 13.

[0078] The grease 40 forms an effective lubricating film between the seal 20 and the rolling element 13, significantly reducing the coefficient of friction between the rolling element 13 and the inner wall of the seal 20. During high-speed bearing operation, this lubrication reduces the heat generated by mechanical friction, preventing oxidation and volatilization of the grease base oil or aging and hardening of the seal 20 material due to excessive temperature rise. Simultaneously, the reduced frictional resistance helps improve the mechanical efficiency of the bearing, reduces energy loss, thereby extending the bearing's service life and improving the overall energy efficiency of the electric drive system.

[0079] In another embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle is also provided, the vehicle having a bearing structure, the bearing structure being the bearing structure in the above embodiment.

[0080] By adopting the aforementioned anti-electro-corrosion bearing structure, the vehicle effectively solves the problem of bearing electro-corrosion caused by shaft voltage in the electric drive system of new energy vehicles, significantly extends the service life of the vehicle's electric drive bearings, and improves the reliability and durability of the vehicle's powertrain.

[0081] The above embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects:

[0082] By setting a conductive element 30, including a conductive ring body 310 and a folded section 311, and placing it on the side of the seal 20 away from the rolling element 13, effective decoupling and optimized layout of conductive and sealing functions are achieved. The conductive ring body 310 is installed in the mounting groove 100, with its outer diameter end electrically connected to the outer ring 11 and its inner diameter end electrically connected to the inner ring 12 via the folded section 311. Since the folded section 311 extends from the inner diameter end of the conductive ring body 310 and folds inward, its second end abuts against the inner ring 12, this structural design keeps the conductive contact point away from the oil environment formed by the grease 40 inside the bearing. The conductive lip of a traditional conductive seal ring is directly exposed to the grease, which is prone to failure due to the formation of an insulating layer caused by oil adhesion. In this invention, the conductive element 30 is located outside the seal ring or at its axial extension end, completely avoiding the contamination of the conductive contact surface by the grease, ensuring the long-term stability and reliability of the common-mode shaft voltage discharge path, and fundamentally preventing bearing electro-corrosion caused by electrical spark discharge.

[0083] The specific geometry of the folded segment 311 provides excellent adaptive contact capability and mechanical stability. The inner diameter of the folded segment 311 is smaller than the outer diameter of the inner ring 12, and when in the connected state, it extends away from the seal 20 along the axis of the inner ring 12 and abuts against the inner ring 12. The radial preload generated by this interference fit not only ensures a low-resistance metal-conductive material contact between the conductive ring 31 and the inner ring 12, effectively dissipating shaft voltage, but also compensates for radial runout and coaxiality deviations of the bearing caused by manufacturing tolerances, assembly errors, or long-term operation through elastic deformation. Even when there is slight wear or eccentricity on the surface of the inner ring 12, the multiple circumferentially spaced folded segments 311 can still maintain a stable abutment pressure, ensuring the continuity of electrical connection and the firmness of mechanical fixation, and preventing the conductive components from falling off under the action of high-speed rotational centrifugal force.

[0084] The integrated connection and material selection of the conductive element 30 and the sealing element 20 significantly improve the structural integrity and service life of the assembly. In this embodiment, the outer and inner diameter ends of the sealing element 20 are bonded to the conductive element 30, respectively. This bidirectional fixing method enhances the overall rigidity of the conductive sealing assembly and prevents the sealing ring from slipping or axially shifting under vibration and impact loads. Meanwhile, the conductive ring 31 is made of flexible materials such as conductive paper or carbon fiber. Compared to traditional conductive rubber filled with precious metals, these materials have better bending fatigue life and dimensional stability, and are less prone to oxidation or corrosion. The flexible material properties make the folded section 311 less prone to breakage during repeated folding and deformation, and the material cost is low, making it easy to mass-produce. This reduces manufacturing costs while extending the overall service life of the anti-electro-corrosion bearing.

[0085] The bearing structure effectively improves the vehicle's NVH performance and operating efficiency. The flexible structure of the conductive ring 31 and its elastic contact with the inner ring 12 avoid the impact noise and vibration caused by rigid contact. Combined with the damping effect of the grease 40 between the seal 20 and the rolling element 13, the frictional noise and vibration amplitude during bearing operation are significantly reduced. In addition, the grease 40 not only provides the necessary lubrication to reduce rolling friction, but also plays a sealing role to prevent the intrusion of external contaminants. This low-friction, low-vibration operating state improves the quietness and smoothness of the electric drive system of new energy vehicles, while also reducing energy loss caused by frictional heat generation, thus improving the overall vehicle energy efficiency.

[0086] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0087] In addition to the above, it should be noted that the terms "one embodiment," "another embodiment," and "embodiment" used in this specification refer to specific features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment, which are included in at least one embodiment described in the general description of this application. The appearance of the same expression in multiple places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a specific feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, the intention is to suggest that implementing such a feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments also falls within the scope of this invention.

[0088] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0089] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bearing structure, characterized in that, include: A bearing assembly (10) includes an outer ring (11), an inner ring (12) and a rolling element (13), wherein the outer ring (11) is arranged circumferentially along the inner ring (12) and the rolling element (13) is located between the outer ring (11) and the inner ring (12); A seal (20) is connected to at least one of the outer ring (11) and the inner ring (12), the seal (20) being located between the outer ring (11) and the inner ring (12); A conductive element (30) is electrically connected to the inner ring (12) at its inner diameter end and to the outer ring (11) at its outer diameter end. The conductive element (30) is connected to the sealing element (20). The conductive element (30) is located between the outer ring (11) and the inner ring (12). The conductive element (30) is located on the side of the sealing element (20) away from the rolling element (13). The inner diameter end of the conductive element (30) is positioned at a distance from the end of the sealing element (20) near the inner ring (12).

2. The bearing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the inner wall of the outer ring (11) and the outer wall of the inner ring (12) is provided with a mounting groove (100), and the sealing element (20) and the conductive element (30) are both located in the mounting groove (100).

3. The bearing structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inner wall of the outer ring (11) is provided with the mounting groove (100), and the sealing element (20) includes: A sealing ring (21) is provided, the outer diameter end of which is located in the mounting groove (100). The sealing ring (21) is connected to the conductive element (30) and is located between the conductive element (30) and the rolling element (13). A sealing lip (22) is provided, one end of which is connected to the inner diameter end of the sealing ring (21), the other end of which extends along the thickness direction of the sealing ring (21), and the other end of which extends toward the inner ring (12) along the radial direction of the sealing ring (21).

4. The bearing structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The outer diameter end and the inner diameter end of the sealing ring (21) both extend away from the rolling element (13) along the thickness direction of the sealing ring (21), and the outer diameter end and the inner diameter end of the sealing ring (21) are respectively connected to the conductive element (30).

5. The bearing structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sealing lip (22) includes: The first component segment (221) has one end connected to the inner diameter end of the sealing ring (21), the other end of the first component segment (221) extends toward the rolling element (13) along the thickness direction of the sealing ring (21), and the other end of the first component segment (221) extends toward the inner ring (12) along the radial direction of the sealing ring (21). The second component segment (222) has one end connected to the other end of the first component segment (221), the other end of the second component segment (222) extends away from the rolling element (13) along the thickness direction of the sealing ring (21), and the other end of the second component segment (222) extends toward the inner ring (12) along the radial direction of the sealing ring (21), and the other end of the second component segment (222) is movably connected to the inner ring (12).

6. The bearing structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The conductive element (30) is interference-fitted with the inner ring (12).

7. The bearing structure according to any one of claims 4-6, characterized in that, The conductive element (30) includes: A conductive ring (31) is located in the mounting groove (100). The inner diameter end of the conductive ring (31) is electrically connected to the inner ring (12), and the outer diameter end of the conductive ring (31) is electrically connected to the outer ring (11). The conductive ring (31) is located on the side of the seal (20) away from the rolling element (13), and the conductive ring (31) is connected to the seal (20). The conductive ring (31) is a flexible structure, the conductive ring (31) is in an initial state with an initial shape, and the conductive ring (31) is in a connected state with the inner ring (12).

8. The bearing structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, The conductive ring (31) includes: The conductive ring body (310) is located in the mounting groove (100). The inner diameter end of the conductive ring body (310) is electrically connected to the inner ring (12), and the outer diameter end of the conductive ring body (310) is electrically connected to the outer ring (11). The conductive ring body (310) is located on the side of the seal (20) away from the rolling element (13), and the conductive ring body (310) is connected to the seal (20). A folded segment (311) is provided, one end of which is connected to the inner diameter end of the conductive ring body (310), and the second end of which extends along the radial direction of the conductive ring body (310). The inner diameter of the folded segment (311) is smaller than the outer diameter of the inner ring (12). When the conductive ring (31) is in the connected state, the second end of the folded segment (311) extends away from the seal (20) along the axial direction of the inner ring (12), and the folded segment (311) abuts against the inner ring (12).

9. The bearing structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The folded segments (311) are multiple, and the multiple folded segments (311) are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the conductive ring body (310); and / or; The outer diameter end of the sealing ring (21) and the inner diameter end of the sealing ring (21) are respectively bonded to the conductive element (30); and / or; The conductive ring (31) is made of conductive paper or carbon fiber; and / or; There is grease (40) between the seal (20) and the rolling element (13).

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle has a bearing structure, which is the bearing structure according to any one of claims 1-9.

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