High-strength ball cage holder

Abstract

The high-strength ball cage holder comprises a holder body, the holder body is provided with an inner spherical surface, an outer spherical surface and two end faces, the inner spherical surface and the outer spherical surface are concentrically arranged, the two end faces are parallel to each other, a plurality of window holes are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction of the holder body, and window beams are formed between the adjacent window holes. A first convex rib and a second convex rib are arranged at the positions, corresponding to the inner spherical surface and the outer spherical surface, of the window beam respectively, the first convex rib and the second convex rib are tightly attached to the surfaces of the inner spherical surface and the outer spherical surface, and the two ends of the first convex rib and the two ends of the second convex rib are connected at the two parallel end faces of the retainer body respectively. The protruding ribs can share part of stress, the stress of the window beam is reduced, and therefore the abrasion and fracture risks of the window beam are reduced. The first convex rib and the second convex rib are arranged on the corresponding inner and outer spherical surfaces of the window beam and do not directly intrude into the inner space of the window hole, so that the normal rolling of the ball is not hindered.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of ball cage cages, and particularly relates to a high-strength ball cage cage. Background Technology

[0002] In automotive transmission systems, the ball-cage constant velocity joint (CV joint) is a core component. It bears the crucial responsibility of achieving stable and efficient torque transmission between the drive shaft and wheels. Whether the vehicle is traveling in a straight line, turning, or dealing with complex road conditions, it ensures smooth and reliable power transmission, providing a solid guarantee for the normal operation of the vehicle. The ball cage, as a core component of the CV joint, has the function of precisely positioning the balls, a key prerequisite for achieving constant velocity transmission. It reliably transmits torque, maintains stable power output, and ensures the smooth operation of the vehicle's powertrain. Simultaneously, it buffers stress and vibration, improves transmission smoothness, and effectively reduces noise and vibration during transmission. The good condition of the cage is essential for reducing wear and extending the service life of the CV joint and the entire transmission system; its performance and condition directly determine the working performance of the CV joint and even the entire transmission system.

[0003] However, the cage is the weakest link in a ball-cage constant velocity joint (CV joint), with a high risk of premature failure. In particular, the cage beam is the most vulnerable part of the entire cage structure. During vehicle operation, the beam is subjected to various alternating and impact loads, making it highly susceptible to wear and breakage. Therefore, when designing the relevant main parameters, it is necessary to ensure that the cage beam has sufficient width to meet its strength requirements during operation. However, excessively increasing the beam width can introduce new problems, such as restricting the movement space of the balls within the aperture, affecting the normal transmission performance of the universal joint. Therefore, it is necessary to design a new structure to improve the strength of the cage beam, ensuring beam strength while providing sufficient movement space for the balls, thus ensuring the stable and efficient operation of the CV joint. It is evident that the existing technology requires further improvement and enhancement. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention provides a high-strength ball cage cage that solves the problems of easy wear and breakage of the ball cage cage beam and the fact that the increased beam width affects the ball movement space, resulting in poor performance of the existing structure.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0006] A high-strength ball cage retainer includes a retainer body with concentric inner and outer spherical surfaces and parallel end faces. Multiple window openings are evenly distributed along the circumference of the retainer body, forming a window beam between adjacent openings. A first rib and a second rib are respectively provided at the corresponding positions on the inner and outer spherical surfaces of the window beam, with the first and second ribs having the same thickness. The first and second ribs are tightly fitted to the inner and outer spherical surfaces, and their ends are connected at the two parallel end faces of the retainer body. This design ensures the stability of the window beam structure while avoiding impact on the ball movement space.

[0007] The aforementioned structure, with its first and second ribs, effectively adds extra support to critical parts of the window beam. When the window beam is subjected to alternating and impact loads, the ribs can share some of the stress, reducing the load on the window beam itself and thus lowering the risk of wear and breakage. The first and second ribs are positioned on the corresponding inner and outer spherical surfaces of the window beam, without directly intruding into the interior space of the window opening. The movement of the ball bearings within the window opening is primarily limited by its size and shape, and this design does not alter the basic dimensions and shape of the opening, therefore it does not obstruct the normal rolling of the ball bearings. The two ends of the ribs connect at the two parallel end faces of the cage body. When the window beam is subjected to alternating and impact loads, the stress can be smoothly transferred along the ribs to the two end faces of the cage, and then distributed throughout the entire cage structure, ensuring even stress distribution and enhancing the strength and stability of the entire cage structure.

[0008] In the preferred implementation, the first rib and the second rib are integrally formed with the cage body.

[0009] The one-piece molding makes the whole structure a continuous whole, with a more uniform stress distribution, and can better withstand alternating loads and impact loads.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the two parallel end faces of the cage body are respectively provided with connecting parts protruding from the end faces, the connecting surfaces have a top surface parallel to the end faces, the multiple connecting parts have the same height, and the two ends of the first rib and the second rib are respectively connected to the connecting parts.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the first rib and the second rib are detachably connected to the cage body.

[0012] If the first or second rib is damaged during the use of the cage, the detachable connection allows the damaged rib to be replaced individually without replacing the entire cage body. Different application scenarios and working conditions have different performance requirements for the cage. The detachable connection allows for flexible replacement of the first and second ribs of different specifications or materials according to specific needs.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the first rib has a first overlapping portion at each end, and the second rib has a second overlapping portion at each end. Both the first and second overlapping portions are provided with positioning holes, and corresponding fixing holes are provided on the end face of the cage body. The first and second overlapping portions are stacked so that the positioning holes and fixing holes correspond to each other. The fasteners pass through the positioning holes and fixing holes in sequence to achieve a fixed connection between the first and second ribs and the cage body.

[0014] In the preferred implementation, the widths of both the first and second ribs are smaller than the width of the window beam to avoid obstructing the window opening.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the sidewall of the window beam facing the adjacent side pockets is provided with a concave semi-circular notch to increase the movement space of the rolling element within the window opening.

[0016] In a preferred implementation, oil grooves are formed on the surfaces of the first and second ribs.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the oil groove is arranged along the length direction of the first or second rib. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of this invention, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description thereof, serve to explain this application and do not constitute an undue limitation of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the integrated structure of the cage body, the first rib, and the second rib of the high-strength ball cage cage of this application is shown.

[0020] Figure 2 The diagram illustrates the detachable connection structure between the cage body and the first and second ribs of the high-strength ball cage cage of this application.

[0021] Figure 3 A schematic three-dimensional structural diagram of the first and second ribs of this application and the first rib is shown.

[0022] Label Explanation:

[0023] 10. Inner spherical surface; 11. Outer spherical surface; 12. Window opening; 13. Parallel end face; 130. Connecting part; 131. Fixing hole; 14. Window beam; 140. Semi-circular notch; 2. First convex rib; 20. First overlapping part; 200. Positioning hole a; 3. Second convex rib; 30. Second overlapping part; 300. Positioning hole b; 40. Oil groove; 5. Fastener. 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 this invention. Therefore, the drawings and description are considered exemplary in nature and not restrictive.

[0025] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. In this utility model, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the first feature being "upper" or "lower" than the second feature can mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium.

[0026] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral unit; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. However, specifying a direct connection indicates that the two main bodies at the connection point are not connected by an intermediate structure, but are simply connected to form a whole through a connecting structure. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0027] In this utility model, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature.

[0028] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] The specific solution adopted is as follows:

[0030] like Figure 1-3As shown, this utility model provides a high-strength ball cage retainer, including a retainer body. The retainer body has a concentric inner spherical surface 10 and an outer spherical surface 11, and two parallel end faces. Multiple window holes 12 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the retainer body. A window beam 14 is formed between adjacent window holes 12. A first rib 2 and a second rib 3 are respectively provided at the positions of the inner and outer spherical surfaces 11 corresponding to the window beam 14, and the thickness of the first rib 2 and the second rib 3 is consistent. The first rib 2 and the second rib 3 are closely attached to the surfaces of the inner and outer spherical surfaces 11. The width of the first rib 2 and the second rib 3 is smaller than the width of the window beam 14 to avoid obstructing the window holes 12. The two ends of the first rib 2 and the second rib 3 are connected at the two parallel end faces 13 of the retainer body, which ensures the structural stability of the window beam 14 while avoiding affecting the movement space of the ball bearings.

[0031] The high-strength ball cage cage of this application, with its first and second protruding ribs 2 and 3, effectively adds additional support structures to critical parts of the window beam 14. When the window beam 14 is subjected to alternating and impact loads, the protruding ribs can share some of the stress, reducing the force on the window beam 14 itself, thereby reducing the risk of wear and breakage. For example, when a vehicle makes a sharp turn or travels over a bumpy road, the protruding ribs can enhance the deformation resistance of the window beam 14, ensuring the stability of the cage structure. The first and second protruding ribs 2 and 3 are located at the corresponding inner and outer spherical surfaces 11 of the window beam 14, and do not directly intrude into the internal space of the window opening 12. The movement of the balls within the window opening 12 is mainly limited by the size and shape of the window opening 12, and this design does not change the basic size and shape of the window opening 12, therefore it will not hinder the normal rolling of the balls. The two ends of the rib are connected at the two parallel end faces 13 of the main body of the cage. When the window beam 14 is subjected to alternating loads and impact loads, the stress can be smoothly transferred along the rib to the two end faces of the cage, and then distributed to the entire cage structure through the two end faces, so that the stress of the window beam 14 can be evenly distributed, thereby enhancing the strength and stability of the entire cage structure.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the first rib 2 and the second rib 3 are integrally formed with the cage body. For example, in precision casting, a high-precision mold is manufactured according to the cage's design requirements. The mold cavity shape matches the final shape of the cage, including the first rib 2, the second rib 3, and the cage body. Molten metal (such as aluminum alloy, zinc alloy, etc.) is then poured into the mold. After the metal cools and solidifies, the mold is opened and the cage blank is removed. Finally, the blank is cleaned and slightly trimmed to obtain the finished product. Alternatively, in injection molding (applicable to plastic cages), plastic granules are heated to a molten state, and the molten plastic is injected into the mold cavity through the screw of an injection molding machine. The shape of the mold cavity matches the final shape of the cage. Under high pressure, the plastic fills the cavity and cools and solidifies, forming an integrally formed structure with the first rib 2, the second rib 3, and the cage body.

[0033] The one-piece molding makes the whole structure a continuous whole, with a more uniform stress distribution, and can better withstand alternating loads and impact loads.

[0034] See Figure 1 The cage body has two parallel end faces 13 each with a connecting portion 130 protruding from the end face. The connecting surface has a top surface parallel to the end face, and the multiple connecting portions 130 are of the same height. The two ends of the first rib 2 and the second rib 3 are connected to the connecting portion 130 respectively. The connecting portion 130 connects the end face of the cage body, the first rib 2 and the second rib 3 into an organic whole, improving the overall rigidity and stability of the cage. When subjected to external forces, the entire cage can resist deformation as a whole, rather than each part being subjected to force individually. This enhanced integrity can reduce vibration and swaying of the cage during operation and improve the transmission accuracy and stability of the universal joint. The connecting portion 130 acts as a bridge for stress transmission, tightly connecting the end face of the cage body, the first rib 2 and the second rib 3 together, forming a more continuous and complete stress transmission system. When the window beam 14 is subjected to alternating loads and impact loads, the stress can be smoothly transmitted along the first rib 2 and the second rib 3 to the connecting part 130, and then evenly distributed to the end face of the cage body through the connecting part 130, and then transmitted to the entire cage structure.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the first rib 2 and the second rib 3 are detachably connected to the cage body.

[0036] During cage use, if the first rib 2 or the second rib 3 is damaged, the detachable connection allows for the replacement of the damaged rib individually without replacing the entire cage body. Different applications and operating conditions have different performance requirements for the cage, and the detachable connection allows for flexible replacement of the first rib 2 and the second rib 3 with different specifications or materials according to specific needs. For example, for cages operating in high-temperature environments, ribs made of high-temperature resistant materials can be replaced; in applications requiring higher strength, stronger ribs can be replaced to meet diverse usage needs.

[0037] In one feasible detachable connection method, see [reference needed]. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The first rib 2 has a first overlapping part 20 at both ends, and the second rib 3 has a second overlapping part 30 at both ends. The first overlapping part 20 has a positioning hole a200, and the second overlapping part 30 has a positioning hole b300. A fixing hole 131 is provided on the end face of the cage body. The first overlapping part 20 and the second overlapping part 30 are stacked so that the positioning hole a, the positioning hole b and the fixing hole 131 correspond to each other. The fastener 5 passes through the positioning hole and the fixing hole 131 in sequence to realize the fixed connection between the first rib 2, the second rib 3 and the cage body.

[0038] During installation, simply place the first overlapping part 20 and the second overlapping part 30 on the end face of the cage body, aligning the positioning hole with the fixing hole 131, then insert the fixing member 5 and tighten it. The fixing member 5 can be a screw, requiring thread machining at the connection position. This operation method is simple and intuitive, requiring no complicated tools or professional skills, greatly shortening the installation time. When it is necessary to replace or repair the first rib 2 or the second rib 3, simply loosen the fixing member 5 to easily remove the rib from the cage body. Compared with non-removable connection methods such as welding, this detachable connection method avoids damage to the cage body caused by cutting, grinding, or other operations, reducing maintenance costs and difficulty.

[0039] See Figure 2 The window beam 14 has concave semi-circular notches on its sidewalls facing the adjacent pockets to increase the movement space of the rolling elements within the window opening 12. Because the ribs enhance the strength of the window beam 14, its width can be appropriately reduced while maintaining structural strength. The concave semi-circular notches on the sidewalls of the window beam 14 facing the adjacent pockets effectively create additional space within the original window opening 12 structure. The semi-circular notches allow lubricating oil or grease to more easily enter the contact area between the rolling elements and the window beam 14. After entering the window opening 12, the lubricating oil can flow more smoothly along the curved surface of the semi-circular notches, covering the surface of the rolling elements and the sidewalls of the window beam 14.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment of this application, oil grooves 40 are formed on the surfaces of the first rib 2 and the second rib 3. Furthermore, the oil grooves 40 are arranged along the length of the first rib 2 or the second rib 3. The design of the oil grooves 40 can increase the amount of lubricating oil stored on the surface of the ribs to a certain extent. The lubricating oil in the oil grooves 40 ensures that the surface of the ribs always has sufficient lubricating oil. During the operation of the cage, a large amount of heat is generated due to friction and energy loss. The lubricating oil in the oil grooves 40 can act as a heat conduction medium, accelerating the conduction and dissipation of heat.

[0041] For any parts not mentioned in this utility model, existing technologies can be used or referenced.

[0042] The above are merely specific embodiments of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various variations or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model, and these should all be included within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A high-strength ball cage cage, comprising a cage body, the cage body having concentrically arranged inner and outer spherical surfaces and mutually parallel end faces, and a plurality of window openings evenly distributed along the circumference of the cage body, with window beams formed between adjacent window openings, characterized in that, A first rib and a second rib are respectively provided at the inner and outer spherical positions corresponding to the window beam, and the thickness of the first rib and the second rib is the same. The first rib and the second rib are closely attached to the inner and outer spherical surfaces. The two ends of the first rib and the second rib are connected at the two parallel end faces of the main body of the retainer, which ensures the stability of the window beam structure and avoids affecting the movement space of the ball bearings.

2. The high-strength ball cage cage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first and second ribs are integrally formed with the cage body.

3. The high-strength ball cage cage according to claim 2, characterized in that, The main body of the cage has two parallel end faces with connecting parts protruding from the end faces. The connecting surfaces have a top surface parallel to the end faces. The height of the multiple connecting parts is the same. The two ends of the first rib and the second rib are connected to the connecting parts respectively.

4. The high-strength ball cage cage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first and second convex ribs are detachably connected to the main body of the cage.

5. The high-strength ball cage cage according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first rib has a first overlapping part at each end, and the second rib has a second overlapping part at each end. Both the first and second overlapping parts are provided with positioning holes, and corresponding fixing holes are provided on the end face of the cage body. The first and second overlapping parts are stacked so that the positioning holes and fixing holes correspond to each other. The fasteners pass through the positioning holes and fixing holes in sequence to achieve a fixed connection between the first rib, the second rib and the cage body.

6. The high-strength ball cage cage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The widths of the first and second ribs are both smaller than the width of the window beam to avoid obstructing the window opening.

7. The high-strength ball cage cage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sidewalls of the window beam facing the adjacent side pockets have concave semi-circular notches to increase the movement space of the rolling elements within the window openings.

8. The high-strength ball cage cage according to claim 1, characterized in that, Oil grooves are formed on the surfaces of the first and second ribs.

9. The high-strength ball cage cage according to claim 8, characterized in that, The oil groove is arranged along the length of the first or second rib.

Images