Linear ball bearing cage, housing and process

Abstract

Linear ball bearing cage (10; 10a) with at least one radial outer surface (12; 12a) and at least one first sealing element (14) which is at least partially arranged on the outer surface, characterized by a ring-shaped elevation (42; 42a) on the outer surface, such that the elevation and the at least one first sealing element, when the linear ball bearing cage is installed in a housing (22; 22a), bear against an inner surface of the housing and a central axis (40; 40a) of the linear ball bearing is tiltable relative to the housing depending on the radial thickness of raceways (38a) inserted into the linear ball bearing cage for balls of the linear bearing.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a linear ball bearing cage according to the preamble of claim 1 or to a housing according to the preamble of claim 5.

[0002] A housing with a receiving area into which a linear ball bearing cage can be installed is known. Furthermore, a linear ball bearing cage with a radial outer surface is known. When installed in a housing, the linear ball bearing cage is tiltable relative to the housing. A linear ball bearing cage of a different design is also known, which, when installed in the same housing, is not tiltable relative to the housing.

[0003] EP 0 832 367 B1 relates to a linear bearing with a bearing arrangement that can be positioned within a cage and comprises a plurality of replaceable raceway segments. These raceway segments are held by means of elastic retaining rings that engage in grooves on outer cover pieces.

[0004] WO 2012 / 148058 A1 concerns a linear bearing with a cage on the outside of which a raceway for balls is arranged.

[0005] US 3,893,732 A discloses a ball bearing assembly for installation in a housing. The ball bearing assembly has an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve, the inner sleeve comprising a number of closed annular tracks for load-bearing balls. An outer surface of the outer sleeve is provided with an annular spherical seat located between two areas of reduced diameter relative to the diameter at the ends of the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve also has two annular grooves designed to receive two O-ring elements.

[0006] The object of the invention is, in particular, to provide a flexibly usable linear ball bearing cage, a corresponding arrangement, and a corresponding fastening method. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent claims, while advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention is based on a linear ball bearing cage with at least one radial outer surface.

[0008] It is proposed that the linear ball bearing cage have at least one first sealing element, which is arranged at least partially on the outer surface. This allows for high efficiency. In particular, it enables simple mounting of the linear ball bearing cage in a receiving area of ​​a housing. Furthermore, it allows for the central axis of the linear ball bearing cage to be tilted relative to the housing.

[0009] Furthermore, a housing is proposed with a receiving area into which a linear ball bearing cage can be installed, and with at least one first fastening element by means of which the linear ball bearing cage can be attached to the housing at least positively with respect to a first axial direction. This allows for high efficiency. In particular, it also makes it possible to install the linear ball bearing cage into the housing without tools and in a very simple manner.

[0010] Further advantages become apparent from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations. Fig. Figure 1 shows a partial section through an arrangement comprising a housing and a linear ball bearing cage according to the invention, wherein part of the housing is not shown, and Fig. Figure 2 shows an arrangement with part of a housing according to the invention and a linear ball bearing cage, wherein the housing is not shown on one underside of the figure.

[0011] Fig. Figure 1 shows a partial section through an arrangement comprising a housing 22 and a linear ball bearing cage 10 according to the invention, with the housing not shown on the lower side of the figure. The linear ball bearing cage is arranged in a receiving area 24 of the housing. The linear ball bearing cage also has a radial outer surface 12 and a first sealing element 14, designed as an O-ring, which is arranged entirely on the outer surface. Furthermore, the linear ball bearing cage has a second sealing element 16, also designed as an O-ring, which is likewise arranged entirely on the radial outer surface. The two sealing elements are each arranged in a groove of the linear ball bearing cage extending circumferentially. The two sealing elements are also arranged at opposite axial end regions 18, 20 of the linear ball bearing cage.The linear ball bearing cage has a raised section 42 on its outer surface. This raised section is ring-shaped. Furthermore, the raised section and the two sealing elements rest against an inner surface of the housing, with the raised section having a slight press fit. Raceways 38 for the balls of the linear bearing, of which the linear ball bearing cage is a part, are integrated into the linear ball bearing cage.

[0012] If the raceways have a relatively small radial thickness, the linear ball bearing cage can be tilted relative to the housing in such a way that its central axis 40 can be pivoted by about half a degree, with the annular protrusion 42 still resting against the inner surface of the housing.

[0013] However, if the raceways have a relatively large radial thickness, they will be in contact with the inner surface of the housing and the central axis of the linear ball bearing cage cannot pivot relative to the housing.

[0014] Overall, the radial thickness of the raceways allows for adjustment of whether the central axis 40 of the linear ball bearing cage is tiltable relative to the housing. This means that the same linear ball bearing cage can be used in both cases, enabling high production volumes and thus low production costs. Furthermore, the presence of the two sealing elements increases the retention of the linear ball bearing cage in the housing. These sealing elements can also be easily mounted on the outer surface without significant force. Additionally, the sealing elements provide a good seal in the area where they contact the housing.

[0015] Another advantage is that existing molds can be used for the housing, so that the described linear ball bearing cage, together with the mentioned raceways, can also be retrofitted into existing housings if, for example, a linear ball bearing that has been used for a long time fails in such a housing.

[0016] Furthermore, it is advantageous that in many applications, apart from the aforementioned sealing elements, which improve the retention of the linear ball bearing cage in the housing, no further securing of the linear ball bearing cage in the housing is necessary (thus eliminating the need for securing it with pins or grease nipples). In addition, the sealing elements dampen bearing noise during operation, resulting in noise reduction. Another major advantage is that the linear ball bearing cage with the two sealing elements remains easy to mount without requiring significant force.

[0017] In Fig. Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment. Essentially identical components, features, and functions are generally numbered with the same reference numerals. However, to distinguish the embodiments, the reference numerals of the embodiments in Figure 2 are also used. Fig. 2. The letter “a” has been added. The following description is essentially limited to the differences from the embodiment in Fig. 1, where, with regard to unchanged components, features and functions, reference is made to the description of the exemplary embodiment in Fig. 1 can be referred to.

[0018] Fig.Figure 2 shows an arrangement comprising a portion of a housing 22a according to the invention and a linear ball bearing cage 10a, the housing not being shown on one underside of the figure. The linear ball bearing cage is installed in the housing. The housing has a first fastening element 26a by means of which the linear ball bearing cage is positively locked to the housing with respect to a first axial direction 28a. The first fastening element is designed as a shoulder, the shoulder having a chamfered edge. The first fastening element is arranged at an axial end region 30a of a receiving region 24a of the housing.

[0019] Furthermore, the housing has a second fastening element 32a, which is also designed as a shoulder. The linear ball bearing cage is attached to the housing by means of this second fastening element in a second axial direction 34a, which is opposite to direction 28a. Both fastening elements 26a and 32a are ring-shaped.

[0020] When installing the linear ball bearing, which includes the linear ball bearing cage, into the housing, balls and raceways 38a are first inserted into the linear ball bearing cage. Subsequently, the linear ball bearing cage with the raceways is pressed into the receiving area, snapping into place on the fastening element 26a. A shaft is then inserted into the linear ball bearing cage, causing the raceways to be pushed radially outward and bearing against an inner surface of the housing. This secures the linear ball bearing cage, together with the raceways, to the housing in a positive-locking manner with respect to direction 28a by means of the fastening element 26a. The contact of the fastening element 26a with the housing also ensures a good seal between the housing and the linear ball bearing cage.

[0021] If the linear ball bearing cage is to be removed from the housing, the shaft must be removed from the linear ball bearing cage so that the raceways move radially inwards again, allowing the linear ball bearing cage and raceways to be pulled out of the housing without damage. Reference symbol list 10, 10a linear ball bearing cage 12, 12a Outdoor area 14 Sealing element 16 Sealing element 18 End range 20 End range 22, 22a Housing 24a Recording area 26a first fastening element 28a first axial direction 30 End range 32a second fastening element 34a second axial direction 36, 36a Part 38a Career 40, 40a central axis 42, 42a Survey

Claims

[1] Linear ball bearing cage (10; 10a) with at least one radial outer surface (12; 12a) and at least one first sealing element (14) which is at least partially arranged on the outer surface, characterized by a ring-shaped elevation (42; 42a) on the outer surface, such that the elevation and the at least one first sealing element, when the linear ball bearing cage is installed in a housing (22; 22a), bear against an inner surface of the housing and a central axis (40; 40a) of the linear ball bearing is tiltable relative to the housing depending on the radial thickness of raceways (38a) inserted into the linear ball bearing cage for balls of the linear bearing. [2] Linear ball bearing cage according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing element is an O-ring, a quad ring, a shrink film or a thin-walled ring. [3] Linear ball bearing cage according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the linear ball bearing cage (10; 10a) has at least one second sealing element (16) which is arranged at least partially on the radial outer surface. [4] Linear ball bearing cage according to claim 3, wherein the two sealing elements are arranged at opposite axial end regions (18, 20) of the linear ball bearing cage. [5] Arrangement comprising a linear ball bearing cage (10; 10a) according to one of the preceding claims and a housing (22; 22a) which has a receiving area (24; 24a) in which the linear ball bearing cage (10; 10a) is installed, and at least one first fastening element (26a) by means of which the linear ball bearing cage is at least positively locked to the housing at least with respect to a first axial direction (28a). [6] Method for fastening a part (36; 36a) of a linear ball bearing, which has a linear ball bearing cage (10; 10a) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in a housing (22; 22a), wherein the part (36; 36a) is fastened to the housing by pressing the part into a receiving area (24a) of the housing.

Images