Rolling element guide cage consisting of two interconnected ring segments with axially arranged and spaced rolling element receptacles

Abstract

A rolling element guide cage made of two interconnected ring segments (3) with axially arranged and spaced-apart rolling element receptacles (4), wherein at least areas of the ring segments (3) are arranged one on top of the other between the rolling element receptacles (4), each area having a connection (5) with a boss (6) of one ring segment (3a) in an opening (7) of the other ring segment (3b), the cross-sections of the opening (7) and the boss (6) are identical, the dimensions are such that the boss (6) and the opening (7) can be joined to each other via a clearance or press fit, and the boss (6) and at least one area of ​​the inner wall of the opening (7) are connected to each other via a weld seam produced by the use of laser beams or electron beams, characterized in that a further connection between the rolling element receptacles (4) is a rivet connection, wherein the rivet is formed by a pin.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to rolling element guide cages made of two interconnected ring segments with axially arranged and spaced-apart rolling element receptacles, wherein at least areas of the ring segments are arranged one another between the rolling element receptacles, the areas each have a connection with a boss of one ring segment in an opening of the other ring segment, the cross-sections of the opening and the boss are identical, the dimensions are designed such that the boss and the opening can be joined to each other via a clearance or press fit, and the boss and at least one area of ​​the inner wall of the opening are connected to each other via a weld seam produced by the use of laser beams or electron beams.

[0002] Rolling element guide cages are known to be used in rolling bearings to guide the rolling elements at a distance from each other. This prevents the rolling elements from touching.

[0003] US Patent 3,820,867 A discloses interconnected ring segments with rolling element receptacles. The ring segments are connected by rivets, creating positive and non-positive connections. The riveting process requires special tools called rivet heads, resulting in considerable effort for mass production. Furthermore, existing and intermittent tolerances can lead to increased wear of the rolling bearing. The ring segments can also be welded together. The specific design of the welded connection is not described in detail.

[0004] The publication EP 2 839 175 B1 describes a rolling element guide cage and a method for its manufacture. The ring elements are made of sheet metal. The flat ring segments used for this purpose are welded together. Identical ring elements, each with a spherical recess for receiving the rolling elements, are assembled in a mirror-symmetrical manner relative to the rolling element guide cage. The connection of the ring elements is not described in detail.

[0005] German patent DE 436 332 A discloses a rolling bearing which may also have a cage consisting of two parts. These parts have recesses for receiving balls. Furthermore, the otherwise flat parts have interlocking projections between the recesses. The projections can be configured in various ways. For example, they may or may not center the parts as rings. In addition, they may or may not make lateral contact. The flat parts only have the projections. A connection between the projections is therefore not readily accessible.

[0006] Publication GB 169 700 A concerns improvements to or related to ball cages for radial ball bearings. The main focus is on a cage type comprising rings arranged on each side of the row or rows of balls. These rings are also provided with seats for the balls. The connection between the two rings is based on punched and bent tabs from one ring, which are inserted into holes in the other ring and riveted in place. The tabs can also be bent and welded for connection. The production of the tabs as punched and bent tabs is very complex, as is their positioning in the holes of the other ring. At the same time, the design of the ring's tabs results in a reduction of material, which affects the service life of this type of cage.

[0007] German patent application DE 199 10 928 A1 describes a method for manufacturing a cage for a rolling bearing and a cage manufactured according to this method. The cage consists of two side rings connected by webs. After the pockets have been punched into a flat strip, the cage is rolled into a cylindrical or conical shape and welded at its joints. Thus, the cage consists solely of the flat strip.

[0008] US patent 3,712,692 A discloses a bearing holder with axially split, mating ring elements or halves, in which pockets for receiving individual rolling elements are defined by corresponding recesses in each ring element. Abutting bridges are provided between adjacent pockets. Axially extending bores are drilled through the bridge areas to allow the insertion of rod assemblies. The rod ends are permanently joined to the adjacent bore material of the respective ring half by fusion welding.

[0009] The publication DE 30 30 247 C1 relates to a method and a device for manufacturing a rolling bearing cage consisting of two cage parts. These parts alternately have sections with recesses serving to form the rolling element pockets, as well as flat, mutually facing contact surfaces, each with a bore or a rivet projection engaging in it for connecting the two cage parts.

[0010] The publication JP H08 - 103 840 A describes an improved yield achieved by bending a strip into a ring-shaped blank. A metal strip is bent into a ring shape, and both ends are joined by welding. This creates a ring-shaped blank. Pockets for receiving rollers are formed by pressing, and a rivet hole is simultaneously punched. Two of these blanks are then riveted together to form a roller bearing cage.

[0011] Document US 5,122,001 A relates to a roller bearing holder with a split ring, composed of two mating, annular, and split rings. Each ring has multiple ball pockets. The split rings are joined together by welding.

[0012] The invention specified in claim 1 is based on the objective of manufacturing rolling element guide cages simply and economically.

[0013] This problem is solved by the features listed in claim 1.

[0014] The rolling element guide cages, consisting of two interconnected ring segments with axially arranged and spaced-apart rolling element receptacles, wherein at least areas of the ring segments are arranged on top of each other between the rolling element receptacles, the areas each have a connection with a boss of one ring segment in an opening of the other ring segment, the cross-sections of the opening and the boss are identical, the dimensions are designed such that the boss and the opening can be joined together via a clearance or press fit, and the boss and at least one area of ​​the inner wall of the opening are connected together via a weld seam produced by the use of laser beams or electron beams, are characterized in particular by their economically advantageous manufacture.

[0015] In addition, a further connection between the rolling element mounts is a rivet connection, whereby the rivet is formed by a pin.

[0016] The rolling element holders are designed according to the type of rolling elements used. These rolling elements can be balls, cylinders, cones, barrels, or needles. The rolling element holders ensure reliable guidance and prevent the rolling elements from contacting each other within the radial bearing.

[0017] The boss or pin ensures easy and precise positioning of the ring segments. The opening and the boss or pin advantageously serve as simultaneous adjustment mechanisms for the ring segments. The connection is formed by a weld, so that the ring segments are joined to each other via a metallurgical bond between the rolling element receptacles. The use of laser beams, electron beams, or resistance welding are fusion welding processes. Laser beams and electron beams are high-energy beams used to melt the joint. In resistance welding, heating occurs through the direct passage of an electric current. The resulting welds are characterized by high strength and short production times. This makes the rolling element guide cages economical to manufacture in large quantities as a mass-produced item.

[0018] The further connection between the rolling element mounts is the riveted joint, so that there are both welded and riveted connections between the rolling element mounts. These ensure a high strength of the connections between the ring segments.

[0019] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in claims 2 to 7.

[0020] According to the further development of claim 2, the weld seam is a weld seam produced by the addition of a filler material.

[0021] According to the further development of claim 3, the weld is a weld produced without the addition of a filler material. Compared to the use of a filler material, the welding process is simplified. Areas of the projection or the pin can be used for the connection.

[0022] According to the further development of claim 4, the ring segments are flat and curved sheet metal strips. The ends of the curved sheet metal strip have a weld seam connecting them. Furthermore, the rolling element receptacles are formed by forming. The ends of the flat sheet metal strips can butt against each other or have geometries extending the weld seam. The latter are, for example, interlocking teeth. To form the rolling element receptacles, the flat ring segments are formed, for example, by pressing.

[0023] According to the further development of claim 5, the ring segments are sheet metal strips with rolling element receptacles formed by bending. The ends of the bent sheet metal strip, which has the rolling element receptacles, have a weld seam connecting the bent ends. The ends of the flat sheet metal strips can butt against each other or have geometries that extend the weld seam. The latter are, for example, interlocking teeth.

[0024] According to the further development of claim 6, the end regions of the sheet metal strips are angled at right angles, so that the end regions serve as positioning elements for the rolling element guide cage in a rolling bearing. The end regions support the rolling element guide cage in the rolling bearing, thus ensuring a secure position of the rolling element guide cage and, consequently, of the rolling elements within the rolling bearing.

[0025] According to the further development of claim 7, the rolling element guide cage is a ball bearing cage consisting of two identical and mirror-symmetrically arranged and interconnected ring segments.

[0026] An embodiment of the invention is shown in principle in the drawings and is described in more detail below.

[0027] They show: Fig. 1 a ring segment for a rolling element guide cage in a top view, Fig. 2 a rolling element guide cage in a top view, Fig. 3 a connection of ring segments with a bump in an opening and Fig. 4 a connection of ring segments with a pin in an opening.

[0028] A rolling element guide cage essentially consists of two interconnected ring segments 3 with axially arranged and spaced-apart rolling element receptacles 4.

[0029] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a ring segment 3 for a rolling element guide cage in a general top view.

[0030] The ring segment 3 is a ring segment 3 formed from a sheet metal strip 1. The ends of the bent sheet metal strip 1 are joined together by a weld 2. For welding, the ends are butt-jointed. The rolling element receptacles 4 are formed by forming. In one embodiment, the sheet metal strip 1 has the rolling element receptacles 4, which are formed by pressing before bending. The ends are joined together by welding. The rolling element receptacles 4 are designed as half-shells for each ring segment 3, so that joined ring segments 3 have rolling element receptacles 4 that enclose the rolling elements.

[0031] The Fig. Figure 2 shows a rolling element guide cage in a general top view.

[0032] The rolling element guide cage consists of two interconnected ring segments 3 with axially arranged and spaced-apart rolling element receptacles 4, wherein at least areas of the ring segments 3 are arranged on top of each other between the rolling element receptacles 4 and have at least one connection 5.

[0033] The Fig. Figure 3 shows a connection 5 of ring segments 3 with a bump 6 in an opening 7 in a schematic representation.

[0034] For connection 5, one ring segment 3a has a boss 6, and the other ring segment 3b has an opening 7 for receiving the boss 6. The boss 6 thus projects into the opening 7. The cross-sections of the opening 7 and the boss 6 are identical. The dimensions are such that the boss 6 and the opening 7 can be joined by a clearance or interference fit. The boss 6 and at least a region of the inner wall of the opening 7 are connected by a weld seam produced by the use of laser beams, electron beams, or resistance welding. The laser beam or electron beam is guided within the opening 7. The weld seam can be formed without the addition of filler material, whereby material from the ring segments 3 is melted.Of course, the weld seam can also be formed by adding a filler material, whereby the material of the ring segments 3 and the filler material are melted.

[0035] The rolling element guide cage is thus a ball bearing cage consisting of two identical and mirror-symmetrical ring segments 3 arranged and connected to each other.

[0036] The Fig. Figure 4 shows a connection of ring segments 3 with a pin 8 in an opening 7 in a schematic representation.

[0037] In one embodiment of the connection 5, it has a pin 8 of a ring segment 3a in an opening 7 of the other ring segment 3b. The pin 8 and at least a region of the inner wall of the opening 7 are connected to each other by a weld seam produced by the use of laser beams, electron beams or resistance welding.

[0038] The pin 8 can also extend beyond the opening 7, so that at least the part of the pin 8 extending beyond the opening 7 and an area of ​​the inner wall of the opening 7 are a fusion weld.

[0039] In a further embodiment, an additional connection between the rolling element receptacles 4 can be provided. According to the invention, this is a rivet connection, wherein the rivet is formed by the pin 8 or a further pin.

[0040] In a further embodiment, the end regions of the sheet metal strips 1 can be angled at right angles, so that the end regions serve as positioning elements for the rolling element guide cage in a rolling bearing. The end regions can point away from each other or be connected to each other.

Claims

[1] Rolling element guide cage made of two interconnected ring segments (3) with axially arranged and spaced-apart rolling element receptacles (4), wherein at least regions of the ring segments (3) are arranged one on top of the other between the rolling element receptacles (4), the regions each having a connection (5) with a boss (6) of one ring segment (3a) in an opening (7) of the other ring segment (3b), the cross-sections of the opening (7) and the boss (6) are identical, the dimensions are such that the boss (6) and the opening (7) can be joined to each other by a clearance or press fit, and the boss (6) and at least one region of the inner wall of the opening (7) are connected to each other by a weld produced by the use of laser beams or electron beams, characterized by , that a further connection between the rolling element receptacles (4) is a rivet connection, wherein the rivet is formed by a pin. [2] Rolling element guide cage according to claim 1, characterized by , that the weld is a weld produced by adding a filler material. [3] Rolling element guide cage according to claim 1, characterized by , that the weld is a weld produced without the addition of any filler material. [4] Rolling element guide cage according to claim 1, characterized by , that the ring segments (3) are flat and curved sheet metal strips (1), that the ends of the curved sheet metal strip (1) have a weld seam (2) connecting the ends together, and that the rolling element receptacles (4) are rolling element receptacles (4) produced by forming. [5] Rolling element guide cage according to claim 1, characterized by, that the ring segments (3) are sheet metal strips (1) with rolling element receptacles (4) formed by bending and that the ends of the bent sheet metal strip (1) having the rolling element receptacles (4) have a weld seam (2) connecting the bent ends together. [6] Rolling element guide cage according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by , that the end regions of the sheet metal strips (1) are angled at right angles, so that the end regions are positioning elements of the rolling element guide cage in a rolling bearing. [7] Rolling element guide cage according to claim 1, characterized by , that the rolling element guide cage is a ball bearing cage consisting of two identical and mirror-symmetrical ring segments (3) arranged and connected to each other.

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