Roller or needle bearings
A two-part outer bearing ring design with a sleeve and cover connection addresses raceway support and cost issues in roller bearings, enhancing performance and reducing production costs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102018131257
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2018-12-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-13
- Estimated Expiration
- 2038-12-07
AI Technical Summary
Existing roller and needle bearings suffer from incomplete raceway support and increased production costs due to flanging processes, which also waste axial installation space.
A two-part design for the outer bearing ring, comprising a sleeve with an annular groove and a cover, where the cover is positively connected to the sleeve, ensuring optimal raceway support and allowing for a cost-effective manufacturing process through a rolling process.
The solution provides enhanced raceway support and reduces production costs while enabling the use of longer rolling elements and potentially a narrower bearing design, improving performance.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Field of invention
[0001] The invention relates to a roller or needle bearing with an outer bearing ring and a set of rolling elements for which a raceway is formed on the outer bearing ring, wherein the outer bearing ring is formed from a sleeve having a hollow cylindrical section forming the raceway and a radially extending section at one axial end for the axial bearing of the rolling elements, wherein a cover is arranged at the other axial end of the sleeve which is positively connected to the sleeve, wherein the sleeve has a circumferential annular groove on its outer circumference at the other axial end which forms an undercut in the axial direction at the other axial end, wherein the cover has a section extending in the axial direction which projects at least partially axially beyond the annular groove, wherein the section is formed such that it extends at least partially into the annular groove over its entire circumference. Background of the invention
[0002] A roller or needle roller bearing of this type can be manufactured according to the prior art by forming a sleeve-shaped component, which forms the outer ring of the bearing, in one axial end region by means of a flanging process, so that an axial contact surface for the rolling elements is formed. A typical radial roller bearing, which is manufactured by forming technology as described, is therefore a single piece and has a bent, i.e., flanged, edge on one side.
[0003] A disadvantage of such a forming-processed standard radial roller bearing is that the roller raceway is not fully supported. Furthermore, axial installation space is lost due to the flanging process. This means that raceway support is not fully guaranteed. Additionally, the production of such a bearing can be relatively expensive.
[0004] According to another design, it is also possible to place a cover in an axial end area of the sleeve-shaped component, which is connected to the sleeve-shaped component by a snap connection or locking connection.
[0005] A bearing of the type mentioned above is known from US 3 656 825 A and US 2 094 252 A. Similar solutions are shown in US 2018 / 0 010 643 A1, US 2 057 102 A, US 2 648 578 A and GB 558 342 A. Object of the invention
[0006] The present invention is based on the objective of creating a generic roller or needle bearing which ensures optimal support of the raceway and otherwise enables a simple and therefore cost-saving manufacturing method. Description of the invention
[0007] According to the invention, this problem is solved in a roller or needle bearing according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that the cover with its radially extending section forms an axial run-up for the rolling elements, wherein the sleeve has a first outer diameter (d1) at the base of the annular groove and a second outer diameter (d2) at its other axial end, wherein the difference between the two diameters is: d2−d1>0.06 mm as well as d2−d1<1,6(d3−d42−s) with d3 as the maximum outer diameter of the sleeve, d4 as the diameter of the raceway and s as the thickness of the cover in its radially extending area, and wherein the lid has a thickness (s0) in its radially extending area, for which the following applies: 0,1(d3−d42) <s0 as well as s0<0,6∗(d3−d42).
[0008] The reshaped section of the lid is preferably produced by a rolling process.
[0009] It has been shown that the geometric conditions in the design of the proposed bearing should advantageously lie within the specified range. Therefore, a minimum and a maximum value for the specified diameter difference, as well as a minimum and a maximum value for the specified thickness, are required.
[0010] The sleeve preferably has a second outer diameter (d2) at its other axial end, for which the following applies: d4+0,2(d3−d4)2 <d2 with d3 as the maximum outer diameter of the sleeve and d4 as the diameter of the raceway.
[0011] On the other hand, the sleeve preferably has a second outer diameter (d2) at its other axial end, for which the following applies: d2 <d3−2∗s with d3 being the maximum outer diameter of the sleeve and s being the thickness of the cover in its radially extending region. In this respect as well, a minimum and a maximum value for the aforementioned diameter are preferred.
[0012] A possible, non-inventive method for manufacturing a roller or needle bearing of the type described is characterized by the fact that it comprises the following steps: a) Manufacture of the sleeve including an annular groove located on the outer circumference of the sleeve; b) Placing the set of rolling elements in the sleeve; c) Attaching the cover to the sleeve so that a section extending in the axial direction at least partially overlaps the annular groove; d) Applying a radial force to the lid to deform a section of the lid until a section of the lid extends into the annular groove.
[0013] It is preferably provided that the application of the radial force to the cover according to step d) above is carried out by a rolling tool, wherein during the forming process the sleeve and / or the cover rotate around the axis of the roller or needle bearing.
[0014] The proposed solution therefore relies on the outer ring of the radial roller or needle roller bearing being designed in two parts. The sleeve used is open on one side and has a circumferential undercut at the open end. A cover is positively connected to the sleeve on one side. This positive connection extends over the entire circumference of the bearing.
[0015] This design allows for the use of a longer rolling element compared to previously known solutions. Alternatively, a reduced axial width of the bearing is also possible. This results in an increase in performance.
[0016] Before assembly, the cover has a sectioned cylindrical shape on its outer diameter. During assembly, the cover is placed onto the sleeve and then positively joined by a rolling process. In this process, a rolling roller is pressed laterally against the cover. Simultaneously, either the sleeve, the rolling roller, or both components rotate around their longitudinal axis.
[0017] Although the described manufacturing method is preferred, a procedure in which the two parts, sleeve and cover, are manufactured separately is also possible in principle. In this case, the cover already has the radially inward-extending section, which is created by a forming process and is intended to lie in the annular groove of the sleeve. Once the two parts are finished and the set of rolling elements is inserted into the sleeve, the cover can then be slid axially onto the sleeve for bearing assembly until the axially extending section of the cover snaps into the annular groove. Brief description of the drawings
[0018] A preferred embodiment of the roller or needle bearing designed according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 in radial section a roller bearing in fully assembled state, wherein a set of rolling elements is arranged in an outer ring, Fig. 2 the detail “A” according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 the manufacturing process of the roller bearing, wherein a rolling tool performs a forming operation on the roller bearing, and Fig. 4 the detail “B” according to Fig. 3. Detailed description of the drawings
[0019] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows the construction of a roller bearing as it corresponds to a possible embodiment according to the present invention.
[0020] The roller bearing 1 comprises an outer bearing ring 2, which has a raceway 4 for the contact of rolling elements 3 in the form of rollers. The rolling elements 3 are held by a cage 14. The outer bearing ring 2 is designed in two parts. It first comprises a sleeve 5, which has a hollow cylindrical section 6 that forms the raceway 4. In one axial end 7 of the sleeve 5, a radially extending section 8 is provided, which serves for the axial contact of the rolling elements 3.
[0021] At the other axial end 9 of the sleeve 5, it has an annular groove 11 that extends around its entire circumference. A cover 10 is positioned in the region of this other axial end 9, and its axially extending section 12 largely covers the annular groove 11.
[0022] Through a rolling process, the axially extending section 12 of the sleeve 5 is radially deformed inwards so that it fits into the annular groove 11 and thus ensures that the cover 10 is arranged in a form-fitting manner on the sleeve 5 in the axial direction a.
[0023] Out of Fig. Figure 2 shows various geometric data, namely a first outer diameter d1 of the sleeve 5, a second outer diameter d2 of the sleeve 5, a maximum outer diameter d3 of the sleeve 5, and a diameter d4 of the raceway 4. Furthermore, the thickness s or s0 of the cover 10 is specified.
[0024] For the ratio of the aforementioned geometric dimensions, minimum and maximum values are given above, which result in a particularly favorable outcome with regard to the manufacturing implementation and the strength of the components during operation of the bearing.
[0025] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 illustrates the manufacturing process of the bearing. Fig. Figure 3 shows the rolling process with a rolling tool 13 above; furthermore, the lid 10 is also shown in its unformed state.
[0026] It is hereby provided that the rolling tool 13 is used to reshape a portion of the axially extending section 12 of the sleeve 5. The rolling tool 13 presses, as is best done in Fig. 4 can be seen, on the outer circumference of the sleeve 5 in the area of section 12 and presses it into the annular groove 11, which is formed in section 6 of the sleeve 5.
[0027] Thus, a firm, positive-locking connection is created, so that the cover 10 with its radially extending section forms an axial run-up for the rolling elements 3. Reference symbol list 1 roller or needle bearing 2 outer bearing ring 3 rolling elements 4 Career 5 Sleeve 6 hollow cylindrical section of the sleeve 7 first axial end of the sleeve 8 radially extending section 9 other, second axial end of the sleeve 10 lids 11 Ring groove 12 axially extending section of the sleeve 13 Rolling tool 14 Cage d1 first outer diameter of the sleeve d2 second outer diameter of the sleeve d3 maximum outer diameter of the sleeve d4 Diameter of the raceway s / s0 Thickness of the lid in the radially extending area a axial direction
Claims
[1] Roller or needle bearing (1) with a bearing outer ring (2) and a set of rolling elements (3) for which a raceway (4) is formed on the bearing outer ring (2), wherein the bearing outer ring (2) is formed from a sleeve (5) having a hollow cylindrical section (6) forming the raceway (4) and a radially extending section (8) at one axial end (7) for the axial bearing of the rolling elements (3), wherein a cover (10) is arranged at the other axial end (9) of the sleeve (5) and is positively connected to the sleeve (5), wherein the sleeve (5) has a circumferential annular groove (11) on its outer circumference at the other axial end (9) which forms an undercut in the other axial direction (a) in the other axial end (9), wherein the cover (10) has a section (12) extending in the axial direction (a) which axially at least partially overlaps the annular groove (11). overlooks, with section (12) being transformed in such a way thatthat it extends at least partially into the annular groove (11) over its entire circumference, , characterized by , that the cover (10) with its radially extending section forms an axial run-up for the rolling elements (3), wherein the sleeve (5) has a first outer diameter (d1) at the base of the annular groove (11) and a second outer diameter (d2) at its other axial end (9), wherein the difference between the two diameters is: d2−d1>0.06 mm as well as d2−d1<1,6(d3−d42−s) with d3 as the maximum outer diameter of the sleeve (5), d4 as the diameter of the raceway (4) and s as the thickness of the cover (10) in its radially extending region, and wherein the cover (10) has a thickness (so) in its radially extending region such that: 0,1(d3−d42) <s0 as well as s0<0,6∗(d3−d42). [2] Roller or needle bearing according to claim 1, characterized by, that the reshaped section (12) of the lid (10) is produced by a rolling process. [3] Roller or needle bearings according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the sleeve (5) has a second outer diameter (d2) at its other axial end (9), for which the following applies: d4+0,2(d3−d4)2 <d2 with d3 as the maximum outer diameter of the sleeve (5) and d4 as the diameter of the raceway (4). [4] Roller or needle bearings according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the sleeve (5) has a second outer diameter (d2) at its other axial end (9), for which the following applies: d2 <d3−2∗s with d3 as the maximum outer diameter of the sleeve (5) and s as the thickness of the cover (10) in the radially extending area thereof.< / d3−2∗s