Rolling bearing cage and rolling bearing

Abstract

The invention relates to a rolling bearing cage (100) which has a continuous interruption at a circumferential point, wherein corresponding axially adjacent tongues (131, 141) are provided at the two cage ends (120) defining the interruption, wherein the two tongues (131, 141) have a projection (132, 142) at their respective tongue ends on the side facing the other tongue (141, 141), wherein the two projections (132, 142) form a first axial overlap, whereby the rolling bearing cage (100) can be locked, and wherein a lug (133) is provided on one axial side of a first tongue (131) facing the other, second tongue (141), and set back circumferentially from one tongue end, wherein the lug (133) and the projection (142) of the second tongue (141) form a second axial overlap which is less than the first axial overlap.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a rolling bearing cage according to claim 1 and a radial rolling bearing according to claim 5.

[0002] Rolling bearings, especially radial rolling bearings, are bearings in which rolling elements, such as balls, rollers, needles, etc., are arranged between an inner and an outer ring to support rotating components in static structures with low friction. Depending on their design, they absorb radial and / or axial forces while simultaneously enabling rotating movements, for example, of a shaft in a bearing block or a hub on an axle. Often, the rolling elements are kept at a constant distance by a bearing cage located between the inner and outer rings.

[0003] DE 41 24 838 A1 discloses an open cage for a radial rolling bearing as known, which has rolling elements arranged in cage pockets and which has two cage ends at a circumferential point which are connected to each other via a snap-lock mechanism for stepwise diameter changes.

[0004] DE 10 2022 114 390 A1 discloses a cage for guiding a plurality of rolling elements in a rolling bearing, wherein the cage has a ring segment-like contour with a first free end and a second free end in the circumferential direction, wherein the first free end has at least a first positive locking means into which a corresponding second positive locking means engages.

[0005] US Patent 2022 / 0056947A1 discloses a ball cage as known, wherein the ball cage comprises a chain strap, a hook section, and a recess section. The chain strap has a first and a second end. The hook section is located at the first end.

[0006] EP 0 016 880 B1 discloses an annular rolling bearing cage with a plurality of interruptions provided along the circumference, which delimit a plurality of curved cage segments, each of which is provided at its ends with connecting means for its connection to an adjacent segment, wherein each connecting means is designed in such a way as to make a connected pair of segments inseparable in at least the circumferential direction, wherein each connecting means has a clearance in the circumferential direction which allows an increase and decrease in the diameter of the cage.

[0007] DE 39 11 671 A1 discloses a rolling bearing cage, in particular made of polymeric material, which has a continuous slot at a circumferential point, wherein one or more projections extend from one cage end bounding the slot, which engage in recesses at the other cage end in such a way that the two cage ends are fixed to each other in both radial directions and both axial directions, but can move relative to each other in the circumferential direction.

[0008] The technical problem underlying the present invention is that the installation of a rolling bearing can be complicated by the fact that the bearing cage requires a certain amount of expansion clearance. This expansion clearance, however, leads to an increase in the diameter of the bearing cage. This increased diameter can result in a collision between the bearing cage and the outer ring of the rolling bearing, thus hindering the installation of the rolling bearing. Since a reduction of the expansion clearance is not possible, another solution is needed to at least temporarily reduce the diameter of the bearing cage.

[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a rolling bearing cage that has an expansion clearance and is nevertheless easy to assemble.

[0010] The object is achieved according to the invention by a rolling bearing cage which has a continuous interruption at a circumferential point, wherein corresponding axially adjacent tongues are provided at the two cage ends bounding the interruption, wherein the two tongues have a projection at their respective tongue ends on the side facing the other tongue, wherein the two projections form a first axial overlap, whereby the rolling bearing cage can be locked, and wherein a nose is provided on a first tongue on one axial side facing the other, second tongue, and set back in the circumferential direction from one tongue end, wherein the nose and the projection of the second tongue form a second axial overlap, which is less than the first axial overlap.

[0011] According to the invention, a rolling bearing cage is proposed which has an interruption, also called a slot, and which is lockable on the one hand, i.e., connectable to form a closed ring, and on the other hand, has a variable diameter, i.e., its diameter can be changed, in order to allow for expansion clearance of the rolling bearing cage during operation of the rolling bearing. Locking is achieved by two axially extended projections on the cage ends that define and delimit the slot, which are designed as axially adjacent tongues. On these tongues, the axially extended projections, i.e., those projecting axially from the respective tongue, are arranged facing each other.The two projections together form a first axial overlap, which on the one hand enables the locking of the rolling bearing cage by positioning the two projections interlocking one behind the other, and on the other hand simultaneously prevents unintentional opening of the rolling bearing cage when the cage ends of the rolling bearing cage are locked together.

[0012] According to the invention, in addition to the first axial projection, a nose is provided on one of the first of the two tongues, also extending axially, i.e., projecting axially from the first tongue. This nose makes it possible to position the second projection of the second tongue behind the nose arranged on the first tongue when the cage ends are moved towards each other, by elastically deforming the rolling bearing cage to a smaller diameter. Due to the engagement of the second projection and the nose, the rolling bearing cage remains at the smaller diameter, thus preventing the rolling bearing cage from colliding with the outer ring of the rolling bearing being manufactured and making the rolling bearing easier to assemble.

[0013] This nose, however, has a smaller axial extension relative to the first tongue than the first projection, which is located on the same first tongue as the nose. As a result, the second projection, located on the second tongue, forms a second axial overlap with the nose. This second axial overlap is less than the first axial overlap between the second and first projections due to the smaller axial extension of the nose. This makes it possible to easily eliminate the elastically deformed state with the reduced diameter of the bearing cage by sliding the second projection over the nose towards a larger diameter after the bearing assembly. Viewed circumferentially, the second projection is then located between the nose and the first projection and is freely movable between them. This provides the bearing cage with sufficient expansion clearance.

[0014] In summary, and in other words, the invention involves integrating a small mounting lug into the rolling bearing cage. The position of this mounting lug is designed to minimize the expansion clearance during assembly. The height, i.e., the axial extension, of this mounting lug is designed to ensure that the expansion clearance during operation is not affected or restricted. This ensures the bearing can be mounted without interference.

[0015] The lug serves to lock the bearing cage during assembly by engaging the projection of the tongue without a lug circumferentially behind the lug. When the bearing cage is locked in this way, it rests virtually without play on the inner ring, allowing the outer ring to be easily pulled over the cage and installed. For reliable operation across varying temperatures, the bearing cage has a circumferential clearance, the clearance being the section between the two projections of the tongues. The additional locking mechanism provided by the lug facilitates easy installation of the outer ring.

[0016] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0017] In one embodiment, it can be provided that the rolling bearing cage has the largest possible diameter when the projections of the two tongues are positioned directly behind one another.

[0018] If the rolling bearing cage expands during operation, this expansion can be compensated for by the second projection moving away from the first projection in the circumferential direction, so that the overlap of the two tongues increases in the circumferential direction.

[0019] According to another embodiment, the nose can be arranged so that the rolling bearing cage has the smallest possible diameter when the projection of the second tongue is positioned to reach behind the nose.

[0020] In this state, the bearing cage can, for example, rest directly on the inner ring. The two cage ends of the bearing can then be directly adjacent to each other, preventing any further reduction in the cage's diameter. The nose holds the second projection in place, thus keeping the bearing cage in this state of its smallest possible diameter. This allows for easy mounting of the bearing without the cage colliding with the outer ring.

[0021] In one embodiment, the nose may be rounded, i.e., it has a curved contour and no edges that could hinder the connection of the second projection to the nose.

[0022] This simplifies the process of sliding the second projection back over the nose after the bearing has been installed, allowing the bearing cage to elastically deform back to a larger diameter and simultaneously restoring the expansion clearance. The nose offers little resistance to the projection, which can easily slide into its operating position.

[0023] The proposed rolling bearing cage is advantageously used in a radial rolling bearing with an inner ring, an outer ring and a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring in a rolling bearing cage, if the rolling bearing cage is designed according to the invention.

[0024] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0025] This shows: Fig. 1 a rolling bearing cage according to the invention, Fig. 2 a detailed representation of the roller bearing cage made of Fig. 1 in the locked state, and Fig. 3 a detailed representation of the roller bearing cage made of Fig. 1 in the assembled state.

[0026] Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures.

[0027] Fig. Figure 1 shows a rolling bearing cage 100 with equally spaced rolling element receptacles 110, which rests on an inner ring 300 of a rolling bearing to be manufactured.

[0028] This rolling bearing cage 100 has a continuous interruption at a circumferential point, which is bounded by the cage ends 120, as shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is shown.

[0029] This shows Fig. 2 the area around the break in a locked state in which the cage ends 120 are connected to each other but have an expansion clearance. Fig. Figure 3, however, shows an assembly state in which the expansion play is temporarily eliminated by elastic deformation of the rolling bearing cage 100.

[0030] Corresponding tongues 131, 141 are provided at the two cage ends 120 that define the interruption and are arranged axially side by side. Each of the two tongues 131, 141 has a projection 132, 142. The projections 132, 142 extend axially from each tongue 131, 141 towards the other tongue 131, 141. They are therefore oriented towards the other tongue 131, 141 and towards each other.

[0031] The two projections 132, 142 extend axially to such an extent that they form a first axial overlap, i.e., they collide with each other when the two tongues 131, 141 are displaced circumferentially relative to each other. This allows the rolling bearing cage 100 to be locked.

[0032] Fig. Figure 2 shows this locked state, in which the projections 132, 142 of the two tongues 131, 141 are positioned directly behind one another. In this state, the rolling bearing cage 100 has its largest possible diameter.

[0033] The first tongue 131 has a rounded, edgeless protrusion 133 on its axial side facing the second tongue 141. Viewed from the end of the first tongue 131, the protrusion 133 is set back circumferentially relative to the first projection 132. The protrusion 133 has a smaller axial extent than the first projection 132. Therefore, the projection 142 of the second tongue 141 forms a second axial overlap with the protrusion 133 of the first tongue 131. This second axial overlap is smaller than the first axial overlap between the two projections 132, 142.

[0034] Fig.Figure 3 shows the mounted state of the rolling bearing cage 100, in which the second projection 142 of the second tongue 141 is positioned engaging behind the nose 133 of the first tongue 131. Since the nose 133 is recessed in the circumferential direction relative to the first projection 132, the rolling bearing cage 100 has the smallest possible diameter in this mounted position. Reference symbol list 100 roller bearing cages 110 rolling element holder 120 cage ends 131 first tongue 132 first lead 133 Nose 141 first tongue 142 first lead 200 rolling elements 300 inner ring

Claims

[1] A rolling bearing cage (100) which has a continuous interruption at a circumferential point, wherein corresponding axially adjacent tongues (131, 141) are provided at the two cage ends (120) defining the interruption, wherein the two tongues (131, 141) have a projection (132, 142) at their respective tongue ends on the side facing the other tongue (141, 131), wherein the two projections (132, 142) form a first axial overlap, whereby the rolling bearing cage (100) can be locked, and wherein a lug (133) is provided on a first tongue (131) on one axial side facing the other, second tongue (141), and set back in the circumferential direction from one tongue end, wherein the lug (133) and the projection (142) of the second tongue (141) form a second axial overlap which is less than the first axial overlap. [2] Rolling bearing cage (100) according to claim 1,characterized by , that the rolling bearing cage (100) has the largest possible diameter when the projections (132, 142) of the two tongues (131, 141) are positioned one behind the other when viewed directly in a circumferential direction. [3] Rolling bearing cage (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the nose (133) is arranged such that the rolling bearing cage (100) has the smallest possible diameter when the projection (142) of the second tongue (141) is positioned behind the nose (133) when viewed in a circumferential direction. [4] Rolling bearing cage (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the nose (133) is rounded. [5] Radial rolling bearings comprising an inner ring (300), an outer ring and a plurality of rolling elements (200) arranged between the inner ring (300) and the outer ring in a rolling bearing cage (100), characterized by , that the rolling bearing cage (100) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 4.

Images