Spherical roller bearing with a first sealing comprising at least three sealing lips

Abstract

The invention starts from a spherical roller bearing with a first sealing (10), which is located at a first axial end (12) of the spherical roller bearing and seals a space (11) between an inner ring (14) and an outer ring (16) of the spherical roller bearing and which comprises at least three sealing lips (18, 20, 22). It is suggested the at least three sealing lips abut against a surface (24) of the spherical roller bearing, which has essentially the shape of a cylinder barrel, and each of the at least three sealing lips is bent in an axial direction (26) of the spherical roller bearing away from a center of mass (28) of the spherical roller bearing and in a radial direction (30) of the spherical roller bearing away from the center of mass compared to a state, in which only gravity acts on the first sealing.

Description

[0001] SPHERICAL ROLLER BEARING WITH A FIRST SEALING COMPRISING

[0002] AT LEAST THREE SEALING LIPS

[0003] The invention concerns a spherical roller bearing with a first sealing.

[0004] The document US 2003 / 0063824 Al describes a spherical roller bearing with a sealing on one axial side, which comprises several sealing lips. The sealing seals a space between an inner and an outer ring of the spherical roller bearing. A few sealing lips abut against a tapered surface of an inner ring of the bearing.

[0005] The utility model CN 203477089 U discloses a ball bearing with a sealing on one axial side, which comprises three sealing lips. The sealing lips have a curvature in an axial section.

[0006] The utility model CN 207111726 U describes a ball bearing with a sealing with three sealing lips on each axial side.

[0007] The problem of the invention is in particular to provide a spherical roller bearing with a sealing, which seals effectively against heavy contamination and which has a cost-efficient design. The problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1, by the features of claim 2 and by the features of claim 3, while advantageous embodiments and further embodiments of the invention can be taken from the subclaims.

[0008] The invention proceeds from a spherical roller bearing with a first sealing, which is located at a first axial end of the spherical roller bearing and seals a space between an inner ring and an outer ring of the spherical roller bearing and which comprises at least three sealing lips.

[0009] It is proposed that the at least three sealing lips abut against a surface of the spherical roller bearing, which has essentially the shape of a cylinder barrel, and each of the at least three sealing lips is bent in an axial direction of the spherical roller bearing away from a center of mass of the spherical roller bearing and in a radial direction of the spherical roller bearing away from the center of mass compared to a state, in which only gravity acts on the first sealing. Thereby surprisingly a spherical roller bearing with a sealing can be provided, which seals effectively against heavy contamination and which has a cost-efficient design. In particular, surprisingly an effective sealing against heavy contamination can be achieved when the inner ring or the outer ring executes movements during self-alignment of the bearing. In particular, surprisingly an enhanced bearing service life can be reached.

[0010] In particular, the surface is part of the inner ring.

[0011] Furthermore, a spherical roller bearing, in particular as described above, with a first sealing is suggested, which is located at a first axial end of the spherical roller bearing and seals a space between an inner ring and an outer ring of the spherical roller bearing and which comprises at least three sealing lips, wherein the at least three sealing lips abut against a surface of the spherical roller bearing, which has essentially the shape of a cylinder barrel, and each of the at least three sealing lips is bent in an axial direction of the spherical roller bearing away from a center of mass of the spherical roller bearing and in a radial direction of the spherical roller bearing to the center of mass compared to a state, in which only gravity acts on the first sealing. Thereby surprisingly a spherical roller bearing with a sealing can be provided, which seals effectively against heavy contamination and which has a cost-efficient design. In particular, surprisingly an effective sealing against heavy contamination can be achieved when the inner ring or the outer ring executes movements during self-alignment of the bearing. In particular, surprisingly an enhanced bearing service life can be reached.

[0012] In particular, the surface is part of the outer ring.

[0013] Moreover, a spherical roller bearing, in particular as described above, with a first sealing is suggested, which is located at a first axial end of the spherical roller bearing and seals a space between an inner ring and an outer ring of the spherical roller bearing and which comprises at least three sealing lips, wherein an elastomeric element of the first sealing comprises only such sealing lips, which seal against a surface part of the spherical roller bearing, which is located inwardly in a radial direction of the spherical roller bearing compared to the respective sealing lip, and each of the at least three sealing lips is bent in an axial direction of the spherical roller bearing away from a center of mass of the spherical roller bearing and in a radial direction of the spherical roller bearing away from the center of mass compared to a state, in which only gravity acts on the first sealing. Thereby surprisingly a spherical roller bearing with a sealing can be provided, which seals effectively against heavy contamination and which has a cost-efficient design. In particular, surprisingly an effective sealing against heavy contamination can be achieved when the inner ring or the outer ring executes movements during self-alignment of the bearing. In particular, surprisingly an enhanced bearing service life can be reached.

[0014] With advantage the first sealing comprises at least one metal sheet, through which a form-locking fixation of the first sealing at the outer ring or the inner ring is realized. Thereby a simple assembly can be reached.

[0015] Advantageously the first sealing consists of a one-piece elastomeric element. The term "one-piece" is to be understood in particular as being produced in one single injection molding process. Through this a simple producibility of the sealing can be achieved.

[0016] With advantage at least one of the sealing lips consists of alkyl acrylate copolymer or hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber. Thereby compliance with hygiene regulations for a contact of the sealing with food can be reached.

[0017] In particular at least one of the sealing lips can consist of nitrile butadiene rubber.

[0018] Moreover, it is suggested that a first one of the at least three sealing lips, which is closer to the first axial end than a second of the at least three sealing lips, is longer than the second sealing lip. Through this a good compensation of self-aligning movements of parts of the spherical roller bearing through the first and the second sealing lips can be achieved.

[0019] Advantageously the second sealing lip is closer to the first axial end than a third sealing lip of the at least three sealing lips and longer than the third sealing lip. Through this a good compensation of self-aligning movements of parts of the spherical roller bearing through the second and the third sealing lips can be achieved.

[0020] With advantage the first sealing is fixed at an inner side of the outer ring. Thereby no adjustment of a fixation to a housing is necessary.

[0021] Furthermore, it is suggested that the spherical roller bearing comprises a second sealing, which is located at a second axial end of the spherical roller bearing and which is identical in construction with the first sealing. Through this further cost saving can be reached.

[0022] Further advantages can be seen in the following description of the drawings. Examples of embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The skilled person will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them to form useful further combinations.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a half axial section through a spherical roller bearing according to the invention, and

[0024] Fig. 2 shows a part of a section through a further spherical roller bearing according to the invention.

[0025] Figure 1 shows a half section of a spherical roller bearing, which comprises an inner ring 14, an outer ring 16, a first row of rolling elements 44 and a second row of rolling elements 46. During an operation of the spherical roller bearing the inner ring 14 and the outer ring 16 can rotate relative to each other and the rolling elements 44, 46 move relative to the inner ring and the outer ring. A first sealing 10 of the spherical roller bearing is located at the first axial end 12 of the spherical roller bearing and seals a space 11 between the inner ring and the outer ring. The sealing 10 comprises three sealing lips 18, 20, 22 which abut against a surface 24 of the inner ring 14. The surface 24 has the shape of a cylinder barrel and can therefore be machined easily and in a very cost-efficient way. Every single one of the sealing lips 18, 20, 22 is bent in an axial direction 26 of the spherical roller bearing away from a centre of mass 28 of the spherical roller bearing and in a radial direction 30 of the spherical roller bearing away from the center of mass of the spherical roller bearing compared to a state, in which only gravity acts on the first sealing. Each one of the sealing lips is bent along its complete longitudinal extension compared to the state.

[0026] The sealing lips 18, 20, 22 are the only sealing lips of an elastomeric element 31 of the first sealing 10. The sealing lip 18 seals against surface part 32. Thereby the surface part 32 is located inwardly in a radial direction 38 of the spherical roller bearing compared to the sealing lip 18. The sealing lip 20 seals against surface part 34. For that matter the surface part 34 is located inwardly in a radial direction 38 of the spherical roller bearing compared to the sealing lip 20. The sealing lip 22 seals against surface part 36. Thereby the surface part 36 is located inwardly in a radial direction 38 of the spherical roller bearing compared to the sealing lip 22. All the surface parts 32, 34, 36 are part of the surface 24.

[0027] The first sealing 10 consists of the elastomeric element 31 and a metal sheet 37. The elastomeric element 31 is one piece. It was produced in one single injection molding process. In particular the elastomeric element 31 can consist of alkyl acrylate copolymer or hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber or nitrile butadiene rubber. Furthermore, the elastomeric element 31 is fixed to the metal sheet 37 of the sealing 10 by vulcanization. The metal sheet is fixed at an inner side of the outer ring 16 in a formlocking way. For this a radial outer circumference of the metal sheet is snapped into a groove 48 on the radially inner side of the outer ring 16. The radial outer circumference of the metal sheet has a shape of a circle. A ring-shaped area 50 of the elastomeric element 31 abuts against the outer ring 16 and seals thereby an intermediate space between the metal sheet and the outer ring.

[0028] The sealing lip 18 is closer to the first axial end 12 than the sealing lip 20 and is longer than the sealing lip 20. The sealing lip 20 is closer to the first axial end 12 than the sealing lip 22 and is longer than the sealing lip 22. If somewhen during self-alignment of the spherical roller bearing the inner ring performs a movement, which resembles in the view of figure 1 a clockwise rotation around an axis, which intersects the center of mass 28 and is perpendicular to the axial direction 26, the sealing lips 18, 20, 22 can adjust to the new position of the inner ring in an optimal way, because the surface part 32 moves a longer distance away from its original place than the surface part 36.

[0029] At a second axial end 42 of the spherical roller bearing the spherical roller bearing comprises a second sealing 40, which is identical in construction with the first sealing 10. It seals a further space between the inner ring and the outer ring.

[0030] The spherical roller bearing provides excellent sealing performance at high contamination application conditions, such as in mud environments, with an outstanding misalignment capability. In addition, spherical roller bearings have a misalignment capability which enhance the bearing fatigue life compared with other bearing solutions.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment the metal sheet is bigger. In this case an axial outer side of the elastomeric element 31 except for the sealing lip 18 is scorched to the metal sheet. Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment. Essentially identical components, features and functions are basically numbered with the same reference numerals. However, the letter "a" has been added to the reference numerals of the embodiments in Fig. 2 to distinguish them. The following description is essentially limited to the differences from the embodiment in Fig. 1, whereby reference can be made to the description of the embodiment in Fig. 1 with regard to components, features and functions that remain the same.

[0032] Figure 2 shows a part of a section through an alternative embodiment of a spherical roller bearing according to the invention. A first sealing 10a, which is located at a first axial end 12a of the spherical roller bearing, seals a space Ila between an inner ring 14a and an outer ring 16a of the spherical roller bearing. The sealing 10a comprises three sealing lips 18a, 20a, 22a, which abut against a surface 24a of the spherical roller bearing, which has the shape of a cylinder barrel. Each of the three sealing lips is bent in an axial direction 26a of the spherical roller bearing away from a center of mass (not shown) of the spherical roller bearing and in a radial direction 30a of the spherical roller bearing to the center of mass compared to a state, in which only gravity acts on the first sealing.

Claims

1. Spherical roller bearing with a first sealing (10), which is located at a first axial end (12) of the spherical roller bearing and seals a space (11) between an inner ring (14) and an outer ring (16) of the spherical roller bearing and which comprises at least three sealing lips (18, 20, 22), characterized in that the at least three sealing lips abut against a surface (24) of the spherical roller bearing, which has essentially the shape of a cylinder barrel, and each of the at least three sealing lips is bent in an axial direction (26) of the spherical roller bearing away from a center of mass (28) of the spherical roller bearing and in a radial direction (30) of the spherical roller bearing away from the center of mass compared to a state, in which only gravity acts on the first sealing.

2. Spherical roller bearing, in particular according to claim 1, with a first sealing (10a), which is located at a first axial end (12a) of the spherical roller bearing and seals a space (Ila) between an inner ring (14a) and an outer ring (16a) of the spherical roller bearing and which comprises at least three sealing lips (18a, 20a, 22a), characterized in that the at least three sealing lips abut against a surface (24a) of the spherical roller bearing, which has essentially the shape of a cylinder barrel, and each of the at least three sealing lips is bent in an axial direction (26a) of the spherical roller bearing away from a center of mass of the spherical roller bearing and in a radial direction (30a) of the spherical roller bearingto the center of mass compared to a state, in which only gravity acts on the first sealing.

3. Spherical roller bearing, in particular according to claim 1 or claim 2, with a first sealing (10), which is located at a first axial end (12) of the spherical roller bearing and seals a space (11) between an inner ring (14) and an outer ring (16) of the spherical roller bearing and which comprises at least three sealing lips (18, 20, 22), characterized in that an elastomeric element (31) of the first sealing comprises only such sealing lips (18, 20, 22), which seal against a surface part (32, 34, 36) of the spherical roller bearing, which is located inwardly in a radial direction (38) of the spherical roller bearing compared to the respective sealing lip, and each of the at least three sealing lips is bent in an axial direction (26) of the spherical roller bearing away from a center of mass (28) of the spherical roller bearing and in a radial direction (30) of the spherical roller bearing away from the center of mass compared to a state, in which only gravity acts on the first sealing.

4. Spherical roller bearing according to at least one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first sealing comprises at least one metal sheet (37), through which a form-locking fixation of the first sealing at the outer ring (16) or the inner ring (14) is realized.

5. Spherical roller bearing according to at least one of the claimscharacterized in that the first sealing consists of a one-piece elastomeric element (31) and a metal sheet (37).

6. Spherical roller bearing according to at least one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one of the sealing lips (18, 20, 22) consists of alkyl acrylate copolymer or hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber or nitrile butadiene rubber.

7. Spherical roller bearing according to at least one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a first one of the at least three sealing lips (18, 20, 22), which is closer to the first axial end (12) than a second of the at least three sealing lips, is longer than the second sealing lip (20).

8. Spherical roller bearing according to at least claim 7, characterized in that the second sealing lip (20) is closer to the first axial end (12) than a third sealing lip (22) of the at least three sealing lips and longer than the third sealing lip.

9. Spherical roller bearing according to at least one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first sealing is fixed at an inner side of the outer ring (16).

10. Spherical roller bearing according to at least one of the claims1 to 9, characterized in that the spherical roller bearing comprises a second sealing (40), which is located at a second axial end (42) of the spherical roller bearing and which is identical in construction with the first sealing (10).

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