METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SLIDE BEARING SLEEVE, ... AND USE THEREOF

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a plain bearing sleeve (1), having a length (L) of the plain bearing sleeve (1) configured to be greater than the inside diameter (IDM) of the plain bearing sleeve (1) and having a wall thickness (D) of the plain bearing sleeve (1) dimensioned to be smaller than 8% of the inside diameter (IDM) of the plain bearing sleeve (1).The present invention also relates to such a plain bearing sleeve (1), to a plain bearing (10) configured with the plain bearing sleeve (1), and to the use of the plain bearing (10).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a plain bearing sleeve, the plain bearing sleeve having a length configured to be greater than the inner diameter of the plain bearing sleeve and a wall thickness of the plain bearing sleeve dimensioned to be less than 8% of the inner diameter of the plain bearing sleeve. The present invention further relates to a plain bearing sleeve manufactured according to the method, to a plain bearing formed with the plain bearing sleeve, and to uses thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] Plain bearings and plain bearing sleeves or bushings are commonly known and are used to allow rotational, pivotal and linear movement between two components arranged on the plain bearing sleeve with as little friction as possible, where a first component is arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the plain bearing sleeve and a second component is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the plain bearing sleeve.

[0003] AU Patent No. 522155 discloses a plain bearing comprising an outer ring element and an inner ring element as connecting components and a plain bearing element between the two ring elements.

[0004] Sleeves or bushings for plain bearings are typically manufactured by a machining process in which the sleeve is clamped in a chuck and rotated about a central axis while a turning tool sequentially machines the inner and outer surfaces.

[0005] In particular, the manufacture of particularly thin-walled plain bearing sleeves carries the risk of not being able to meet the required dimensional tolerances of the finished component. In addition, damage to the sliding surfaces often occurs due to clamping the component during the machining step. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a plain bearing sleeve and a plain bearing sleeve manufactured in accordance with the method, which allows for fast and accurate manufacturing with low manufacturing tolerances and little surface damage.Furthermore, a plain bearing having such a plain bearing sleeve and its use are also defined. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1, a plain bearing sleeve having the features of claim 4, a plain bearing having the features of claim 9 and a use having the features of claim 10.

[0008] Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the following description and the accompanying drawings.

[0009] A method according to the invention for manufacturing a plain bearing sleeve, the plain bearing sleeve having a length configured to be greater than the inner diameter of the plain bearing sleeve and a wall thickness of the plain bearing sleeve dimensioned to be less than 8% of the inner diameter of the plain bearing sleeve, comprises: a) providing a sleeve blank, wherein at least three threaded holes are disposed on a first end surface of the sleeve blank; b) clamping the sleeve blank on one side of the sleeve outer diameter of the sleeve blank at a first end of the sleeve blank associated with the first end face in such a manner that the sleeve blank is rotatable about the sleeve longitudinal axis of the sleeve blank, and machining the sleeve inner diameter of the sleeve blank to the dimensions of the inner diameter of the plain bearing sleeve; c) screwing the sleeve blank at the end face by means of the threaded hole in such a way that the sleeve blank can be rotated about the sleeve longitudinal axis, and machining the sleeve outer diameter of the sleeve blank, which forms the wall thickness of the plain bearing sleeve; d) clamping the sleeve blank on one side of the inner diameter at a second end of the sleeve blank opposite the first end and cutting a ring with a threaded hole from the sleeve blank to form a plain bearing sleeve having said length. This method has the advantage that plain bearing sleeves can be manufactured with wall thickness tolerances as low as ±0.005 mm, resulting in high operating smoothness and low wear in large plain bearings, such as those used in the wind energy sector, over the required operating times of such equipment.

[0010] Preferably, in step c), the machining process of the outer sleeve diameter of the sleeve blank is carried out by turning. Also, in step b), the machining process of the inner sleeve diameter of the sleeve blank is preferably carried out by turning. Turning makes it possible to achieve an average roughness value (= arithmetic mean of deviations from the center line in μm) of Ra<0.6 on the outer diameter of the plain bearing sleeve and an average roughness value of Ra<1.6 on the inner diameter of the plain bearing sleeve. Furthermore, when such a plain bearing sleeve is used in a plain bearing, this contributes to high running smoothness and a long service life. Preferably, more than three threaded holes, in particular six or more threaded holes, are provided in the first end face of the sleeve blank, which allows for uniform threading of the sleeve blank on the first end face and uniform and smooth rotation of the sleeve blank about its longitudinal axis during the machining process of the sleeve outer diameter. Particularly preferably, the wall thickness of the plain bearing sleeve is dimensioned to be less than about 5% of the inner diameter of the plain bearing sleeve.

[0011] This object is further achieved by a plain bearing sleeve manufactured by the method according to the invention, which has a plain bearing sleeve length configured to be larger than the inner diameter of the plain bearing sleeve and a plain bearing sleeve wall thickness dimensioned to be less than 8%, in particular less than about 5%, of the inner diameter of the plain bearing sleeve. As already explained with respect to the method, plain bearing sleeves manufactured according to this method have a low wall thickness tolerance of ±0.005 mm. As a result, in large plain bearings equipped with such plain bearing sleeves, such as those used in the wind energy sector, high running smoothness and low wear can be achieved over the required running time of such equipment.

[0012] The length of the plain bearing sleeve is preferably greater than 300 mm, in particular in the range of 300 to 600 mm. The wall thickness of the plain bearing sleeve is preferably a maximum of 20 mm.

[0013] Preferably, the plain bearing sleeve is made of bronze, which material has good sliding properties and can be machined particularly well using the method according to the invention.

[0014] This object is further achieved by a plain bearing comprising a plain bearing sleeve according to the invention, in which the plain bearing comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, the plain bearing sleeve being used in particular as the inner ring, but the plain bearing sleeve can alternatively or additionally also form the outer ring of the plain bearing.

[0015] The use of the plain bearing according to the invention in the field of bearings for wind turbines, in particular rotor bearings for the rotors of wind turbines, has proven advantageous, but its use in large plain bearings for other applications, for example in the fields of ships, cranes, railways or heavy industry, is also preferred.

[0016] 1 to 5 are intended to illustrate, by way of example, the method according to the invention, the plain bearing sleeve formed thereby, and its use. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] The sliding bearing sleeve is shown in three dimensions. [Figure 2] The sleeve blank is shown in stereoscopic view. [Figure 3] 3 shows a sleeve blank according to FIG. 2 with a threaded hole. [Figure 4] 2 shows a longitudinal section of a plain bearing with a plain bearing sleeve according to FIG. 1; [Figure 5] 1 shows a wind turbine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a plain bearing sleeve 1. The plain bearing sleeve 1 has a length L and an outer diameter ADM, and the length L is configured to be greater than the inner diameter IDM of the plain bearing sleeve 1. In this case, the wall thickness D of the plain bearing sleeve 1 is dimensioned to be smaller than 5% of the inner diameter IDM of the plain bearing sleeve 1. The plain bearing sleeve 1 is manufactured from a sleeve blank 1a according to FIG. 2 by a method, which method comprises: a) providing a sleeve blank 1a, wherein at least three threaded holes 2 (see FIG. 3) are arranged in a first end face 3 of the sleeve blank 1a; b) clamping the sleeve blank 1a on one side of the sleeve outer diameter HADM of the sleeve blank 1a at a first end of the sleeve blank 1a associated with the first end face 3 in such a way that the sleeve blank 1a can rotate about the sleeve longitudinal axis HLA of the sleeve blank 1a, and machining the sleeve inner diameter HIDM of the sleeve blank 1a to the size of the inner diameter IDM of the plain bearing sleeve 1; c) screwing the sleeve blank 1a at its end face by means of the threaded hole 2 in such a way that it can be rotated about the sleeve longitudinal axis HLA of the sleeve blank 1a and machining the sleeve outer diameter HADM of the sleeve blank 1a, in which the wall thickness D of the plain bearing sleeve 1 is formed; d) clamping the sleeve blank 1 a on one side of the inner diameter IDM at a second end of the sleeve blank 1 a opposite to the first end and cutting a ring with a threaded hole 2 from the sleeve blank 1 a forming a plain bearing sleeve 1 having a length L.

[0019] 4 shows a longitudinal section through a plain bearing 10 having a plain bearing sleeve 1 according to FIG. 1 as an inner ring and an outer ring 11. However, the plain bearing sleeve 1 can alternatively or additionally also form the outer ring 11 of the plain bearing 10.

[0020] 5 shows a schematic diagram of a wind turbine 100 for generating electrical energy from wind energy. The wind turbine 100 comprises a nacelle part 102 rotatably arranged on a tower part 101. The nacelle part 102 has a nacelle housing 103. The generator of the wind turbine 100 is located in the nacelle housing 103. A rotor 105 with rotor blades 106 is rotatably mounted to the nacelle housing 103 via a rotor bearing 104. In this regard, a plain bearing 10 (compare, for example, with FIG. 4) with a plain bearing sleeve 1 (compare, for example, with FIG. 1) is used in the region of the rotor bearing 104. [Explanation of symbols]

[0021] 1 Plain bearing sleeve 1a Sleeve Blank 2 screw holes 3 First End Face 10. Plain bearings 11 outer ring D Wall thickness of plain bearing sleeve L Length of plain bearing sleeve IDM plain bearing sleeve inner diameter ADM plain bearing sleeve outer diameter HADM sleeve blank outer diameter HIDM sleeve blank sleeve inner diameter HLA Sleeve Vertical Axis 100 wind turbines 101 Tower section 102 Nacelle 103 Nacelle housing 104 Rotor bearing 105 Rotor 106 rotor blades

Claims

1. 1. A method for manufacturing a plain bearing sleeve (1), the plain bearing sleeve (1) having a length (L) of the plain bearing sleeve (1) configured to be greater than an inner diameter (IDM) of the plain bearing sleeve (1) and a wall thickness (D) of the plain bearing sleeve (1) dimensioned to be less than 8% of the inner diameter (IDM) of the plain bearing sleeve (1), comprising: a) providing a sleeve blank (1a), wherein at least three threaded holes (2) are disposed on a first end face (3) of said sleeve blank (1a); b) clamping the sleeve blank (1a) on one side of the sleeve outer diameter (HADM) of the sleeve blank (1a) at a first end of the sleeve blank (1a) associated with the first end face (3) in such a way that the sleeve blank (1a) can rotate about its sleeve longitudinal axis (HLA) and machining the sleeve inner diameter (HIDM) of the sleeve blank (1a) to the dimensions of the inner diameter (IDM) of the plain bearing sleeve (1); c) screwing the sleeve blank (1 a) at the end face by means of the threaded hole (2) in such a way that it can be rotated about the sleeve longitudinal axis (HLA) of the sleeve blank (1 a) and machining the sleeve outer diameter (HADM) of the sleeve blank (1 a), which forms the wall thickness (D) of the plain bearing sleeve (1); d) clamping the sleeve blank (1 a) on one side of the inner diameter (IDM) at a second end of the sleeve blank (1 a) opposite to the first end and cutting a ring comprising the threaded hole (2) from the sleeve blank (1 a) to form the plain bearing sleeve (1) having the length (L).

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step c) the machining process of the sleeve outer diameter (HADM) of the sleeve blank (1a) is performed by turning.

3. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in step b) the machining process of the sleeve inner diameter (HIDM) of the sleeve blank (1a) is carried out by turning.

4. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wall thickness (D) of the plain bearing sleeve (1) is dimensioned to be less than 5% of the inner diameter (IDM) of the plain bearing sleeve (1).

5. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the length (L) is greater than 300 mm.

6. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wall thickness (D) is at most 20 mm.

7. The method described in claim 1, wherein the plain bearing sleeve (1) is made of bronze.

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