Composite ceramic bearing and manufacturing method therefor

Abstract

Disclosed are a composite ceramic bearing and a manufacturing method therefor. The composite ceramic bearing comprises a metal outer ring (1), a metal inner ring (2), and rolling bodies (3); a first annular groove (10) is formed in the inner surface of the metal outer ring (1), a first rubber layer (11) is provided in the first annular groove (10), and a first ceramic layer (12) is provided on the surface of the first rubber layer (11); a second annular groove (20) is formed in the outer surface of the metal inner ring (2), a second rubber layer (21) is provided in the second annular groove (20), and a second ceramic layer (22) is provided on the surface of the second rubber layer (21); and the first ceramic layer (12) and the second ceramic layer (22) constitute a ceramic raceway for loading the rolling bodies (3). The bearing is of a ceramic-metal composite structure, where the ceramic layers on the surface of the ceramic raceway can improve the hardness and strength of the raceway, so that the raceway is smoother and more wear-resistant, and the rubber layers inside the ceramic raceway can play a role in buffering and damping for the ceramic layers, so that the ceramic raceway has a higher bearing capacity, thereby avoiding cracking caused by large impact.

Description

A composite ceramic bearing and its preparation method Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of bearings, and in particular to a composite ceramic bearing and a preparation method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Bearings are essential components in mechanical equipment and are widely used in the national economy, defense, and military sectors. The rapid development of high-tech sectors such as aviation, aerospace, nuclear energy, and photovoltaics has created an urgent need for bearings that are resistant to high temperatures and corrosion. Ceramic bearings, with their excellent properties such as wear resistance, acid and alkali resistance, high temperature resistance, and long life, have found widespread application across various industrial sectors.

[0003] However, compared with traditional metal bearings, ceramic bearings have the following disadvantages: 1. Ceramic bearings have higher hardness but lower load-bearing capacity, and will break when subjected to large impacts. Therefore, they cannot be used in some specific complex working conditions; 2. Due to the inherent brittle characteristics of ceramic materials, the ceramic inner and outer ring structures used in ceramic bearings are small in scale, making it difficult to prepare large-scale bearings; 3. Ceramic materials are difficult to process into various shapes, so ceramic bearings are difficult to manufacture and have high production costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a composite ceramic bearing and a preparation method thereof, the main purpose of which is to solve the technical problems existing in existing ceramic bearings.

[0005] The present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A composite ceramic bearing comprises a metal outer ring, a metal inner ring and a rolling element; the inner surface of the metal outer ring is provided with a first annular groove, a first rubber layer is provided in the first annular groove, and a first ceramic layer is provided on the surface of the first rubber layer; the outer surface of the metal inner ring is provided with a second annular groove, a second rubber layer is provided in the second annular groove, and a second ceramic layer is provided on the surface of the second rubber layer; the first ceramic layer and the second ceramic layer constitute a ceramic raceway for mounting the rolling element.

[0007] Furthermore, the first ceramic layer and the second ceramic layer are both formed by arranging and splicing a plurality of composite ceramic sheets.

[0008] Furthermore, each of the composite ceramic sheets is formed by integrally vulcanizing a ceramic sheet and a rubber sheet.

[0009] Furthermore, the edge of the first annular groove is provided with a first annular step surface, and the first rubber layer is provided with a first annular flange adapted to the first annular step surface; the edge of the second annular groove is provided with a second annular step surface, and the second rubber layer is provided with a second annular flange adapted to the second annular step surface.

[0010] Furthermore, the surfaces of the first annular groove and the second annular groove are both provided with a plurality of fine convex buds; the first rubber layer and the second rubber layer are both provided with recesses adapted to the fine convex buds.

[0011] Furthermore, the metal outer ring includes a first outer ring and a second outer ring; first connecting ears are provided at both ends of the first outer ring, and second connecting ears are provided at both ends of the second outer ring, and the first connecting ears and the second connecting ears are locked by bolts.

[0012] Furthermore, the metal inner ring includes a first inner ring and a second inner ring, the first inner ring is provided with a plurality of positioning holes at both ends, and the second inner ring is provided with a plurality of positioning pins adapted to the positioning holes at both ends.

[0013] Furthermore, a retaining frame is included, and the retaining frame and the rolling elements are both made of metal.

[0014] A method for preparing a composite ceramic bearing comprises the following steps:

[0015] (1) Using metal blanks to make a metal outer ring, a metal inner ring, rolling elements and a cage, and processing a first annular groove and a second annular groove on the inner surface of the metal outer ring and the outer surface of the metal inner ring respectively;

[0016] (2) using an adhesive to adhere the first rubber layer and the second rubber layer in the first annular groove and the second annular groove respectively;

[0017] (3) vulcanizing the ceramic sheet and the rubber sheet into one to form a composite ceramic sheet, and arranging and attaching a plurality of the composite ceramic sheets to the surfaces of the first rubber layer and the second rubber layer, and then compacting them to form the first ceramic layer and the second ceramic layer;

[0018] (4) Assemble the metal outer ring, metal inner ring, rolling elements and cage to form a composite ceramic bearing.

[0019] Furthermore, the ceramic sheet is made of a ceramic material with a Si3N4 content of more than 90%, and the rubber sheet is mixed with the following components in the following weight percentages: natural rubber 60-63%, carbon black 29-30%, zinc oxide 3.5-4.8%, and accelerator 0.9-1.6%.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0021] 1. The present invention adopts the inventive concept of a ceramic-metal composite structure, and designs the raceway of the metal bearing into a ceramic raceway. The ceramic layer on the surface of the ceramic raceway can improve the hardness and strength of the raceway, making it smoother and more wear-resistant. The rubber layer inside the ceramic raceway can play a buffering and shock-absorbing role for the ceramic layer, so that the ceramic raceway has a higher bearing capacity and avoids cracking when subjected to a large impact.

[0022] 2. The present invention creatively applies the integrated vulcanization process of ceramic sheets and rubber sheets to composite ceramic bearings, and adopts a technical solution of splicing several composite ceramic sheets into a ceramic layer. This not only effectively improves the impact resistance of the ceramic layer, but also reduces production difficulty and production costs, and helps to realize the preparation of large-scale composite ceramic bearings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a metal outer ring in a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of the metal inner ring in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the metal outer ring in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the metal inner ring in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG5 is a front view of the composite ceramic bearing in Example 1 of the present invention.

[0028] FIG6 is a cross-sectional view of the composite ceramic bearing in Example 1 of the present invention.

[0029] FIG7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first ceramic layer in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of the metal outer ring in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of the metal inner ring in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG10 is an exploded schematic diagram of the metal outer ring in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG11 is an exploded schematic diagram of the metal inner ring in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] In the figure: 1-metal outer ring; 10-first annular groove; 11-first rubber layer; 111-first annular flange; 12-first ceramic layer; 121-ceramic sheet; 122-rubber sheet; 123-sidewall ceramic sheet; 124-bottom ceramic sheet; 13-first outer ring; 131-first connecting ear; 14-second outer ring; 141-second connecting ear; 2-metal inner ring; 20-second annular groove; 21-second rubber layer; 211-second annular flange; 22-second ceramic layer; 23-first inner ring; 231-positioning hole; 24 second inner ring; 3-rolling element. Implementation Method

[0035] The specific embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to fully understand the present invention, many details are described below, but for those skilled in the art, the present invention can be implemented without these details.

[0036] Example 1:

[0037] Referring to Figures 1 to 6, a composite ceramic bearing includes a metal outer ring 1, a metal inner ring 2, and rolling elements 3. The inner surface of the metal outer ring 1 is provided with a first annular groove 10, within which a first rubber layer 11 is disposed, and a first ceramic layer 12 is disposed on the surface of the first rubber layer 11. The outer surface of the metal inner ring 2 is provided with a second annular groove 20, within which a second rubber layer 21 is disposed, and a second ceramic layer 22 is disposed on the surface of the second rubber layer 21. The first ceramic layer 12 and the second ceramic layer 22 constitute a ceramic raceway for mounting the rolling elements 2. The present invention utilizes the inventive concept of a ceramic-metal composite structure, designing the raceway of the metal bearing as a ceramic raceway. The ceramic layer on the surface of the ceramic raceway improves the hardness and strength of the raceway, making it smoother and more wear-resistant. The rubber layer inside the ceramic raceway acts as a buffer and shock absorber for the ceramic layer, thereby providing the ceramic raceway with a higher load-bearing capacity and preventing cracking under significant impact.

[0038] Referring to Figures 1 to 7 , the first ceramic layer 12 and the second ceramic layer 22 are each formed by arranging and splicing a plurality of composite ceramic sheets. The technical solution of splicing a plurality of composite ceramic sheets into a ceramic layer has the following advantages: First, single-piece, small-sized composite ceramic sheets are easy to mass-produce, which can effectively reduce production difficulty and production costs; the ceramic raceway structure is disassembled before assembly, which facilitates the preparation of large-scale composite ceramic bearings; and third, the ceramic raceway formed by splicing a plurality of composite ceramic sheets has a higher impact resistance. When subjected to an impact, the stress between the composite ceramic sheets can offset the external impact force, thereby preventing cracking.

[0039] Referring to Figures 3 to 7, as a preferred embodiment, each composite ceramic sheet is formed by vulcanizing a ceramic sheet 121 and a rubber sheet 122. This invention creatively applies the integrated vulcanization process of the ceramic sheet 121 and the rubber sheet 122 to the composite ceramic bearing, firmly bonding the ceramic sheet to the rubber sheet and preventing it from falling off. During assembly of the composite ceramic sheets, the rubber sheet 122 at the bottom is made of the same material as the rubber layer within the annular groove, making it easier to bond, ensuring a secure and reliable ceramic raceway after assembly.

[0040] Referring to Figures 3, 4, and 6, the first annular groove 10 has a first annular step surface on its edge, and the first rubber layer 11 has a first annular flange 111 that mates with the first annular step surface. The second annular groove 20 has a second annular step surface on its edge, and the second rubber layer 21 has a second annular flange 211 that mates with the second annular step surface. Furthermore, both the first and second annular grooves 10 and 20 have several fine protrusions (not shown in the figures), and both the first and second rubber layers 11 and 21 have recesses (not shown in the figures) that mate with the fine protrusions. These features increase the contact area between the rubber layer and the annular groove, ensuring a more secure adhesion of the rubber layer within the annular groove.

[0041] Referring to Figures 5 and 6 , the composite ceramic bearing also includes a cage (not shown), and both the cage and rolling elements 3 are made of metal. As a preferred embodiment, the composite ceramic bearing of this embodiment is a ball bearing, more specifically a deep groove ball bearing. However, the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to this. In actual production, the inventive concept of the ceramic-metal composite structure can also be applied to other types of ball bearings or roller bearings.

[0042] 1 to 7 , the preparation method of the composite ceramic bearing provided by this embodiment is described in detail below, which includes the following steps:

[0043] (1) A metal outer ring 1, a metal inner ring 2, rolling elements 3, and a retaining frame are manufactured from metal blanks, and a first annular groove 10 and a second annular groove 20 are machined on the inner surface of the metal outer ring 1 and the outer surface of the metal inner ring 2, respectively;

[0044] (2) Using an adhesive to adhere the first rubber layer 11 and the second rubber layer 21 in the first annular groove 10 and the second annular groove 20 respectively;

[0045] (3) vulcanizing the ceramic sheet 121 and the rubber sheet 122 into one to form a composite ceramic sheet, and arranging and attaching a plurality of composite ceramic sheets to the surfaces of the first rubber layer 11 and the second rubber layer 21, and then compacting them to form the first ceramic layer 12 and the second ceramic layer 22;

[0046] (4) Assembling the metal outer ring 1, the metal inner ring 2, the rolling elements 3 and the cage to form a composite ceramic bearing.

[0047] In step (2), the first rubber layer 11 integrally covers the bottom and side walls of the first annular groove 10 , and the second rubber layer 21 also integrally covers the bottom and side walls of the second annular groove 20 .

[0048] In step (3), in order to reduce the assembly gap, the present embodiment divides the first ceramic layer 12 and the second ceramic layer 22 into four equal parts, that is, the arc length of each composite ceramic sheet is one-fourth the circumference of the first rubber layer 11 or the second rubber layer 12. In order to reduce the difficulty of producing the composite ceramic sheet, the composite ceramic sheet can be specifically divided into a side wall ceramic sheet 123 and a bottom ceramic sheet 124. When assembling, the bottom ceramic sheet 124 is first attached, and then the side wall ceramic sheet 123 is attached to the side wall of the rubber layer, and the bottom is tightly fitted with the bottom ceramic sheet 124. After testing, it was found that the composite ceramic sheet made by the vulcanization process can achieve a perfect fit after assembly, and its seam will not cause interfering friction and obstruction to the movement of the rolling body. However, in actual application, if there is a problem with the seam, the seam can be filled with ceramic sealant or corrosion-resistant resin, etc., and then the surface can be polished to ensure that the surface of the ceramic raceway is smooth.

[0049] In step (3), the ceramic sheet 121 is made of a ceramic material containing at least 90% Si₃N₄. The rubber sheet 122 is made by mixing the following components in weight percentage: 60-63% natural rubber, 29-30% carbon black, 3.5-4.8% zinc oxide, and 0.9-1.6% accelerator. The vulcanization temperature used during vulcanization is 135°C and the vulcanization pressure is 4 MPa.

[0050] In step (1), the metal blank is preferably a steel billet. The metal outer ring 1, the metal inner ring 2, the rolling element 3, and the retaining cage are all manufactured using existing technologies and are not described in detail here. The assembly process in step (4) is implemented using existing technologies and is not described in detail here.

[0051] Example 2:

[0052] Referring to Figures 8 to 11 , unlike the first embodiment, the metal outer ring 1 in this embodiment comprises a first outer ring 13 and a second outer ring 14. First outer ring 13 is provided with first connecting ears 131 at both ends, while second outer ring 14 is provided with second connecting ears 141 at both ends. These first and second connecting ears 131, 141 are secured together by bolts. The metal inner ring 2 comprises a first and second inner ring 23, 24. The first inner ring 23 is provided with a plurality of locating holes 231 at both ends, while the second inner ring 24 is provided with a plurality of locating pins (not shown) that mate with the locating holes 231 at both ends. Both the metal outer ring 1 and the metal inner ring 2 are detachable, making it easier to assemble the composite ceramic sheet and further reducing production complexity.

[0053] The above is only a specific implementation of the present invention, but the design concept of the present invention is not limited to this. Any non-substantial changes to the present invention using this concept shall be deemed as an infringement of the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A composite ceramic bearing, characterized in that: It comprises a metal outer ring, a metal inner ring and a rolling body; the inner surface of the metal outer ring is provided with a first annular groove, a first rubber layer is provided in the first annular groove, and a first ceramic layer is provided on the surface of the first rubber layer; the outer surface of the metal inner ring is provided with a second annular groove, a second rubber layer is provided in the second annular groove, and a second ceramic layer is provided on the surface of the second rubber layer; the first ceramic layer and the second ceramic layer constitute a ceramic raceway for mounting the rolling body.

2. A composite ceramic bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first ceramic layer and the second ceramic layer are both formed by arranging and splicing a plurality of composite ceramic sheets.

3. A composite ceramic bearing according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each of the composite ceramic sheets is formed by integrally vulcanizing a ceramic sheet and a rubber sheet.

4. A composite ceramic bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first annular groove edge is provided with a first annular step surface, and the first rubber layer is provided with a first annular flange matched with the first annular step surface; the second annular groove edge is provided with a second annular step surface, and the second rubber layer is provided with a second annular flange matched with the second annular step surface.

5. A composite ceramic bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surfaces of the first annular groove and the second annular groove are both provided with a plurality of fine convex buds; the first rubber layer and the second rubber layer are both provided with recessed portions matched with the fine convex buds.

6. A composite ceramic bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metal outer ring includes a first outer ring and a second outer ring; first connecting ears are provided at both ends of the first outer ring, and second connecting ears are provided at both ends of the second outer ring, and the first connecting ears and the second connecting ears are locked by bolts.

7. A composite ceramic bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metal inner ring comprises a first inner ring and a second inner ring. The first inner ring is provided with a plurality of positioning holes at both ends, and the second inner ring is provided with a plurality of positioning pins matched with the positioning holes at both ends.

8. A composite ceramic bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a retaining frame, and the retaining frame and the rolling element are both made of metal material.

9. A method for preparing a composite ceramic bearing, characterized in that: The steps include: (1) A metal outer ring, a metal inner ring, a rolling element and a retaining frame are made of metal blanks, and a first annular groove and a second annular groove are processed on the inner surface of the metal outer ring and the outer surface of the metal inner ring respectively; (2) using an adhesive to adhere the first rubber layer and the second rubber layer in the first annular groove and the second annular groove respectively; (3) vulcanizing the ceramic sheet and the rubber sheet into one to form a composite ceramic sheet, and arranging and attaching a plurality of the composite ceramic sheets to the surfaces of the first rubber layer and the second rubber layer, and then compacting them to form a first ceramic layer and a second ceramic layer; (4) Assemble the metal outer ring, metal inner ring, rolling elements and retaining cage to form a composite ceramic bearing.

10. The method for preparing a composite ceramic bearing according to claim 9, characterized in that: The ceramic sheet is made of ceramic material with a Si3N4 content of more than 90%, and the rubber sheet is mixed with the following components in weight percentage: 60-63% natural rubber, 29-30% carbon black, 3.5-4.8% zinc oxide, and 0.9-1.6% accelerator.

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