Method for producing an annular component, annular component produced by means of said method, and bearing

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing an annular component (3, 3') in the form of a bearing ring for a rolling bearing (1) or a plain bearing (10), comprising the following steps: - providing a sheet-metal strip (BS) made of a metallic first material, - rolling the sheet-metal strip (BS) such that a structure (4, 4') in the form of a raceway or a slideway is introduced, - bending the rolled sheet-metal strip (BSw) to form an open sheet-metal ring (BSwg) having two end faces (9, 9') directed towards one another, and - integrally connecting the two end faces (9, 9') of the open sheet-metal ring (BSwg) by means of a 3D printing method, wherein a pulverous second material (80) is introduced between the end faces (9, 9') and melted there and fused to the two end faces (9, 9') in such a way that a connecting piece (8) formed from the pulverous second material (80) connects the two end faces (9, 9') and the annular component (3, 3') is formed by the bent sheet-metal strip (BSwg) and the connecting piece (8). The invention also relates to an annular component (3, 3') produced by means of said method and to a bearing having at least one such annular component (3, 3').

Description

[0001] Method for manufacturing a ring-shaped component, ring-shaped component manufactured thereafter, and bearings

[0002] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an annular component in the form of a bearing ring for a rolling bearing or a sliding bearing, comprising the steps of providing a sheet metal strip made of a metallic first material, rolling the sheet metal strip to incorporate a structure in the form of a raceway or a sliding surface, bending the rolled sheet metal strip into an open sheet metal ring with two mutually facing end faces, and joining the two end faces of the open sheet metal ring by a material bond. The invention further relates to an annular component manufactured according to this method and to a bearing comprising at least one such component.

[0003] Such methods for manufacturing ring-shaped components in the form of bearing rings are known.

[0004] DE 10 2005 014 967 A1 describes a method for manufacturing a welded rolling bearing ring in which a cold-rolled and bent profile wire made of a rolling bearing steel is joined by butt welding with upsetting, resulting in a finer-grained martensitic cementite microstructure with a higher carbide number in the weld seam area compared to the rest of the ring. The rolling bearing ring can be composed of just one or several bent profile wire sections, the latter requiring the formation of multiple welds.

[0005] US Patent 3,229,353 A discloses a method for manufacturing a ring for a rolling bearing, wherein a piece of steel is hot-rolled to form an elongated bar and the bar is annealed. The bar is then cold-drawn through a suitable die so that it has the cross-sectional size and shape of a finished ring. The bar is then cut into a plurality of sections, each section is bent into a circular shape with its ends butted together, and the ends are joined by welding to form an integral ring.

[0006] During welding, alloying elements diffuse from the ends of the wire or rod material towards the weld seam. This leads to a weakening at the weld seam and consequently to premature bearing failure.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method for manufacturing a ring-shaped component in the form of a bearing ring for bearings, which ensures that the material properties at the joining point of the formed ring-shaped component are not negatively affected.

[0008] The problem is solved for the process of manufacturing a ring-shaped component in the form of a bearing ring for a rolling bearing or a sliding bearing, using the following steps:

[0009] - Providing a sheet metal strip made of a metallic first material, - Rolling the sheet metal strip, incorporating a structure in the form of a raceway or a slideway,

[0010] - Bending the rolled sheet metal strip into an open sheet metal ring with two mutually facing end faces, and

[0011] - Material-bonded joining of the two end surfaces of the open sheet metal ring by means of a 3D printing process, wherein a powdered second material is brought between the end surfaces and melted there and fused with the two end surfaces in such a way that a connecting piece formed from the powdered second material connects the two end surfaces and the ring-shaped component is formed from the bent sheet metal strip and the connecting piece.

[0012] The addition of a second powdered material to the gap between the end faces of the open sheet metal strip prevents alloying elements from migrating from the metallic first material of the sheet metal strip towards the joint. This avoids weakening of the ring-shaped component at or adjacent to the joint and thus extends the bearing's service life.

[0013] Preferably, the rolled sheet metal strip is bent such that the structure is arranged on an inner diameter of the open sheet metal ring. This allows the ring-shaped component to be used as a bearing outer ring. Alternatively, the rolled sheet metal strip is bent such that the structure is arranged on an outer diameter of the open sheet metal ring. This allows the ring-shaped component to be used as a bearing inner ring.

[0014] Preferably, the connecting piece is designed such that the ring-shaped component has the structure around its entire circumference, including the area of ​​the connecting piece. This allows the existing structures at both ends of the bent sheet metal strip to be connected and extended by the structure on the connecting piece.

[0015] The melting of the powdered second material in the 3D printing process is preferably carried out using a laser beam or an electron beam.

[0016] After the formation of the connecting piece, mechanical post-processing of the 3D-printed surfaces, especially in the area of ​​the raceways or sliding tracks, can optionally be carried out.

[0017] The sheet metal strip made of the metallic first material and the powdered second material are preferably made of the same material, but can also be made of different materials. In particular, the powdered second material is also made of a metallic material, preferably the same material as the metallic first material. It is preferred that the connecting piece made of the powdered second material and the sheet metal strip can be hardened using the same technology, for example, by heat treatment. After hardening, the hardness of the connecting piece is preferably greater than that of the base material. Preferably, the sheet metal strip and / or the connecting piece are made of steel, and different grades of steel may be used.If necessary, powdered second materials made of ceramic or a composite material comprising metal and ceramic can also be used to form the connecting piece.

[0018] According to the inventive method, a ring-shaped component in the form of a bearing ring is produced, which generates the bent sheet metal strip, the end surfaces of which are materially joined by means of the 3D-printed connecting piece.

[0019] The bearing ring shows no weakening of the material in the joining area and therefore has an extended service life.

[0020] Preferably, the bearing ring is a rolling bearing ring having a raceway structure for rolling elements. However, the bearing ring can also be a sliding bearing ring having a concave or convex sliding surface structure.

[0021] The bearing ring can also be coated or surface-treated, at least in certain areas. This can include, for example, coating using a PVD or PACVD process, electrochemical coating in an electrolyte bath, blackening, phosphating, and similar processes, as well as combinations thereof.

[0022] A bearing, such as a rolling bearing or plain bearing, comprising at least one such ring-shaped component, has proven to be particularly cost-effective and durable over a long period. The rolling bearing can be a ball bearing, a cylindrical roller bearing, a spherical roller bearing, a needle roller bearing, a tapered roller bearing, and the like. The plain bearing can be, for example, a spherical plain bearing.

[0023] Figures 1 to 10 are intended to illustrate the inventive method and the resulting ring-shaped component by way of example. They show:

[0024] Figures 1 to 5 schematically illustrate a process flow for the manufacture of a ring-shaped component; Figure 6 shows a rolling bearing in a three-dimensional view with a bearing according to the

[0025] ring-shaped component manufactured according to the method shown in Figures 1 to 5,

[0026] Figure 7 shows a section VII-VII through the rolling bearing according to Figure 6,

[0027] Figure 8 shows a sliding bearing in a three-dimensional view with a [missing information] after the

[0028] ring-shaped component manufactured according to the method shown in Figures 1 to 5,

[0029] Figure 9 shows a section IX-IX through the sliding bearing according to Figure 8, and

[0030] Figure 10 shows an enlarged section of the ring-shaped components according to Figures 6 and 8 in the area of ​​the connecting piece.

[0031] Figures 1 to 5 schematically illustrate a process for manufacturing a ring-shaped component 3, 3' (see Figures 6 and 8) in the form of a bearing ring. As shown in Figure 1, a sheet metal strip BS made of a metallic first material, here for example steel, is provided. This strip is shown here in three dimensions and has end faces 9, 9'. This sheet metal strip BS is rolled to create a structure 4 in the form of a raceway or a sliding surface for the bearing ring. See Figure 2, which shows the rolled sheet metal strip BSw in three dimensions.

[0032] The rolled sheet metal strip BSw is then bent into an open sheet metal ring BSwg such that the two end faces 9, 9' point towards each other.

[0033] The open sheet metal ring, or the rolled sheet metal strip BSwg bent into a ring, is shown in a side view in Figure 3. The rolled sheet metal strip BSw is bent in such a way that the structure 4 is arranged on an inner diameter of the open sheet metal ring BSwg to create an outer bearing ring. Alternatively, the rolled sheet metal strip BSw can also be bent in such a way that the structure 4 is arranged on an outer diameter of the open sheet metal ring BSwg to create an inner bearing ring.

[0034] The two end faces 9, 9' of the open sheet metal ring BSwg are then joined using a 3D printing process. As shown in Figure 4, which magnifies the open area of ​​the bent sheet metal strip BSwg, a powdered second material, here for example made of the same steel as the sheet metal strip, is applied layer by layer between the end faces 9, 9'. Each layer is then melted by a laser beam 91 from a laser device 90 and fused to the two end faces 9, 9'. The second material, already solidified by the laser beam 91, is designated by reference numeral 80'. A connecting piece 8, formed layer by layer from the powdered second material 80, is created, which joins the two end faces 9, 9'. The resulting ring-shaped component 3 therefore consists of the rolled and bent sheet metal strip BSwg and the connecting piece 8.

[0035] The connecting piece 8 is designed such that the ring-shaped component 3 to be formed has the structure 4 of the rolled sheet metal strip BSwg bent into a ring all around and therefore also continuously in the area of ​​the connecting piece 8 as structure 40.

[0036] Figure 6 shows a rolling bearing 1 in a three-dimensional view with an annular component 3 manufactured according to the method shown in Figures 1 to 5. The annular component 3, consisting of the bent sheet metal strip BSwg and the connecting piece 8, forms the outer bearing ring. Furthermore, an annular component 2, in the form of an inner bearing ring, is present, which can be designed in the same way as the outer bearing ring or, alternatively, in the same way. The rolling elements 6 are located in a cage 7 between the annular components 2 and 3.

[0037] Figure 7 shows a section VII-VII through the rolling bearing 1 according to Figure 6. The same reference numerals as in Figure 6 denote identical elements. In addition to the structure 4 in the form of a raceway for the rolling elements 6 in the outer bearing ring, a structure 5 in the form of a raceway for the rolling elements 6 in the inner bearing ring is also visible. The raceways or other surfaces of the ring-shaped components 2, 3 may have a coating or surface treatment.

[0038] Figure 8 shows a three-dimensional view of a plain bearing 10 with an annular component 3' manufactured according to the method shown in Figures 1 to 5. The annular component 3', made from the bent sheet metal strip BSwg and the connecting piece 8, forms the outer bearing ring. Furthermore, an annular component 2, in the form of an inner bearing ring, is present, which can be designed in the same way as the outer bearing ring or, alternatively, can be formed with a connecting piece 8.

[0039] Figure 9 shows a section IX-IX through the plain bearing 10 according to Figure 8. The same reference numerals as in Figure 8 denote identical elements. In addition to the structure 4' in the form of a concave sliding surface, a structure 5' in the form of a convex sliding surface is also visible on the inner bearing ring. A sliding coating or sliding layer, not shown here, can be arranged between the annular components 2', 3'.

[0040] Figure 10 shows an enlarged section of the ring-shaped components 3, 3' according to Figures 6 and 8 in the area of ​​the connecting piece 8 in a side view. The ring-shaped sheet metal strip BSwg and its end faces 9, 9' are visible, which are joined together by means of the 3D-printed connecting piece 8. The structures 4, 40 and 4', 40, respectively, form a continuous, here concave, raceway or sliding surface.

[0041] List of reference signs

[0042] 1 rolling bearing

[0043] 2, 2' Ring-shaped component in the form of a bearing ring, here inner bearing ring

[0044] 3, 3' Ring-shaped component in the form of a bearing ring, here outer bearing ring

[0045] 4, 4' Structure in the form of a raceway or slide on the outer bearing ring

[0046] 5, 5' structure in the form of a raceway or slide on the inner bearing ring

[0047] 6 rolling elements

[0048] 7 cage

[0049] 8 Connecting piece

[0050] 9, 9' end area

[0051] 10 plain bearings

[0052] 40 Structure at connector

[0053] 80 powdered second material

[0054] 80' molten and solidified second material 80

[0055] 90 Laser equipment

[0056] 91 Laser beam

[0057] BS sheet metal strips (made of metallic primary material)

[0058] BSw rolled sheet metal strip

[0059] BSwg open ring bent sheet metal strip or open sheet metal ring

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for manufacturing a ring-shaped component (3, 3') in the form of a bearing ring for a rolling bearing (1 ) or a sliding bearing (10), comprising the following steps: - Providing a sheet metal strip (BS) made of a metallic first material, - Rolling the sheet metal strip (BS) incorporating a structure (4, 4') in the form of a track or a slide - Bending the rolled sheet metal strip (BSw) into an open sheet metal ring (BSwg) with two mutually facing end faces (9, 9'), and - Material-bonded joining of the two end surfaces (9, 9') of the open sheet metal ring (BSwg) by means of a 3D printing process, wherein a powdered second material (80) is brought between the end surfaces (9, 9') and melted there and fused with the two end surfaces (9, 9') such that a connecting piece (8) formed from the powdered second material (80) connects the two end surfaces (9, 9') and the ring-shaped component (3, 3') is formed from the bent sheet metal strip (BSwg) and the connecting piece (8).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the bent of the rolled sheet metal strip (BSw) is carried out such that the structure (4, 4') is arranged on an inner diameter of the open sheet metal ring (BSwg).

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the bent of the rolled sheet metal strip (BSw) is carried out such that the structure (4, 4') is arranged on an outer diameter of the open sheet metal ring (BSwg).

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connecting piece (8) is designed such that the annular component (3, 3') has the structure (4, 4', 40) circumferentially and therefore also in the area of ​​the connecting piece (8).

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the melting of the powdered second material (80) is carried out by means of a laser beam (91) or an electron beam.

6. Ring-shaped component (3, 3') in the form of a bearing ring, manufactured according to a method according to one of claims 1 to 5, comprising the bent sheet metal strip (BSwg) whose end surfaces (9, 9') are joined by means of the 3D-printed connecting piece (8).

7. Ring-shaped component (3, 3') according to claim 6, wherein the bearing ring is a rolling bearing ring having the structure (4) in the form of a raceway for rolling elements (6).

8. Ring-shaped component (3, 3') according to claim 6, wherein the bearing ring is a sliding bearing ring having the structure (4') in the form of a concave or convex shaped sliding surface.

9. Ring-shaped component (3, 3') according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the bearing ring is coated or surface-treated at least in certain areas.

10. Bearing, such as a rolling bearing (1 ) or sliding bearing (10), comprising at least one annular component (3, 3') according to any one of claims 6 to 9.

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