Rolling bearing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rolling bearing. Provided in the present invention is a rolling bearing, comprising: a first outer ring, which comprises a spherical first inner raceway; a second outer ring, which comprises a spherical second inner raceway, the first outer ring and the second outer ring being axially spaced spart; an inner ring, which comprises a first outer raceway and a second outer raceway both distributed along the circumference, the first outer raceway and the second outer raceway being axially spaced spart; a first row of rolling elements, which are radially arranged between the first inner raceway and the first outer raceway; and a second row of rolling elements, which are radially arranged between the second inner raceway and the second outer raceway. When viewed along the axial cross-section, the center of curvature of the first inner raceway coincides with the center of curvature of the second inner raceway, and the radius of curvature of the first inner raceway is less than the radius of curvature of the second inner raceway.

Description

rolling bearings Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of bearing technology. More specifically, this invention relates to rolling bearings. Background Technology

[0002] Current spherical roller bearings can withstand both axial and radial forces simultaneously. However, in some applications, such as wind power generation and marine engineering, higher axial forces may be required. In such cases, due to the presence of high axial forces, the bearing may have to operate with only a single row of rollers, which is an extremely unfavorable condition that can lead to bearing failure or shorten its service life.

[0003] Asymmetrical bearings also exist on the market, but due to size limitations, these bearings cannot employ large contact angles, meaning they cannot withstand large axial forces. Therefore, existing technology is significantly inadequate in meeting high axial force requirements and urgently needs improvement to enhance bearing reliability and service life.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a rolling bearing capable of providing a large axial load capacity. Another object of the present invention is to provide a rolling bearing capable of improving operational reliability. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a rolling bearing capable of extending service life.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention provides a rolling bearing, comprising: a first outer ring including a first inner raceway having a spherical shape; a second outer ring including a second inner raceway having a spherical shape, wherein the first outer ring and the second outer ring are spaced apart axially; an inner ring including a first outer raceway and a second outer raceway respectively distributed circumferentially, wherein the first outer raceway and the second outer raceway are spaced apart axially; a first row of a plurality of rolling elements radially disposed between the first inner raceway and the first outer raceway; and a second row of a plurality of rolling elements radially disposed between the second inner raceway and the second outer raceway, wherein, viewed in an axial section, the center of curvature of the first inner raceway coincides with the center of curvature of the second inner raceway, and the radius of curvature of the first inner raceway is smaller than the radius of curvature of the second inner raceway.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the contact angle of the second inner raceway is in the range of 10 degrees to 30 degrees.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the contact angle of the first inner raceway is in the range of 0 degrees to -10 degrees.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of rolling elements in the first column has the same shape as each of the plurality of rolling elements in the second column.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inner ring further includes a first flange extending radially outward, which is located axially between the first outer raceway and the second outer raceway.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inner ring further includes a second flange extending radially outward, wherein a first row of multiple rolling elements is arranged axially between the first flange and the second flange.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rolling bearing further includes: a first cage disposed between a first inner raceway and a first outer raceway for retaining a first row of multiple rolling elements.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rolling bearing further includes a second cage disposed between the second inner raceway and the second outer raceway for retaining a second row of multiple rolling elements.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first retainer is made of steel, brass, or cast iron.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the invention, the second cage is made of steel, brass, or cast iron.

[0016] The rolling bearing provided by this invention, through independently designed first and second outer rings and by giving the first and second inner raceways different radii of curvature and contact angles, can simultaneously withstand large radial and axial loads, and achieves better self-aligning performance and optimized load distribution, thereby improving operational accuracy and reliability. The rolling bearing according to embodiments of this invention is particularly suitable for applications requiring simultaneous bearing of large radial and axial loads, such as heavy machinery and wind turbines. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a rolling bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 is an exploded view of a rolling bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a rolling bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a rolling bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following detailed description and drawings are provided to exemplify the principles of the invention, which is not limited to the described preferred embodiments; the scope of the invention is defined by the claims. The invention is now described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, and unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all aspects of the invention. Rather, these embodiments are merely examples of systems and methods related to various aspects of the invention as covered in the appended claims.

[0022] This invention provides a rolling bearing, more specifically a self-aligning roller bearing. The rolling bearing according to embodiments of the invention is particularly suitable for applications requiring simultaneous bearing of large radial and axial loads, such as industrial machinery and wind turbines.

[0023] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a rolling bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG2 is an exploded schematic diagram of a rolling bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG3 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a rolling bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a rolling bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG1, the rolling bearing includes a first outer ring 10, a second outer ring 20, an inner ring 30, a first row of multiple rolling elements 40, and a second row of multiple rolling elements 50.

[0025] The first outer ring 10 includes a first inner raceway 11 with a spherical shape, and the second outer ring 20 includes a second inner raceway 21 with a spherical shape. The first outer ring 10 and the second outer ring 20 are spaced apart axially. Thus, the first outer ring 10 and the second outer ring 20 are independent components, a design that facilitates the installation and removal of the bearing.

[0026] The inner ring 30 includes a first outer raceway 31 and a second outer raceway 32 distributed circumferentially, and the first outer raceway 31 and the second outer raceway 32 are spaced apart axially.

[0027] A first row of multiple rolling elements 40 is radially disposed between a first inner raceway 11 and a first outer raceway 31, and a second row of multiple rolling elements 50 is radially disposed between a second inner raceway 21 and a second outer raceway 32. Thus, the rolling bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises two bearing rows. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rolling elements 40 and 50 can be spherical rollers or self-aligning rollers. However, the present invention is not limited to these, and other types of rolling elements can be selected according to specific application requirements.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the present invention, each rolling element in the first column of multiple rolling elements 40 has the same shape, and each rolling element in the second column of multiple rolling elements 50 has the same shape. In an exemplary embodiment, each rolling element in the first column of multiple rolling elements 40 and each rolling element in the second column of multiple rolling elements 50 have the same shape. By using rolling elements with the same shape in both columns, the production process can be simplified and production costs reduced; the assembly process can be made simpler and faster, reducing assembly errors and improving production efficiency; and due to the interchangeability of the rolling elements, maintenance convenience and equipment availability can be improved. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first and second columns of rolling elements can be designed differently according to the actual load conditions, such as adjusting the roller size, clearance, etc.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when viewed along an axial section, the center of curvature of the first inner raceway 11 coincides with the center of curvature of the second inner raceway 21. This allows the bearing to possess better self-aligning performance.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the invention, the radius of curvature of the first inner raceway 11 is smaller than that of the second inner raceway 21. Thus, the first and second inner raceways employ different radii of curvature, which optimizes the load distribution of the rolling elements between the two raceways and improves the bearing performance when simultaneously subjected to radial and axial loads. More specifically, the bearing row with the smaller radius of curvature can primarily bear radial forces, while the bearing row with the larger radius of curvature can primarily bear axial forces.

[0031] In an exemplary embodiment, the contact angle θ1 of the first inner raceway 11 ranges from 0 to -10 degrees. This design causes the first row of rolling elements 30, which mates with the first inner raceway 11, to primarily bear radial loads.

[0032] In an exemplary embodiment, the contact angle θ2 of the second inner raceway 21 ranges from 10 to 30 degrees. This larger contact angle design allows the second row of rolling elements 40, which mates with the second inner raceway 21, to withstand higher axial loads.

[0033] In some embodiments, the rolling bearing further includes a first cage (not shown) disposed between a first inner raceway 11 and a first outer raceway 31 for retaining a first row of multiple rolling elements 40. In some embodiments, the rolling bearing further includes a second cage (not shown) disposed between a second inner raceway 21 and a second outer raceway 32 for retaining a second row of multiple rolling elements 50. The materials of the first and second cages can be flexibly selected, for example, steel, brass, or cast iron can be used. More specifically, stamped steel cages, brass cages, or ductile iron cages can be selected to suit different application environments and requirements.

[0034] However, the invention is not limited to this; cages may also be omitted for the first row of multiple rolling elements 40 and / or the second row of multiple rolling elements 50. In some embodiments, the first row of multiple rolling elements 30 may be designed to be fully loaded, i.e., without a cage, to withstand greater radial loads. This design increases the radial load capacity of the bearing and is suitable for special high-load conditions.

[0035] In some embodiments, the first outer ring 10 and the second outer ring 20 are mounted within a bearing housing, and the inner ring 30 is mounted on a shaft rotatable about an axis. However, the invention is not limited thereto.

[0036] In some embodiments, the second bearing row containing the plurality of rolling elements 50 in the second row of the rolling bearing may also be preloaded. This can effectively improve structural rigidity and enhance the operating accuracy and reliability of the rolling bearing.

[0037] In some embodiments, the inner ring 30 further includes a first flange portion 33 extending radially outward, which is axially located between the first outer raceway 31 and the second outer raceway 32. In some embodiments, the inner ring 30 further includes a second flange portion 34 extending radially outward, such that the first row of multiple rolling elements 40 are arranged axially between the first flange portion 33 and the second flange portion 34. The flange portion can limit the axial displacement of the rolling elements, maintaining the stability of the rolling bearing operation. In addition, the flange can also enhance the axial load-carrying capacity of the rolling bearing.

[0038] The rolling bearing provided by this invention, through independently designed first and second outer rings and by giving the first and second inner raceways different radii of curvature and contact angles, can simultaneously withstand large radial and axial loads, and achieves better self-aligning performance and optimized load distribution, thereby improving operational accuracy and reliability. The rolling bearing according to embodiments of this invention is particularly suitable for applications requiring simultaneous bearing of large radial and axial loads, such as heavy machinery and wind turbines.

[0039] Although the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the constructions and methods of the above embodiments. Rather, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent configurations. Furthermore, while various elements and method steps of the disclosed invention have been shown in various exemplary combinations and constructions, other combinations including more or fewer elements or methods also fall within the scope of the invention.

[0040] List of reference numerals

[0041] 10. First outer ring;

[0042] 11. First inner raceway;

[0043] 20 Second outer ring;

[0044] 21. Second inner raceway;

[0045] 30 Inner circle;

[0046] 31. First outer raceway;

[0047] 32. Second outer raceway;

[0048] 33 First retaining edge;

[0049] 34 Second stop edge;

[0050] 40. Multiple scroll bodies in the first column;

[0051] 50. Multiple scroll bodies in the second column.

Claims

1. A rolling bearing, comprising: The first outer ring (10) includes a first inner raceway (11) having a spherical shape; The second outer ring (20) includes a second inner raceway (21) having a spherical shape, wherein the first outer ring (10) and the second outer ring (20) are spaced apart along the axial direction; The inner ring (30) includes a first outer raceway (31) and a second outer raceway (32) distributed circumferentially, wherein the first outer raceway (31) and the second outer raceway (32) are spaced apart axially; A first row of multiple rolling elements (40) are radially disposed between the first inner raceway (11) and the first outer raceway (31); and A second row of multiple rolling elements (50) are radially disposed between the second inner raceway (21) and the second outer raceway (32). When viewed along the axial section, the curvature center of the first inner raceway (11) coincides with the curvature center of the second inner raceway (21), and the curvature radius of the first inner raceway (11) is smaller than the curvature radius of the second inner raceway (21).

2. The rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein, The contact angle of the second inner raceway (21) is in the range of 10 degrees to 30 degrees.

3. The rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein, The contact angle of the first inner raceway (11) is in the range of 0 degrees to -10 degrees.

4. The rolling bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, Each of the first column of multiple rolling elements (40) has the same shape as each of the second column of multiple rolling elements (50).

5. The rolling bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The inner ring (30) also includes a first flange (33) extending radially outward, which is located axially between the first outer raceway (31) and the second outer raceway (32).

6. The rolling bearing according to claim 5, wherein, The inner ring (30) also includes a second flange (34) extending radially outward, wherein the first row of multiple rolling elements (40) are arranged axially between the first flange (33) and the second flange (34).

7. The rolling bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The first column of multiple rolling elements (40) is arranged in a fully loaded rolling manner.

8. The rolling bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: A first retainer, disposed between the first inner raceway (11) and the first outer raceway (31), is used to retain the first column of multiple rolling elements (40).

9. The rolling bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: A second retainer, disposed between the second inner raceway (21) and the second outer raceway (32), is used to retain the second row of multiple rolling elements (50).

10. The rolling bearing according to claim 8 or 9, wherein, The first cage and the second cage are made of steel, brass or cast iron.

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