Rolling Bearing Retainer With Embedded Metallic Core
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Solution Overview
Problem
Resin-made retainers for rolling bearings face issues with dimensional accuracy, insufficient strength, poor adhesion between resin and insert members, and limited shape versatility, leading to deformation under centrifugal forces and increased material costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of a core member embedded within a resin part, with support area exposure parts, allows for increased strength and adhesion, reduced resin material usage, and the ability to accommodate various retainer shapes, using a press-worked metallic core member and cost-effective resin materials like polyamide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If only resinous material is used for the retainer, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but dimensional accuracy deteriorates and surface sinks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines resinous material and metallic material in a composite structure where the resin forms the bulk of the retainer body while metallic insert members are embedded within it. This composite approach allows the retainer to benefit from the cost-effectiveness and molding flexibility of resin while gaining the dimensional stability and strength of metal, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing cost and dimensional accuracy.
2Ease of manufacture
If insert members are provided only on surface parts of the retainer, then manufacturing is simplified, but adhesion strength deteriorates and separation occurs under temperature and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention embeds metallic insert members within the resinous material rather than placing them only on the surface. The insert members are nested inside the retainer body, with portions exposed on the outer surface to engage rolling elements. This nesting approach increases the bonding interface area between metal and resin, significantly improving adhesion strength while preventing separation under temperature and vibration conditions.
3Ease of manufacture
If resin material proportion is increased, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but strength and rigidity deteriorate under centrifugal force
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by strategically placing metallic insert members at specific locations within the resinous retainer body where strength and rigidity are most needed to withstand centrifugal forces during high-speed rotation. The resin material constitutes the majority of the retainer for cost-effectiveness, while localized metallic reinforcements provide the necessary mechanical properties, optimizing both cost and performance.
4Strength
If high rigidity resin material like PEEK or PPS is used, then rigidity under centrifugal force is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using expensive high-rigidity resin materials like PEEK or PPS throughout the entire retainer, the invention employs a composite structure with inexpensive resin material as the base and metallic insert members for reinforcement. This approach achieves the required rigidity and strength under centrifugal force while dramatically reducing material costs compared to using high-performance resins exclusively.
Data Source
AI summary
A rolling bearing retainer which is formed by insert molding a resinous material together with a core member within a mold, in which the core member is embedded within a resin part made of the resinous material and a support area exposure part is provided at a plurality of locations of the resin part for exposing a support area of the core member supported within a cavity of the mold. The resin part includes a ring shaped body and a plurality of support column bodies extending axially from the ring shaped body and defining a pocket for retaining a rolling element therebetween, and the core member is provided with a ring shaped body embedded part and a plurality of support column body embedded parts extending from the ring shaped body embedded part.