DE102010037331A1 - Connecting element for connecting two joint ends with opposite abutting surfaces of rolling bearing cage, is mounted or pressed on one of joint ends in circumferential direction relative to rolling bearing cage - Google Patents

Abstract

The connecting element (1) is mounted or pressed on one of the joint ends (3) in the circumferential direction relative to the rolling bearing cage (2). A receptacle (5) is provided for a joint end and a contour of the receptacle is adapted to the abutting surface (8). The joint end is fixed in the receptacle in an axial direction or in a radial direction. An independent claim is also included for a rolling bearing cage with a cage bore.

Description

The invention relates to a connecting element for connecting two separate by a slot butt ends of a roller bearing cage, and a rolling bearing cage, which has at least one slot between two butt ends with opposite abutment surfaces.

Rolling bearings, which have a shared cage for receiving the rolling elements for assembly reasons, wherein the two cage parts are connected to each other via connecting members, are known. The publication DE 103 02 002 A1 relates to such a construction, wherein the cage halves are so firmly connected to each other that the forces acting on the cage halves centrifugal forces can be absorbed without causing contact between the cage and the outer bearing shell, whereby undesirable bearing friction arises.

A disadvantage of split rolling bearing cages with butt ends is that with non-uniform movement, such as a wave, it comes to a significant noise. Even a slight play a positive connection pulls the development of shock noise after. Another disadvantage of the split rolling bearing cages is that they have a significantly uneven pitch, since no rolling elements can be arranged on that part of the cage circumference, over which the connecting means extend.

An object of the invention is to improve the acoustic quality of bearings with split rolling bearing cages.

The object is solved by the subject matters of the independent claims. In the dependent claims preferred embodiments and advantageous developments are given.

The connecting element according to the invention serves for connecting a split roller bearing cage. The split roller bearing cage has at least one slot which separates two butt ends with opposing abutment surfaces. In general, the roller bearing cage is made in two parts, so it has two slots, with more than two slots can be provided for assembly reasons. The connecting element according to the invention can be plugged and / or pressed onto at least one of the butt ends in the circumferential direction of the bearing cage. The circumferential direction corresponds to a tangential direction on the outer periphery of the rolling bearing cage at the butt end, and is oriented perpendicular to the radial and axial directions defined by the rolling bearing retainer. Preferably, both separated by the slot butt ends in the connecting element can be inserted.

An advantage of the connecting element according to the invention is that when the connecting element is plugged or pressed in the circumferential direction, the connecting element at least partially surrounds the abutting abutment surfaces and thus reduces the noises resulting from abutting abutment surfaces. Furthermore, the butt ends are not held together by a fixed positive connection in the circumferential direction, but in the connecting element according to the invention in the circumferential direction "work", ie move independently in the connecting element to some extent, depending on how much game the fit between the butt ends and the connecting element. Another advantage of the connecting element according to the invention is that none of the cage window is required for the rolling elements at the separate butt ends for connection to the connecting element. The connecting element has a substantially smaller extent in the circumferential direction than positive connections which engage in the cage windows. Thus, a virtually uniform division of the rolling elements over the circumference of the roller bearing cage is made possible by the inventive design. The more even division improves both the acoustic quality of the bearing, as well as its life.

According to a preferred embodiment of the connecting element, at least one receptacle is provided for one of the butt ends, a contour of this receptacle being adapted to the abutment surface. Adapted in the sense of the invention means that the contour of the receptacle is formed equal to or congruent with the abutment surface, wherein a certain under- or oversize may be provided to ensure a more or less playful fit of the abutment end in the receptacle. In this embodiment, particularly large areas on the inner wall of the receptacle and at the butt end are in contact with each other, which contribute to a non-positive connection by friction. Preferably, the connecting element has two receptacles for receiving both butt ends. In particular, each butt end is positively fixed in the respective receptacle in the axial direction and / or in the radial direction. The axial and radial directions are in turn defined by the reference to the rolling bearing cage. Due to the axial Aussteckung the roller bearing cage a positive connection in the radial direction in a plugged in the circumferential direction connecting element is basically given. The positive connection in the axial direction arises, for example, in a rolling bearing cage with M-profile. The contour of the impact surface is M-shaped in this case, as well as the recordings of the connecting element. With the connecting element according to such an embodiment, the divided roller bearing cage behaves in the axial direction advantageously as a one-piece cage.

The person skilled in the art recognizes that further embodiments of the connecting element according to the invention are conceivable for other cage contours, which are likewise covered by the inventive concept. For example, a U-shaped contour of the butt ends is conceivable, or even a T-shaped contour. A further variant consists in that a flat cage, in particular a sheet metal cage, has a bead or gap pressed in in the tangential direction, which protrudes in the connecting piece as a corresponding counterpart in the form of a nose.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the connecting element, a spacer is provided, wherein the spacer is arranged in an installed state of the connecting element between the opposing abutment surfaces. Particularly preferably, the spacer prevents contact of the abutting surfaces with each other. With this embodiment, a particularly effective reduction of the noise of a bearing is possible. If the spacer or the entire connecting element is made of an elastic material, for example made of a plastic, can be advantageously almost completely avoid impact noise. The connecting element is in particular provided in one piece and can be produced particularly easily and inexpensively as a plastic molded part by means of a spraying and / or casting method.

Furthermore Favor is a thickness of the spacer for adjusting a cage running clearance of the rolling bearing cage variable. By overcompensation of the impact play by an excessive thickness of the spacer, it is for example possible to perform a local game reduction of up to 4 ‰ relative to the cage outer diameter, which also has a favorable effect on the bearing acoustics.

Another subject of the invention relates to a roller bearing cage, which has at least one slot between two ends with opposite abutment surfaces, wherein a connecting element is provided which can be plugged and / or pressed in the circumferential direction on at least one of the butt ends. In particular, it is the above-described connecting element according to the invention. Further preferably, both butt ends in the connecting element can be inserted, or the connecting element can be plugged onto both butt ends, which is synonymous. By the phrase "attachable and / or aufpressbar" is expressed that in the context of the invention of a relatively loose fit of the connecting element on the butt end to a press fit all possibilities should be included. In particular, the connecting element is fitted so tightly that the roller bearing cage is held without a outer bearing shell on a shaft, so that the assembly is simplified. The butt end is preferably positively connected to the connecting element in the circumferential direction. Such a frictional connection generates significantly less noise than a generally slightly play-related, positive connection. An additional positive connection in the circumferential direction between the butt end and the connecting element is not necessary in the context of the invention, but not excluded. According to a preferred embodiment, between the butt end and the connecting element in the circumferential direction, a positive connection in the form of a latching connection. For this purpose, in particular on the inner walls of the receptacles of the connecting element protruding latching or spring elements are provided, which can engage with a groove on the outside of the butt end.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the roller bearing cage is provided that the connecting element protrudes into a cage hole of the rolling bearing cage. This has the advantage that, in the case of a deformation of the cage in the region of the butt ends, there is no contact with the inner ring or the shaft journal, since advantageously only the connecting piece can touch the shaft. When installed, the connector has a sufficient distance to the shaft journal, so that it is not jammed.

A preferred use of the rolling bearing cage according to the invention or the connecting element according to the invention is the roller bearing of a crankshaft main bearing. A rolling bearing is used in internal combustion engines with crankshafts to reduce consumption.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment, as shown in the drawings. The embodiments are merely exemplary and do not limit the general inventive concept.

Show it:

1 a two-part rolling bearing cage according to the invention with two connecting elements according to the invention in a separate state in a perspective view;

2 the rolling bearing cage according to 1 in an assembled state;

3 the connecting element according to the invention in a perspective detail view;

4 a side view of the rolling bearing cage according to 2 ;

5 a sectional view of a section in through the line AA in 4 represented level.

An inventive rolling bearing cage 2 consists according to the in 1 shown embodiment of two equal bearing halves, which by means of two connecting elements 1 can be connected to each other. These are free butt ends 3 in the circumferential direction U of the rolling bearing cage 2 in the connecting element 1 plugged or pressed. The wording that the fastener 1 in the circumferential direction U of the bearing cage 2 on the butt ends 3 can be plugged or pressed, is synonymous. The butt ends 3 have opposite abutting surfaces 8th , here in M-form, on which in appropriate shots 5 the connecting elements 1 which is subsequently related to the 3 will be discussed in more detail. On spacers 4 , which is a contact of the abutment surfaces 8th prevent each other is also discussed in more detail below.

The circumferential direction U is a tangential direction at the respective location on the circumference of the assembled roller bearing cage 2 defined as in 2 shown. An axial direction V is through the longitudinal axis of the roller bearing cage 2 defined, which is aligned orthogonal to the circumferential direction U, visible in 4 , A radial direction W is also always aligned orthogonal to the axial direction V and orthogonal to the associated circumferential direction U, the latter with respect to a certain location on the circumference of the rolling bearing cage 2 , compare 5 ,

In the 2 is the rolling bearing cage according to 1 shown in an assembled state, wherein it can be seen that the two halves of the rolling bearing cage 2 Do not touch at any point, as the spacer 4 the connecting elements 1 is arranged between the not visible here abutment surfaces. In the axial (V) and in the radial (W) direction there is advantageously a positive connection between the connecting elements 1 and the cage halves of the rolling bearing cage 2 , In a preassembled state is a falling apart of the rolling bearing cage 2 by a frictional fit of the butt ends 3 in the fasteners 1 guaranteed.

In the 3 is the connecting element according to the invention 1 shown individually. A recording 5 , which is at least partially executed as a groove, has a contour which is substantially equal, ie congruent, to the abutment surfaces 8th is. The entire impact surface 8th bumps against the spacer 4 , so touching the opposing abutment surfaces 8th prevents each other. The connecting element according to the invention can advantageously be produced in a particularly noise-absorbing and cost-effective manner as a plastic molded part by means of a spraying and / or casting method.

Like in the 4 is recognizable, determines a thickness of the spacer 4 the shock game 10 between the cage halves of the rolling bearing cage 2 , As a result, the cage clearance can also be advantageously influenced. The connecting element 1 allows the cage clearance in the bearing outer ring by overcompensation of the shock play 10 to influence. This makes it possible to reduce the local play by up to 4 ‰ in relation to an outside diameter 9 (compare 5 ) of the rolling bearing cage 2 to perform, which also has a favorable effect on the Lagerakustik.

In the 5 is a cross section in a plane corresponding to the line AA 4 shown. The connecting elements 1 Obviously have a comparatively small extent in the circumferential direction of the roller bearing cage 2 on, so that a comparatively uniform role division over the circumference of the rolling bearing cage 2 is possible. The connecting elements 1 can in the usually outwardly bearing bearing cage 2 protrude into the cage hole whose inner diameter 7 is shown with an arrow. This has the advantage that at a deformation of the rolling bearing cage 2 in the area of the butt ends 3 does not come to a contact with the inner ring or shaft journal, not shown, since only the connecting element 1 the wave touches. The distance of the connecting element 1 to the shaft journal is to be chosen so that it is not jammed in the unloaded case in the assembled state.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

connecting element

2

Rolling bearing cage

3

butt ends

4

spacer

5

admission

7

Inner diameter, cage hole

8th

abutting surfaces

9

outer diameter

10

End gap

U

Circumferential direction, tangential direction

V

Axial direction

W

Radial direction

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10302002 A1 [0002]

Claims (10)

Connecting element ( 1 ) for connecting two butts separated by a slot ( 3 ) with opposing abutment surfaces ( 8th ) of a roller bearing cage ( 2 ), characterized in that the connecting element ( 1 ) in the circumferential direction with respect to the roller bearing cage ( 2 ) on at least one of the butt ends ( 3 ) is attachable and / or aufpressbar. Connecting element according to claim 1, characterized by at least one receptacle ( 5 ) for a butt end ( 3 ), wherein a contour of the recording ( 5 ) of the impact surface ( 8th ) is adjusted. Connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one receptacle ( 5 ) for a butt end ( 3 ), the butt end ( 3 ) in the recording ( 5 ) is positively fixed in the axial direction and / or in the radial direction. Connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a spacer ( 4 ), wherein the spacer in an installed state of the connecting element ( 1 ) between the opposing abutment surfaces ( 8th ) is arranged. Connecting element according to claim 4, characterized in that the spacer ( 4 ) a contact of the abutting surfaces ( 8th ) prevented each other. Connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a thickness ( 10 ) of the spacer ( 4 ) for adapting a cage clearance of the roller bearing cage ( 2 ) is variable. Rolling bearing cage ( 2 ), which has at least one slot between two butt ends ( 3 ) with opposing abutment surfaces ( 8th ), characterized by a connecting element ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting element in the circumferential direction on at least one of the butt ends ( 3 ) can be plugged. Rolling bearing cage according to claim 7, characterized in that the butt end ( 3 ) with the connecting element ( 1 ) is connected at least non-positively in the circumferential direction. Rolling bearing cage according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the butt end with the connecting element ( 1 ) is positively connected in the circumferential direction by a latching connection. Rolling bearing cage according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the connecting element ( 1 ) in a cage bore ( 7 ) of the roller bearing cage ( 2 ) protrudes.

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