DE102013009113A1 - Rolling bearing assembly device for use in steering column of motor car, has case comprising bearing flange that extends radially from axial-centered portion to outside device and axially over entire circumference against biasing part - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a series of rolling elements (4) placed between an outer ring (2) and an inner ring (3). A case (6) i.e. tolerance ring, is mounted in a hole of the inner ring. A resilient biasing part is in direct contact with the inner ring. The case comprises a radial bearing flange (6b) that extends radially from an axial-centered portion (6a) to an outside of the device and axially over an entire circumference against the resilient biasing part. An axial holding unit is placed axially over an entire circumference against the radial bearing flange. An independent claim is also included for a steering column.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of rolling bearing mounting devices, in particular of rolling bearing assemblies, which are used in motor vehicle steering columns.

Steering columns generally have a shaft, one end of which is fixed to a steering wheel which drives it and which is rotated by the driver of the vehicle, and the other end of which is attached to mechanical components whose object is to prevent the Perform angular positioning of the wheels of the vehicle. The steering column shaft is mounted so that it can rotate in a tubular housing via two rolling bearing mounting devices, each having a rolling bearing, generally an angular ball bearing, which are mounted against each other employed.

The rolling bearing mounting generally has an inner ring, an outer ring, each ring being provided with a race and a series of rolling elements arranged between the two races of the rings. The rolling bearing assembly is mounted in the housing via its outer ring and on the shaft via a sleeve or ring known as a tolerance ring, which allows it to compensate for any geometric defects that may exist between these two components. The tolerance ring allows the rolling bearing assembly to be easily mounted on the shaft without any initial clamping effect.

Preferably, the assembly works without clearance due to an axial bias applied to the tolerance rings of an axially elastic member.

Therefore, the internal space within the rolling bearings is occupied and constant contact between the rings and the rolling elements of the rolling bearing assembly is ensured.

In this context, one can look at the document EP 1 184 583 which discloses a rolling bearing mounting apparatus having an inner ring, an outer ring, a series of rolling elements interposed between the rings, a tolerance ring providing the connection between the shaft and the inner ring and an axially biased elastic member. The elastic member is a disc having three folds, each axially against the tolerance ring, and has attachment tabs for securing the inner ring.

However, such a rolling bearing mounting device is complex to use and does not allow a good distribution of the axial preload on the inner ring.

You can also access the document WO 01/69098 which, in a first embodiment, describes a rolling bearing assembly comprising an inner ring, an outer ring, a series of rolling elements disposed between the rings, a tolerance ring providing the connection between the shaft and the inner ring, a damping element and a wave washer, which is arranged axially between a radial surface of the tolerance ring and the damping element has. The wave washer allows the application of an axial bias. This document describes another embodiment in which the damping member has a metallic insert and a plurality of nails directed towards the radial surface of the tolerance ring so that the wave washer can be omitted.

However, such rolling bearing mounting devices have a plurality of components and a damping element which is complicated to produce. Further, since the axial dimension of the damping member exceeds the axial dimension of the tolerance ring, such a rolling bearing mounting device is not sufficiently compact in the axial direction. Finally, the distribution of the axial preload over the inner ring does not occur over the entire circumference of the inner ring.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to remedy these disadvantages.

More specifically, the present invention seeks to provide a rolling bearing mounting apparatus which is easy to manufacture, assemble, has a small volume, is economical, and provides a good distribution of axial preload over the inner ring.

An object of the invention is a rolling bearing mounting device having an outer ring, an inner ring, a series of rolling elements, which is arranged between the outer ring and the inner ring, a sleeve which is mounted in the bore of the inner ring, wherein the sleeve has an annular axial Centering part and an annular radial bearing flange, which extends radially from the annular axial centering part to the outside of the device, and having a resiliently biased member which is capable of transmitting an axial bias to the inner ring.

The resilient biasing member is mounted in direct contact with the annular axial centering member and with the inner ring such that it can abut axially against the radial bearing flange over its entire circumference.

The annular shape of the radial bearing flange makes it possible to obtain uninterrupted pressure in the circumferential direction between the sleeve and the biasing member, that is, over the entire circumference of the radial bearing flange, which is continuously against the biasing member, which promotes a good distribution of bias. In addition, the annular shape of the centering member allows uniform radial creep of the biasing member to be realized, which also promotes good distribution of preload.

The rolling bearing mounting device has an axial holding means which abuts axially over its entire circumference against the radial bearing flange of the sleeve. The axial holding means is therefore continuous axially in the circumferential direction. The axial stress applied to the sleeve and therefore to the inner ring via the resilient biasing element is therefore constant.

Due to the structure of the rolling bearing mounting apparatus, the inner ring is not axially held by the sleeve, and this means that the elastic biasing member in the initial state is not compressed between the inner ring and the radial flange of the sleeve. The inner ring is therefore not exposed to any internal bias in the initial state when assembling the rolling bearing assembly.

It is necessary to apply an axial external load via the axial holding means to the radial flange of the sleeve in order to compress the resilient biasing member between the radial flange and the inner ring and therefore axially bias the rolling bearing assembly. The purpose of the axial holding means is, firstly, to hold the rolling bearing assembly axially on the shaft and, second, to apply and maintain an axial bias to the rolling bearing assembly via the radial flange and resilient biasing member.

The sleeve can be made of a single piece.

Advantageously, both the inner ring and the outer ring are made of a single piece.

In one embodiment, the resilient biasing member has a ring shape having an internal bore in direct contact with the outer cylindrical surface of the centering portion of the sleeve.

In one embodiment, the resilient biasing element has a straight cross-section with a circular or parallelepipedic, for example, square or rectangular shape.

The resilient biasing member may be made of a plastic, such as an elastomeric material.

Advantageously, a groove is formed on the outer cylindrical surface of the centering member, the shape of this groove corresponding to the shape of the resilient biasing member.

The rolling bearing mounting apparatus may include a cage for maintaining the circumferential spacing of the rolling elements having a small diameter axial annular portion extending beyond the axial ends of the inner ring and provided with a radial projection extending to the sleeve and interacts with her.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a steering column comprising a tubular housing, a shaft coaxial with the housing, and at least one rolling bearing mounting device according to any one of the preceding claims, mounted between the housing and the shaft.

Advantageously, the axial retention means comprises a plurality of tabs substantially oblique to the shaft and cooperating with the shaft to axially brace the axial support means along the shaft in the direction opposite to the direction in which it is braced against the shaft was first fitted to prevent.

Advantageously, the outer ring is held axially on the housing either by a radial edge of the outer ring or by a shoulder of the housing.

The present invention will be better understood from a reading of the description of a number of embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example only, and illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

1 is an axial sectional view of the rolling bearing mounting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;

2 is a perspective view in cross section of the device of 1 .

3 is an axial sectional view of a rolling bearing mounting apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention,

4 is the roller bearing assembly after 1 , placed under axial prestress by an axial holding means according to a first embodiment,

5 is the roller bearing assembly after 1 , placed under axial prestress by an axial holding means according to a second embodiment,

6 is the roller bearing assembly after 3 placed under axial prestress by the axial holding means according to a first embodiment,

The rolling bearing mounting device with the axial axis X, in their entirety in the 1 to 6 the reference number 1 is intended to be mounted in a motor vehicle steering column, in particular between a tubular housing 14 having a bore, and a rotary shaft 15 connected to the tubular housing 14 is coaxial.

As in the 1 and 2 illustrates, the rolling bearing mounting device 1 an outer ring 2 , an inner ring 3 , a series of rolling elements 4 such as bullets, a cage 5 for maintaining a uniform circumferential spacing of the rolling elements 4 , and a sleeve 6 or a tolerance ring in the inner ring 3 is mounted on.

The outer ring 2 , which is made as a single part, has an annular part 2a , an axial part 2 B and a radial edge 2c on. The axial cylindrical part 2 B is between the annular part 2a and the radial edge 2c set up. The annular part 2a has an inner surface which is concave in axial section about a raceway 2d for the rolling elements 4 to build. The radial edge 2c is radially outside the outside of the axial part 2 B directed, in particular to the tubular housing 14 , The radial edge 2c therefore forms an axial holding means for holding the outer ring 3 on the tubular housing 14 , The annular part 2a is radial to the inside of the axial part 2 B directed.

The inner race 3 , which is made as a single part, has an annular part 3a and an axial cylindrical part 3b on. The annular part 3a forms on its outer surface, which is concave in axial section, a raceway 3c for the rolling elements 4 , The race 2d is set up on one side, and the raceway 3c is on the other side of a radial plane passing through the middle of the rolling elements 4 goes through, set up.

The rolling bearing mounting device 1 provides angular contact for the rolling elements 4 and therefore gives the ability to transmit axial load in one direction and radial load. The outer ring 2 and the inner ring 3 can be made of a part of a tube or a piece of sheet metal, for example by cutting and pressing. The strength of the outer ring 2 and the inner ring 3 can be essentially constant. The inner ring 3 is on the sleeve 6 mounted with sliding contact and is axially from the sleeve 6 not kept. The cage 5 can be made of a plastic, for example of polyamide, possibly reinforced with a mineral filler. The cage 5 has an axial annular part 5a with a small diameter, between the free end of the annular part 2a of the outer ring 2 and an outer surface of the axial part 3b of the inner ring 3 goes through, and an axial annular part 5b with large diameter, which is arranged on the opposite side, in other words between the free end of the annular part 3a of the inner ring 3 and a bore of the axial part 2 B of the outer ring 2 passes. As illustrated, the axial annular portion extends 5a over the axial ends of the inner ring 3 out.

The cage 5 also has an oblique central part (not shown) having one end with the axial annular part 5a and with the other end with the part 5b connected and in which the pockets 5c the rolling elements 4 are formed.

The axial annular part 5a small diameter is with a radial projection 5d provided, which is to the sleeve 6 extends and is destined to the sleeve 6 for the axial retention of the rolling bearing on the sleeve 6 co.

The sleeve 6 has an annular axial centering part 6a on that in the bore of the inner ring 3 is set up a radial bearing flange 6b extending from one end of the axial centering part 6a on the same side outwards as the annular axial part 5b with large diameter of the cage 5 , and a variety of hooks 6c extending radially from one end of the axial centering part 6a , which is the opposite end to the radial bearing flange 6b is to extend abroad. The hooks 6c , the circumferentially evenly over the circumference of the sleeve 6 are distributed in an uninterrupted manner, are designed to work with the radial projection 5d of the cage 5 co. The sleeve 6 is made of a single piece.

The rolling bearing mounting device 1 also has an elastic biasing element 10 on top of the sleeve 6 is separated and capable of applying an axial bias voltage to the inner ring 3 is transmitted. In the in the 1 and 2 Illustrated example has the elastic element 10 a ring shape having a straight cross section with a substantially circular shape. The elastic element 10 is in direct contact with the outer cylindrical surface (no reference numeral) of the annular axial centering part 6a the sleeve 6 mounted and lies axially against the radial bearing flange 6b at. The outside diameter of the elastic ring 10 is substantially the same as the diameter of the outer cylindrical surface 6d of the radial flange 6b the sleeve 6 , The inside diameter of the elastic ring 10 is substantially the same as the diameter of the outer cylindrical surface of the axial centering part 6a the sleeve 6 , The elastic element 10 is constantly in the circumferential direction against a radial surface of the radial bearing flange 6b that is, over the entire circumference of the radial bearing flange 6b at.

An axial distance (without reference numeral) remains between the end 3d of the axial cylindrical part 3b and the hook 6c the sleeve 6 so that the inner ring 3 not axially from the sleeve 6 is held. The elastic biasing element 10 is not between the inner ring 3 and the radial flange 6b the sleeve 6 compressed, and that means the inner ring 3 not an internal bias during an initial step of assembling the rolling bearing assembly on the shaft, which in the 1 and 2 illustrates is subject.

The elastic element 10 consists of a plastic or an elastomeric material, such as rubber.

The rolling bearing assembly 1 gets axially on the sleeve 6 from the radial projection 5d of the cage 5 and on the tubular housing 14 through the radial edge 2c of the outer ring 2 held. An optional variant could be an outer ring 2 to provide an annular part 2a and an axial part 2 B without a radial edge. For this purpose, the tubular housing could 14 a shoulder (not shown) which includes means for axially holding the end of the axial part 2 B on the outer ring he 2 forms. As a variant, the axial part 2 B of the outer ring 2 as a press fit in the tubular housing 14 be mounted.

As a variant, a groove may be formed on the outer cylindrical surface of the axial centering part 6a be provided whose shape with the shape of the annular elastic element 10 matches.

In the 3 illustrated embodiment, in which the same elements carry the same reference numerals, differs from the embodiment of 1 and 2 only in terms of the shape of the elastic biasing element.

As in 3 illustrates, the rolling bearing mounting device 1 an elastic biasing element 11 with a ring shape, which has a straight cross-section with a parallelepipedic shape. The biasing element 11 that from the sleeve 6 is separated, has an inner cylindrical axial surface 11a in contact with the outer cylindrical axial surface (not numbered) of the annular axial centering part 6a the sleeve 6 , a first radial surface 11b which are essentially at the inner axial surface 6a is perpendicular, the axially directly against the radial bearing flange 6b rests, and a sloping surface 11c in direct contact with the outer surface (not numbered) of the annular member 3a of the inner ring 3 on. As illustrated, the elastic element has 11 an outer cylindrical axial surface 11d on, which is one end of the first radial surface 11b with one end of the oblique part 11c connects, and a second radial surface 11e which has one end of the internal cylindrical surface 11a with one end of the oblique part 11c connects, up. An alternative variant could be to provide a triangular shape with its oblique part 11c directly to one end of the first radial surface 11b and with one end of the inner cylindrical axial surface 11a would be connected.

The outside diameter of the elastic element 11 is substantially the same as the diameter of the outer cylindrical surface 6d of the radial flange 6b the sleeve 6 , The inside diameter of the internal cylindrical surface 11a of the elastic element 11 is substantially the same as the diameter of the outer cylindrical surface of the axial centering part 6a the sleeve 6 , The elastic element 11 , this in 3 is constantly in the circumferential direction against a radial surface of the radial bearing flange 6b that is, over the entire circumference of the radial bearing flange 6b at.

The embodiments included in the 4 to 6 are illustrated in which the same elements bear the same reference numerals describe how the device 1 interacts with a safety disc.

As in the 4 to 6 illustrates, is the rolling bearing mounting device 1 into the bore of a housing 14 and on a wave 15 coaxial with the housing 14 assembled. The rolling bearing mounting device 1 has an axial holding means 16 or a lock washer intended for this purpose is to be mounted axially against the radial flange 6b the sleeve 6 to lie so that, first, the rolling bearing mounting axially on the shaft 15 and secondly, an axial preload on the rolling bearing assembly via the radial flange 6b and the elastic biasing element is applied and maintained.

The 4 and 5 illustrate two embodiments of an axial holding means. It should be noted, however, that any axial retention means capable of providing axial tension to the radial flange 6b the sleeve 6 can be used, that is, any means that has a part in contact with the radial flange 6b the sleeve 6 and means for holding on the shaft 15 having.

The axial holding means 16 or the lock washer which is in 4 is illustrated has an annular axial part 16a on, which is a means for axially holding the sleeve 6 on the wave 15 forms, and a radial part 16b that is different from the axial part 16a inward, especially to the wave 15 extends. The radial part 6b is axial over its entire circumference against a first lateral surface 6e the sleeve 6 at. The first side surface 6e is the surface of the radial flange 6b on the side opposite to a second side surface 6f of the radial flange 6b in direct axial contact with the resilient biasing element 10 is. The radial part 16b has at its end a plurality of substantially oblique flaps 16c leading to the wave 15 directed and intended to flex elastically when the lock washer 16 up, the wave 15 is fitted, and by bracing against the shaft any axial movement of the lock washer 16 along the wave 15 in the direction opposite to the direction in which it was fitted.

It is necessary to have an external axial load via the axial holding means 16 to the radial flange 6b the sleeve 6 to apply to the elastic biasing element 10 between the radial flange 6b and the inner ring 3 to compress and therefore preload the rolling bearing assembly axially.

Thanks to the radial part 16b the elastic holding means 16 in contact over the entire circumference of the radial flange 6b the sleeve 6 , is the axial tension applied to the sleeve 6 is created, constant. Such a holding means 16 is also inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install. Fasteners may also be between the axial retention means 16 and the sleeve 6 be provided to the axial holding of the device 1 to amplify on the shaft.

The axial holding means 18 or the lock washer which is in 5 is illustrated has an annular concave portion 18a on, which has a part (without reference numeral), the axially over its entire circumference against a first lateral surface 6e of the radial flange 6b the sleeve, the opposite side to the second side surface 6f in direct axial contact with the resilient biasing element 10 is, is present. The concave part 18a has at its end a plurality of substantially oblique flaps 18b leading to the wave 15 directed and intended to flex elastically when the lock washer 18 on the wave 15 is fitted, and by bracing against the shaft any axial movement of the lock washer 18 along the wave 15 in the direction opposite to the direction in which it was fitted.

The rolling bearing assembly, which in 6 is illustrated has an axial retaining means 18 that with the axial holding means 18 , this in 5 is identical to.

It should be noted that the safety glass 16 , in the 4 is illustrated as a variant also in the embodiment of 3 can be used.

Thanks to the invention, the axial bias is distributed uniformly over the inner ring.

In addition, such resilient biasing elements are easy to manufacture and fit on the sleeve.

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

• EP 1184583 [0006]
• WO 01/69098 [0008]

Claims (13)

Rolling bearing mounting device, which has an outer ring ( 2 ), an inner ring ( 3 ), a series of rolling elements ( 4 ), which between the outer ring and the inner ring ( 2 . 3 ), a sleeve ( 6 ) located in the bore of the inner ring ( 3 ) is mounted, and an elastic biasing element ( 10 . 11 ) having an axial bias to the inner ring ( 3 ), wherein the elastic biasing element ( 10 . 11 ) in direct contact with the inner ring ( 3 ) and is capable of having an annular axial centering part ( 6a ) of the sleeve ( 6 ) and a radial bearing flange ( 6b ) of the sleeve ( 6 ) extending radially from the axial centering part ( 6a ) to the outside of the device ( 1 ) and axially over its entire circumference against the resilient biasing member ( 10 . 11 ), characterized in that it has an axial holding means ( 16 . 18 ), which axially over its entire circumference against the radial bearing flange ( 6b ) of the sleeve ( 6 ) is present. Rolling bearing mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the axial retaining means ( 16 ) an axial part ( 16a ) having an axial holding means for the sleeve ( 6 ) and a radial part ( 16b ) extending axially from the axial part ( 16a ) extends to the inside and axially against the radial bearing flange ( 6b ) is present. Rolling bearing mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the axial retaining means ( 18 ) a concave part ( 18a ) which axially against the radial bearing flange ( 6b ) is present. Rolling bearing mounting device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve ( 6 ) is made of a single part. Rolling bearing mounting device according to one of the preceding claims, in which both the inner ring and the outer ring ( 2 . 3 ) is made of a single part. Rolling bearing mounting device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic biasing element ( 10 . 11 ) has an annular shape having an inner bore in direct contact with the outer cylindrical surface of the centering part ( 6a ) of the sleeve ( 6 ) having. Rolling bearing mounting device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic biasing element ( 10 . 11 ) has a straight cross-section in circular or parallelepiped shape. Rolling bearing mounting device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic biasing element ( 10 . 11 ), is made of a synthetic material, preferably of an elastomeric material. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which a groove is made on the outer cylindrical surface of the centering part, the shape of this groove being in the shape of the resilient biasing element ( 10 ) matches. Rolling bearing mounting device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a cage ( 5 ) for maintaining the circumferential spacing of the rolling elements ( 4 ) having an axial annular portion ( 5a ) has a small diameter, which extends over the axial ends of the inner ring ( 3 ) and with a radial projection ( 5d ) facing the sleeve ( 6 ) and interacts with it. Steering column, which is a tubular housing ( 14 ), a wave ( 15 ) connected to the housing ( 14 ) is coaxial, and at least one rolling bearing mounting device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, which is located between the housing ( 14 ) and the wave ( 15 ) is mounted. Steering column according to Claim 11, in which the axial holding means ( 16 . 18 ) a plurality of tabs ( 16c . 18b ) substantially oblique to the shaft ( 15 ) and with the wave ( 15 ) cooperate. Steering column according to Claim 11 or 12, in which the outer ring ( 2 ) axially on the housing ( 14 ) is held.

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