DE102015206223B4 - roller bearing cage - Google Patents

Abstract

Rolling bearing cage (1) which forms an annular structure in which a number of receiving pockets (2) for rolling elements are incorporated, the rolling bearing cage (1) comprising a strip-shaped material section (3) made of sheet metal which is shaped into a ring (4), a retaining ring (7, 8) being arranged in at least one axial end area (5, 6) of the ring (4), the ring (4) having a ring profile in at least one of its axial end areas (5, 6) along its circumference (9, 10), the at least one retaining ring (7, 8) having a retaining ring profile (11, 12) along its circumference, and the ring profile (9, 10) and the retaining ring profile (11, 12 ) are designed congruently in such a way that the ring profile (9, 10) and the retaining ring profile (11, 12) engage in one another in a complementary manner, so that the strip-shaped material section (3) is held in its position formed into the ring (4), the ring profile (9, 10) being designed as radially continuous recesses and the retaining ring profile (11, 12) as radially extending projections which are complementary to the radially continuous recesses; characterized in that the ring profile (9, 10) and the retaining ring profile (11, 12) are shaped in such a way that in the radial direction (r) and in the axial direction (a) of the roller bearing cage (1) there is an undercut between the ring profile (9, 10) and the retaining ring - Profiling (11, 12) consists.

Description

The invention relates to a roller bearing cage which forms an annular structure in which a number of receiving pockets for rolling elements are machined.

Roller bearing cages of this type are in the prior art, for example DE 79 35 205 U1 , EP 0 033 102 A1 , DE 359 463 A or U.S. 1,833,085 A , well known.

In the case of small quantities and very large cages, the production of the same is very expensive and time-consuming since—measured against the quantities—very high tool costs arise. In addition, the use of sheet metal is very high compared to the weight of the finished cage, since a sheet metal blank or rolled ring blanks are used as the starting shape.

In most cases, the procurement of sheet metal material requires a certain minimum order quantity from a cut size of more than 1.5 m, which leads to the inefficiency of cage production. In addition to the high costs, correspondingly long delivery times for large forming tools must also be accepted.

There are only a few manufacturers who can produce very large cages (outer diameter of more than 1.5 m) from a sheet metal cage blank by flow-forming.

Another problem is the sheet metal thickness, since from a sheet metal thickness of approx. 12 mm the receiving pockets can no longer be produced by laser cutting and the weight of the pressed pot blank sometimes exceeds the value that can be processed on the rotary indexing tables required for laser processing. Water jet cutting is often not possible either, since a pot blank is difficult to handle in a water jet system and additional impact protection is necessary.

Furthermore, there are hardly any presses with which receiving pockets can be punched into a cage with an outer diameter of more than 1.2 m.

For the reasons mentioned, cages with large diameters are usually made from solid, i. H. by turning and milling operations on a rolled ring blank. This type of production is very expensive and requires a considerable amount of material.

It is therefore only possible to produce cages up to a sheet thickness of approx. 10 mm and an outer diameter of approx. 1.2 m by flow-forming with subsequent punching and embossing of the pockets. Alternatively, the pockets can be made by laser cutting. So far, however, larger cages can only be machined from solid material. Alternatively, the design of the pin cage can be used if the application allows it.

In the light of the above problems, the present invention is therefore based on the object of designing a generic roller bearing cage in such a way that it is possible to produce it inexpensively even with a very large outside diameter.

The solution to this problem by the invention is characterized in that
that the roller bearing cage comprises a strip-shaped material section made of sheet metal, which is shaped into a ring,
wherein a retaining ring is arranged in at least one axial end area of the ring,
wherein the ring has a ring profile in at least one of its axial end areas along its circumference,
wherein the at least one retaining ring has a retaining ring profile along its circumference, and
wherein the ring profiling and the retaining ring profiling are designed congruently in such a way that the ring profiling and the retaining ring profiling engage in one another in a complementary manner, so that the strip-shaped material section is held in its ring-shaped position,
the ring profiling as radially continuous recesses (9, 10) and the retaining ring profiling (11, 12) as the radially continuous
Complementary, radially extending projections (11, 12) are formed in the recesses, and
wherein the ring profile (9, 10) and the retaining ring profile (11, 12) are shaped in such a way that in the radial direction (r) and in the axial direction (a) of the roller bearing cage (1) there is an undercut between the ring profile (9, 10) and the retaining ring profile (11, 12).

A retaining ring is preferably arranged in each of the two axial end regions of the ring.

The ring profiling preferably consists of a number of equidistantly arranged recesses, the retaining ring profiling consisting of a number of equidistantly arranged projections.

As mentioned above, the ring profile and the retaining ring profile are formed in such a way that there is an undercut between the ring profile and the retaining ring profile in (at least one) radial direction of the roller bearing cage. Analogously, it is provided that the ring profiling and the retaining ring profiling are formed so that in axial There is an undercut between the ring profile and the retaining ring profile in the direction of the roller bearing cage. This configuration creates a practically self-retaining unit, ie the retaining rings can no longer easily become detached from the ring.

The strip-shaped material section consists of metal, in particular sheet metal.

The strip-shaped material section can also consist of several segments which together form the ring. In this way, even very large cages can be assembled from material sections that are easy to manufacture.

The strip-shaped material section is preferably provided with an end profile in each of its end regions, with the two end profiles being configured congruently with one another and being able to be assembled in a complementary manner.

The proposed roller bearing cage is particularly preferably used as a tapered roller bearing cage or as a cylindrical roller bearing cage.

It preferably has an outer diameter of at least 1000 mm, preferably at least 2000 mm.

Sheets or sheet metal segments according to the present invention can easily be produced from sheets or coils by laser or water jet cutting—alternatively also by punching nipples or milling. The use of materials is comparatively low. There are almost no tool costs. The winding of the cones (in particular in the case of tapered roller bearing cages)—that is, the shaping of the strip-shaped material section into a ring—can be done with conventional roll-bending devices.

Due to the unwinding of the cage shell (i.e. through the strip-shaped material section), the sheet metal width is less than 1.5 m in most cases. This means that minimum order quantities (usually 25 t) are no longer necessary. Such cages can thus be manufactured very quickly and inexpensively, since large tools with long delivery times are not required.

The invention thus makes it possible to economically produce even very large cages with low tool costs and material requirements.

A technical advantage is also the possibility of installing the cages without expensive assembly devices (retracting bell), since the open cone (particularly in a segmented design) can be assembled and closed from the outside via the rollers. It is also generally possible with the proposed embodiment to dismantle the cage again without destroying it.

• 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Wälzlagerkäfigs eines Kegelrollenlagers,
• 2 die Draufsicht auf den Käfig gemäß 1,
• 3 die Einzelheit „A“ gemäß 2,
• 4 den Schnitt A-A gemäß 2,
• 5 die Draufsicht auf einen ebenen streifenförmigen Materialabschnitt, aus dem ein Ring geformt wird, der Bestandteil des Wälzlagerkäfigs gemäß 1 ist,
• 6 die Einzelheit „B“ gemäß 5,
• 7 die Draufsicht auf einen oberen Haltering des Wälzlagerkäfigs gemäß 1,
• 8 die Einzelheit „C“ gemäß 7,
• 9 die Draufsicht auf einen unteren Haltering des Wälzlagerkäfigs gemäß 1,
• 10 die Einzelheit „D“ gemäß 9,
• 11 die Draufsicht auf einen Teil des Wälzlagerkäfigs gemäß 1,
• 12 den Schnitt A-A gemäß 11,
• 13 die Einzelheit „E“ gemäß 11,
• 14 einen Teil des streifenförmigen Materialabschnitts, ähnlich zu 5, wobei eine vergrößerte Darstellung wiedergegeben ist,
• 15 die Ansicht „Y“ gemäß 14,
• 16 die Einzelheit „C“ bzw. „D“ gemäß den 7 bzw. 9 gemäß einer alternativen Ausgestaltung,
• 17 in perspektivischer Darstellung die umfangsseitigen Enden des streifenförmigen Materialabschnitts mit jeweiliger Endprofilierung,
• 18 die Ansicht „Y“ gemäß 17 auf das eine umfangsseitige Ende des streifenförmigen Materialabschnitts,
• 19 die Andeutung des Montagevorgangs der beiden umfangsseitigen Enden des streifenförmigen Materialabschnitts in verschiedenen Montagestadien,
• 20 die verbundenen umfangsseitigen Enden des streifenförmigen Materialabschnitts gemäß einer Verbindungsmöglichkeit mittels einiger Verbindungskabel,
• 21 die Darstellung gemäß 20 ohne Verbindungskabel,
• 22 den Schnitt A-A gemäß 20,
• 23 in perspektivischer Darstellung die verbundenen umfangsseitigen Enden des streifenförmigen Materialabschnitts gemäß 20,
• 24 das eine umfangsseitige Ende des streifenförmigen Materialabschnitts gemäß 20,
• 25 den Schnitt B-B gemäß 24,
• 26 das andere umfangsseitige Ende des streifenförmigen Materialabschnitts gemäß 20 und
• 27 den Schnitt C-C gemäß 26.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing. Show it:

• 1 a perspective view of a roller bearing cage of a tapered roller bearing,
• 2 according to the top view of the cage 1 ,
• 3 the detail "A" according to 2 ,
• 4 according to section AA 2 ,
• 5 the plan view of a flat strip-shaped material section from which a ring is formed, which is part of the roller bearing cage according to 1 is,
• 6 the detail "B" according to 5 ,
• 7 according to the plan view of an upper retaining ring of the roller bearing cage 1 ,
• 8th the detail "C" according to 7 ,
• 9 according to the top view of a lower retaining ring of the roller bearing cage 1 ,
• 10 the detail "D" according to 9 ,
• 11 according to the top view of a part of the roller bearing cage 1 ,
• 12 according to section AA 11 ,
• 13 the detail "E" according to 11 ,
• 14 a part of the strip-shaped material section, similar to 5 , where an enlarged view is shown,
• 15 the view "Y" according to 14 ,
• 16 the detail "C" or "D" according to the 7 or. 9 according to an alternative embodiment,
• 17 a perspective view of the peripheral ends of the strip-shaped material section with the respective end profiling,
• 18 the view "Y" according to 17 on one peripheral end of the strip-shaped material section,
• 19 the indication of the assembly process of the two circumferential ends of the strip-shaped material section in different assembly stages,
• 20 the connected peripheral ends of the strip-shaped material section according to a possibility of connection by means of some connection cables,
• 21 the representation according to 20 without connection cable,
• 22 according to section AA 20 ,
• 23 a perspective view of the connected peripheral ends of the strip-shaped material section according to FIG 20 ,
• 24 according to one peripheral end of the strip-shaped material section 20 ,
• 25 according to section BB 24 ,
• 26 the other peripheral end of the strip-shaped material section according to 20 and
• 27 according to the section CC 26 .

In the 1 until 16 a roller bearing cage 1 is shown in the form of a tapered roller bearing cage or its individual parts.

The roller bearing cage 1 as shown in 1 is shown in perspective, has an annular basic contour distributed over the circumference receiving pockets 2 for - has rolling elements - not shown. The rolling bearing cage 1 consists essentially of a ring 4 and an upper retaining ring 7 and a lower retaining ring 8. These three parts - ie the ring 4, the upper retaining ring 7 and the lower retaining ring 8 - are put together so that there is a self-retaining composite . The upper retaining ring 7 is arranged in the upper axial end area 5 of the ring 4 , while the lower retaining ring 8 is placed in the lower axial end area 6 of the ring 4 .

The ring 4 is formed from a flat, strip-shaped material section 3, which is shown as a flat structure 5 is manufactured, for example by laser cutting or water jet cutting. This strip-shaped material section 3 has then been bent into the ring 4, as can be seen, for example 1 results.

As in particular from the 3 , 5 , 6 , 8th and 10 can be seen, the strip-shaped material section 3 or the ring 4 is provided in its two axial end regions 5 and 6 with a ring profile 9 or 10; analogously, the retaining ring 7 or 8 is provided with a retaining ring profile 11 or 12, respectively.

The profiling 9 and 10 or 11 and 12 are designed congruently to one another, which means that in the fully assembled state of the cage 1, as shown in 1 to see, the mentioned profiling interact complementarily and form an undisturbed ring structure.

In the figures mentioned it can be seen that in the strip-shaped material section 3 rectangular recesses 9 and 10 (see in particular 6 ) are incorporated, while the retaining rings 7 and 8 are provided with corresponding projections, as best seen in the 8th and 10 emerges.

The retaining rings 7 and 8 can be made in one piece, but also - analogous to the manufacture of the ring 4 from the strip-shaped material section 3 - consist of a strip-shaped material section which is bent to the retaining ring 7 and 8 respectively. In the latter case, it is then preferably provided that the peripheral end regions of the ring 4 on the one hand and of the retaining ring 7 or 8 on the other hand are mounted such that the joints are offset in the peripheral direction of the roller bearing cage 1 .

It applies to both the ring 4 and the retaining rings 7 and 8 that they do not necessarily have to consist of a single material section; in both cases a segmented design (i.e. manufacture from several peripheral parts) can be provided, which is particularly advantageous in the case of very large diameters of the cage.

In the 11 until 16 shows that when producing the profiling, both in the ring 4 and in the retaining rings 7 and 8, the production of said profiling takes place in such a way that the later final contour of the cage - for example as a tapered roller bearing cage - is taken into account. Accordingly, the individual sub-areas of the profiles are introduced in such a way that after the assembly of the individual parts to form the finished roller bearing cage, an undisturbed ring contour of the parts results precisely.

It is provided that the profiles are designed in such a way that both in the radial direction r and in the axial direction a (see 1 ) an undercut is created. This is for the radial undercut in 13 illustrated; a corresponding axial undercut is off 15 apparent.

In the 17 until 27 Details of the proposed design of the roller bearing cage 1 can be seen as an example, which deal with the connection of the two circumferential ends of the strip-shaped material section 3 to the ring 4.

End profiles 13 and 14 are provided at the joints of the strip-shaped material section 3, which are to be connected to one another (see best for this 17 ). Any forms of complementary interacting profiles are possible, which after joining the ends of the strip-shaped material section 3 not only form an undisturbed ring contour, but may also form an undercut in the circumferential direction, which ensures that the two ends can no longer become detached from one another when the roller bearing cage 1 is in the assembled state.

From the synopsis of 17 and 18 it becomes clear that here undercut-prone shapes are present, which fix the two ends of the strip-shaped material section 3 both in the circumferential direction and in the axial direction in the desired end position.

In the 17 Profiles shown also allow a simple assembly of the strip-shaped material section 3 to the ring 4, as can be seen from the sequence of the process steps 19 results.

In the 20 until 27 other possibilities are outlined as to how the peripheral ends of the strip-shaped material section 3 can be connected. Complementarily designed end profiles 13 and 14 are also provided here (see in particular 21 ), which allow and ensure the aligned joining of the ends of the material section 3.

According to the solution shown in the figures mentioned, however, the peripheral ends are connected to one another by cables 20 which are arranged in the peripheral end regions of the material section 3 or the ring 4 and which hold the two ends together.

The cables 20 are anchored in the respective end regions of the material section 3, for which various options are available. In the embodiment according to 20 until 27 Recesses 21 are incorporated into the end regions of the material section 3, in which the cables 20 are fixed. For this purpose, the exemplary embodiment provides that one end of the cable is provided with a thickening 22 (e.g. in the form of cast balls), so that one end of the cable 20 is held in one end region of the material section 3 . The other end of the cable 20 can be fixed in the respective recess 21 in the other end area of the material section 3 by means of an anchor element 23 .

In order to fix one end of the cable 20 with a positive fit, compression sleeves 24 (see 23 ) to be attached to the end of the cable 20.

Reference List

1

roller bearing cage

2

receiving bag

3

strip-shaped section of material

4

ring

5

axial end area

6

axial end area

7

retaining ring

8th

retaining ring

9

ring profiling

10

ring profiling

11

retaining ring profiling

12

retaining ring profiling

13

final profiling

14

final profiling

20

cable / wire / rope

21

recess

22

thickening

23

anchor element

24

press sleeve

right

radial direction

a

axial direction

Claims (7)

Rolling bearing cage (1) which forms an annular structure in which a number of receiving pockets (2) for rolling bodies are incorporated, the rolling bearing cage (1) comprising a strip-shaped material section (3) made of sheet metal which is shaped into a ring (4), a retaining ring (7, 8) being arranged in at least one axial end area (5, 6) of the ring (4), the ring (4) having a ring profile in at least one of its axial end areas (5, 6) along its circumference (9, 10), wherein the at least one retaining ring (7, 8) has a retaining ring profile (11, 12) along its circumference, and wherein the ring profile (9, 10) and the retaining ring profile (11, 12) are designed congruently in such a way that the ring profile (9, 10) and the retaining ring profile (11, 12) engage in one another in a complementary manner, so that the strip-shaped material section (3) is held in its position shaped into the ring (4). , wherein the ring profile (9, 10) is designed as a radially continuous recess and the retaining ring profile (11, 12) is designed as a radially extending projection which is complementary to the radially continuous recess; characterized in that the ring profile (9, 10) and the retaining ring profile (11, 12) are shaped in such a way that in radial direction (r) and in the axial direction (a) of the roller bearing cage (1) there is an undercut between the ring profile (9, 10) and the retaining ring profile (11, 12). roller bearing cage claim 1 , characterized in that a retaining ring (7, 8) is arranged in each of the two axial end regions (5, 6) of the ring (4). roller bearing cage claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the ring profile (9, 10) consists of a number of equidistantly arranged radially continuous recesses and that the retaining ring profile (11, 12) consists of a number of equidistantly arranged radially extending projections which are complementary to the continuous recesses. Rolling bearing cage according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the strip-shaped material section (3) consists of several segments which together form the ring (4). Rolling bearing cage according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the strip-shaped material section (3) is provided in each of its end regions with an end profile (13, 14), the two end profiles (13, 14) being constructed congruently to one another and being able to be assembled in a complementary manner. Rolling bearing cage according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that it is a tapered roller bearing cage or a cylindrical roller bearing cage. Rolling bearing cage according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that it has an outer diameter which is at least 1000 mm, preferably at least 2000 mm.

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