DE102018100744A1 - Rolling bearing with a seal assembly and wheel bearings - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a rolling bearing (1) with a first bearing ring (2) and a second bearing ring (3), wherein between the first bearing ring (2) and the second bearing ring (3) a sealing arrangement (4) is formed, which with the a first carrier element (5) and a second carrier element (6) connected to the second bearing ring (3), wherein on the first carrier element (5) a sealing element (7) is formed, which on the second carrier element ( 6) is applied. It is provided that at least one microbore or a microhole (12) is introduced into the first carrier element (5) and / or into the sealing element (7), which allows venting of a bearing interior (13) sealed by the sealing element (7).

Description

The invention relates to a rolling bearing with a seal assembly and a wheel bearing with such a rolling bearing.

Rolling bearings are used in many different variants to support a rotating component, usually a shaft. In this case, the storage of components which are exposed to strong environmental influences is a challenge, since in these applications, penetration of dirt or liquid can lead to damage of the rolling bearing and subsequent failure. For these applications, for example for wheel bearings of a motor vehicle, correspondingly sealed bearings are known in which one or more seals are provided between the bearing rings to prevent ingress of dirt and / or liquids in the region of the bearing, in which the rolling elements are located. Sealed wheel bearings are exposed to temperature fluctuations. Since the bearing interior is separated from the environment by the seal, no or only an insufficient pressure equalization between the bearing interior and the environment is possible. This increases the friction in the bearing, which leads to a further increase in temperature and a further rise in pressure in the bearing interior. From the prior art it is known to vent the bearing interior via air-permeable membranes while keeping water out of the bearing interior. However, such membranes are comparatively expensive. In addition, the function of the membranes can be adversely affected by escaping bearing grease.

From the DE 10 2013 212 073 A1 a wheel bearing is known in which a wheel of a motor vehicle can be fastened on a wheel carrier, which is mounted rotatably relative to the motor vehicle via a double row rolling bearing unit. In this case, a double row rolling bearing is arranged on a wheel hub of the wheel bearing, which has a cavity between the first row of rolling elements and the second row of rolling elements. Due to temperature fluctuations, for example, due to operational heating of the wheel bearing, negative pressure situations can arise in this cavity. This negative pressure can result in a sealed rolling bearing to a significant increase in the coefficient of friction on the seal and an associated additional consumption of the motor vehicle. In addition, due to the higher friction, the seals wear out faster, which can lead to water entering the rolling bearing and ultimately to failure of the rolling bearing.

From the DE 10 2015 220 367 A sealed rolling bearing emerges. The rolling bearing comprises rolling elements, which are guided in a bearing inner space between an outer bearing ring and an inner bearing ring, wherein the bearing rings are rotatable relative to each other. The bearing rings close to seal the bearing interior on both axial sides of the bearing ring associated sealing element, the elastic sealing lip is indirectly or directly sealingly supported on the opposite bearing ring. Furthermore, the rolling bearing has a ventilation means for pressure equalization of the bearing interior, wherein at least one slit valve is formed as ventilation means in each sealing lip of the sealing element. The slit valve is formed by cross-shaped introduced into the sealing lip of the sealing element slots.

The object of the invention is to avoid the ingress of water into the bearing interior and at the same time to create a pressure balance between the bearing interior and the environment in order to reduce the friction torque in the rolling bearing.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a rolling bearing with a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring, wherein between the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring, a seal arrangement is formed, which has a first bearing member connected to the first support member and a second bearing member connected to the second support member , wherein on the first carrier element, a sealing element is formed, which rests against the second carrier element. In this case, at least one microbore is introduced into the first support element and / or in the sealing element, which allows venting of a bearing interior sealed by the sealing element. In this context, a microbore is to be understood as a bore having a bore diameter of not more than 50 μm, preferably of not more than 30 μm. Under a micro hole is a hole with a diameter of a maximum of 50 microns to understand, which is introduced in another manufacturing process in the sealing element and / or the support member. Such a micro bore or such a micro hole are permeable to the pressures and temperatures typically occurring in a rolling bearing for a gaseous medium, in particular for air, while substantially preventing penetration of liquid into the bearing interior. With a diameter of less than 30 microns, there is the advantage that the holes are virtually impermeable to liquids and thus allow ventilation of the bearing interior to allow pressure equalization in the bearing interior. Since temperature fluctuations and friction in the roller bearing can lead to an increase in pressure in the bearing interior, bleeding the bearing interior to minimize friction is expedient. Through the micro holes or micro holes, the air from the warehouse interior outflow, so that the pressure in the bearing interior adapts to the ambient pressure and the friction in the rolling bearing can be minimized.

By the features listed in the dependent claims improvements and developments of the rolling bearing specified in the independent claim are possible.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the at least one microbore are introduced into the first carrier element and / or into the sealing element by means of a laser drilling method. Laser drilling can produce very small bore diameters, reducing the permeability of fluid bores. Furthermore, laser drilling can be highly automated, so that one or more microholes can be incorporated into the first carrier element and / or the sealing element in a process-capable manner and with short cycle times. Furthermore, it is possible by laser drilling in a simple manner to pierce even different materials in a machining operation. Thus, also the carrier element can be pierced at a location where the carrier element is coated with a portion of the sealing element.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the rolling bearing is provided that the first support member and / or the sealing element is perforated by a plurality of micro holes and / or micro holes. Through a variety of microbores or micro holes, a sealing element can be created, which is gas-permeable and at the same time ensures a sufficiently good seal against dirt and liquids. By means of a laser drilling method, such a perforation can be produced with low processing times and comparatively inexpensively. Such a perforation with a multiplicity of microbores offers, compared to individual microbores, a significantly increased gas permeability, so that pressure equalization between the bearing interior and the environment is possible. Alternatively, another type of perforation of the sealing element, in particular a piercing of microholes is possible.

According to the invention, a wheel bearing for a motor vehicle with a rolling bearing according to the invention is also proposed. Since the protection of the rolling bearing body against dirt and water is a central challenge, especially in wheel bearings, to ensure the durability of the wheel bearing, it is particularly advantageous to use a rolling bearing according to the invention in a wheel bearing of a motor vehicle. Through the microbores of the bearing interior can be vented so that even with temperature differences, especially in a heating of the bearing interior due to friction in the bearing, a pressure equalization can be done. This prevents premature wear of the sealing elements and increases the durability of the wheel bearing. Alternatively, the rolling bearing according to the invention can also be used in other applications where a high seal against dirt and liquids is required and at the same time a pressure compensation for the bearing interior to be made possible.

The various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application are, unless otherwise stated in the individual case, advantageously combinable with each other.

• 1 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Wälzlagers mit einer Dichtungsanordnung; und
• 2 ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Wälzlagers mit einer Dichtungsanordnung.

The invention will be explained below in embodiments with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The same components or components with the same function are identified by the same reference numerals. Show it:

• 1 an embodiment of a rolling bearing according to the invention with a seal assembly; and
• 2 a further embodiment of a rolling bearing according to the invention with a seal arrangement.

In 1 is an embodiment of a rolling bearing according to the invention 1 with one of the rolling elements of the rolling bearing 1 upstream seal assembly 4 shown. The rolling bearing 1 includes a first bearing ring 2 , preferably the outer ring of a rolling bearing 1 , and a second bearing ring 3 , preferably the inner ring of a roller bearing. Between the first bearing ring 2 and the second bearing ring 3 is the seal arrangement 4 formed, which a first support element 5 having, which with the first bearing ring 2 is connected and a second carrier element 6 , which with the second bearing ring 3 connected is. The first carrier element 5 carries a first sealing element 7 , The first sealing element 7 is preferably made of an elastomer and cohesively with the first carrier element 5 connected. The second carrier element 6 has a first portion which is substantially parallel to the bearing rings 2 . 3 runs and with the second bearing ring 3 in contact. The second carrier element 6 also has a second portion which is substantially perpendicular to the bearing rings 2 . 3 runs. The first carrier element 5 and the second support member 6 are preferably designed as metallic sheets. The second carrier element 6 carries a second sealing element 8th , It is between the first carrier element 5 and the second support member 6 a sealing channel formed in the manner of a labyrinth seal. On the first sealing element 7 is a sealing lip 11 formed on the first portion of the second carrier element 6 is applied. Further, on the first sealing element 7 a sealing projection 10 formed, which together with the first carrier element 5 a catch bag 15 formed.

Inside the rolling bearing 1 is a warehouse interior 13 formed, in which the rolling elements of the rolling bearing 1 are arranged. At the end of the sealing channel facing away from the rolling elements, the sealing arrangement 4 a first sealing gap 9 on which the ingress of dirt and liquid into the rolling bearing 1 difficult. The first sealing gap 9 flows into a first sealing space 14 in which the catch bag 15 located. Further, between the second portion of the second support member 6 and the sealing projection 10 a second sealing gap 16 formed, which in a second sealing space 17 empties. The second sealing space is through the two support elements 5 . 6 as well as through the sealing lip 11 limited.

To a pressure equalization between the bearing interior 13 and the environment are enabled by the first support member 5 and the first sealing element 7 micro holes 12 introduced, which a fluidic connection between the bearing interior 13 and the first sealing room 14 enable. The microbores 12 have a maximum diameter of 50 microns, preferably of a maximum of 30 microns, so that a gas exchange between the bearing interior 13 and the sealing room 14 However, liquid droplets are capable of microbores 12 can not penetrate. Preferably, the first carrier element 5 with a variety of such microbores 12 perforated to the gas exchange between the bearing interior 13 and the sealing room 14 to improve. The sealing space 14 is through the sealing gap 9 ventilated, so in the sealing room 14 essentially the ambient pressure prevails. The microbores 12 are preferably by means of a laser drilling process in the first carrier element 5 and the sealing element 7 brought in. Alternatively, microholes can be used 12 in the first carrier element 5 and the sealing element 7 be punched. Alternatively, the first carrier element 5 in the field of microbores 5 even without a sealing element 7 be executed, which is the introduction of microbores 12 or microholes 12 in the first carrier element 5 facilitated.

In 2 is an alternative embodiment of a rolling bearing according to the invention 1 shown. With essentially the same structure as 1 executed, are in this embodiment, the microbores 12 or microholes 12 in the sealing lip 11 introduced, and thus enable ventilation of the bearing interior 13 in the second sealing space 17 , The second sealing room 17 is over the second sealing gap 16 connected to the first sealing space and therefore also has approximately at ambient pressure. Alternatively, an embodiment is possible in which both in the sealing lip 11 as well as in the first carrier element 5 micro holes 12 or microholes 12 are introduced. Admittedly through more micro holes 12 the ventilation of the bearing interior 13 favors, however, increase with more micro holes 12 also the production costs, so that here a compromise from a sufficient ventilation of the bearing interior 13 is searched for at minimal production costs.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Rolling

2

first bearing ring / outer ring

3

second bearing ring / inner ring

4

sealing arrangement

5

first carrier element

6

second carrier element

7

first sealing element

8th

second sealing element

9

sealing gap

10

sealing projection

11

sealing lip

12

Microhole / microbore

13

Warehouse interior

14

tight space

15

collecting pocket

16

second sealing gap

17

second sealing space

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 102013212073 A1 [0003]
• DE 102015220367 [0004]

Claims (4)

Rolling bearing (1) with a first bearing ring (2) and a second bearing ring (3), wherein between the first bearing ring (2) and the second bearing ring (3) a sealing arrangement (4) is formed, which is connected to the first bearing ring (2 ) has a first carrier element (5) and a second carrier element (6) connected to the second bearing ring (3), wherein on the first carrier element (5) a sealing element (7) is formed which bears against the second carrier element (6), characterized in that in the first support element (5) and / or in the sealing element (7) at least one micro bore or a micro hole (12) is introduced, which allows venting of a through the sealing element (7) sealed bearing interior (13). Rolling bearing (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one micro-bore (12) by means of a laser drilling process in the first carrier element (5) and / or in the sealing element (7) are introduced. Rolling bearing (1) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the first carrier element (5) and / or the sealing element (7) is perforated by a multiplicity of microholes or microholes (12). Wheel bearing for a motor vehicle with a rolling bearing (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3 ,

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