DE102019115335A1 - Spacer for a ball bearing - Google Patents

Abstract

A spacer for a ball bearing comprises a strip section (15) made of sheet metal which is bent to form a ring which has two concavely curved contact surfaces (3, 4) for rolling elements (2).

Description

The invention relates to a spacer for spacing rolling elements in a row of rolling elements of a ball bearing.

Such a spacer is for example from WO 2011/117076 A1 known. The known spacer has the basic shape of a four-armed cross and has two side surfaces, each side surface being provided for contact with a rolling element.

The DD 284 385 A7 describes a rolling bearing in which different types of spacers are arranged between rolling elements.

Spacers for rolling bearings, like one-piece rolling bearing cages, can be made either from metallic materials or from plastic. The DE 10 2017 110 180 A1 describes a roller bearing cage which is made from a single sheet metal strip.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a spacer for ball bearings which has been further developed compared to the prior art and which is characterized by advantageous mechanical properties with low mass.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a spacer with the features of claim 1. The spacer provided for use in a ball bearing for spacing the individual balls comprises a strip section made of sheet metal, which overall describes an annular shape, with two concavely curved contact surfaces for through the strip section each a rolling element, that is, a ball, are formed.

Due to the ring shape of the spacer, it has significantly elastic properties. Those areas of the strip section which connect the two curved contact surfaces to one another and thus complete the ring shape can either be straight or also curved. In all cases, those areas of the strip section through which the contact surfaces for the rolling elements are formed do not abut one another.

In a preferred embodiment, two wings aligned in the transverse direction of the strip section adjoin the strip section at each concavely curved contact surface. The vanes which extend from the strip section represent extensions of the contact surfaces. Here, the vanes directed radially inward within the roller bearing do not necessarily have the same length as the radially outwardly directed vanes. For example, the radially inward blades are shorter than the radially outward blades.

In the simplest case, the two ends of the strip-shaped section are placed against one another without being connected. Embodiments with a gap between the ends of the strip section are also possible. If a firm connection between the ends of the strip section is desired, this can be established, for example, in a materially bonded manner, in particular by welding or soldering. In order to provide enlarged contact areas between the ends of the strip section, the sections to be brought into contact with one another can be bent over by 90 ° with respect to adjacent sections.

As an alternative to a material connection between the ends of the strip section, a form-fit connection can be considered. Here, contours at the ends of the strip sections interlock, for example, like a puzzle. Alternatively, a fastening tongue at one end of the strip section engages an opening at the other end of the strip section. The fastening tongue is oriented towards the interior of the spacer, for example.

The spacer is preferably made as a one-piece element made of sheet steel. Manufacture from other metallic or non-metallic materials, including plastic, is also possible. The spacers are particularly suitable for use in deep groove ball bearings.

• 1 Komponenten eines Wälzlagers mit Distanzstücken,
• 2 ein Distanzstück der Anordnung nach 1 in perspektivischer Ansicht,
• 3 eine gegenüber dem Ausführungsbeispiel nach 1 und 2 modifizierte Gestaltung eines des Distanzstücks,
• 4 ein Distanzstück mit formschlüssiger Verbindung zwischen den Enden eines zu einem Ring gebogenen Blechstreifens,
• 5 und 6 eine gegenüber dem Ausführungsbeispiel nach 4 abgewandelte Gestaltung eines Distanzstücks.

Several exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Show here:

• 1 Components of a rolling bearing with spacers,
• 2 a spacer according to the arrangement 1 in perspective view,
• 3 one compared to the embodiment according to 1 and 2 modified design of one of the spacers,
• 4th a spacer with a form-fitting connection between the ends of a sheet metal strip bent into a ring,
• 5 and 6th one compared to the embodiment according to 4th modified design of a spacer.

Unless otherwise stated, the following explanations relate to all exemplary embodiments. Parts or contours that correspond to one another or have the same effect in principle are identified by the same reference symbols in all figures.

A roller bearing designed as a deep groove ball bearing comprises a number of roller bodies 2 , that is, balls that are held by spacers 1 , that is, cage segments, are kept at a distance from one another. With every spacer 1 it is a one-piece sheet metal part made of sheet steel, which is bent to form a ring, the center axis of the ring being aligned in the radial direction of the roller bearing. Through the spacer 1 become two concave curved contact surfaces 3 , 4th for contacting one ball each 2 provided. The contact surfaces 3 , 4th are due to elastic deformation of the spacer 1 significantly shiftable against each other. The spacer is optional 1 , at least in the area of the contact surfaces 3 , 4th , provided with a friction-reducing coating.

The spacer describes when looking in the radial direction of the roller bearing 1 the basic shape of a rectangle with in the form of the contact surfaces 3 , 4th inwardly curved long sides. The narrow sides of the modified rectangle are in the form of an end-face section 5 and two end sections 6th , 7th that the frontal section 5 opposite, before. The two end sections 6th , 7th contact each other at a joint 8th . In the embodiment according to 1 and 2 are not a means of connecting the end sections 6th , 7th at the joint 8th intended. The transmission of compressive forces at the joint 8th is possible.

The embodiment according to 3 is compared to the embodiment according to the 1 and 2 modified to the effect that at the joint 8th inward connecting sections 13th , 14th are formed, which is the contact surface between the end portions 6th , 7th enlarge. The connecting sections 13th , 14th are firmly connected to each other. Such a connection between the end sections is optional 6th , 7th also in the embodiment according to 1 and 2 manufacturable.

In all cases, including in the exemplary embodiments according to 4th to 6th , are the end sections 6th , 7th a strip section 15th attributable to which is bent to the ring shape visible in the figures. To the strip section 15th are one piece a total of four wings 9 , 10 , 11 , 12th molded. Here are two wings 9 , 10 the contact surface 4th and two more wings 11 , 12th the contact surface 3 attributable. The pair of wings 9 , 10 completes just like the pair of wings 11 , 12th the concave shape of the respective contact surface 4th , 3 . The wings directed radially inward within the roller bearing 10 , 12th are shorter in the exemplary embodiments than the radially outwardly directed blades 9 , 10 . In a front view, that is, when looking in the axial direction of the roller bearing, the spacers 1 an H-shaped basic shape. When viewed in the tangential direction of the roller bearing, however, the spacers are in a cross shape 1 given.

In the embodiment according to 4th are the end sections 6th , 7th of the strip section 15th positively connected to each other. A fastening nose engages here 16 , which is the end section 7th is to be attributed, like a puzzle in a recess 17th of the end section 6th one.

A form fit between the end sections 6th , 7th is also in the embodiment according to 5 and 6th manufactured. In this case the end section comprises 6th a cranked section 18th , from which a fastening tongue 19th towards the inside of the spacer 1 protrudes. The fastening tongue 19th reaches into an opening 20th in the end section 7th one.

When assembling the roller bearing, it is irrelevant in all the exemplary embodiments which end face of the bearing has the continuous end face section 5 is facing and which end face of the bearing the end sections 6th , 7th are facing. The spacers 1 are characterized in all variants by a high mechanical load capacity and wear resistance in relation to their mass.

List of reference symbols

1

Spacer

2

Rolling element, ball

3

Contact surface

4th

Contact surface

5

frontal section

6th

End section

7th

End section

8th

Joint

9

wing

10

wing

11

wing

12

wing

13th

Connection section

14th

Connection section

15th

Strip section

16

Fastening nose

17th

Recess

18th

cranked section

19th

Fastening tongue

20th

opening

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was 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.

Patent literature cited

• WO 2011/117076 A1 [0002]
• DD 284385 A7 [0003]
• DE 102017110180 A1 [0004]

Claims (4)

Spacer for a ball bearing, with a strip section (15) made of sheet metal, which is bent into a ring which has two concavely curved contact surfaces (3, 4) for rolling elements (2). Spacer after Claim 1 , characterized in that two wings (9, 10, 11, 12) aligned in the transverse direction of the strip section (15) adjoin the strip section (15) on each concavely curved contact surface (3, 4). Spacer after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the strip section (15) has two end sections (6, 7) connected to one another in a materially bonded manner. Spacer after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the strip section (15) has two end sections (6, 7) connected to one another in a form-fitting manner.

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