DE102019131718A1 - Sealing element for a bearing arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing element (1) for sealing an interior (11) of a bearing arrangement (8) from an outer area (15), comprising a carrier plate (2) with an elastically deformable sealing body (3) formed thereon and a running plate (4), wherein the carrier plate (2) is arranged rotatably relative to the running plate (4), or vice versa, the sealing body (3) having at least one first and second prestressed sealing lip (5a, 5b), the first sealing lip (5a) sealingly on the running plate (4) comes to rest, and the second sealing lip (5b) is set up to come into sealing contact with the running plate (4) as a result of wear-related wear of the first sealing lip (5a). The invention also relates to a bearing arrangement (8).

Description

The invention relates to a sealing element for sealing an interior of a bearing arrangement with respect to an outside area, comprising a carrier plate with an elastically deformable sealing body formed thereon, and a running plate. The invention also relates to a bearing arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising such a sealing element.

From the WO 2015/120831 A1 shows a rolling bearing of a wheel bearing unit, having at least one outer ring and at least one inner ring and rolling elements arranged between them. To seal an interior, a roller bearing seal is provided which includes at least one carrier element connected to a bearing ring, the carrier element being supported and fastened in each case with an angled leg on the bearing ring. A sealing body with two sealing lips is integrally formed on the carrier element, the sealing lips sealingly resting on one of the bearing rings and on a running plate.

The object of the present invention is to further develop a sealing element and a bearing arrangement in such a way that friction losses are reduced. The object is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1. Preferred embodiments can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

A sealing element according to the invention for sealing an interior of a bearing arrangement from an outside area, comprising a carrier plate with an elastically deformable sealing body formed thereon and a running plate, the carrier plate being arranged rotatably relative to the running plate, or vice versa, the sealing body having at least a first and a second prestressed Has sealing lip, the first sealing lip sealingly comes into contact with the running plate, and wherein the second sealing lip is set up to come into sealing abutment on the running plate as a result of wear-related wear of the first sealing lip. In other words, the second sealing lip only comes into contact with the running plate in a sealing manner when the first sealing lip is worn out as a result of wear. Wear of the respective sealing lip ensures that a seal or a sealing effect of the bearing arrangement is not guaranteed. The wear is accelerated by the fact that dirt and / or moisture enters the frictional contact between the sealing body and the running plate.

The sealing performed by the sealing element ensures that unwanted material transfers, in particular transfers of dirt and fluids such as gas and water from one location to another, are prevented or limited. In particular, by means of the sealing of the sealing element, it is prevented or at least delayed in time that when the sealing element is arranged in a bearing arrangement, dirt and / or moisture from an outer area of the bearing arrangement gets into the interior of the same. The sealing body, which at least indirectly realizes the sealing effect of the sealing element, preferably consists of an elastomer which is vulcanized or molded onto the carrier material of the carrier plate, for example.

The carrier plate is non-rotatably connected to a first component and the running plate is non-rotatably connected to a second component that is rotatable relative to the first component, or vice versa. The first component is, for example, an inner ring of a bearing arrangement, the second component being, for example, an outer ring of the bearing arrangement that is rotatable relative to the inner ring, or vice versa.

The sealing element is a so-called "low friction seal", ie a seal with low friction. The comparatively low friction of the sealing element is achieved by reducing the sliding contacts or reducing the number of sliding contacts by automatically adjusting sealing lips of the sealing body, with only a single sealing lip in sealing contact with the running plate at any given time, so that overall a reduction in the friction of the sealing element is achieved becomes.

The sealing lips are so-called sacrificial lips, the first sealing lip being the main sealing lip, which comes into contact with the running plate in the assembled initial state of the sealing element. In the course of the operating or lifetime of the sealing element, dirt or moisture, for example, accumulates in the area of the first sealing lip, which negatively impacts the service life of the sealing element, namely because the respective sealing lip gradually abrades or wears off over time wears out.

When the first sealing lip is worn or has reached a certain degree of wear and tear, the second sealing lip comes to rest against the running plate in a sealing manner as a result of the prestressing of the sealing body formed on the carrier plate. In other words, after the first sealing lip has worn off, the dirt and / or moisture collects in an intermediate space formed between the first and second sealing lip and there, analogous to the previous description of the first sealing lip, leads to wear of the second sealing lip. The second sealing lip is thus a secondary sealing lip which is only used after the first sealing lip has worn out. At least one of the sealing lips can also be formed on the sealing body in such a way that, after the wear of the previous sealing lip, it comes into contact with a component of the bearing arrangement, for example an inner or outer ring rotatable relative to it, and consequently does not seal against the running plate due to the preload.

According to a preferred embodiment, the sealing body has three pretensioned sealing lips, the first sealing lip sealingly abuts the running plate, the second sealing lip being set up to abut the running plate in a sealing manner as a result of wear-related wear of the first sealing lip, and the third Sealing lip is set up to come to bear sealingly on the running plate as a result of wear-related wear of the second sealing lip. In other words, the second sealing lip only comes into sealing contact with the running plate when the first sealing lip is worn as a result of wear, with the third sealing lip only sealingly abutting the running plate when the second sealing lip is worn as a result of wear. The more sealing lips the sealing body comprises, the longer a sealing effect is ensured by means of the sealing element and the later dirt and / or moisture enters the space to be sealed, in particular the interior of the bearing arrangement. As a result, a low-friction and long-lasting sealing effect of the sealing element is achieved at the same time.

A prestressing spring is preferably arranged on the sealing body in order to prestress the sealing lips in the direction of the running plate. The preload spring generates or supports the preload of the sealing lips. In other words, the preloading spring supports or effects the secure or sealing contact of the respective sealing lip with the running plate.

A suitable geometry and design of the sealing lips ensures that only one sealing lip is in sealing contact with the running plate at any one time. In other words, it is ensured that after wear of the first sealing lip (main sealing lip) only the second sealing lip (secondary sealing lip) comes into contact with the running plate and after wear of the second sealing lip only the third sealing lip (tertiary sealing lip) comes into contact with the running plate, etc. .. So the first, second and third sealing lips are arranged in series one behind the other, the respective worn sealing lips leaving a labyrinth-like structure of the sealing body in the course of the operation of the sealing element, in which dirt and / or moisture can settle or get caught and consequently only one has a time-delayed influence on the respective sealing lip in sealing contact with the running plate. The sanded sealing lips therefore also have an advantageous effect on the sealing effect of the sealing element, since dirt and / or moisture can collect spatially between the worn sealing lips.

The running plate is preferably rotatable relative to a protective plate, or vice versa. A radial and / or axial gap is formed between the running plate and the protective plate in order to avoid contact between the running plate and the stop element. The protective plate is set up in particular to protect the sealing element from coarse dirt and thereby improve the static sealing of the bearing arrangement and make it more fault-independent. In other words, the protective plate is advantageously arranged on the sealing element on the outside area side, that is to say between the sealing body with the running plate and the outside area.

The protective sheet is made comparatively thin-walled and is preferably produced by punching and forming. Likewise, the carrier plate and / or the running plate can preferably be thin-walled and manufactured by punching and reshaping. The protective plate, the carrier plate and / or the running plate can have any axial, radial and / or inclined legs.

Furthermore, a further sealing body is preferably integrally formed on the running plate, which is designed to additionally seal the interior of the bearing arrangement with respect to the exterior. The running plate is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a stationary or rotatable component, in particular pressed into it or pressed onto it. The running plate consequently has a press fit, it being possible for the further sealing body to additionally seal the press fit. The sealing effect of the sealing element is improved by means of the further sealing body which is molded onto the running plate.

A bearing arrangement according to the invention for a motor vehicle comprises at least one outer ring and at least one inner ring, a sealing element according to one of the preceding claims being arranged radially between the inner ring and the outer ring for sealing an interior of the bearing arrangement from an outer area. A multiplicity of rolling elements can be arranged spatially between the inner ring and the outer ring. In addition, the sealing element is arranged radially between the inner ring and the outer ring. The inner ring is, for example, at least indirectly non-rotatably and axially fixedly connected to a wheel hub and is for example pressed onto the wheel hub during assembly.

• 1a eine vereinfachte schematische Schnittdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Lageranordnung mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Dichtelement gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel,
• 1 b eine vereinfachte schematische Schnittdarstellung der Lageranordnung nach 1a,
• 2a eine vereinfachte schematische Schnittdarstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Lageranordnung mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Dichtelement gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel,
• 2b eine vereinfachte schematische Schnittdarstellung der Lageranordnung nach 2a,
• 3a eine vereinfachte schematische Schnittdarstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Lageranordnung mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Dichtelement gemäß einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel,
• 3b eine vereinfachte schematische Schnittdarstellung der Lageranordnung nach 1a,
• 4a eine vereinfachte schematische Schnittdarstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Lageranordnung mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Dichtelement gemäß einem vierten Ausführungsbeispiel, und
• 4b eine vereinfachte schematische Schnittdarstellung der Lageranordnung nach 1a.

Further measures improving the invention are preferred below along with the description of four Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in more detail with reference to the figures, the same or similar components being provided with the same reference numerals. It shows

• 1a a simplified schematic sectional illustration of a bearing arrangement according to the invention with a sealing element according to the invention according to a first embodiment,
• 1 b a simplified schematic sectional view of the bearing arrangement according to 1a ,
• 2a a simplified schematic sectional view of the bearing arrangement according to the invention with the sealing element according to the invention according to a second embodiment,
• 2 B a simplified schematic sectional view of the bearing arrangement according to 2a ,
• 3a a simplified schematic sectional view of the bearing arrangement according to the invention with the sealing element according to the invention according to a third embodiment,
• 3b a simplified schematic sectional view of the bearing arrangement according to 1a ,
• 4a a simplified schematic sectional view of the bearing arrangement according to the invention with the sealing element according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment, and
• 4b a simplified schematic sectional view of the bearing arrangement according to 1a .

According to the 1a to 4b includes a bearing assembly 8th an outer ring for a motor vehicle (not shown here) 9 and at least one inner ring 10 , being radially between the inner ring 10 and the outer ring 9 a sealing element 1 for sealing an interior 11 the bearing arrangement 8th opposite an outside area 15th is arranged.

The sealing element 1 comprises a carrier plate 2 that in the outer ring 9 is pressed in. On the carrier plate 2 is an elastically deformable sealing body 3rd integrally formed, which in the manner described below on a running plate 4th comes to the plant sealingly. The running sheet 4th is non-rotatable with the inner ring 10 connected. The inner ring 10 is relative to the non-rotatable outer ring 9 rotatable, the inner ring 10 for this purpose, for example, with a wheel hub - not shown here - can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner. Also a reverse arrangement in which the outer ring 9 relative to the non-rotatable inner ring 10 is rotatable is conceivable.

According to a first embodiment according to the 1a and 1b has the carrier plate 2 an axial and radial section 2a , 2 B on, with the carrier plate 2 with the axial section 2a Rotatably with the outer ring via a radial seat 9 connected is. On the radial section 2 B is the sealing body 3rd , which consists of an elastomer. The sealing body 3rd has three prestressed sealing lips 5a , 5b , 5c on, which is essentially in the direction of the tread 4th extend. Here are the first two sealing lips 5a , 5b essentially in the direction of a radial leg 4a of the running plate 4th and the third sealing lip 5c in the direction of an axial leg 4b of the running plate 4th over which the runner plate 4th rotationally fixed to the inner ring by means of a radial seat 10 connected, aligned. On the sealing body 3rd is a preload spring 6th arranged to the sealing lips 5a , 5b , 5c that are spatially between the carrier plate 2 and the running plate 4th are arranged, in the direction of the tread 4th to pretension.

In an initial state of the sealing element 1 , for example immediately after assembly of the sealing element 1 into the bearing arrangement 8th , only the pretensioned first sealing lip comes 5a sealing on the running plate 4th for the system, see 1a . In the course of the service life or service life of the sealing element 1 can through a gap 17th between the running plate 4th and the carrier plate 2 for example dirt or moisture in a first space 12th of the sealing element 1 penetration. The first space 12th is essentially through the radial leg 4a , the first sealing lip 5a as well as the carrier plate 2 spatially limited. The dirt or moisture have an effect as the operating or service life of the sealing element increases 1 a gradual wear of the first sealing lip 5a .

Reaches the first sealing lip 5a If there is a certain degree of wear or if it wears down to a certain extent due to friction, the pretensioned second sealing lip comes into play 5b as a result of the wear and tear of the first sealing lip 5a as well as the pre-tensioning of the carrier plate 2 molded sealing body 3rd sealing on the running plate 4th to the system. As a result, the dirt or moisture can get on the first sealing lip 5a over to a second space 13th advance and thereby wear the second sealing lip 5b analogous to the first sealing lip 5a cause.

1b shows a state in which the second sealing lip 5b is already worn or worn to such a degree that the pretensioned third sealing lip 5c as a result of the bias on the carrier plate 2 molded sealing body 3rd sealing on the running plate 4th comes to the plant. In other words, the second sealing lip collects after the wear and tear 5b the dirt and / or the moisture in one between the second and third sealing lip 5b , 5c trained third Space 14th and leads analogously to the first and second sealing lip 5a , 5b wear of the third sealing lip 5c . The wear of the third sealing lip 5c ultimately leads to a defect in the sealing element 1 , with dirt and / or moisture unhindered in the interior 11 the bearing arrangement 8th can penetrate.

With the sealing lips 5a , 5b , 5c it is thus sacrificial lips that are designed and pretensioned in such a way that only a single sealing lip is always present 5a , 5b , 5c sealing on the running plate 4th comes to rest, with the sealing lips 5a , 5b , 5c Wear or replace one after the other, as a result of the respective wear on the running plate 4th to come to the plant. Due to the reduced number of sliding contacts, there is friction in the sealing element 1 reduced. As a result, there are friction losses in the bearing arrangement 8th reduced.

The 2a and 2 B show a second embodiment of the sealing element 1 . The carrier plate 2 is designed analogously to the first embodiment. The sealing body 3rd in this case has a first and second prestressed sealing lip 5a , 5b on that by a on the sealing body 3rd arranged preload spring 6th in the direction of the running plate 4th are biased. The first sealing lip 5a comes in the initial state or at the beginning of operation of the bearing arrangement 8th on a radial leg 4a of the running plate 4th to the system. Affected by dirt and moisture in the first space 12th , the first sealing lip wears out 5a so that the pretensioned second sealing lip 5b from a certain degree of wear of the first sealing lip 5a on an oblique to the axial leg 4b trained middle thigh 4c comes to bear sealingly, which between the radial and axial legs 4a , 4b is arranged.

The third embodiment of the sealing element according to the invention 1 according to the 3a and 3b differs from the embodiment according to FIGS 1a and 1b essentially by having a mudguard 7th is provided which on the bearing assembly 8th spatially between the bearing plate 4th as well as the outside area 15th is arranged. The fender 7th is set up in particular, the sealing element 1 to protect against coarse dirt, thus the static sealing of the bearing arrangement 8th to improve. The fender 7th is just like the carrier plate 2 and the running plate 4th relatively thin-walled and preferably manufactured by punching and forming.

How the sealing element works 1 corresponds essentially to that according to 1a and 1b , the carrier plate 2 is also designed such that the gap 17th between the carrier plate 2 and the bearing plate 4th Is designed like a labyrinth to allow access of dirt and / or moisture in the first space 12th in addition to the mudguard 7th to complicate. Another difference from the embodiment according to FIGS 1a and 1b is that the sealing body 3rd with the three sealing lips 5a , 5b , 5c on the inside of the sealing element 1 is arranged, the bearing plate 4th spatially between the sealing body 3rd and the fender 7th is arranged. The sealing body 3rd is on both the axial section 2a as well as on the radial section 2 B molded.

The preload of the sealing lips 5a , 5b , 5c takes place here on the basis of the specific design of the sealing lips 5a , 5b , 5c as well as the inclined arrangement of the running plate 4th relative to it. An arrangement of an additional bias spring, as shown in 1a to 2 B is shown, is thus not required, whereby the structure of the sealing element 1 is simplified.

According to a fourth embodiment according to the 4a and 4b is the carrier plate 2 Arranged on the outside area, wherein the running plate 4th Is arranged on the interior side. The carrier plate 2 comes with the axial section 2a on the inner ring 10 to the plant, the axial section 2a the sealing body 3rd partially clamped radially. In the area of the outer ring 9 has the carrier plate 2 another axial section 2c , which with a radial gap 17th to the outer ring 9 is arranged.

The carrier plate 2 has a circumferential groove 18th on, in which an axial leg 4b of the running plate 4th partially engages so that the carrier plate 2 and the running plate 4th Are designed like a labyrinth and thus an entry of dirt and moisture into the first space 12th is made more difficult or delayed.

The running sheet 4th has next to the axial leg 4b , by means of which the running sheet 4th in the outer ring 9 is pressed in for rotationally fixed connection, furthermore a radial leg 4a and one at an angle to the axial leg 4b trained thigh 4d on. So is the tread 4th essentially U-shaped. On the running plate 4th is also another sealing body 16 integrally formed, which is designed to the interior 11 the bearing arrangement 8th compared to the outside area 15th additionally to seal. An anteroom 21 between the running plate 4th and the carrier plate 2 is designed in such a way that on the running plate 4th due to the inclined arrangement of the inclined leg 4d a surrounding trough 19th forms, which causes dirt and / or moisture to be captured first before it passes through a second gap 20th between the end of the sloping leg 4d and the carrier plate 2 in the first space 12th can arrive.

The sealing body 3rd in the present case has two prestressed sealing lips 5a , 5b on, which is in the direction of the oblique leg 4d of the running plate 4th extend. The sealing body 3rd with the sealing lips 5a , 5b becomes during the assembly of the sealing element 1 preloaded so that the first sealing lip is first 5a on the running plate 4th comes sealingly to the plant and then as a result of wear-related wear of the first sealing lip 5a the second sealing lip 5b sealing on the running plate 4th comes to the plant. The interior is also sealed 11 analogous to the exemplary embodiments described above, but always with only one sealing lip 5a , 5b sealing on the running plate 4th comes to the plant in order to reduce friction losses. In 4a is the initial state of the sealing element 1 shown in which only the first sealing lip 5a on the sloping thigh 4d of the running plate 4th comes to the plant sealingly. 4b In contrast, shows the state in which the second sealing lip 5b is worn out.

List of reference symbols

1

Sealing element

2

Carrier plate

2a

Axial section

2 B

Radial section

2c

Second axial section of the carrier plate

3

Sealing body

4th

Running plate

4a

Radial leg

4b

Axial leg

4c

Middle thigh

4d

Inclined leg

5a, 5b, 5c

Sealing lip

6th

Preload spring

7th

Fender

8th

Bearing arrangement

9

Outer ring

10

Inner ring

11

inner space

12th

First space

13th

Second space

14th

Third space

15th

Outdoor area

16

Second sealing body

17th

gap

18th

Groove

19th

trough

20th

Second gap

21

Vestibule

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 2015/120831 A1 [0002]

Claims (6)

Sealing element (1) for sealing an interior (11) of a bearing arrangement (8) from an outer area (15), comprising a carrier plate (2) with an elastically deformable sealing body (3) molded thereon and a running plate (4), the carrier plate ( 2) is arranged rotatably relative to the running plate (4), or vice versa, the sealing body (3) having at least one first and second prestressed sealing lip (5a, 5b), the first sealing lip (5a) sealingly on the running plate (4) for Comes into contact, and the second sealing lip (5b) is set up to come into sealing contact with the running plate (4) as a result of wear-related wear of the first sealing lip (5a). Sealing element (1) Claim 1 , characterized in that the sealing body (3) has three pretensioned sealing lips (5a, 5b, 5c), the first sealing lip (5a) sealingly on the running plate (4), the second sealing lip (5b) being set up for this purpose to come into sealing contact with the running plate (4) as a result of wear-related wear of the first sealing lip (5a), and the third sealing lip (5c) is set up to provide a seal due to wear-related wear of the second sealing lip (5b) on the running plate (4) to come to the plant. Sealing element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a prestressing spring (6) is arranged on the sealing body (3) in order to prestress the sealing lips (5a, 5b, 5c) in the direction of the running plate (4). Sealing element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the running plate (4) can be rotated relative to a protective plate (7) or vice versa. Sealing element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a further sealing body (16) formed on the running plate (4), which is designed to additionally seal the interior (11) of the bearing arrangement (8) from the outer area (15). Bearing arrangement (8) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one outer ring (9) and at least one inner ring (10), wherein a sealing element (1) according to one of the preceding claims for sealing a radially between the inner ring (10) and the outer ring (9) Interior (11) of the bearing arrangement (8) is arranged opposite an outer region (15).

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