DE102019134262A1 - Roller bearing arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a rolling bearing arrangement (1), comprising a rolling bearing (2) with an inner ring (3), an outer ring (4) and rolling elements (5), the inner ring (3) having an inner ring raceway (6) and the outer ring (4) ) has an outer ring raceway (7), the rolling elements (5) being arranged between the inner ring (3) and outer ring (4) in a rolling manner. The roller bearing arrangement is characterized according to the invention in that the inner ring (3) and the outer ring (4) each are pot-shaped and the inner ring (3) has an inner ring base (8) and the outer ring (4) has an outer ring base (9), which are arranged axially opposite one another in the roller bearing (2), with the inner ring base (8) and / or a grounding element (10) is provided on the outer ring base (9), which connects the inner ring (3) to the outer ring (4) in a current-conducting manner by means of a contact element (11) movable in the axial direction, with at least one also in the roller bearing (2) Spring device (12) angeor is dnet, which exerts a resilient axial force on the grounding element (10) and / or the contact element (11) in such a way that the contact element (11) can be moved axially against the inner ring base (8) and / or the outer ring base (9) by spring force.

Description

Field of invention

The invention relates to a rolling bearing arrangement comprising a rolling bearing with an inner ring, an outer ring and rolling elements, the inner ring having an inner ring raceway and the outer ring having an outer ring raceway, the rolling elements being arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring in a rolling manner.

Background of the invention

When using rolling bearings, e.g. in or on electrical machines or within a hybridized drive train of a motor vehicle, current can pass through. The switching pulses from converters lead, for example, to the build-up of voltage between the bearing rings of rolling bearings. This tension is relieved again and again by breakdowns. Under unfavorable conditions, this can lead to current passage damage to raceways and rolling elements. There is thus the risk of a premature and unexpected failure of the bearing and thus of the entire electrical machine. In addition to the increased maintenance effort, the downtime of the machine results in additional costs.

Current-insulated rolling bearings which are intended to prevent harmful bearing currents are known from the prior art. For example, rolling bearings with ceramic insulation on the outer or inner ring are used. However, electrically insulated rolling bearings are comparatively expensive and are therefore not used very often.

Object of the invention

In the light of the known prior art, the invention is based on the object of providing a roller bearing arrangement which transfers electrical current between the inner ring and outer ring of a roller bearing in a reliable and low-wear manner, especially with possible axial play between the inner ring and outer ring.

Description of the invention

This object is achieved by a rolling bearing arrangement comprising a rolling bearing with an inner ring, an outer ring and rolling elements, the inner ring having an inner ring raceway and the outer ring having an outer ring raceway, the rolling elements being arranged in rolling bearings between the inner ring and the outer ring, the inner ring and the outer ring are each pot-shaped and the inner ring has an inner ring base and the outer ring has an outer ring base, which are arranged axially opposite one another in the roller bearing, with a grounding element being provided on the inner ring base and / or the outer ring base, which connects the inner ring to the outer ring by means of an axial direction Movable contact element connects in a current-conducting manner, at least one spring device also being arranged in the roller bearing, which exerts a resilient axial force on the grounding element and / or the contact element in such a way that the contact element acts axially against it the inner ring base and / or the outer ring base is movable.

This refinement ensures that the contact element rests against the inner ring base and / or outer ring base in an electrically contacting manner with the effect of spring force. As a result, the inner ring is electrically connected to the outer ring, so that there are no electrical potential differences between the inner ring and the outer ring.

The current dissipation implemented in this way protects the rolling bearing against electrical damage. In addition, compared to the previously known solutions, the number of components is reduced and the assembly effort is reduced as a result. The soiling of the rolling bearing, which usually occurs due to a sliding grounding ring that has often been used until now, is also avoided.

The axial resilience of the spring device allows axial play to be reliably compensated for during operation of the rolling bearing, since the contact element is spring-force-controlled following the axial play and thus ensures the electrically conductive contact between the inner ring base and the outer ring base. Furthermore, through the suitable configuration of the axial spring force effect, it can be ensured that the contact element rests against the inner ring base and / or outer ring base with an always optimal axial pressure force, whereby the wear of the contact element can be reduced to a minimum.

The grounding element has the function of bridging the electrical potential between the inner ring and the outer ring of the rolling bearing. It can therefore be connected to earth, but also to any other electrical potential. The grounding element comprises a contact element that establishes the electrical contact between the inner ring and / or outer ring and the grounding element.

First, the individual elements of the claimed subject matter of the invention are explained in the order in which they are named in the set of claims and preferred embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are described below.

Rolling bearings can in particular be used to transmit rotary movements with the lowest possible friction losses. Rolling bearings can be used in particular to fix axles and shafts, and depending on the design, they absorb radial and / or axial forces and at the same time enable the shaft or the components mounted on an axle to rotate. For this purpose, rolling elements are arranged between an inner ring and an outer ring of the roller bearing. Between these three main components, the inner ring, outer ring and the rolling elements, mainly rolling friction usually occurs within the rolling bearing. Since the rolling elements in the inner and outer ring can preferably roll on hardened steel surfaces with optimized lubrication, the rolling friction of such bearings is relatively low. It is particularly preferred to design a roller bearing according to the present invention as a needle, roller or ball bearing.

The inner ring can, in particular, connect the shaft that receives the roller bearings to the roller bearing or the roller bodies. In particular, the shaft can be connected to the side of the outer surface of the inner ring facing the shaft, with the rolling elements of the roller bearing rolling on the inner ring raceway opposite this outer surface. The inner ring can be formed from an electrically conductive metallic and / or ceramic material. It is basically conceivable to design the inner ring in one piece or in several parts, in particular in two parts.

The outer ring can, in particular, connect the bearing receiving the roller bearing to the roller bearing or the roller bodies. In particular, the bearing can be connected to the side of the outer ring surface facing the bearing, with the outer ring raceway opposite this outer ring rolling the rolling elements of the rolling bearing. The outer ring can be formed from an electrically conductive metallic and / or ceramic material. It is basically conceivable to design the outer ring in one piece or in several parts, in particular in two parts.

The rolling elements can have the shape of a ball or a roller, depending on the type of rolling bearing. They roll on the raceways of the roller bearing and have the task of transferring the force acting on a radial roller bearing from the outer ring to the inner ring and vice versa. Roller-shaped rolling bodies are also referred to as roller-rolling bodies and spherical rolling bodies as bearing balls. The rolling elements are preferably made of an electrically conductive metallic material.

The rolling elements can roll inside the rolling bearing, in particular on the inner ring raceway of the inner ring. For this purpose, the surface of the inner ring raceway can advantageously be made correspondingly wear-resistant, for example also by means of a corresponding surface treatment method and / or by applying a corresponding additional material layer. The inner ring raceway can be flat or profiled. A profiled design of the inner ring raceway can be used, for example, to guide the rolling elements on the inner ring raceway. A planar shape of the inner ring raceway can, however, allow, for example, a certain axial displaceability of the rolling bodies on the inner ring raceway. The inner ring raceway is preferably designed to be electrically conductive.

The rolling bodies can roll within the rolling bearing, in particular on the outer ring raceway of the outer ring. For this purpose, the surface of the outer ring raceway can advantageously be made correspondingly wear-resistant, for example also by means of a corresponding surface treatment process and / or by applying a corresponding additional material layer. The outer ring raceway can be flat or profiled. A profiled configuration of the outer ring raceway can be used, for example, to guide the rolling elements on the outer ring raceway. A planar formation of the outer ring raceway can, however, allow, for example, a certain axial displaceability of the rolling bodies on the outer ring raceway. The outer ring raceway can in particular also be designed to be electrically conductive.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be advantageous that the spring device is arranged in the grounding element. The grounding element can thus be designed as a compact structural unit.

It can furthermore be advantageous that the spring device is designed as a spiral spring, as a result of which a particularly advantageous axial spring force effect can be set.

In a further development of the invention, it can furthermore be preferred that the inner ring base and / or the outer ring base are / is designed to be axially elastic. In this way, on the one hand, the axial pressure force of the contact element with respect to the outer ring base and / or inner ring base can be set in an optimized manner; on the other hand, there is an even better axial play compensation. It is basically conceivable that the axially spring-elastic outer ring base and / or inner ring base is present in the roller bearing in addition to a spring element, in particular a spiral spring, already arranged within the grounding element. Alternatively, of course, it is also possible that the axially spring-elastic outer ring base and / or the inner ring base is the sole spring element in the rolling bearing.

Furthermore, it can be advantageous for the outer ring base and / or the inner ring base to comprise recesses and spring bars which are shaped in such a way that the inner ring base and / or the outer ring base has an axial spring elasticity. This is explained in more detail with reference to the following exemplary embodiments.

Furthermore, it can be advantageous that the contact element has an axis of rotation which coincides with the axis of rotation of the roller bearing. This results in a particularly reliable and low-wear arrangement of the contact element.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be preferred that the contact element is a rolling body. By using a rolling element, in particular a type of rolling element already present in the rolling bearing, the component complexity and the manufacturing costs for the rolling bearing arrangement can be further reduced. It is very particularly preferred that the rolling body, as a contact element, is shaped as a roller rolling body, particularly preferably as a cylindrical roller rolling body.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be advantageous that the grounding element is formed integrally, preferably monolithically, with the inner ring base and / or the outer ring base. As a result, the component complexity and the assembly effort can be kept low and the position of the grounding element is determined by the design by being integral with respect to the inner ring and / or outer ring.

As an alternative to this, however, it can furthermore also be advantageous that the grounding element is connected to the inner ring base and / or the outer ring base as a separate component. The advantage of this embodiment is that the grounding element can be pre-assembled with a spring device and a contact element and can subsequently be mounted as a modular component in the inner ring base and / or outer ring base.

In a further development of the invention, it can furthermore be preferred that the grounding element comprises a pot-shaped section in which the contact element is arranged so as to be linearly displaceable in the axial direction, whereby an axial guidance of the contact element is provided.

It can furthermore be preferred that the contact element has a coating. This coating can in particular be designed to conduct electricity. It is very particularly preferred that the coating of the contact element is a wear protection coating.

It can also be preferred that the inner ring base and / or the outer ring base have a coating. This coating can in particular be designed to conduct electricity. It is very particularly preferred that the coating of the inner ring base and / or the outer ring base is a wear protection coating.

It can furthermore be preferred that the components of the roller bearing arrangement which are in the current flow are formed from the same materials in order to reduce the risk of corrosion along the current flow through the roller bearing arrangement.

Figure list

• 1 eine erste Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Wälzlagers in einer Querschnittsansicht,
• 2 eine zweite Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Wälzlagers in einer Querschnittsansicht.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings without restricting the general inventive concept. The drawings are only of a schematic nature and are used solely for understanding the invention. The same elements are provided with the same reference symbols. The different features of the various exemplary embodiments can also be freely combined with one another within what is technically feasible. Show it:

• 1 a first embodiment of the roller bearing according to the invention in a cross-sectional view,
• 2 a second embodiment of the roller bearing according to the invention in a cross-sectional view.

Detailed description of the drawings

The 1 shows a first embodiment of a roller bearing arrangement according to the invention 1 , comprising a roller bearing 2 with an inner ring 3 , an outer ring 4th and rolling elements 5 . The inner ring 3 has an inner ring raceway 6th on and the outer ring 4th an outer ring raceway 7th . The rolling elements 5 are between the inner ring 3 and outer ring 4th arranged rolling bearing.

The inner ring 3 and the outer ring 4th are each designed like a pot. The inner ring 3 has an inner ring base 8th and the outer ring 4th an outer ring base 9 on, which are axially opposite in the rolling bearing 2 are arranged. The outer ring bottom 9 is designed to be closed, so that no particles or fluids from the outside through the outer ring base 9 in the roller bearing 2 can penetrate.

On the inner ring base 8th is a grounding element 10 provided that the inner ring 3 With the outer ring 4th by means of a contact element movable in the axial direction 11 electrically connects. The inner ring bottom 8th has for this purpose a receptacle in the form of an opening in which the grounding element 10 is fixed. The grounding element 10 is in the embodiment shown 1 as a separate component with the inner ring base 8th connected. The contact element 11 is designed as a cylinder-like hollow piston, the outer surfaces of which are inside the grounding element 10 are guided axially displaceably. The grounding element 10 this includes the cup-shaped section 13th in which the contact element 11 is arranged to be linearly displaceable in the axial direction.

How good in 1 is recognizable, has the inner ring 3 no inner ring rim, so the inner ring 3 with its inner ring running surface 6th compared to the rolling elements designed as a rolling element cylinder roller 5 and the outer ring 4th is designed to be axially displaceable. The rolling element 5 are bordered in the axial direction by two outer ring rims, which are not designated in any more detail. Thus, the rolling bearing shown 2 an axial displacement one in the inner ring 3 compensate recorded shaft (not shown).

In the roller bearing 2 is also a spring device 12th arranged, which a resilient axial force in such a way on the contact element 11 exercises that the contact element 11 spring force acts axially against the bottom of the outer ring 9 is movable, so that the contact element 11 spring force on the inner ring base 8th electrically contacting.

The spring device designed as a spiral spring 12th is in the grounding element 10 arranged and is supported on the one hand against the bottom of the grounding element 10 and on the other hand against the bottom of the contact element designed as a cylinder-like hollow piston 11 from. The contact element 11 has an axis of rotation that coincides with the axis of rotation of the roller bearing 2 coincides.

The 2 shows a second embodiment of a roller bearing arrangement according to the invention 1 , comprising a roller bearing 2 with an inner ring 3 , an outer ring 4th and rolling elements 5 . The inner ring 3 also has an inner ring raceway here 6th on and the outer ring 4th an outer ring raceway 7th . The rolling elements 5 are between the inner ring 3 and outer ring 4th arranged rolling bearing. The inner ring 3 and the outer ring 4th are also each designed like a pot. The inner ring 3 has an inner ring base 8th and the inner ring 3 an inner ring base 8th that are axially opposite in the rolling bearing 2 are arranged.

In this embodiment, too, is on the inner ring base 8th a grounding element 10 provided that the inner ring 3 with the outer ring 4th by means of a contact element movable in the axial direction 11 electrically connects. In the roller bearing 2 is now a spring device 12th from the inner ring base 8th and / or the outer ring base 9 formed, the inner ring bottom 8th and / or the outer ring base 9 are designed to be axially elastic.

The one from the inner ring base 8th and / or the outer ring base 9 formed spring device 12th exerts a resilient axial force in this way on the grounding element 10 and / or the contact element 11 from that the contact element 11 spring force acts axially against the inner ring base 8th and / or the outer ring base 9 is movable, so that the contact element 11 spring force on the inner ring base 8th electrically contacting.

The 2 also shows that the outer ring bottom 9 and / or the inner ring base 8th Recesses 14th and spring bars 15th includes, which are shaped such that the inner ring bottom 8th and / or the outer ring base 9 has an axial resilience.

The contact element 11 also has in the in 2 The embodiment shown has an axis of rotation that coincides with the axis of rotation of the roller bearing 2 coincides. The contact element 11 is called a rolling element 5 executed, in the example shown as a cylindrical roller rolling element.

The grounding element 10 is integral, preferably also monolithic, with the inner ring base 8th educated. The grounding element 10 comprises a pot-shaped section 13th in which the contact element 11 is arranged to be linearly displaceable in the axial direction

It is understood that although the grounding element 10 in the shown embodiments of the 1 and the 2 at the bottom of the inner ring 8th is arranged that grounding element 10 alternatively also on the bottom of the outer ring 9 can be arranged, in which case the contact element 11 on the inner ring base 8th electrically contacting.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the figures. The above description is therefore not to be regarded as restrictive, but rather as explanatory. The following patent claims are to be understood in such a way that a named feature is present in at least one embodiment of the invention. This does not exclude the presence of further features. If the patent claims and the above description define “first” and “second” features, this designation serves to distinguish between two similar features without defining an order of precedence.

List of reference symbols

1

Roller bearing arrangement

2

roller bearing

3

Inner ring

4th

Outer ring

5

Rolling elements

6th

Inner ring raceway

7th

Outer ring raceway

8th

Inner ring base

9

Outer ring bottom

10

Grounding element

11

Contact element

12th

Spring device

13th

cup-shaped section

14th

Recesses

15th

Spring bars

Claims (10)

Rolling bearing arrangement (1), comprising a rolling bearing (2) with an inner ring (3), an outer ring (4) and rolling elements (5), the inner ring (3) having an inner ring raceway (6) and the outer ring (4) an outer ring raceway ( 7), wherein the rolling elements (5) are arranged in a rolling manner between the inner ring (3) and the outer ring (4), characterized in that the inner ring (3) and the outer ring (4) are each pot-shaped and the inner ring (3) an inner ring base (8) and the outer ring (4) has an outer ring base (9), which are arranged axially opposite one another in the roller bearing (2), with a grounding element (10) on the inner ring base (8) and / or the outer ring base (9) ) is provided, which connects the inner ring (3) with the outer ring (4) by means of a contact element (11) movable in the axial direction in a current-conducting manner, with at least one spring device (12) also being arranged in the roller bearing (2) which generates a resilient axial force on the earth gselement (10) and / or the contact element (11) exercises that the contact element (11) can be moved axially against the inner ring base (8) and / or the outer ring base (9) by means of spring force. Rolling bearing arrangement (1), according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the spring device (12) is arranged in the grounding element (10). Rolling bearing arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring device (12) is designed as a spiral spring. Rolling bearing arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner ring base (8) and / or the outer ring base (9) are / is designed to be axially elastic. Rolling bearing arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact element (11) has an axis of rotation which coincides with the axis of rotation of the rolling bearing (2). Rolling bearing arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact element (11) is a rolling body (5). Rolling bearing arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grounding element (10) is formed integrally, preferably monolithically, with the inner ring base (8) and / or the outer ring base (9). Rolling bearing arrangement (1), according to one of the previous ones Claims 1 to 6th , characterized in that the grounding element (10) is connected as a separate component to the inner ring base (8) and / or the outer ring base (9). Rolling bearing arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grounding element (10) comprises a pot-shaped section (13) in which the contact element (11) is arranged to be linearly displaceable in the axial direction Rolling bearing arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer ring base (9) and / or the inner ring base (8) comprises recesses (14) and spring bars (15) which are shaped such that the inner ring base (8) and / or the outer ring base (9) has an axial spring elasticity.

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