DE102020125004A1 - Rolling 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) having a outer ring raceway (7), and the rolling bodies (5) are mounted so as to roll between the inner ring (3) and the outer ring (4), with a current-conducting element (8) being arranged between the inner ring (3) and the outer ring (4) which The inner ring (3) is electrically conductively connected to the outer ring (4), the electrically conductive element (8) comprising a first annular disc (9) and a second annular disc (10), the first annular disc (9) being non-rotatably and electrically conductively connected to the inner ring ( 3) and the second annular disc (10) is non-rotatably and electrically conductively connected to the outer ring (4), and the first annular disc (9) and the second annular disc (10) are electrically conductively connected to one another via a contact element (11).

Description

The present 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, and the rolling elements being mounted in a rolling manner between the inner ring and the outer ring, a current-conducting element between the inner ring and the outer ring is arranged, which connects the inner ring to the outer ring in an electrically conductive manner.

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.

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

In light of the known prior art, it is therefore the object of the invention to provide a roller bearing arrangement with improved protection against harmful bearing currents. In particular, it is also the object of the invention to provide a roller bearing arrangement which realizes protection against harmful bearing currents in a wet-running roller bearing arrangement.

This object is achieved by a roller bearing arrangement comprising a roller 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, and the rolling elements being mounted in a rolling manner between the inner ring and the outer ring, a current-conducting one between the inner ring and the outer ring Element is arranged, which connects the inner ring to the outer ring in a current-conducting manner, the current-conducting element comprising a first washer and a second washer, the first washer in a rotationally fixed and electrically conductive manner to the inner ring and the second washer in a rotationally fixed and electrically conductive manner to the outer ring and the first washer and the second washer are connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner via a contact element.

The roller bearing arrangement according to the invention can effectively protect it against undesired bearing currents. Furthermore, by arranging the contact element between the annular disks connected non-rotatably to the bearing rings, a particularly safe and low-friction potential reduction can take place between the inner ring and the outer ring. Furthermore, the current-conducting element can be used without structural adaptations to an existing roller bearing. It is also possible to manufacture the electrically conductive elements extremely inexpensively using standard manufacturing processes.

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 particularly preferred embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are described below.

Rolling bearings can in particular be used to enable rotary movements with the lowest possible friction losses. Rolling bearings can be used in particular to fix and / or support axles and shafts, whereby, depending on the design, they absorb radial and / or axial forces and at the same time enable the rotation of the shaft or the components mounted on an axle in this way.

For this purpose, rolling elements rolling 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.

The inner ring can in particular connect the shaft receiving the rolling bearings to the rolling bearing or the rolling elements. 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 a metallic and / or ceramic material. It is basically conceivable to design the inner ring in one piece or in several pieces, in particular in two pieces.

The outer ring can in particular connect the bearing receiving the roller bearing to the roller bearing or the roller bodies. Here can 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 a metallic and / or ceramic material. It is basically conceivable to form the outer ring in one piece or in several pieces, in particular in two pieces.

The rolling elements 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. In an axial rolling bearing, the rolling elements transmit the forces acting on the axial rolling bearing between the running disks. Roller-shaped rolling elements are also referred to as roller-rolling elements and spherical rolling elements as bearing balls.

Roller-shaped rolling elements can be selected, for example, from the group of symmetrical spherical rollers, asymmetrical spherical rollers, cylindrical rollers, needle rollers and / or tapered rollers.

Rolling bodies can be guided in a cage or through rolling body spacers and spaced from one another. In principle, it is also conceivable to design a roller bearing without a cage, which is also referred to as a full complement roller bearing. In the case of full complement rolling bearings, adjacent rolling elements can contact each other.

The rolling elements can roll within 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 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 formation of the inner ring raceway can, however, allow, for example, a certain axial displaceability of the rolling bodies on the inner ring raceway.

The rolling elements can roll inside 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 a corresponding surface treatment method 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.

It is preferred that the first washer and / or the second washer is formed from an electrically conductive, metallic material. In this way it can be achieved that the annular disk can be manufactured inexpensively and, in particular, with regard to a fixation of the contact element, can be structurally adapted and manufactured in terms of manufacturing technology.

It is further preferred that the contact element is formed from a non-metallic material, in particular from an electrically conductive carbon material, whereby a particularly abrasion-resistant and elastic contact element can be formed.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the first washer and / or the second washer have a three-dimensional shape through which the contact element is held in position between the first washer and the second washer, whereby a particularly simple and secure fixation of the contact element can be realized.

In this context, it can also be preferred that the contact element is fixed to the first annular disk or the second annular disk in a non-positive and / or form-fitting and / or cohesive manner.

It is very particularly preferred that the contact element and the first washer or the contact element and the second washer are fixed to one another by means of a snap-in connection, so that the contact element can be easily and securely mounted on an washer.

In order to ensure particularly secure mechanical contact between the ring disks and the contact element, it can be provided according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention that the second ring disk is shaped in this way and arranged on the outer ring and / or the first ring disk is shaped in this way and on the inner ring is arranged that the contact element is arranged preloaded between the first annular disc and the second annular disc. In addition to the secure mechanical - and thus also electrical - contacting, the preload can also be used to adjust wear if the contact element should be subject to mechanical abrasion.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to figures without restricting the general inventive concept.

• 1 eine erste Ausführungsform eines Wälzlagers mit einem stromleitenden Element in einer schematischen Querschnittsansicht, und
• 2 eine zweite Ausführungsform eines Wälzlagers mit einem stromleitenden Element in einer schematischen Querschnittsansicht.

Show it:

• 1 a first embodiment of a rolling bearing with an electrically conductive element in a schematic cross-sectional view, and
• 2 a second embodiment of a roller bearing with an electrically conductive element in a schematic cross-sectional view.

the 1 shows a roller bearing arrangement 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 as well as the outer ring 4th an outer ring raceway 7th on. The rolling elements 5 are between the inner ring 3 and outer ring 4th mounted rolling, with between the inner ring 3 and the outer ring 4th an electrically conductive element 8th is arranged, which is the inner ring 3 with the outer ring 4th electrically connects.

The conductive element 8th comprises a first washer 9 and a second washer 10 , the first washer 9 non-rotatable and electrically conductive with the inner ring 3 and the second washer 10 non-rotatable and electrically conductive with the outer ring 4th connected is. The non-rotatable connection can, for example - as in the exemplary embodiments shown - by means of a press fit of the annular disks 9 , 10 done with the bearing rings 3.4. For this purpose, the bearing rings 3, 4 have undercuts into which the ring disks 9 , 10 are pressed in. The first washer 9 and the second washer 10 are via a contact element 11th are electrically connected to each other. The contact element 11th is ring-shaped and in the axial direction between the first washer 9 and the second washer 10 positioned.

The first washer 9 and the second washer 10 is made of an electrically conductive, metallic material. The contact element 11th is formed in the embodiment shown from a non-metallic material, in particular from an electrically conductive carbon material.

In the illustrated embodiment of the 1 is the contact element 11th non-rotatably with one of the ring disks 9 , 10 connected, while the non-rotatably with the contact element 11th connected washer 9 , 10 on the end face of the annular contact element 11th fits and grinds.

The first washer can be used for receiving and non-rotatable fixing 9 and / or the second washer 10 have a three-dimensional shape through which the contact element 11th between the first washer 9 and the second washer 10 is held in position. The contact element 11th can on the first washer 9 or the second washer 10 be fixed positively and / or positively and / or cohesively. It is particularly preferred that the contact element 11th and the first washer 9 or the contact element 11th and the second washer 10 are fixed to one another by means of a snap-in connection, but this is not the case in the embodiments of FIG 1 , 2 is shown.

A sufficiently good mechanical and thus electrical contact between the contact element 11th and the washers 9 , 10 to ensure is the second washer 10 so shaped and attached to the outer ring 4th is arranged and / or the first annular disk 9 so shaped and attached to the inner ring 3 arranged that the contact element 11th preloaded between the first washer 9 and the second washer 10 is arranged. This is particularly good about the embodiment as shown in FIG 2 is shown, recognizable.

In the embodiment of the roller bearing assembly 1 the 2 owns the first washer 9 , which rotatably with the inner ring 3 is connected, a cross-sectionally Zig-zag shaped, approximately S- or Z-shaped section, which in its radial extent relative to a radial plane of the roller bearing 2 is inclined at an angle. Due to the zig-zag-like cross-sectional shape of the first washer 9 this has a contact nose 12th , which acts in the axial direction spring force against the contact element 11th presses. Through the contact nose 12th can be the friction surface between the first washer 9 and the contact element 11th can be significantly reduced, whereby the friction losses of the rolling bearing 2 can be minimized. Because of the zig-zag-like cross-sectional shape of the first washer 9 there is also an axial spring action of the washer 9 causes, with wear or abrasion at the contact point between the contact element 11th and first washer 9 an automatic axial tracking of the first washer 9 in the direction of the contact element 11th results.

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 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. Insofar as the claims and the above description define “first” and “second” features, this designation serves to distinguish between two features of the same type without defining an order of precedence.

List of reference symbols

1

Rolling bearing arrangement

2

roller bearing

3

Inner ring

4th

Outer ring

5

Rolling elements

6th

Inner ring raceway

7th

Outer ring raceway

8th

element

9

Washer

10

Washer

11th

Contact element

12th

Contact nose

Claims (7)

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) has, and the rolling elements (5) between the inner ring (3) and outer ring (4) are mounted rolling, with an electrically conductive element (8) being arranged between the inner ring (3) and the outer ring (4), which the inner ring (3) connects electrically to the outer ring (4), characterized in that the electrically conductive element (8) comprises a first washer (9) and a second washer (10), the first washer (9) rotatably and electrically conductive with the inner ring (3 ) and the second washer (10) is rotatably and electrically conductively connected to the outer ring (4), and the first washer (9) and the second washer (10) are connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner via a contact element (11). Rolling bearing arrangement (1), according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the first washer (9) and / or the second washer (10) is formed from an electrically conductive, metallic material. Rolling bearing arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact element (11) is formed from a non-metallic material, in particular from an electrically conductive carbon material. Rolling bearing arrangement (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first washer (9) and / or the second washer (10) have a three-dimensional shape through which the contact element (11) between the first washer (9) and the second annular disc (10) is held in position. Rolling bearing arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact element (11) is fixed to the first ring disk (9) or the second ring disk (10) in a non-positive and / or positive and / or material fit. Rolling bearing arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact element (11) and the first annular disk (9) or the contact element (11) and the second annular disk (10) are fixed to one another by means of a snap-in connection. Rolling bearing arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second annular disk (10) is shaped and arranged on the outer ring (4) and / or the first annular disk (9) is shaped and attached to the inner ring (3) is arranged that the contact element (11) is arranged preloaded between the first annular disc (9) and the second annular disc (10).

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