DE102020126530B4 - Cage for roller bearings, roller bearings with cage and mounting method for roller bearings - Google Patents

Abstract

A cage (1) for a rolling bearing (2), comprising: a ring-like main body (3) having a plurality of pockets (4) arranged circumferentially and adapted to receive rolling elements (15) of the rolling bearing (2); first and second snap hooks (5, 6) with radially outwardly directed snap lugs (9, 10), which are set up to form a positive connection with an outer ring (14) of the roller bearing (2); the first and second snap hooks (5, 6) extending axially away from the main body (3);wherein the first and second snap hooks (5, 6) are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction, and the snap lugs (9) of the first Snap hooks (5) protrude further outwards in the radial direction than the snap lugs (10) of the second snap hooks (6), characterized in that the cage (1) has third snap hooks (11) with snap lugs (12) directed radially inwards are set up to form a positive connection with an inner ring (13) of the roller bearing (2); the third snap hooks (11) extending away from the main body (3) in the axial direction opposite to the first and second snap hooks (5, 6), and the third snap hooks (11) being circumferentially equally distributed.

Description

The present invention relates to a cage for a rolling bearing, a rolling bearing, and an assembly method for a rolling bearing. In particular, the invention relates to a cage for a rolling bearing and the same for a steering rod of a motor vehicle.

State of the art

Rolling bearings are well known in the prior art. Rolling bearings generally have a bearing inner ring, a bearing outer ring and rolling elements accommodated between them, which are held by a cage between the bearing rings in such a way that they roll on corresponding bearing ring running surfaces. The cage is coupled to the two bearing rings in different ways in such a way that the cage is prevented from falling out and the roller bearing is thus prevented from being dismantled as far as possible. When manufacturing the bearing rings and the cage, there are manufacturing-related tolerances that depend on the respective manufacturing process. The rolling elements, on the other hand, are essentially manufactured without tolerances.

These manufacturing tolerances can lead to correspondingly large overall tolerances of functional dimensions in the assembled roller bearing. As a result, the rolling bearing is unintentionally dismantled during handling or transport. In particular, when the rolling bearings are handled as bulk goods, the rolling bearings often fall apart completely or partially into their individual parts.

From the DE 10 2018 116 860 A1 a cage is known which has a ring-like main body with a plurality of pockets. Furthermore, first and second snap hooks are provided with radially outwardly directed snap lugs which are designed to form a positive connection with an outer ring of the roller bearing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cage for a roller bearing as well as an improved roller bearing, wherein in particular an unintentional disassembly of the roller bearing is prevented.

Disclosure of Invention

The object is achieved by a cage for a roller bearing, a roller bearing and an assembly method for a roller bearing according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and developments can be found in the dependent claims and the following description.

The cage for a rolling bearing according to the present invention has a ring-like main body and first and second snap hooks. The ring-like main body has a plurality of pockets which are arranged in the circumferential direction, preferably evenly distributed. The pockets are designed to accommodate rolling bodies of the rolling bearing. The first and second snap hooks have radially outwardly directed snap lugs which are designed to form a positive connection with an outer ring of the roller bearing, the first and second snap hooks extending away from the main body in the axial direction. Furthermore, the first and the second snap hooks are arranged in the circumferential direction, preferably evenly distributed, essentially alternating, ie alternately. The snap lugs of the first snap hooks protrude further outwards in the radial direction than the snap lugs of the second snap hooks.

The advantage of the solution according to the invention lies in particular in the fact that the increased snap-in lugs of the first snap-in hooks allow disassembly of the rolling bearing at the maximum limit tolerance position, i.e. at the maximum possible eccentric position in the same direction between the outer ring, the cage and the inner ring and thus the maximum possible reduction in the snap-in lug overlap on individual Noses, as well as improper handling of the assembled rolling bearing is reliably prevented. The alternating arrangement of the first and second snap hooks prevents the permissible stress on the cage material from being exceeded during assembly of the cage in the outer ring, which would cause the cage to break.

Furthermore, it is possible to continue to use the cage according to the invention in roller bearings with small installation spaces, since the roller bearing with the cage according to the invention does not require any additional installation space.

In other words, one can say that the alternating arrangement of the first and second snap hooks causes an alternating increase in the snap hook overlap of the cage with the outer ring and, through a sufficiently high snap lug overlap on every second lug, reliably prevents unintentional disassembly of the rolling bearing, without the permissible stress on the cage material assembly of the cage into the outer ring.

According to the invention, the cage also has third snap-on hooks with snap-in lugs directed radially inwards, which are set up to form a form-fitting connection with an inner ring of the roller bearing. The extend third snap hooks in the axial direction opposite to the first and second snap hooks away from the main body, and are arranged circumferentially, preferably equally spaced. In addition, the third snap hooks are designed to hold the inner ring in the axial direction and thereby prevent the inner ring from slipping out.

During assembly of the roller bearing, the radially inwardly directed snap lugs of the third snap hooks snap into place with the inner ring; the snap lugs preferably engage behind a guide rim of an inner ring running surface, creating a positive connection between the cage and the inner ring. The first snap hooks with the radially further outwardly projecting snap lugs ensure that the snap connection between the cage, ie the third snap lugs, and the inner ring does not come loose during transport and handling of the roller bearing. The number of third snap hooks is preferably less than the respective number of first and second snap hooks. The number of third snap hooks is five, for example.

According to one embodiment, the cage is made of a preferably single-type plastic, a plastic mixture, a fiber-reinforced plastic or a fiber-reinforced plastic mixture.

Below, the term plastic means a single-variety plastic, a plastic mixture, a fiber-reinforced plastic and a fiber-reinforced plastic mixture. The cage is preferably made as an injection molded part. At 23° C., the material of the cage has a modulus of elasticity in a range from 2500 MPa to 8500 MPa, preferably in a range from 5000 MPa to 8500 MPa and/or an elongation at break of 3% to 30%, preferably 5% up to 15% in order to be sufficiently stable to accommodate and hold the rolling elements on the one hand and on the other hand sufficiently elastic not to break during assembly of the cage in the outer ring. It should be noted that a material is preferred that has both a high Young's modulus and a high elongation at break. For many materials, however, the elongation at break decreases with an increasing modulus of elasticity. It may therefore be necessary to select a material that represents the best possible compromise between Young's modulus and elongation at break for the respective application and/or the respective dimensions of the cage.

The cage is preferably made from a polyoxymethylene or polyactal (POM) or from a polyamide, for example PA66. Depending on the material of the cage, before assembly it is subjected to a conditioning process in which the plastic material absorbs water, increasing its elongation at break and reducing its strength and rigidity. The resulting increased elasticity helps to reduce the stresses that occur during assembly of the cage in the outer ring, particularly at the snap-in lugs.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a roller bearing for a steering rod of a motor vehicle. The roller bearing has an inner ring, an outer ring, rolling elements and a cage as described above and below. The inner ring has an inner ring raceway on an outer peripheral surface. The outer ring is located radially outside, spaced, and substantially concentric with the inner ring, and has an outer ring raceway on an inner peripheral surface. The rolling elements are arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring in such a way that they roll on the inner ring raceway and/or on the outer ring raceway. The rolling bodies are held in the circumferential direction, preferably equally spaced from one another, by the cage between the inner ring and the outer ring.

The advantages specified above for the cage according to the invention also apply to the roller bearing according to the invention.

According to the invention, the inner ring has a circumferential guide surface which is set up to support the first and second snap hooks in the assembled state, in particular in the radial direction. When the roller bearing is in the mounted state, the guide surface limits the movement of the first and second snap hooks in the radial direction inwards, which can occur, for example, due to a corresponding load effect. As a result, the guide surface prevents one or more snap hooks from “snapping out” due to a corresponding load effect, as a result of which an unintentional disassembly of the roller bearing due to the cage detaching from the outer ring is reliably prevented.

wobei n₁ die Anzahl der ersten Schnapphaken ist, n₂ die Anzahl der zweiten Schnapphaken ist, und z die Anzahl der Wälzkörper ist.According to one embodiment, a number of the first snap hooks and a number of the second snap hooks are defined as a function of the number of rolling elements. The number of first snap hooks is equal to the number of second snap hooks if the number of rolling elements is an even number. Additionally or alternatively, the number of first snap hooks is greater, preferably greater by one, than the number of second snap hooks when the number of rolling elements is an odd number. The number of first snap hooks and the number of second snap hooks can preferably be defined as follows: $$\begin{array}{l}{\text{<figure-callout id="1" label="n" filenames="DE102020126530B4\_0007.png,DE102020126530B4\_0008.png" state="{{state}}">n</figure-callout>}}_1={\text{z/2 and <figure-callout id="2" label="n" filenames="DE102020126530B4\_0007.png,DE102020126530B4\_0008.png" state="{{state}}">n</figure-callout>}}_2=\text{z/2}\text{, f}\ddot{\text{and}}\text{r z}=\text{just;}\\ {\text{<figure-callout id="1" label="n" filenames="DE102020126530B4\_0007.png,DE102020126530B4\_0008.png" state="{{state}}">n</figure-callout>}}_1=\left(\text{e.g}+1\right)/2{\text{and <figure-callout id="2" label="n" filenames="DE102020126530B4\_0007.png,DE102020126530B4\_0008.png" state="{{state}}">n</figure-callout>}}_2=\left(\text{e.g}-1\right)/\mathrm{2,}\text{f}\ddot{\text{and}}\text{r z}=\text{odd;}\end{array}$$

where n ₁ is the number of first snap hooks, n ₂ is the number of second snap hooks, and z is the number of rolling elements.

This ratio of the first snap hook to the second snap hook reliably prevents unintentional disassembly of the roller bearing without exceeding the permissible stress on the cage material when the cage is inserted into the outer ring.

wobei α der Winkel zwischen zwei zueinander benachbarten ersten und zweiten Schnapphaken ist und z die Anzahl der Wälzkörper ist.According to one embodiment, an angle between two mutually adjacent first and second snap hooks is defined as a function of the number of rolling elements. The angle can preferably be defined as follows: $$\mathrm{a}=360°/\text{e.g}\text{,}$$

where α is the angle between two adjacent first and second snap hooks and z is the number of rolling elements.

A substantially uniform distribution of the snap hooks along the circumferential direction enables a substantially uniform load distribution to the snap hooks, so that approximately the same load is applied to each snap hook.

According to one embodiment, a minimum height of the second snap hooks is greater than a maximum permissible gap between an inner peripheral surface, preferably a guide rim, of the outer ring and an outer peripheral surface of the inner ring, preferably the guide surface, and wherein a minimum height of the first snap hooks is greater than the minimum height of the second snap hooks .

wobei h₁ die Mindesthöhe des ersten Schnapphakens ist, h₂ die Mindesthöhe des zweiten Schnapphakens ist und s_max der maximale zulässige Spalt zwischen dem maximalen Durchmesser des Außenrings im Bereich des Führungsbords und dem minimalen Durchmesser des Innenrings im Bereich der Führungsfläche.The height of the snap hooks can be calculated from the maximum gap between the maximum diameter at an inner peripheral surface of the guide rib of the outer ring and the outer peripheral surface of the guide surface of the inner ring. The minimum height of the snap hook is to be understood as the sum of the thickness of a snap hook body and the height of the snap lug in the radial direction. The minimum heights of the snap hooks can be defined as follows: $${\text{H}}_2\ge {\text{s}}_{\text{Max}}{\text{and h}}_1>{\text{H}}_2,$$

where h ₁ is the minimum height of the first snap hook, h ₂ is the minimum height of the second snap hook and s _max is the maximum allowable gap between the maximum diameter of the outer ring in the area of the guide flange and the minimum diameter of the inner ring in the area of the guide surface.

As a result, stresses occurring during assembly of the cage filled with the roller bearings in the outer ring and the resulting assembly force are reduced by the second, lower snap hook and kept below a critical breaking value for the cage material.

According to one embodiment, the inner ring and the outer ring are made of steel or a steel alloy and/or the cage is made of plastic. A plastic is to be understood here as meaning a single-type plastic, a plastic mixture, and a fiber-reinforced plastic or a fiber-reinforced plastic mixture. Depending on the plastic chosen for the cage, the cage is conditioned prior to assembly into the outer ring, i.e. the moisture content of the plastic is increased to increase the elasticity of the cage and further reduce stress.

According to one embodiment, the outer ring and the inner ring are made of steel or a steel alloy and/or are produced by means of a drawing process.

• - Einsetzen von Wälzkörpern in einen Käfig, wobei der Käfig aufweist: einen ringartigen Hauptkörper, der mehrere Taschen aufweist, die in Umfangsrichtung, vorzugsweise gleichverteilt, angeordnet sind und dazu eingerichtet sind, Wälzkörper des Wälzlagers aufzunehmen; und erste und zweite Schnapphaken mit radial nach außen gerichteten Schnappnasen, die dazu eingerichtet sind, mit einem Außenring des Wälzlagers eine formschlüssige Verbindung auszubilden; wobei sich die ersten und zweiten Schnapphaken in axialer Richtung von dem Hauptkörper weg erstrecken; und wobei die ersten und die zweiten Schnapphaken in Umfangsrichtung, vorzugsweise gleichverteilt, im Wesentlichen alternierend, also abwechselnd, angeordnet sind, und die Schnappnasen der ersten Schnapphaken in radialer Richtung weiter nach außen vorstehen als die Schnappnasen der zweiten Schnapphaken;

• - Einsetzen des mit den Wälzkörpern bestückten Käfigs in einen Außenring, der in radialer Richtung außerhalb, beabstandet und im Wesentlichen konzentrisch zu einem Innenring angeordnet ist, und an einer Innenumfangsfläche eine Außenringlaufbahn aufweist;
• - Verrasten bzw. Einschnappen der nach außen gerichteten ersten und zweiten Schnapphaken an dem Außenring;
• - Einsetzen des Innenrings in den mit den Wälzkörpern bestückten Käfig; wobei der Innenring an einer Außenumfangsfläche eine Innenringlaufbahn aufweist, sodass die Wälzkörper zwischen dem Innenring und dem Außenring derart angeordnet sind, dass sie an der Innenringlaufbahn und/oder an der Außenringlaufbahn abrollen und der Käfig die Wälzkörper in Umfangsrichtung, vorzugsweise gleichmäßig zueinander beabstandet, zwischen dem Innenring und dem Außenring hält; und
• - Verrasten bzw. Einschnappen von nach innen gerichteten dritten Schnapphaken an dem Innenring.

Another aspect of the invention relates to an assembly method for a rolling bearing, the method having the following steps:

• - Insertion of rolling elements in a cage, wherein the cage comprises: a ring-like main body having a plurality of pockets, which are arranged in the circumferential direction, preferably evenly distributed, and are adapted to receive rolling elements of the rolling bearing; and first and second snap hooks with radially outwardly directed snap lugs, which are set up to form a positive connection with an outer ring of the roller bearing; the first and second snap hooks extending axially away from the main body; and wherein the first and the second snap hooks are arranged in a circumferential direction, preferably evenly distributed, essentially alternating, ie alternately, and the snap lugs of the first snap hooks project further outwards in the radial direction than the snap lugs of the second snap hooks;

• - Insertion of the tipped with the rolling elements cage in an outer ring in the radial Rich is disposed outside, spaced from and substantially concentric with an inner ring, and has an outer ring raceway on an inner peripheral surface;
• - Latching or snapping the outwardly directed first and second snap hooks on the outer ring;
• - Insertion of the inner ring in the cage fitted with the rolling elements; wherein the inner ring has an inner ring raceway on an outer peripheral surface, so that the rolling elements are arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring in such a way that they roll on the inner ring raceway and/or on the outer ring raceway and the cage has the rolling elements in the circumferential direction, preferably evenly spaced from one another, between the inner ring and the outer ring holds; and
• - Latching or snapping inwardly directed third snap hooks on the inner ring.

The advantages and embodiments described above for the cage according to the invention also apply to the assembly method and are not given again here to avoid repetition.

character list

• 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Käfigs gemäß einer Ausführungsform.
• 2 eine schematische Explosionsdarstellung eines Wälzlagers gemäß einer beispielhaften Ausführungsform.
• 3 eine Draufsicht eines Wälzlagers gemäß der Ausführungsform.
• 4a eine Längsschnittdarstellung des Schnittes 4a-4a in 3.
• 4b eine Längsschnittdarstellung des Schnittes 4b-4b in 3.
• 5 ein Flussdiagramm eines Montageverfahrens für ein Wälzlager gemäß einer Ausführungsform.

Further measures improving the invention are presented in more detail below together with the description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures. It shows:

• 1 12 is a perspective view of a cage according to an embodiment.
• 2 a schematic exploded view of a rolling bearing according to an exemplary embodiment.
• 3 12 is a plan view of a rolling bearing according to the embodiment.
• 4a a longitudinal sectional view of section 4a-4a in 3 .
• 4b a longitudinal sectional view of section 4b-4b in 3 .
• 5 12 is a flowchart of an assembly method for a rolling bearing according to an embodiment.

1 shows a perspective view of a cage 1 for a roller bearing 2 (see 2 ) according to an exemplary embodiment. The cage 1 has a ring-like main body 3 which has a plurality of pockets 4 . The pockets 4 are arranged in a circumferential direction of the main body 3 substantially equally spaced from each other.

Seen in the axial direction, first snap hooks 5 and second snap hooks 6 extend on one side of the main body 3. The first and second snap hooks 5, 6 are arranged essentially alternately, i.e. alternately, in the circumferential direction of the main body 3 and have an essentially uniform distance from one another . The first and second snap hooks 5 , 6 are here, for example, made in one piece and form a pinnacle-like rim 7 which extends in the axial direction on one side of the main body 3 approximately along an inner diameter of the main body 3 .

The first and second snap hooks 5, 6 each have a snap nose 8 which is directed outwards in the radial direction. The snap lugs 9 of the first snap hooks 5 are further outward in the radial direction than the snap lugs 10 of the second snap hooks 6.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the cage 1 has third snap hooks 11, each of which has a snap nose 12 directed radially inwards. The third snap hooks 11 extend away from the main body 3 on the other side of the main body 3 opposite to the first and second snap hooks 5, 6 when viewed in the axial direction, and are arranged in the circumferential direction of the main body 3 substantially evenly distributed. The number of third snap hooks 11 is less than the respective number of first and second snap hooks 5, 6. For example, the number of third snap hooks 11 can be only five, while the respective number of first and second snap hooks 5, 6 is nine or ten .

The cage 1 is made of a plastic, for example POM (polyacetal) or PA66 (polyamide) and is injection molded. Injection molding is a cost-effective manufacturing method that is suitable for mass production, but it is also conceivable for the cage 1 to be manufactured using a different method. In addition, other plastics, plastic mixtures, fiber-reinforced plastics or fiber-reinforced plastic mixtures are conceivable as material for the cage 1, as long as it has sufficient strength and rigidity to be able to absorb the forces acting during operation of the roller bearing 2 and at the same time has sufficient elasticity. so as not to break during assembly of the rolling bearing 2.

2 shows the roller bearing 2 in an exploded view and 3 shows the roller bearing in a plan view. The roller bearing 2 has an inner ring 13, an outer ring 14, rolling elements 15 and the cage 1. The inner ring 13 has an inner ring raceway 16 on an outer peripheral surface, which is delimited on one side in the axial direction by a guide rib 17 and merges into a guide surface 18 on the other side in the axial direction. The outer ring 14 has an outer ring raceway 19 on an inner peripheral surface, which runs into a holding surface 21 on one side in the axial direction and is delimited by a guide rim 20 on the other side in the axial direction. The guide rim 17 of the inner ring 13 and the guide rim 20 of the outer ring 14 are thus in the assembled state of the roller bearing 2 opposite in the axial direction. The inner ring 13 and the outer ring 14 are preferably made of steel or a steel alloy and are preferably produced using a drawing process.

The rolling elements 15 are accommodated in the assembled state of the rolling bearing 2 in the pockets 4 of the cage 1 and are kept spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the rolling bodies 15 are in contact with at least one of the inner ring raceway 16 and the outer ring raceway 19 in such a way that they roll on it. The cage 1 is preferably designed as a snap cage, in which the rolling elements 15 are held by the cage 1 by snapping into the pockets 4 .

4a shows a longitudinal sectional view of section 4a-4a in 3 and 4b shows a longitudinal sectional view of section 4b-4b in 3 . In 4a and 4b it can be seen that the first and second snap hooks 5, 6 engage behind the guide rim 20 of the outer ring 14 with the snap lugs 9, 10 and thus form a form fit between the cage 1 and the outer ring 14, which prevents the cage 1 from simply can detach from the outer ring. The third snap hook 11 engages behind the guide rim 17 of the inner ring 13 with the snap nose 12 and thereby prevents the inner ring 13 from being able to easily detach from the cage 1 .

wobei h₁ vorzugsweise etwa um 10 % größer als s_max ist und h₂ vorzugsweise zumindest um 2% größer als s_max ist.The inner and the outer ring 13, 14 have production-related tolerances, as a result of which a distance between the inner ring 13 and the outer ring 14 can vary. The first snap hooks 5 have a minimum height h ₁ in the radial direction, which is greater than a minimum height h ₂ of the second snap hooks 6 in the radial direction. The minimum heights h ₁ , h ₂ of the first and second snap hooks 5, 6 are determined depending on a maximum permissible gap s _max , the gap s _max corresponding to the gap between the guide rim 20 of the outer ring 14 and the guide surface 18 of the inner ring 13 is designed for a maximum allowable inner diameter of the guide rim 20 and a minimum allowable outer diameter of the guide surface 18. The minimum heights h ₁ , h ₂ are preferably defined as follows: $${\text{<figure-callout id="1" label="H" filenames="DE102020126530B4\_0007.png,DE102020126530B4\_0008.png" state="{{state}}">H</figure-callout>}}_1>{\text{<figure-callout id="2" label="H" filenames="DE102020126530B4\_0007.png,DE102020126530B4\_0008.png" state="{{state}}">H</figure-callout>}}_2\ge {\text{s}}_{\text{Max}}$$

where h ₁ is preferably about 10% greater than s _max and h ₂ is preferably at least 2% greater than s _max .

The different heights h ₁ , h ₂ and the alternating arrangement of the first and second snap hooks 5, 6 in the circumferential direction of the main body 3 of the cage 1 prevent unwanted disassembly of the rolling bearing 2, in particular due to a loosening of the cage 1 from the outer ring 2, by a sufficient high snap lug overlap even in the limit tolerance positions on at least each snap lug 9, without exceeding the permissible material stress of the cage 1 when inserting the cage 1 into the outer ring 14, i.e. when the snap lug 9, 10 snaps into the outer ring 14.

As already explained above, the first and the second snap hooks 5 , 6 are arranged essentially alternately along the circumferential direction of the main body 3 of the cage 1 . The exact number n ₁ of the first snap hooks 5 and the exact number n ₂ of the second snap hooks 6 are determined as a function of the number z of rolling elements 15. The following preferably applies: $$\begin{array}{l}{\text{<figure-callout id="1" label="n" filenames="DE102020126530B4\_0007.png,DE102020126530B4\_0008.png" state="{{state}}">n</figure-callout>}}_1={\text{<figure-callout id="2" label="n" filenames="DE102020126530B4\_0007.png,DE102020126530B4\_0008.png" state="{{state}}">n</figure-callout>}}_2=\text{z/2}\text{, if e.g}=\text{just; and}\\ {\text{<figure-callout id="1" label="n" filenames="DE102020126530B4\_0007.png,DE102020126530B4\_0008.png" state="{{state}}">n</figure-callout>}}_1=\left(\text{e.g}+1\right)/2{\text{and <figure-callout id="2" label="n" filenames="DE102020126530B4\_0007.png,DE102020126530B4\_0008.png" state="{{state}}">n</figure-callout>}}_2=\left(\text{e.g}-1\right)/\mathrm{2,}\text{if e.g}=\text{odd}\text{.}\end{array}$$

An angle α, over which two mutually adjacent snap lugs 5, 6 are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, is determined as a function of the number z of rolling elements 15 as follows: $$\mathrm{\alpha =}360°/\text{e.g}$$

5 FIG. 1 shows a flowchart which schematically shows the sequence of an assembly method 22 for the roller bearing 2 according to an embodiment. First, the rolling elements 15 are inserted, preferably snapped, into the pockets 4 of the cage 1 in a step S1. Then the cage 1 fitted with the rolling elements 15 is inserted into the outer ring 14 (step S2), with the first and second snap hooks 5, 6 snapping into the outer ring 14 (step S3), in that the snap lugs 9, 10 snap the guide rim 20 of the Outer ring 14 reach behind. For this purpose, the cage 1 fitted with the rolling elements 15 is preferably pushed into the outer ring 14 in the axial direction from the side of the holding surface 21 of the outer ring 14 . The snap lugs 9, 10 slide under elastic deformation of the snap hooks 5, 6 radially inwards, first along the guide rim 20 of the outer ring and then engage behind it, with the snap hooks 5, 6 returning to their starting position, which is referred to as "snapping in".

In a step S4, the inner ring 13 is inserted into the cage 1 fitted with the rolling elements 15, with the third snap hooks 11 snapping into the inner ring 13 (step S5), in that the snap lugs 12 engage behind the guide rim 17 of the inner ring 13. For this purpose, the inner ring 13 is pushed into the cage 1 in the same axial direction in which the cage 1 was pushed into the outer ring 14 beforehand. The snap-in lugs 12 slide radially outwards, with elastic deformation of the snap-in hooks 11 , first along the guide rim 17 of the inner ring 13 and then snap into the inner ring 13 .

The guide surface 18 of the inner ring 13 is in the assembled, i.e. mounted, state of the rolling bearing 2 in the radial direction below, i.e. radially inside, the first and second snap hooks 5, 6, and limits a deformation of the first and second snap hooks 5, 6 radially inward . This prevents the snap hooks 5, 6 from snapping out unintentionally, ie a loosening of the connection between the snap lugs 9, 10 and the guide rim 20 of the outer ring 14, for example by a load acting radially inwards on the snap lugs. Thus, when transporting the roller bearing 2 as bulk goods, an unintentional disassembly of the roller bearing 2 can be prevented by the loads occurring in a variety of ways, sometimes abruptly and randomly in their direction of action, in particular on the snap hooks 5, 6.

Reference List

1

Cage

2

roller bearing

3

main body

4

pocket

5

first snap hook

6

second snap hook

7

wreath

8th

snap nose

9

snap nose

10

snap nose

11

third snap hook

12

snap nose

13

inner ring

14

outer ring

15

rolling elements

16

inner ring raceway

17

guide board

18

guide surface

19

outer ring raceway

20

guide board

21

holding surface

22

assembly procedure

h1, h2

minimum height

n1, n2, e.g

number

Smax

gap

a

angle

Claims (8)

A cage (1) for a rolling bearing (2), comprising: a ring-like main body (3) having a plurality of pockets (4) arranged circumferentially and adapted to receive rolling elements (15) of the rolling bearing (2); and first and second snap hooks (5, 6) with radially outwardly directed snap lugs (9, 10), which are set up to form a form-fitting connection with an outer ring (14) of the roller bearing (2); the first and second snap hooks (5, 6) extending axially away from the main body (3); wherein the first and second snap hooks (5, 6) are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction, and the snap lugs (9) of the first snap hooks (5) project further outwards in the radial direction than the snap lugs (10) of the second snap hooks (6), characterized in that the cage (1) has third snap hooks (11) with snap lugs (12) pointing radially inwards, which are set up to form a positive connection with an inner ring (13) of the roller bearing (2); the third snap hooks (11) extending away from the main body (3) in the axial direction opposite to the first and second snap hooks (5, 6), and the third snap hooks (11) being circumferentially equally distributed. cage (1) after claim 1 , wherein the cage (1) is made of a plastic, a plastic mixture, a fiber-reinforced plastic or a fiber-reinforced plastic mixture. Rolling bearing (2) for a handlebar of a motor vehicle, comprising: an inner ring (13) on an outer periphery surface has an inner ring raceway (16), an outer ring (14) which is arranged in the radial direction outside and at a distance from and essentially concentrically to the inner ring (13), and has an outer ring raceway (19) on an inner peripheral surface, rolling elements (15) which are arranged between the inner ring (13) and the outer ring (14) in such a way that they roll on the inner ring raceway (16) and/or on the outer ring raceway (19), and a cage (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 2 , which holds the rolling elements (15) in the circumferential direction, equally spaced from each other, between the inner ring (13) and the outer ring (14), the inner ring (13) having a circumferential guide surface (18) which is arranged, the first and second To support snap hooks (5, 6) in the assembled state. Roller bearing (2) after claim 3 , wherein a number (n ₁ ) of the first snap hooks (5) and a number (n ₂ ) of the second snap hooks (6) are defined as a function of a number (z) of the rolling elements (15), the number (n ₁ ) the first snap hook (5) is equal to the number (n ₂ ) of the second snap hooks (6) if the number (z) of rolling elements (15) is an even number, and/or wherein the number (n ₁ ) of the first snap hooks (5) is greater than the number (n ₂ ) of the second snap hooks (6) when the number (z) of the rolling elements (15) is an odd number. Rolling bearing (2) according to one of claims 3 until 4 , An angle (α) between two adjacent first and second snap hooks (5, 6) depending on the number (z) of rolling elements (15) is defined. Rolling bearing (2) according to one of claims 3 until 5 , wherein a minimum height (h ₂ ) of the second snap hook (6) is equal to or greater than a maximum permissible gap (s _max ) between an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring (14) and an outer peripheral surface of the inner ring (13) and wherein a minimum height (h ₁ ) of the first snap hooks (5) is greater than the minimum height (h ₂ ) of the second snap hooks (6). Rolling bearing (2) according to one of claims 3 until 6 , wherein the inner ring (13) and the outer ring (14) are made of steel or a steel alloy and/or are produced by means of a drawing process. Assembly method (22) for a rolling bearing (2) for a steering rod of a motor vehicle, the method (22) having the following steps: Insertion of rolling elements (15) in a cage (1), the cage (1) having: a ring-like main body (3) having a plurality of pockets (4) arranged circumferentially and adapted to receive rolling elements (15) of the rolling bearing (2); and first and second snap hooks (5, 6) with snap lugs (9, 10) directed radially outwards, which are set up to form a positive connection with an outer ring (14) of the roller bearing (2); the first and second snap hooks (5, 6) extending axially away from the main body (3); and wherein the first and second snap hooks (5, 6) are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction, and the snap lugs (9) of the first snap hooks (5) project further outwards in the radial direction than the snap lugs (10) of the second snap hooks (6) ; Insertion of the cage (1) equipped with the rolling elements (15) in the outer ring (14), which is arranged in the radial direction outside and at a distance from and essentially concentrically to an inner ring (13) and has an outer ring raceway (19) on an inner peripheral surface ; Latching the outwardly directed first and second snap hooks (5, 6) on the outer ring (14); Insertion of the inner ring (13) into the cage (1) equipped with the rolling elements (15), the inner ring (13) having an inner ring raceway (16) on an outer peripheral surface, so that the rolling elements (15) between the inner ring (13) and the outer ring (14) are arranged in such a way that they roll on the inner ring raceway (16) and/or on the outer ring raceway (19) and the cage (1) holds the rolling elements (15) in the circumferential direction between the inner ring (13) and the outer ring (14 ) holds; and Latching inwardly directed third snap hooks (11) on the inner ring (13).

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