GB2251272A

GB2251272A - Bearing clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2251272A
Application number: GB9120141A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerhard Brandt
Original assignee: SKF GmbH
Current assignee: SKF GmbH
Priority date: 1990-12-20
Filing date: 1991-09-20
Publication date: 1992-07-01
Also published as: GB9120141D0; DE9017201U1; FR2670851A1

Abstract

In a bearing having at least one bearing ring (4) divided into halves (2, 3), the halves are held together prior to use by clamps (7a) having radially directed arms (12) which bear on respective end faces (13). The clamps (7a) are so arranged that each extends through the space between two adjacent rolling members. <IMAGE>

Description

A BEARING The present invention relates to a bearing, suitably a four-point bearing.

DE-PS 376 136 discloses a four-point bearing with at least one bearing ring divided transversely to the axial direction, its halves being held together by a part with radially directed portions, these latter bearing on the end faces of the divided bearing ring.

In the case of this known construction, the bearing ring which is divided transversely to the axial direction is held by a sheet metal ring, the edges of which are flanged over against the end faces of the bearing ring. This known construction has the disadvantage that the edges of the sheet metal ring have to be flanged over by special machines and the bearing seat which is determined by the sheet metal ring, is imprecise and expensive to produce. Furthermore, dismantling of the bearing is very complicated.

The. invention is based on the problem of providing a bearing of the type mentioned at the outset which can be installed as a unit and in which the retaining elements can without difficulty be dismantled before the bearing is put into operation.

According to the present invention, there is provided a bearing having at least one bearing ring divided transversely to the axial direction into two parts, the said parts being held together by a clamp with radially directed portions which bear on respective axial end faces of the divided bearing ring, wherein at least two mounting clamps are so disposed that each extends through the space between two adjacent rolling members and each has radial by extending arms which bear on respective axial end faces of the divided bearing ring.

As a result of this design and disposition of the mounting clamps, no retaining rings or the like must remain on the bearing after it is installed.

After further features of the invention, the mounting clamp is of U-shaped construction and its width in a peripheral direction is made slightly smaller than the width of the annular gap between the divided bearing ring and the cage. As a result, it is possible to insert and then remove the mounting clamp again in a position in which it is rotated through 90o.

According to a further feature of the invention, the arms of the U-shaped mounting clamp are disposed so that they bear with initial axial tension on the end faces of the divided bearing ring. Thus, until it is removed, the mounting clip is held securely in its position.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a four-point bearing with a mounting clamp according to the invention for holding the two inner ring halves together, Figures 2 to 5 show parts of differently constructed mounting clamps.

The four-point bearing shown in Figure 1 consists of an outer ring 1, an inner ring 4 consisting of two halves 2, 3, a cage 5 with balls 6 and at least two mountings clamps 7a which hold the two inner ring halves 2, 3 together. The cage 5 is fitted onto the shoulder surfaces 8 of the outer ring 1. Between the shoulder surfaces 9 of the divided inner ring 4 and the cage bore 10 there is an annular gap 11.

At least two mounting clamps 7a distributed over the periphery are inserted through the annular gap 11 and through the free space which exists between any two balls 6, when the bearing is assembled. For this, the width of the clamp 7a is a peripheral direction is preferably slightly less than the width 5 of the annular gap 11 so that when the bearing is assembled, the mounting clamp 7a can be introduced in a position rotated through 900 and then turned until the arms 12 of the mounting clamps 7a are directed radially inwardly and preferably with a slight axial initial tension, bear on the end faces 13 of the inner ring 4. At the transition from the axially directed part 14 of the mounting clamp 7a to the radially inwardly directed arms 12 there is in each case a bent-over portion 15 by which the arms 12 acquire a certain elasticity.

Parts of mounting clamps 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e with different types of arms are shown in Figures 2 to 5. Figure 2 shows a radially inwardly directed arm 16 of a mounting clamp 7b. In the case of the mounting clamp 7c shown in Figure 3, the arm 17 extends at an acute angle a to the axially directed part 14. In Figure 4, the edge 18 of the arm 19 is bent over inwardly. Shown in Figure 5 is an arm 20 which is provided with an encircling bead 21.

Particularly in the case of large bearings, it is possible between two adjacent balls 6 to insert one mounting clamp 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e.

The mounting clamps 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e are, after the bearing has been inserted into a housing bore or the like, rotated through 90 again so that the arms 12, 16, 17, 19, 20 point in the peripheral direction and are then withdrawn from the bearing.

The invention is not confined to the example of embodiment illustrated. Modifications in the design of the individual components are readily possible within the scope of the invention. For example, when the cage is fitted onto the edges of an undivided inner ring, the mounting clamps can be pushed through an annular gap between the shoulder surfaces of a divided outer ring and the peripheral surface of the cage. In cases where assembly is difficult, the second arm of the mounting clamp may also be bent over subsequently after being pushed through an annular gap and after the already bent-over arm has come to bear on one end face of the divided bearing ring. When removing the bearing, then, it is necessary to bend open one arm of the mounting clamp.

Claims

1. A bearing having at least one bearing ring divided transversely to the axial direction into two parts, the said parts being held together by a clamp with radially directed portions which bear on respective axial end faces of the divided bearing ring, wherein at least two mounting clamps are so disposed that each extends through the space between two adjacent rolling members and each has radially extending arms which bear on respective axial end faces of the divided bearing ring.

2. A bearing according to Claim 1, wherein each mounting clamp is of generally U-shaped section.

3. A bearing according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting clamps are disposed between the shoulder surfaces of the divided bearing ring and a cage.

4. A bearing according to Claim 3, wherein the width of the mounting clamps in a peripheral direction is slightly smaller than the width of the annular gap between the divided bearing ring and the cage.

5. A bearing according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the arms of the mounting clamps are arranged to bear with an initial axial tension against respective end faces of the divided bearing ring.

6. A bearing constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.