GB2382630A

GB2382630A - Prefabricated plastic ball bearing assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2382630A
Application number: GB0222975A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francesco Albiero
Original assignee: S Di Albiero Lara & C SNC AB
Current assignee: S Di Albiero Lara & C SNC AB
Priority date: 2001-11-30
Filing date: 2002-10-04
Publication date: 2003-06-04
Also published as: NL1022020C2; ITBS20010097A0; FR2833053A3; GB0222975D0; ITBS20010097A1; DE10248908A1; FR2833053A1

Abstract

A ball bearing, made from plastic or similar material, comprises three prefabricated parts A, B, C which can be assembled together and which may comprise the following: part A has a disk 1 having a stepped region in its central zone which comprises a collar 2 through which hole 3, having an inner surface 4 and an annular groove 5, extends, intermediate part B comprises a ring 40 with an internal septum 41 which defines a central circular opening 42 and a collar 20 which divides ring 40 in to upper surface 43 and lower surface 44 and, and part C which comprises a disk 101 with upper surface 61 on which is provided a central stepped region having a collar 20 and through hole 30. Disk 1 has an upper surface 6 and a plurality of V-shaped teeth which have dual-limbed 8, 8' walls 9, 9' so as to receive and retain a plurality of rotating balls 10 via the interaction with the lateral surface of collar 2. An associated structure is provided on disc 101. A similar three piece ball bearing arrangement, not specified as incorporating prefabricated plastic components is also claimed.

Description

"BALL BEARING OF PLASTICS OR SIMILAR MATERIAL"

The subject matter of this invention relates to a ball bearing of plastics or similar but in any event non 5 metal material which can be used as a running wheel for a variety of purposes.

State of the Art 10 The use of ball bearings for the running and guidance of structures such as for example doors, sliding screens and the like, is already known. Normally such bearings are manufactured from metal and also from non-

metal material using known methods which generally 15 result in structures and conformations which are complex, particularly during the stage of assembly and handling of the components making up the bearing and, in particular, as regards containment and housing of the balls.

Scope and subject matter of the invention The purpose of this invention is to provide a ball bearing of plastics material or in any event non- metal 25 material comprising in its entirety a running and guide wheel for moving members which overcomes the disadvantages and problems referred to above through a ball bearing structure whose component parts can be assembled simply and reliably and can also be 30 manufactured directly by moulding.

Description of the invention

This and other objects of the invention will however be 35 more apparent from reference to the appended indicative and non-restrictive drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the constituent parts of the bearing in question in an exploded view,

Figure 2 shows the assembled bearing in transverse cross-section, and Figure 3 shows element C in Figure 1 viewed from above.

5 In the said drawing A, B and C illustrate the three constituent parts of the bearing in question. In more detail, part A comprises a disk 1 having in its central zone a step comprising a cylindrical collar 2 defining a through hole 3 on the inner surface 4 of which there 10 is provided an annular grove 5.

Disk 1 also has on its upper surface 6 a plurality of projections, for example substantially V-shaped teeth 7. Said teeth 7 each have two limbs 8, 8' having outer 15 walls 9, 9' and a concave shape which defines and bounds a zone intended to receive and retain a plurality of balls 10 whose diameter is greater than the height of teeth 7 through interaction with the lateral surface of collar 2.

Said balls 10 are inserted by force into their corresponding housings as defined above through the appropriate elasticity of teeth 7 so that the balls are free to rotate without however being able to escape 25 from their housings.

In accordance with the invention the bearing also comprises a part C which in turn has a disk 101 on the upper surface 61 of which there is provided a central 30 step comprising a collar 20 bounding a through hole 30.

Above the said collar there is also provided, again by moulding, a cylindrical sleeve 21 provided with a through hole 22 which is coaxial with hole 30, the said 35 sleeve having an annular projection 23.

In the same way as is provided for part A of the bearing, on upper surface 61 there is provided a plurality of teeth 70 having the same shape and the

same characteristics as teeth 7, the said teeth 70 being designed to retain a plurality of balls 10' which are free to rotate.

5 In accordance with the invention the bearing in question comprises a third part B comprising a ring 40 having an intermediate internal septum 41 which defines a central circular opening 42 housing collar 20 and which divides said ring 40 into two surfaces, an upper 10 surface 43 and a lower surface 44.

Said surfaces 43 and 44 constitute the rolling plane for balls 10 of part A and balls 10' of part C of the bearing respectively when assembled, which is achieved 15 by forcibly inserting sleeve 21 into through hole 3 after first fitting ring 40 and then elastically engaging projection 23 with annular groove 5.

It should be noted that without thereby going beyond 20 the scope of the invention teeth 7-70 may have a different shape which nevertheless allows and ensures that the balls are housed and retained.

Claims

1. Ball bearing of plastics material or the like characterized in that it has three parts A, B and C 5 which are prefabricated for subsequent assembly together.

2. Ball bearing of plastics material or the like according to claim 1, characterized in that part A has 10 a disk (1) on the upper surface (6) of which there is provided a plurality of teeth (7) having outer walls (9-9) of a concave shape which bound the zone for housing and retaining a plurality of balls (10), the said balls being also retained in position with freedom 15 to rotate by the lateral surface of a cylindrical collar (2) which bounds a through hole (3) which is coaxial with the central axis of the disk (1).

3. Bearing according to claim 2, characterized in that 20 an annular groove (5) is provided on the inner surface (4) of the collar (2).

4. Bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that part C has a disk (101) on the upper surface (61) of 25 which there is provided a collar (20) bounding a through hole (30), there being provided above the said collar (20) a sleeve (21) bounding a through hole (22), the said through holes (30-22) being coaxial with the central axis of the disk (101).

5. Bearing according to claim 4, characterized in that there is provided on the outer surface of the sleeve (21) an annular projection (23) which is designed to form a snap connection with the annular groove (5) of 35 the part A of the bearing.

6. Bearing according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that a plurality of teeth (70) designed to retain a plurality of balls (10') with freedom to rotate are

provided on the upper surface (61) of the disk (101).

7. Bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that there is provided a part B comprising a ring (40) having an intermediate septum (41) defining a central opening (42) housing the collar (20) which is coaxial with the central axis of part A and part C, the said septum (41) having an upper surface (43) and a lower surface (44) which constitute the running surfaces for balls (10) and (10') respectively.

8. A ball bearing of plastics material or the like characterized in that it has a first part (A), a second or intermediate part (B) and a third part (C) which are prefabricated for subsequent assembly together.

9. A ball bearing of plastics material or the like as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the first part (A) has a disk or annular portion (1) forming the upper or end surface (6) on which there is provided a plurality of teeth (7) having outer walls (9-9') of a concave shape which bound the zone for housing and retaining a plurality of balls (10), the said balls being also retained or retainable in position with freedom to rotate by the lateral surface of a cylindrical collar portion (2) which surrounds a through hole (3) which is coaxial with the central axis of the disk or annular portion (1).

10. A bearing as claimed in claim 9, in which an annular groove (5) is provided on the inner surface (4) of the collar portion (2).

11. A bearing as claimed in claim 8, in which the third part (C) has a disk or annular portion (101) on the lower or end surface (61) on which there is provided a collar (20) bounding a through hole (30), and there being provided as an extension of said collar (20), a sleeve (21) bounding a through hole (22), the said through holes (30-22) being coaxial with the central axis of the disk or annular portion (101).

12. A bearing as claimed in claim 11, in which there is provided on the outer surface of the sleeve (21) an annular projection (23) which is designed to form a snap connection with the annular groove (5) of the first part (A) of the bearing.

13. A bearing as claimed in claims 11 and 12, in which a plurality of teeth (70) designed to retain a plurality of balls (10') with freedom to rotate are provided on the upper surface (61) of the disk or annular portion (101).

14. A bearing as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that there is provided a second part (B) comprising an annular or ring (40) having an intermediate dividing wall or septum (41) defining a central opening (42) for housing the collar (20) which is coaxial with the central axis of the first part (A) and the third part (C), the said dividing wall or septum (41) having an inner upper surface (43) and an inner lower surface (44) which form the running surfaces for balls (10) and (10') respectively.

15. A ball or roller bearing having a first part (A) for retainably receiving a plurality of ball or roller bearings rotatable relative thereto and having a central aperture, a third part (C) for retainably receiving a plurality of ball or roller bearings rotatable relative thereto and having a central projection (21) interengageable in the central aperture (3) of the first part (A), and a second outer annulus or ring part (B) clampable between the first and second parts by the interengagement thereof and providing outer race surfaces for the balls or rollers.

16. A ball bearing substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings