GB904660A - Method of producing endless races for ball bearings - Google Patents

Abstract

904,660. Making ball-bearings; rolling; spinning. EISENWERK ROTHE ERDE G.m.b.H. Dec. 11, 1958 [Dec. 12, 1957], No. 40057/58. Classes 83 (2) and 83 (4). A ball-bearing race 3 is made by forming profiled steel strip into a ring, welding the ends together, and applying radial pressure to stress the ring metal beyond its elastic limit. The profiled strip, Figs. 2, 3 (not shown), which may be formed by rolling, drawing or extrusion, is bent to form an annulus and the ends welded together; the welded joint is then ground. The strip may be formed into a single ring or into a helix which is cut into a number of rings. Double-width profile strip to form two races, Figs. 4, 5 (not shown), may be divided in a lathe after bending and welding. When the strip has a plain flange, Fig. 3 (not shown), the latter is spun over an inner roller 6, Fig. 6, by a pivoted roller 7 or the flange may be rolled by a profiled roller 8, Fig. 7. The ring is then expanded beyond its elastic limit by a device having a number of radial slides which simultaneously planish the ring. Alternatively, the ring may be contracted. The ring is then mounted in a lathe and the raceway is calibrated by a pair of rollers. Two races 1, 3, Fig. 1, are assembled to provide a steering shaft bearing for a motor vehicle. One of the races has a closable aperture through which the balls 4 are introduced.