JP2001140906A - Bearing seal structure and bearing with structure assembled thereto - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bearing seal structure for sealing the inside of a bearing by use of a combination of a seal and a slinger and reducing the amount of water intruding into a main lip. SOLUTION: The slinger 24 formed into an approximately U-shaped cross section, comprising a first cylinder portion (fixed portion) 25 tightly fixed to a shank 7, an intermediate portion 27 extending therefrom toward an outside diameter, and a second cylinder portion 28 extending axially from the intermediate portion, has its end (end of second cylinder portion) 30 brought into light contact with an elastic body portion 23 between the main lip 16 and the second auxiliary lip 22 of a seal 13 for forming a fourth seal part D in such a manner as to axially orthogonally intersect it, with the outside diameter 15 of the seal 13 fixed to an outer ring 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bearing seal structure for sealing inside a bearing by combining a seal and a slinger.
In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in a seal structure for a water pump bearing suitable for a water-cooled engine of an automobile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a water pump for pumping cooling water of an automobile engine is provided with a plurality of bearings (rolling bearings) in which a rotating shaft (shaft) to which an impeller is fixed is arranged at intervals in an axial direction. The bearing is a hermetically sealed bearing in order to prevent cooling water from entering into the bearing in the same manner as a normal pump.

[0003] However, in the engine, since the running and stopping are repeated, only the conventional seal in which the outer diameter is fixed to the outer ring and a plurality of radial lips formed on the inner diameter side come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body is used. Heated, cooled and expanded
Repeated contraction makes it easy to impair the sealing function.

[0004] In particular, water vapor generated by heating the engine cooling water during operation of the engine easily passes through the seal device and easily enters the bearing. In addition, a lubricant such as grease for lubricating the bearing is usually stored in the bearing that supports the pump rotating shaft. However, when the cooling water or steam infiltrates the bearing as described above, the lubrication is particularly difficult. The lubrication performance and durability of the agent deteriorate, resulting in poor lubrication, and there is a danger that the rotational resistance of the pump rotating shaft increases and seizure occurs.

Accordingly, the applicant of the present invention has proposed a seal structure for a water pump bearing, for example, a main lip, a sub lip (first sub lip), and a third lip (second sub lip) having an outer diameter fixed to the outer ring side. The above-mentioned problem has been achieved by first providing a so-called triple lip seal composed of a seal made of, and a slinger fixed to the shaft body and having a substantially U-shaped cross section (Japanese Patent No. 2809199).

That is, in the sealing structure, for example, the main lip contacts the outer peripheral surface (fixed portion) of the first cylindrical portion of the slinger, and the sub lip provided inward in the axial direction with respect to the main lip is provided outside the shaft. The bearing comes into contact with the peripheral surface, and the third lip contacts (or does not contact) the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion of the slinger extending in the axial direction through an intermediate portion extending outwardly from the first cylindrical portion. The inside is sealed.

Thus, by providing the third lip and the slinger, the effect of squeezing the water hitting the main lip is aimed at, the wear and deformation of the main lip are reduced, and the water penetration resistance is improved. .

[0008]

However, in view of the use location of this type of bearing, there is a growing demand for a seal structure that can reduce water intrusion into the main lip more than ever.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has as its object to provide a seal in a bearing using a combination of a seal and a slinger. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bearing seal structure for reducing water intrusion.

[0010]

The technical means achieved by the present invention to achieve the above object is to provide a seal provided with an outer diameter fixed on the outer ring side and a seal fixed on the shaft or inner ring side. A structure in which the inside of the bearing is sealed by combining with a provided slinger, wherein the slinger tip is brought into contact with an elastic portion of the seal. Another object of the present invention is to form a bearing by assembling the bearing seal structure.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a water pump incorporating a bearing seal structure of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a rolling bearing for a water pump, and the rolling bearing 1 is provided on an inner peripheral surface of a casing 2. A fixed outer ring 3, a shaft body 7 inserted into the outer ring 3 through a plurality of rows of rolling elements 6, and an outer ring 3
And a seal structure 12 provided between the shaft member 7 and hermetically sealing the inside of the bearing.

In this embodiment, a bearing seal structure for a water pump will be described with reference to a seal structure 12 provided between an outer ring 3 and a shaft 7, but a seal structure provided between an outer ring and an inner ring. Is within the scope of the present invention, and its embodiment is not particularly described.
Are all the same as the present embodiment except that an inner ring is used instead of

4 is a raceway groove provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer race 3; 5 is a seal groove; 9 is a raceway groove 4 of the outer race 3;
Track grooves provided on the outer peripheral surface 8 of the shaft body 7 so as to face the
Denotes a pulley provided at one end of the shaft 7, and 11 denotes an impeller provided at the other end.

The rolling bearing 1 is not particularly limited to the present embodiment. If the rolling bearing 1 is provided with the seal structure 12, the structure of the outer ring 3, the rolling element 6, the shaft body 7 or the retainer is not limited. A known structure can be appropriately selected.

The seal structure 12 includes an impeller 11 of the outer race 3.
A seal (also referred to as an outer ring side seal ring) 13 fixed to the side seal groove 5 and a slinger (also referred to as a shaft side seal ring) 24 fixed to the shaft 7.

The seal 13 is formed by coating a reinforcing ring (core bar) 14 with an elastic body such as rubber or synthetic resin, and has an outer diameter 15 fixed to the seal groove 5 of the outer ring 3 and, for example, A main lip (first lip) 16, a first auxiliary lip (second lip) 17 inwardly in the axial direction than the main lip 16,
A second auxiliary lip (third lip) 22 that is located closer to the outer diameter 15 than the main lip 16 and extends outward in the axial direction.

The lips provided on the seal 13 include:
At least the one having the main lip 16 and the second sub lip 22 is within the scope of the present invention, and the presence or absence of the first sub lip 17 is not limited, and another well-known lip structure is applied. It is also possible. The seal 13 without the reinforcing ring (core bar) 14 is also within the scope of the present invention.

The slinger 24 is made of, for example, a special steel plate having a high corrosion resistance, for example, a stainless steel plate. The slinger has a substantially U-shaped cross section and is tightly fixed to the shaft 7. A portion (fixed portion) 25, an intermediate portion 27 extending outwardly from the portion 25, and a second cylindrical portion 28 that subsequently extends in the axial direction. In addition, slinger 24
Is not limited to a substantially U-shaped cross-section, and may be, for example, a substantially L-shaped cross-section, as long as the tip 30 of the slinger 24 can contact the elastic portion 23 of the seal 13. Is within the range.

Therefore, according to the combination of the seal 13 and the slinger 24, the first auxiliary lip 17 of the seal 13 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface 8 of the shaft 7 to form the first seal portion A, and the main lip 16 Is the outer peripheral surface 2 of the first cylindrical portion 25 of the slinger 24
6 to form the second seal portion B, and the second sub lip 2
2 contacts the outer peripheral surface 29 of the second cylindrical portion 28 of the slinger 24 to form a third seal portion C, and the tip 30 of the slinger 24 contacts (or does not contact) the elastic portion 23 of the seal 13. A fourth seal part D is formed.

The contact point between the distal end 30 of the slinger 24 constituting the fourth seal portion D which is the main part of the present invention and the elastic portion 23 in the seal 13 is not particularly limited. 30 is the main lip 16
Contacting the elastic portion 23 between the second sub lip 22 and the inner peripheral surface (elastic portion) 19 of the arm portion 18 of the second sub lip 22, or The elastic portion 23 between the sub lip 22 and the outer diameter 15 may be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface 20 of the second sub lip 22.
Or it is arbitrarily selected such that it comes into contact with the elastic portion 23 of the above.

Accordingly, the first seal portion A is configured so that the grease in the bearing 1 is formed by the slinger 24 and the shaft body 7 because the first sub lip 17 of the seal 13 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 8 of the shaft body 7.
To prevent leakage from the fitting surface of the second seal part B
Since the main lip 16 of the seal 13 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 26 of the first cylindrical portion 25 of the slinger 24, the main lip 16 serves as an intermediate seal for preventing intrusion of foreign matter from the outside,
In the third seal portion C, the second auxiliary lip 22 of the seal 13 contacts (or does not contact) the outer peripheral surface 29 of the second cylindrical portion 28 of the slinger 24 and serves as an external seal. The part C allows the cooling water / steam to penetrate into the bearing due to the cooperation between the intermediate part 27 of the slinger 24 and the second cylindrical part 28. The fourth seal portion D has a tip 30 of the slinger 24 with the seal 13.
Is in contact with the elastic portion 23, for example, even if water / water vapor invades from the third seal portion C, it has an effect of preventing water / water vapor from entering the main lip 16. .

Also, the first seal portion A is formed by bringing the first sub-lip 17 of the seal 13 into contact with the outer peripheral surface 26 of the first cylindrical portion 25 of the slinger 24 together with the main lip 16. Within range.

If at least the seal structure on the impeller 11 side is the above-described seal structure 12, the seal structure on the pulley 10 side is particularly a well-known conventional seal structure (only a seal or a combination of a seal and a slinger). The seal structure 12 of the present invention can of course be used for the seal structure on the pulley 10 side.

The seal 13 and the slinger 24 described above are merely examples for explaining one embodiment of the bearing seal structure of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The main lip 16, the first sub lip 17, the second sub lip 22, the specific shape, size, thickness, length, etc. and the outer diameter and other structures forming the seal 13, or the second forming the slinger 24 One cylindrical part 2
5, The specific shape, size, thickness, length, etc. of the intermediate portion 27 and the second cylindrical portion 28 can be arbitrarily changed within the scope of the present invention.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Here, an embodiment of the seal structure of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 in which the seal structure of the present invention is incorporated in a water pump.
This will be described with reference to a specific embodiment shown in FIG.

[First Embodiment] In this embodiment, a first cylindrical portion (fixed portion) 25 which is tightly fixed to the shaft body 7, an intermediate portion 27 which extends outwardly from the first cylindrical portion 25, A distal end (a distal end of the second cylindrical portion) 30 of the slinger 24 formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section and constituted by the second cylindrical portion 28 extending in the axial direction.
However, the elastic portion 2 between the main lip 16 and the second sub lip 22 in the seal 13 having the outer diameter 15 fixed to the outer race 3
The third seal portion D is formed by making a slight contact with the third seal member 3 in the axial direction (FIG. 2). That is, the slinger tip 30 of the conventional triple lip seal including the first seal portion A, the second seal portion B, and the third seal portion C is attached to the elastic portion 23 of the seal 13.
To form a fourth seal portion D.

For this reason, even if the second sub lip 22 forming the third seal portion C is worn and deformed, and the amount of water and water vapor passing through the third seal portion C is increased, the slinger tip 3 is not affected.
Since 0 is in light contact with the elastic portion 23 of the seal 13, the same effect as the lip is obtained, and the splash of water on the main lip 16 can be reduced. Therefore, water to the second seal portion B
The main lip 16 is worn and deformed by the increase in the amount of water vapor infiltration, and there is no fear that the bearing is broken by the intrusion of water or water vapor into the bearing.

Although not limited, in the present embodiment, the tip 30 of the slinger 24 is rounded by barrel processing. Although not particularly shown, the elastic portion 23 of the seal 13 with which the leading end 30 of the slinger 24 comes into contact is removed while considering the strength of the entire seal.
The peripheral groove may be provided with such a depth that the groove can enter. Thus, the tip 3 of the slinger 24 is located in the circumferential groove.
By forming the fourth seal portion D by inserting 0, the seal of the fourth seal portion D is maintained for a long time even if the tip 30 of the slinger 24 is worn or deformed. In addition, the size is the same as that of the conventional triple lip seal including the first seal portion A, the second seal portion B, and the third seal portion C, so that the conventional equipment can be used.

[Second Embodiment] In the present embodiment, a first cylindrical portion (fixed portion) 25 which is tightly fixed to the shaft body 7 and an intermediate portion 27 which extends outwardly from the first cylindrical portion 25 are formed. Of the slinger 24 formed at a substantially L-shaped cross section (the end of the middle portion)
The third seal portion D contacts the inner peripheral surface (elastic body portion) 19 of the arm portion 18 of the second sub lip 22 of the seal 13 having the outer diameter 15 fixed to the outer ring 3 in a radially orthogonal manner. (FIG. 3). That is, the tip 30 of the slinger 24 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface 19 of the arm 18 of the second sub lip 22, thereby replacing the third seal portion C of the conventional triple lip seal.

Although not limited, in the present embodiment, the distal end 30 of the slinger 24 is rounded by barrel processing, and the inner end of the arm portion 18 of the second sub lip 22 with which the distal end 30 of the slinger 24 contacts. A slinger 24 is provided on the peripheral surface 19.
The peripheral groove 21 is provided with a depth such that the distal end 30 of the peripheral groove 21 can enter (FIG. 3). By forming the fourth seal portion D by inserting the tip 30 of the slinger 24 into the circumferential groove 21 in this manner, the tip 3 of the slinger 24 is formed.
Even if 0 is worn or deformed, the seal of the fourth seal portion D is maintained for a long time. In adopting this configuration, the thickness of the arm 18 is increased.

For this reason, when the second sub-lip is worn or deformed, a large amount of water infiltrates from the third seal portion C and the main lip may be deformed or worn. Since the thickness of the arm portion 18 of the sub lip 22 is increased, and the tip 30 of the slinger 24 is brought into contact with the peripheral groove 21 so as to be in contact therewith, even if the tip 30 of the slinger 24 is worn or deformed, Since the lip is always kept, the influence of water on the main lip 16 can be reduced for a longer time than before. Also, since the size is not different from the conventional triple lip seal, it can be handled by the conventional equipment.

[Third Embodiment] In this embodiment, a first cylindrical portion (fixed portion) 25 which is tightly fixed to the shaft body 7, an intermediate portion 27 which extends outwardly from the first cylindrical portion 25, and A distal end (a distal end of the second cylindrical portion) 30 of the slinger 24 formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section and constituted by the second cylindrical portion 28 extending in the axial direction.
However, an outer diameter 15 of the seal 13 fixed to the outer ring 3 makes light contact in an axially orthogonal manner with an elastic portion 23 between the second sub-lip 22 and the outer diameter 15 to form a fourth seal portion D. (FIG. 4). That is, the tip 30 of the slinger 24 of the conventional triple lip seal including the first seal portion A, the second seal portion B, and the third seal portion C is attached to the elastic portion 2 of the seal 13.
3 to form a fourth seal portion D. In this embodiment, the third seal portion C is formed by contacting (or non-contacting) the tip end 22a of the second sub lip 22 with the inner peripheral surface 31 of the second cylindrical portion 28 of the slinger 24.

Since the tip 30 of the slinger 24 is in light contact with the elastic portion 23 of the seal 13, the same effect is obtained as the lip, and the fourth seal D is formed outside the third seal C. Then, the fourth seal portion D eliminates water and steam that are going to enter the bearing, and firstly reduces the water and steam applied to the third seal portion C. As a result, the splash on the main lip 16 can be reduced. Therefore,
The main lip 16 is worn or deformed by an increase in the amount of water / steam entering the second seal portion B, and there is no worry that the bearing is broken by the entry of water / steam into the bearing.

Although not limited, in the present embodiment, the tip 30 of the slinger 24 is rounded by barrel processing. Although not particularly shown, the elastic portion 23 of the seal 13 with which the leading end 30 of the slinger 24 comes into contact is removed while considering the strength of the entire seal.
The peripheral groove may be provided with such a depth that the groove can enter. Thus, the tip 3 of the slinger 24 is located in the circumferential groove.
By forming the fourth seal portion D by inserting 0, the seal of the fourth seal portion D is maintained for a long time even if the tip 30 of the slinger 24 is worn or deformed. In addition, the size is the same as that of the conventional triple lip seal including the first seal portion A, the second seal portion B, and the third seal portion C, so that the conventional equipment can be used.

[Fourth Embodiment] In this embodiment, a first cylindrical portion (fixed portion) 25 which is tightly fixed to the shaft body 7, an intermediate portion 27 extending outwardly from the first cylindrical portion 25, An end (a protruding portion extending radially from the second cylindrical portion) 30 of a slinger 24 having a substantially U-shaped cross section, which is constituted by a second cylindrical portion 28 extending in the axial direction, has an outer diameter. A fourth seal portion D is formed by lightly contacting the outer peripheral surface (elastic body portion 23) 20 of the arm portion 18 of the second sub lip 22 in the seal 13 fixed to the outer ring 3 in a direction orthogonal to the radial direction. (FIG. 5).
That is, the tip 30 of the slinger 24 and the second sub lip 22
The third seal portion C of the conventional triple lip seal is replaced by bringing the outer peripheral surface 20 of the arm portion 18 into contact.
In this case, the arm portion 18 of the second sub lip 22
May be brought into contact (or non-contact) with the inner peripheral surface 31 of the second cylindrical portion 28 of the slinger 24 to form the third seal portion C.

Although not limited, in this embodiment, the tip 30 of the slinger 24 is rounded by barrel processing, and although not shown, similar to the above-described second embodiment, the tip of the slinger 24 is formed. The tip 3 of the slinger 24 is attached to the outer peripheral surface 20 of the arm 18 of the second
It is preferable that the circumferential groove 21 be provided with a depth such that 0 can enter. By forming the fourth seal portion D by inserting the tip 30 of the slinger 24 into the circumferential groove 21 in this manner, the tip 30 of the slinger 24 is worn out.
Even if it is deformed, the seal of the fourth seal portion D is maintained for a long time. In adopting this configuration, the thickness of the arm 18 is increased.

Therefore, when the second sub lip is worn or deformed, a large amount of water infiltrates from the third seal portion C and the main lip may be deformed or worn. The thickness of the arm 18 is increased, and the tip 30 of the slinger 24 is brought into contact with the circumferential groove 21 so that the tip 30 of the slinger 24 is worn or deformed. Since the lip is maintained, the influence of water on the main lip 16 can be reduced for a longer time than before. Also, since the size is not different from the conventional triple lip seal, it can be handled by the conventional equipment.

[0039]

According to the present invention, since the tip of the slinger comes into contact with the elastic portion of the seal to form a lip, the influence of water on the main lip can be reduced for a long time, and water does not enter the bearing. It has the effect of.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of a water pump bearing using the bearing seal structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a seal structure part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the seal structure.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the seal structure.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the seal structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Rolling bearing for water pump 3: Outer ring 7: Shaft 10: Pulley 11: Impeller 12: Seal structure 13: Seal 16: Main lip (first lip) 17: First sub lip (second lip) 18: Arm Part 21: peripheral groove 22: second auxiliary lip (third lip) 23: elastic part 24: slinger 25: first cylindrical part (fixed part) 27: intermediate part 28: second cylindrical part 30: tip

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A structure for sealing the inside of a bearing by a combination of a seal fixedly provided with an outer diameter on an outer ring side and a slinger fixedly provided on a shaft body or an inner ring side. A bearing seal structure characterized by contacting a seal with an elastic portion of a seal. 2. A bearing comprising the bearing seal structure according to claim 1.