JP2003254336A - Rolling bearing and lubricant filling method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rolling bearing capable of securely holding lubricant in a holder, and to provide a lubricant filling method. <P>SOLUTION: In this rolling bearing, an annular base part 10 of the holder 6 has a projection part 15 projecting inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface between pockets 5 and 5. The projection part 15 works as a wall for preventing passing of the lubricant filled between the pockets 5 and 5 in the axial direction through a clearance between the annular base part 10 of the holder 6 and an inner ring 1. The annular base part 10 of the holder 6 has an axial directional projection 13 projecting in the axial direction between the pockets 5 and 5. This axial directional projection 13 takes a part for stopping a flow of the lubricant filled between the pockets 5 and 5 there, and works as a mark for determining a radial directional position of a filling nozzle when filling the lubricant between the pockets 5 and 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rolling bearing and a lubricant filling method for the rolling bearing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a ball bearing used for a spindle motor of an HDD (hard disk drive) device,
A cage that holds grease between the pockets that hold the balls is used to reduce the rotational torque. To seal the grease in this cage, arrange a sealing nozzle that extends in the axial direction from the outer ring to the inner ring between the pockets of the cage, and seal the grease from the sealing nozzle to the pockets. Is being done.

[0003]

However, if the radial position of the filling nozzle shifts when the grease is filled, some grease will not be injected between the pockets of the cage,
Grease leakage may occur when passing through the gap between the cage and the inner ring in the axial direction. Further, there is a possibility that grease may adhere to the gap between the cage and the inner ring to increase the rotation torque.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a rolling bearing capable of reliably holding a lubricant in a cage and a method of filling the lubricant.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a rolling bearing according to a first aspect of the invention has a plurality of rolling elements arranged between an outer ring and an inner ring, and a plurality of rolling elements holding the plurality of rolling elements. A rolling bearing including a cage having pockets, wherein the cage has an annular base portion annularly extending in a space between the outer ring and the inner ring, and the rolling base axially extending from the annular base portion. Having a claw portion that sandwiches the moving body from both sides in the circumferential direction, a pair of claw portions that sandwich the rolling element and an annular base portion between the pair of claw portions constitute a pocket that sandwiches the rolling element, and the annular base portion is , Between the pockets adjacent to each other, and between the pockets adjacent to each other,
It is characterized by having a convex portion that protrudes radially inward from the inner peripheral surface.

In the rolling bearing according to the first aspect of the present invention, the annular base portion of the cage has a convex portion that protrudes radially inward from the inner peripheral surface between the pockets. The convex portion serves as a wall that prevents the lubricant injected between the pockets from passing through the gap between the annular base portion of the cage and the inner ring in the axial direction, and the lubricant leaks in the axial direction. Prevent.

Further, the annular base portion of the retainer has an axial projection protruding axially between the pockets. The axial projections serve to facilitate the retention of the lubricant injected between the pockets between the pockets,
It can be a mark for determining the radial position of the injection nozzle when the lubricant is injected between the pockets.
Therefore, it is possible to precisely set the injection position of the lubricant, and it is possible to prevent the lubricant from leaking out and preventing the lubricant from adhering to unnecessary portions.

A method of filling the rolling bearing with lubricant according to a second aspect of the present invention is the method of filling the rolling bearing with the lubricant according to the first aspect, in which the lubricant is filled between the adjacent pockets. At the time of doing, inward in the radial direction from the axial projection that protrudes in the axial direction between the adjacent pockets of the cage,
It is characterized by being filled with a lubricant.

In the method of filling the rolling bearing with the lubricant according to the second aspect of the present invention, the lubricant is filled inward in the radial direction with respect to the axial projection protruding in the axial direction between the adjacent pockets of the cage. Most of the filled lubricant collects between the pockets on the radially inner side of the axial protrusions,
From between the pockets, it is supplied to the rolling elements held in the pockets and plays a role of lubrication. Further, even when the lubricant reaches the gap between the cage and the inner ring from between the pockets, the convex portion protruding inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface of the cage causes the lubricant to come into contact with the shaft. It prevents the lubricant from leaking in the axial direction by providing a wall that prevents the lubricant from passing in the direction.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a ball bearing as an embodiment of the rolling bearing of the present invention. In this embodiment, the inner ring 1
And an outer ring 2, and a plurality of balls 3 arranged between the inner ring 1 and the outer ring 2. The plurality of balls 3 are held in a plurality of pockets 5 of a resin-made crown-shaped cage 6 arranged between the inner ring 1 and the outer ring 2. Further, sealing members 7 and 8 for sealing the space between the inner ring 1 and the outer ring 2 are arranged on both sides in the axial direction between the inner ring 1 and the outer ring 2.

The crown-shaped cage 6 has an annular base portion 10 extending annularly in the space between the outer ring 2 and the inner ring 1, and an annular base portion 1.
0 extends in the axial direction and has a claw portion 11 that sandwiches the ball 3 from both sides in the circumferential direction. This crown type cage 6 is shown in FIG.
A plan view of FIG. 2 shows a state as viewed in the axial direction indicated by arrow X in FIG. A cross section taken along the line AA of FIG. 2 is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A,
The crown-shaped cage 6 includes a pair of claw portions 11 that sandwich the ball 3.
11 and the annular base portion 10 between the pair of claw portions 11, 11 form a pocket 5 for holding the ball 3. In addition, the annular base portion 10 projects radially inward from the inner peripheral surface 10A between the axial protrusions 13 that project in the axial direction between the adjacent pockets 5 and 5 and the adjacent pockets 5 and 5, The projection 15 extends between the adjacent claws 11 and 11.

According to the ball bearing having the above structure, the annular base portion 10 of the crown type cage 6 has the convex portion 15 protruding radially inward from the inner peripheral surface between the pockets 5, 5. The convex portion 15 has the lubricant 6 injected between the pockets 5 and 5 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 (A) to 6 (C).
2 serves as a wall that prevents passage in the axial direction from the gap between the annular base portion 10 of the crown-shaped cage 6 and the inner ring 1, and prevents leakage of the lubricant in the axial direction.

Further, the annular base portion 1 of the crown type cage 6 is provided.
The reference numeral 0 has an axial projection 13 protruding in the axial direction between the pockets 5, 5. The axial projection 13 plays a role of facilitating the retention of the lubricant 62 injected between the pockets 5 and 5 between the pockets 5 and 5 and the injection of the lubricant 62 between the pockets 5 and 5. In doing so, it can be used as a mark for determining the radial position of the injection nozzle 61. Therefore, it is possible to precisely set the injection position of the lubricant, and it is possible to prevent the lubricant from leaking out and preventing the lubricant from adhering to unnecessary portions. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the lubricant can be reliably held by the crown type cage 6.

It should be noted that the axial projection 13 serves as a mark for positioning when the lubricant is injected, even if the protruding size in the axial direction is very small. Also, this axial projection 1
3 may be formed by utilizing the seat of a pin for extrusion when the resin cage 6 is injection molded.

In this embodiment, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 (A)
As shown in, the axial projection 13 of the annular base portion 10 of the cage 6 has a rectangular cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to the axis,
Although the long side has a flat plate shape extending in the tangential direction, FIG.
The retainer 30 having the sectional shape shown in FIG. The retainer 30 differs from the annular base 10 only in the shape of the annular base 31 between the pockets 5, 5. In this cage 30,
The annular base portion 31 between the pockets 5, 5 has an axial end surface 31A that increases in diameter from the inside toward the outside in the radial direction, and the recessed portion 32 that is recessed in the axial direction is formed in this end surface 31A. ing. In this modification, the portion 33 surrounding the concave portion 32 on the end surface 31A is the axial projection 13 of the above embodiment.
The concave portion 32 and the portion 33 surrounding the concave portion 32 facilitate the accumulation of the lubricant between the pockets, and the concave portion 32 serves as a mark for the lubricant injection position.

Further, in the above embodiment, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 (A)
As shown in FIG. 1, the convex portion 1 of the annular base portion 10 of the cage 6 is
No. 5 was projected inward in the radial direction in a quadrangular shape, and the cross-sectional shape cut along the plane perpendicular to the axis was a substantially rectangular shape, but as shown in FIG. It may be the convex portion 41 having a curved surface. In this case, the contact resistance between the cage 6 and the inner ring 1 can be reduced. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4B, a convex portion 42 that protrudes inward in the radial direction in a substantially quadrangular shape and has a cross-sectional shape cut along a plane perpendicular to the axis has a concave curved surface 42A along the annular base 10. May be In this case, the curved surface 42A of the convex portion 42 is arranged along the inner ring 1 to reduce the gap between the inner ring 1 and the convex portion 42, and the leakage of the lubricant from the gap can be prevented more reliably.

Further, the annular base portion 10 of the cage 6 shown in FIG. 3 (A) is replaced with the convex portion 15 and, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), from the inner peripheral surface 10A of the annular base portion 10. , A convex portion 5 protruding inward in the radial direction in a trapezoidal shape with the shorter side on the radial inner side
1 may be provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), the annular base portion 10 of the retainer 6 is provided with a circular recess 52, which is recessed in the axial direction, in place of the axial projection 13 between the pockets 5 and 5. Good. The depression 52 and the depression 52
A portion 53 around the groove serves as a lubricant reservoir similar to the axial projection 13, and the recess 52 serves as a mark of a lubricant injection position. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), the annular base portion 10 of the retainer 6 may include an annular convex portion 55 continuous in the circumferential direction, instead of the convex portion 15. This convex part 5
5 is an annular base portion 1 of the retainer 6 over the entire area in the circumferential direction.
Since it projects radially inward from the inner peripheral surface 10A of No. 0, the lubricant injected between the pockets 5, 5 can be more reliably prevented from leaking in the axial direction from the gap with the inner ring 1.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, a method of filling the ball bearing of the above embodiment with grease as a lubricant will be described.

In this grease filling method, as shown in FIG. 6 (A), the tip portion 61A of the enclosed nozzle 61 extending in the axial direction is moved from the space between the inner ring 1 and the outer ring 2 to the cage 6.
Insert it between the pockets 5 and 5. At this time, the axial projection 13 of the cage 6 can be used as a mark for determining the radial position of the enclosed nozzle 61. In this example, the radial position of the sealing nozzle 61 is determined so that the central axis of the tip portion 61A of the sealing nozzle 61 is located radially inward of the axial projection 13. And FIG. 6 (A)
As shown in FIG. 1, the axial protrusion 1 axially projected from the tip portion 61A between the adjacent pockets 5, 5 of the cage 6.
Grease 62 is filled between the adjacent pockets 5, 5 on the radially inner side of 3. Most of the filled grease 62 is accumulated between the pockets 5 and 5 on the radial inner side of the axial projection 13 (that is, between the claw portions 11 and 11 adjacent to each other on the back side). The grease 62 is supplied from between the pockets 5 to the balls 3 held in the pockets 5 and plays a role of lubrication. In addition, the grease 62 is applied to the cage 6 from between the pockets 5 and 5.
Even when the gap between the inner ring 1 and the inner ring 1 is reached, the cage 6
The convex portion 15 protruding inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface serves as a wall that prevents the grease 62 from passing in the axial direction, and prevents the lubricant from leaking in the axial direction. Therefore, according to this grease filling method, the grease 62 can be reliably held in the cage 6. As illustrated in FIG. 6B, when the axial distance between the tip end portion 61A of the sealing nozzle 61 and the axial protrusion 13 is set to be larger than that in the example illustrated in FIG. 6A, The amount of grease that protrudes radially inward from the pockets 5, 5 of the cage 6 is reduced, and the amount of grease that protrudes axially from the cage 6 is increased. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 6C, the axial distance between the tip portion 61A of the sealing nozzle 61 and the axial protrusion 13 is
It is made larger than the example shown in FIG. 6 (B). In this case, the amount of the grease 62 protruding in the radial direction is further reduced, and at the same time, the amount of the grease 62 protruding in the axial direction is further increased. In this way, the tip portion 6 of the sealing nozzle 61
By adjusting the axial distance between 1A and the axial projection 13, the distribution of the grease 62 sealed in the cage 6 can be adjusted.

[0022]

As is apparent from the above, in the rolling bearing of the first aspect of the present invention, the annular base portion of the retainer has the convex portion protruding radially inward from the inner peripheral surface between the pockets. The convex portion serves as a wall that prevents the lubricant injected between the pockets from passing through the gap between the annular base portion of the cage and the inner ring in the axial direction, and the lubricant leaks in the axial direction. Prevent.

Further, the annular base portion of the retainer has an axial projection protruding axially between the pockets. The axial projections serve to facilitate the retention of the lubricant injected between the pockets between the pockets,
It can be a mark for determining the radial position of the injection nozzle when the lubricant is injected between the pockets.
Therefore, it is possible to precisely set the injection position of the lubricant, and it is possible to prevent the lubricant from leaking out and preventing the lubricant from adhering to unnecessary portions.

Further, in the method of filling the rolling bearing with the lubricant according to the second aspect of the present invention, the lubricant is filled more radially inward than the axial projections protruding axially between the adjacent pockets of the cage. . Most of the filled lubricant is retained between the pockets radially inward of the axial protrusions, and is supplied to the rolling elements held in the pockets from between the pockets to play a role of lubrication. become. Also,
Even when the lubricant reaches the gap between the cage and the inner ring from between the pockets, the protrusion protruding radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the cage causes the lubricant to move in the axial direction. It serves as a wall that prevents passage, and prevents the lubricant from leaking in the axial direction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a rolling bearing of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a crown type cage provided in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 (A) is a cross-sectional view of the above-mentioned crown type cage,
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a modified example of the crown type cage.

FIG. 4 (A) is a plan view of another modification of the crown-type cage, and FIG. 4 (B) is a plan view of yet another modification.

FIG. 5 (A) is a plan view of another modified example of the crown type cage, and FIG. 5 (B) is a plan view of yet another modified example of the crown type cage.

6 (A), (B), and (C) are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of filling the ball bearing of the above embodiment with grease.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Inner ring, 2 ... Outer ring, 3 ... Ball, 5 ... Pocket, 6,
30 ... Crown type retainer, 7, 8 ... Sealing member, 10, 31 ... Annular base portion, 10A ... Inner peripheral surface, 11 ... Claw portion, 13 ... Axial projection, 15, 41, 42, 51, 55 ... Convex portion , 42A ... Curved surface, 31A ... End surface, 32 ... Recessed part, 33 ... Part, 52 ... Dimple, 61 ... Encapsulating nozzle, 61A ... Tip part, 62 ... Grease.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A rolling bearing comprising a cage having a plurality of rolling elements arranged between an outer ring and an inner ring, and having a plurality of pockets for holding the plurality of rolling elements, wherein the cage is the outer ring. A pair of annular base portions that extend annularly in the space between the inner ring and the inner ring, and claw portions that extend axially from the annular base portion and sandwich the rolling elements from both sides in the circumferential direction, and that sandwich the rolling elements. The claws and the annular base between the pair of claws form a pocket for holding the rolling element, and the annular base is an axial projection that protrudes in the axial direction between the adjacent pockets, and the adjacent A rolling bearing characterized in that it has a convex portion protruding radially inward from the inner peripheral surface between the pockets. 2. A method for filling a rolling bearing according to claim 1 with a lubricant, wherein when the lubricant is filled between the adjacent pockets, an axial direction is provided between the adjacent pockets of the cage. A method of filling a rolling bearing with a lubricant, characterized in that the lubricant is filled more radially inside than the protruding axial projection.