JP2005331029A - Lubricating device of bearing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lubricating device of a bearing capable of reducing a motive power loss caused by supply of lubricating oil and rolling viscous resistance of a bering, when supplying the lubricating oil to the bearing having a rolling body. <P>SOLUTION: This lubricating device of the bearing supplies the lubricating oil to a rolling contact part of the bearing 1 having the rolling body 4; and has revolution detecting means 10 and 12 for detecting revolution of the rolling body 4, load range determining means 10 and 11 for determining a load range L where a load F acts on the bearing 1 by detecting the load F applied to the bearing 1, and lubricating oil injecting means 6, 7 and 10 for intermittently injecting the lubricating oil into the rolling contact part by synchronizing with a period when the rolling body 4 passes through the load range L on the basis of the revolution of the rolling body 4 detected by the revolution detecting means 10 and 12 and the load range L determined by the load range determining means 10 and 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a bearing lubrication device that supplies lubricating oil to a portion of the bearing having rolling elements that requires lubricating oil.

  Generally, various rotating members are provided in a power transmission path from a driving force source of a vehicle to wheels, and these rotating members are supported by bearings. Since the bearing for supporting such a rotating member is rotated at high speed while receiving a load from the rotating member, the rotating member relatively rotates between the inner ring and the outer ring of the bearing and the rolling element. In order to suppress heat generation, seizure, wear, and the like between each other, lubricating oil is supplied to the heat generation / wear portion, and the portion is lubricated and cooled.

  At this time, for example, when the running state of the vehicle or the operating state of the rotating member changes, the rotational speed of the bearing and the load received by the bearing change. However, the amount of lubricating oil supplied corresponds to the change in the rotational speed. An example of a lubrication device for a rotating part support (rolling bearing) configured to adjust the angle is described in Patent Document 1.

  In the rolling bearing lubrication device described in Patent Document 1, when a predetermined amount of lubricating oil is supplied to the bearing every predetermined time interval, the time interval for supplying the lubricating oil according to the rotational speed of the bearing, Alternatively, the supply amount of the lubricating oil, or both the time interval and the supply amount thereof are adjusted, and the lubricating oil is supplied to the bearing. For this reason, it is said that an appropriate amount of lubricating oil can be supplied to the bearing in response to a change in the rotational speed of the bearing.

An example of a lubrication device for a sliding bearing configured to detect a load received by a bearing and adjust a supply amount of lubricating oil corresponding to the detected load is disclosed in Patent Document 2 and An example of a lubrication device for a sliding bearing configured to supply lubricating oil to a position that is a starting point in a rotation direction of a support region (load zone) of a load that is received by the engine is described in Patent Document 3.
JP 2003-42392 A JP 2002-147455 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-8932

  A rolling bearing that supports a rotating member is a load area that is affected by the load, and an area that is not affected by the load, that is, an area that is not affected by the load. There is an anti-load zone. In the case of a rolling bearing, in the anti-load zone, the clearance between the rolling element and the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring or between the rolling element and the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring is increased, and the load acting on that portion is greatly reduced.

  By the way, the bearing lubrication device described in Patent Document 1 can supply an appropriate amount of lubricating oil according to the rotational speed of the bearing. The difference in the necessity of lubricating oil between the service area and the service area is not taken into consideration.Lubrication oil is supplied to all areas of the bearing regardless of the load area or the anti-load area, and lubrication is performed to the parts that do not require the oil. Oil will be supplied. As a result, the lubricating oil is excessively supplied, which may cause an increase in power loss, rolling viscous resistance, and the like accompanying the supply of the lubricating oil.

  The present invention has been made against the background described above, and when supplying lubricating oil to a bearing having rolling elements, a bearing capable of reducing power loss accompanying rolling of lubricating oil and rolling viscous resistance of the bearing. An object of the present invention is to provide a lubricating device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a bearing lubrication device for supplying lubricating oil to a rolling contact portion of a bearing having rolling elements, and a revolution detecting means for detecting revolutions of the rolling elements, A load zone determination means for detecting a load received by the bearing and determining a load zone in which the load acts on the bearing; a revolution of the rolling element detected by the revolution detection means; and a determination by the load zone determination means And a lubricating oil injection means for injecting lubricating oil intermittently to the rolling contact portion in synchronization with a period in which the rolling elements pass through the load area based on the load area. It is a feature.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the lubricating oil injection means injects the lubricating oil from the rear side in the revolution direction of the rolling element onto the rolling element in or near the load zone. It has the means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when lubricating oil is supplied to the rolling contact portion of the bearing having the rolling element, the revolution of the rolling element and the load received by the bearing are detected, and the load acts on the bearing. Is determined. And based on the information on the revolution and the load zone of the detected or determined rolling elements, the lubricating oil is intermittently applied to the rolling elements in synchronization with the cycle in which the rolling elements pass through the load zone or the vicinity thereof. Be injected. Therefore, in a load zone that requires lubrication, the lubricating oil can be supplied to the minimum amount that can form an oil film between the rolling elements and the inner ring and the outer ring of the bearing. It is possible to suppress the power loss due to the supply of the lubricating oil due to the supply or the like and the increase of the rolling viscous resistance, and the power loss as a whole can be reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 2, when the lubricating oil is supplied to the rolling contact portion of the bearing having the rolling element, the lubricating oil is injected to the rolling element from the rear side in the revolution direction of the rolling element. Therefore, the kinetic energy possessed by the lubricating oil when injected can be made to function so as to assist the rotational force in the revolution direction of the rolling elements, and as a result, the power loss as a whole can be reduced.

  Next, the present invention will be described based on specific examples. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of a bearing lubrication device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a bearing 1 is a rolling bearing having a plurality of rolling elements 4 between an inner ring 2 and an outer ring 3, and is a radial bearing mainly receiving a load perpendicular to the axis. The bearing 1 is a bearing used for a support portion of a shaft 5 such as an input shaft or an output shaft of a transmission mounted on a vehicle, for example. Therefore, the outer ring 3 is fixed to a transmission case (not shown), and the inner ring 2 is configured to rotate integrally with the shaft 5. In addition, the rotation direction of the inner ring | wheel 2 here is a counterclockwise direction in FIG.

  Further, the plurality of rolling elements 4 are held at regular intervals in the circumferential direction by a cage (not shown). Accordingly, the plurality of rolling elements 4 revolve together with the cage while rotating (spinning). As in this specific example, when the outer ring 3 is fixed and the inner ring 2 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the rolling element 4 revolves in the same counterclockwise direction as the rotation direction of the inner ring 2. The revolution speed can be obtained from the rotational speed of the inner ring 2 and the shape of the bearing 1 such as the diameter and pitch diameter of the rolling elements 4.

  An injection nozzle 6 is provided at a predetermined position on the start point A side in a load zone L (shaded portion in FIG. 1) of the bearing 1 to be described later. The injection nozzle 6 revolves the rolling element 4 with lubricating oil adjusted to a predetermined injection pressure supplied from a hydraulic control device 7 to be described later when the rolling element 4 passes through or near the load zone L. It is a nozzle for injecting to the rolling element 4 from the rear side of the direction. In other words, the injection nozzle 6 is a nozzle for injecting lubricating oil from the rear side in the revolution direction of the rolling element 4 to the rolling element 4 in or near the load zone L.

  The injection nozzle 6 is fixed at a predetermined position of the transmission case, for example, by appropriately adjusting the injection position and the injection angle of the lubricating oil to the rolling elements 4. The appropriate injection position is indicated by the starting point A in the load zone L, for example, in a range where the tip of the injection nozzle 6 does not hinder the rotation of the bearing 1, the shaft 5, or the gear connected to the shaft 5. The position is as close as possible to the rolling element 4 at or near the point. Further, the appropriate injection angle is, for example, that the lubricating oil is injected into the rolling element 4 at or near the point indicated by the starting point A in the load zone L from the injection nozzle 6 other than the rolling element 4 to be injected. As long as the rolling oil is not interfered with other rolling elements, the lubricating oil injection direction is preferably an angle that is parallel to the tangential direction of the revolution radius of the rolling element 4 at the time of injection.

  Therefore, the injection nozzle 6 is generated when the lubricating oil collides with the rolling element 4 because the injection direction when the lubricating oil is injected is substantially parallel to the tangential direction of the revolution radius of the rolling element 4 at the time of injection. The jetting angle, position, and the like are set so that the component force of the impact force other than the direction parallel to the tangential direction is as small as possible. Therefore, the kinetic (injection) energy of the lubricating oil is efficiently added to the rotational energy in the revolution of the rolling element 4 during the injection.

  A hydraulic control device 7 for controlling the injection of the lubricating oil from the injection nozzle 6 to the rolling element 4 is provided. Lubricating oil is supplied to the hydraulic control device 7 by, for example, pumping up lubricating oil in an oil reservoir portion 8 provided at a lower portion of the transmission case with an oil pump 9. The oil pump 9 is, for example, a trochoid pump or a gear pump, and is a pump driven by a power source such as an engine or a motor.

  The hydraulic control device 7 is configured to operate in response to an electric signal to supply and discharge hydraulic pressure and adjust pressure. Specifically, the pressure of the lubricating oil supplied from the oil pump 9 is adjusted to a predetermined pressure suitable for injecting the lubricating oil by, for example, a pressure regulating valve (not shown), for example, a solenoid valve. By controlling the opening and closing (not shown), the lubricating oil adjusted to a predetermined injection pressure is supplied to the injection nozzle 6.

  A command signal is input to the hydraulic control device 7 from an electronic control unit (ECU) 10. That is, the electronic control unit (ECU) 10 is configured to control the hydraulic pressure control device 7 by setting the injection timing (timing) of the lubricating oil injected from the injection nozzle 6 and the injection amount. Furthermore, as a sensor for detecting data for performing control by these control devices 7 and 10, a load sensor 11 for detecting the load received by the bearing 1, the rotation speed and rotation angle of the inner ring 2, or the revolution of the rolling element 4. A rotation sensor 12 for detecting the rotation speed and rotation angle, a hydraulic pressure sensor (not shown) for detecting the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic pressure control device 7 and the like are provided.

  Known sensors such as a load cell can be applied as the load sensor 11, and known sensors such as a rotary encoder can be applied as the rotation sensor 12. Further, when the rotation sensor 12 detects, for example, the rotation speed and rotation angle of the inner ring 2, the rotation speed and rotation angle of the revolution of the rolling element 4 are calculated based on the detected data relating to the rotation of the inner ring 2. Can do. Therefore, the rotation target detected by the rotation sensor 12 may be the rotation of the inner ring 2 or the revolution of the rolling element 4. Alternatively, both rotations may be targeted.

  Based on the data from each of the sensors 11 and 12, the electronic control unit (ECU) 10 performs arithmetic processing and outputs a command signal to the hydraulic control unit 7. Specifically, first, the load zone L of the bearing 1 is determined based on the data from the load sensor 11. The load zone L is a region where the load acts on the bearing 1 when the bearing 1 receives a load. In other words, for example, when the bearing 1 receives a load of a load F (upward load in FIG. 1), the bearing 1 is affected by the load F, and lubricating oil is required at the rolling contact portion of the bearing 1. FIG. 1 shows the region as a hatched range L. The determination of the load zone L can be made by detecting or setting the direction and size of the load F and the position of the maximum load point. A point A in FIG. 1 is a starting point A indicated as a position where the rolling element 4 enters the load zone L first when the rolling element 4 revolves counterclockwise, and a point B in FIG. The rolling element 4 that revolves around and enters the load zone L is an end point B that is indicated as a position to finally escape from the load zone L.

  Next, based on data such as the rotation speed of the inner ring 2 or the revolution of the rolling element 4 and the rotation angle, the revolving rolling element 4 is set at the start point A of the load zone L or its periphery. A period of passing through a predetermined injection position is determined. Then, a command signal for injecting the lubricating oil from the injection nozzle 6 is transmitted to the hydraulic control device 7 in synchronization with the cycle. Further, based on the data on the load received by the bearing 1 or the data on the rotation speed of the inner ring 2 or the revolution of the rolling element 4, the injection amount, injection pressure, and the like of the lubricating oil injected from the injection nozzle 6 are obtained. A command signal related to them is transmitted to the hydraulic control device 7.

  Specifically, the lubricating oil injected from the injection nozzle 6 to the rolling element 4 is intermittently injected in synchronism with the period in which the rolling element 4 passes through the injection position of the lubricating oil. Further, the injection amount or the injection pressure at that time is set so as to have a predetermined size at which an appropriate oil film of lubricating oil is formed on the rolling contact portion of the bearing 1 in the load zone L. Furthermore, even when the driving state of the transmission changes due to, for example, a change in the running state of the vehicle, and the rotational speed of the inner ring 2 changes, the injection pressure and the injection amount are adjusted to appropriate values according to the rotational speed. , Lubricating oil is injected. For example, when the rotational speed of the inner ring 2 is low, the injection pressure and the injection amount of the lubricating oil are adjusted so that the amount of lubricating oil supplied to the rolling elements 4 is reduced, and conversely, the rotational speed of the inner ring 2 is high. In this case, the injection pressure and the injection amount of the lubricating oil are adjusted so that the amount of the lubricating oil supplied to the rolling element 4 is increased.

  Accordingly, only when the rolling element 4 passes through the lubricating oil injection position in or near the load zone L, an appropriate amount of lubricating oil is injected to the rolling element 4 and no timing is required for the lubricating oil. , The injection of lubricating oil at the position, or the injection of lubricating oil exceeding the required amount is limited. Therefore, the required amount of lubricating oil is injected, and power loss due to the supply of the lubricating oil due to excessive supply of the lubricating oil is reduced.

  An example of the control related to the injection of the lubricating oil described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The routine shown in this flowchart is repeatedly executed every predetermined short time. In FIG. 2, first, the load received by the bearing 1 is detected (step S1). Next, based on the detected load, a required amount of lubricating oil for forming an oil film having a minimum oil film thickness at the rolling contact portion of the bearing 1 is obtained. At this time, the load zone L of the bearing 1 is also obtained based on the detected load (step S2).

  Further, the rotational speed of the shaft, that is, the rotational speed, rotational angle, etc. of the inner ring 2 is detected, and based on the detected data, the rotational speed, rotational angle, etc. in the revolution of the rolling element 4 are calculated. On the basis of the data on the revolution of No. 4, the timing at which the rolling element 4 passes through the lubricant injection position set at or near the starting point A of the load zone L is calculated (step S3).

  When the passage timing of the rolling element 4 is obtained in step S3, it is determined whether the passage timing coincides with the injection timing for injecting the lubricating oil from the injection nozzle 6 (step S4). If the passage timing and the injection timing coincide with each other and if the determination is affirmative in step S4, the process proceeds to step S5, and the lubricating oil is injected toward the rolling elements 4. Thereafter, this routine is once ended (returned).

  On the other hand, if the passage timing does not coincide with the injection timing and a negative determination is made in step S4, step S5 is skipped, that is, the lubricating oil is not injected, and this routine is temporarily ended (return). To do.

  As described above, according to the bearing lubrication apparatus of the present invention, when supplying the lubricating oil to the rolling contact portion of the bearing 1, only the required timing and the required amount are supplied to the rolling elements 4. Lubricating oil can be injected and supplied. Further, during the injection, the kinetic energy of the injected lubricating oil can be efficiently converted into rotational energy and added to the rotational force of the bearing 1. As a result, it is possible to reduce the power loss accompanying the supply of the lubricating oil.

  In addition, when the gear mechanism lubrication device according to the present invention having the above-described actions and effects is applied to a gear mechanism in a power transmission device of a vehicle such as a transmission, as illustrated in a specific example, for example, By reducing the power loss accompanying the supply, the power transmission efficiency of the vehicle can be improved and the fuel consumption can be reduced.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to said specific example. For example, in the specific example, a lubrication device for a rolling bearing used in a transmission mounted on a vehicle has been described as an example. However, the lubricating device is not limited to a transmission, but includes other rolling bearings such as a differential and a transfer of a four-wheel drive vehicle. It can also be applied to other machines and devices. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to machines and devices mounted on vehicles but also to other general machines and devices having a rolling bearing.

It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating schematically the lubrication apparatus of the bearing which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the control example of injection control of the lubricating oil in the lubricating device of the bearing which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bearing, 2 ... Inner ring, 3 ... Outer ring, 4 ... Rolling element, 6 ... Injection nozzle, 7 ... Hydraulic control apparatus, 10 ... Electronic control unit (ECU), 11 ... Load sensor, 12 ... Rotation sensor.

Claims (2)

In a bearing lubrication device that supplies lubricating oil to a rolling contact portion of a bearing having rolling elements,
A revolution detecting means for detecting revolution of the rolling element;
A load zone determining means for detecting a load received by the bearing and determining a load zone in which the load acts on the bearing;
Based on the revolution of the rolling element detected by the revolution detection means and the load area determined by the load area determination means, the load element intermittently synchronizes with the period in which the rolling element passes through the load area. A bearing lubricating device comprising: a lubricating oil injection means for injecting lubricating oil onto a rolling contact portion.   2. The bearing according to claim 1, wherein the lubricating oil injection unit includes a unit that injects lubricating oil from the rear side in the revolution direction of the rolling element onto the rolling element in or near the load zone. Lubrication device.

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