JP2006200740A - Rolling bearing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rolling bearing device capable of precisely dripping a lubricant in a required part, and capable of maintaining superior lubrication even by a small quantity of lubricant. <P>SOLUTION: This rolling bearing device supplies the lubricant from an opening (a hole 11c) arranged in a nozzle tip part 11a by inserting the tip part 11a of the lubricant supply nozzle 11 up to the vicinity of a ball 3 in a bearing annular space S. A lubricant holding part (a large diameter part 11d) projecting at least vertically downward from a peripheral surface of the nozzle 11, is formed on the tip of the nozzle 11 or in its tip vicinity. With such constitution, the lubricant delivered from the nozzle tip 11a is drawn to the lubricant holding part, and becomes a droplet, and hardly moves to the root part 11b side of the nozzle. Thus, the rolling bearing device can precisely drip the lubricant in the required part even in the annular space S of generating an air current by rolling motion of a rolling body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a rolling bearing device, and more particularly to a rolling bearing device provided with means for supplying a lubricant in an annular space formed between race members rotating relative to each other or in the vicinity of the opening thereof.

  Conventionally, jet lubrication, oil mist lubrication, oil / air lubrication, and the like have been used as a method of supplying a lubricant into the annular space of a rolling bearing device rotating at high speed.

  However, in these methods, it is necessary to pressurize the lubricant or accelerate the lubricant with compressed air or the like in order to allow the lubricant to reach the inside from the outside of the annular space, and the mechanism becomes large. End up. Further, since an excessive amount of oil is supplied, a lot of lubricant is wasted, and in order to prevent environmental pollution and the like, a mechanism for collecting and circulating excess lubricant is required.

  Therefore, the applicants are provided with an integrated compact lubricant supply unit (hereinafter referred to as “oil supply unit”) in the annular space formed between the track members or in the vicinity of the opening thereof. A rolling bearing device has been proposed in which the nozzle of the unit is arranged in the annular space of the bearing so that a minimum amount of lubricant as required can be directly supplied to the vicinity of the rolling element or the vicinity of the cage ( (See Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  FIG. 7 is an axial cross-sectional view of the rolling bearing device according to these proposals, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view (a) of the lubricant supply nozzle provided in the oil supply unit used in the rolling bearing device as seen from the bearing radial direction, and the nozzle as seen from the bearing circumferential direction. FIG.

  The rolling bearing device includes an inner ring 1 and an outer ring 2 as race members, and a plurality of rolling elements (balls 3) disposed in an annular space S formed between opposing surfaces (track surfaces) of the inner and outer rings, It comprises a retainer 4 that holds these balls 3 in the circumferential direction at a predetermined interval, and an oil supply unit 10 that supplies a lubricant.

  The oil supply unit 10 includes a pump 5, a control unit 6 for the pump 5, a tank 7 for storing lubricant, and a battery 8, all of which are arranged in an annular space S of the bearing. . The control means 6, the tank 7 and the battery 8 are substantially arc-shaped when viewed from the axial direction, and these and the pump 5 are combined to form a ring-shaped unit body as a whole. In addition, this oil supply unit 10 is attached to the fixed ring side (in this example, the inner peripheral surface 2x of the outer ring 2) of the opposing surface of the bearing.

  Further, the lubricant supply nozzle 21 disposed in the pump 5 of the oil supply unit 10 is composed of a pipe-like member as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, and is formed on the end face of the tip 21a. Is provided with an opening (hole 21c) for discharging the lubricant. The tip 21 a of the nozzle 21 is disposed between the retainer 4 and the inner ring 1 and at a position near the rolling track of the ball 3.

In the case of a bearing device that does not have a cage that holds the ball, the tip 21a of the nozzle 21 of the pump 5 is located between the outer ring 2 and the inner ring 1 as shown in FIGS. It is arranged at a position near the rolling track of the ball 3.
JP 2004-108388 A JP 2004-316707 A

  Incidentally, it is known that an air flow (air flow) is generated in the circumferential direction of the bearing due to the rolling motion of the rolling elements in the annular space of the rolling bearing. Therefore, in the oil supply unit 10 that uses a very small amount of lubricant that has not been accelerated (pressurized), the lubricant reaches the inside of the air flow barrier (air barrier or air curtain) and is efficiently supplied to the necessary parts. In order to (drop), the tip 21 a of the nozzle 21 is inserted to the vicinity of the ball 3 in the annular space S.

  However, in the conventional rolling bearing device, as shown in FIG. 6B, the lubricant O discharged from the hole 21c at the tip of the nozzle travels along the nozzle outer peripheral surface 21x due to the influence of the air flow and the surface tension. In some cases, the nozzle 5 moves in the direction of the nozzle root 21b on the pump 5 side, making it difficult to stably drip the target portion.

  The present invention has been made in order to cope with the above-described problems, and is a rolling bearing capable of accurately dropping a lubricant onto a required portion and maintaining good lubrication even with a small amount of lubricant. The object is to provide a device.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a pipe-like nozzle is provided in or near an annular space formed between raceway members arranged concentrically and relatively rotating. A pump is provided, and the tip of the nozzle is disposed in the annular space, and a lubricant is supplied to the vicinity of the rolling elements disposed in the annular space from the opening provided in the nozzle tip. In this rolling bearing device, a lubricant holding portion that protrudes at least vertically downward from the peripheral surface of the nozzle is formed at or near the tip of the nozzle.

  The present invention relates to a rolling bearing device in which an oil supply nozzle is inserted to the vicinity of a rolling element or a cage, and a lubricant is supplied by a pump, and the discharged lubricant is collected near the tip discharge port of the nozzle. By providing a lubricant holding portion for forming droplets, the intended purpose is achieved.

  That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the lubricant holding portion that protrudes at least vertically downward from the peripheral surface of the nozzle is formed at or near the tip of the nozzle to discharge from the tip of the nozzle. The applied lubricant is attracted to the lubricant holding part, and it becomes difficult to move to the base part side of the nozzle. Therefore, the rolling bearing device of the present invention can accurately drop the lubricant onto a required portion even when the nozzle tip is disposed in the annular space where the airflow is generated by the rolling motion of the rolling elements.

  Here, as a specific means for forming the lubricant holding portion, a method in which the vicinity of the tip of the nozzle is made larger in diameter than the other part (Claim 2), and a method in which the nozzle opening diameter is made larger than the inner diameter of the other part (Claim 3) Alternatively, a method (Claim 4) in which an annular member is fitted into the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle can be suitably employed.

  With the configuration according to the second and third aspects, the lubricant holding portion can be easily formed. In addition, when the nozzle is in the shape of a pipe having a very small diameter such as an injection needle and it is difficult to process the tip due to insufficient strength of the nozzle, an annular member may be fitted on the outer periphery in the vicinity of the tip. .

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when the lubricant supply nozzle is disposed in the annular space of the rolling bearing in which an air flow is generated by the rolling motion of the rolling elements, the lubricant is accurately supplied to a required portion. Can be dripped. Further, there is no waste in the supplied lubricant, and good lubrication of the rolling bearing device can be maintained with a small amount of lubricant.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view (a) of a lubricant supply nozzle provided in an oil supply unit 10 used in a rolling bearing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the bearing radial direction, and the nozzle. It is the figure (b) which looked at from the bearing circumferential direction. The configuration of the entire rolling bearing device is the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Moreover, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structural member which has the same function as a prior art example.

  The rolling bearing device according to the present embodiment also includes an inner ring 1 and an outer ring 2 as race members, a plurality of balls 3 arranged in an annular space S formed between opposing surfaces of these inner and outer rings, and these balls 3. It is comprised from the holder | retainer 4 hold | maintained with the predetermined space | interval in the circumferential direction, and the oil supply unit 10 which supplies a lubricant.

  The oil supply unit 10 includes a pump 5, a control unit 6 for the pump 5, a tank 7 for storing lubricant, and a battery 8. ) And a nozzle 11 provided with a hole 11c for discharging a lubricant at the tip end portion 11a is disposed on the bearing central side end face of the pump 5.

  A feature of the rolling bearing device in the present embodiment is that a large-diameter portion 11d having a larger diameter than other portions is formed at the tip portion 11a of the nozzle 11 that supplies the lubricant O.

  Also in the rolling bearing device having the above-described configuration, when the bearing rotates, an air flow is generated in the annular space S in the direction indicated by the arrow (the bearing circumferential direction) due to the rolling of the ball 3. However, in this rolling bearing device, since the large-diameter portion 11d serving as the lubricant holding portion is formed at the tip of the nozzle 11, the discharged lubricant O does not move toward the nozzle root portion 11b. Oil droplets are gathered and gathered vertically below the large diameter portion 11d.

  Therefore, the rolling bearing device in the present embodiment can stably drop the discharged lubricant O in the vicinity of the ball 3 or the cage 4 with the highest efficiency. Further, there is no waste in the supplied lubricant, and good bearing lubrication can be maintained even with a small amount of lubricant.

  The lubricant holding portion (large-diameter portion 11d) at the tip of the nozzle 11 does not necessarily have to be formed uniformly in the circumferential direction of the nozzle 11, and has a shape that bulges (projects) at least vertically downward in the bearing. Any shape is acceptable.

  Further, in the case of a bearing device (see FIGS. 10 and 11) that does not have a cage for holding the ball, the tip 11 a of the nozzle 11 of the pump 5 is rotated by the ball 3 in the annular space S as shown in FIG. It will be placed in the vicinity of the dynamic trajectory. In this case, it goes without saying that the same effect as described above can be obtained.

Next, second and third embodiments of the present invention will be described.
3 and 4 and FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic views of the lubricant supply nozzle provided in the oil supply unit 10 used in the rolling bearing device in the second and third embodiments of the present invention as seen from the bearing radial direction. It is the figure (b) which looked at a typical sectional view (a) and this nozzle from the bearing circumferential direction.

  This second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the lubricant holding part that collects the discharged lubricant as oil droplets reduces the opening diameter of the hole 12c at the nozzle tip, and the inner peripheral surface 12y of other parts. It is a point formed by making it larger than the diameter.

  Moreover, in 3rd Embodiment, this lubricant holding | maintenance part is formed of the annular member 13 inserted by the nozzle front-end | tip part 21a. The annular member 13 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface 21x of the nozzle 21 with, for example, an adhesive.

  Even with these configurations, the lubricant discharged from the pump 5 is collected as oil droplets vertically below the lubricant holding portion (the nozzle tip portion 12a or the annular member 13), and moves toward the nozzle root portion. There is nothing. Therefore, the rolling bearing device in these embodiments can also stably drop the discharged lubricant near the balls 3 or the cage 4. In addition, there is no waste in the supplied lubricant, and good bearing lubrication can be maintained even with a small amount of lubricant.

  As in the first embodiment, in the case of a bearing device that does not have a cage for holding a ball, the tip portions 12a and 21a of the nozzles 12 and 21 of the pump 5 are annular spaces as shown in FIGS. It will be arranged in the vicinity of the ball 3 rolling track in S. Of course, the same effect as described above can be obtained in this case as well.

  Also in these embodiments, the lubricant holding portion at the tip of the nozzle does not necessarily have to be formed uniformly in the circumferential direction of the nozzle, and may be any shape that projects at least vertically downward in the bearing. For example, the opening shape of the distal end portion 12a in the second embodiment may be formed in a petal shape, a star shape, or the like in the nozzle circumferential direction in addition to the illustrated trumpet shape.

  Furthermore, the structure of the bearing and the structure of the oil supply unit are not limited to the examples in the first to third embodiments, and the present invention inserts the lubricant oil supply nozzle to the vicinity of the rolling element or the cage, The present invention can be widely applied to rolling bearing devices that supply a lubricant by a pump.

  For example, in the case of a bearing device having an annular member (such as a spacer) adjacent to the fixed ring of the bearing in the axial direction, the oil supply unit can be disposed in the annular member. Also in these cases, the tip of the nozzle of the pump is arranged at a position where the lubricant is supplied in the vicinity of the ball rolling track or the cage in the annular space. Furthermore, another intermediate member may be interposed between the bearing fixed ring and the annular member. It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained in the bearing device having these configurations.

The figure (a) which looked at the nozzle for lubricant supply of the oil supply unit used for the rolling bearing device of a 1st embodiment of the present invention from the bearing diameter direction, and the figure (b) which looked at this nozzle from the bearing peripheral direction It is. The figure (a) which looked at the lubricant supply nozzle of the oil supply unit used for the rolling bearing apparatus of another structure in 1st Embodiment of this invention from the bearing radial direction, the figure seen from the bearing circumferential direction (b) It is. It is the figure (a) which looked at the lubricant supply nozzle of the oil supply unit used for the rolling bearing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention from the bearing radial direction, and the figure (b) seen from the bearing circumferential direction. The figure (a) which looked at the lubricant supply nozzle of the oil supply unit used for the rolling bearing apparatus of another structure in 2nd Embodiment of this invention from the bearing radial direction, the figure seen from the bearing circumferential direction (b) It is. It is the figure (a) which looked at the lubricant supply nozzle of the oil supply unit used for the rolling bearing apparatus of 3rd Embodiment of this invention from the bearing radial direction, and the figure (b) seen from the bearing circumferential direction. The figure (a) which looked at the lubricant supply nozzle of the oil supply unit used for the rolling bearing apparatus of another structure in 3rd Embodiment of this invention from the bearing radial direction, The figure seen from the bearing circumferential direction (b) It is. It is sectional drawing of the axis parallel direction which shows the structural example of a rolling bearing apparatus provided with an oil supply unit. It is XX arrow directional cross-sectional view of FIG. It is the figure (a) which looked at the conventional lubricant supply nozzle of the oil supply unit used for the rolling bearing apparatus from the bearing radial direction, and the figure (b) which looked at this nozzle from the bearing circumferential direction. It is sectional drawing of the axis parallel direction which shows the example which has arrange | positioned the oil supply unit to the rolling bearing apparatus which does not have a holder | retainer. It is the figure (a) which looked at the conventional nozzle for lubricant supply of the oil supply unit in the rolling bearing apparatus which does not have a holder | retainer from the bearing radial direction, and the figure (b) seen from the bearing circumferential direction.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inner ring 2 Outer ring 2x Inner peripheral surface 3 Ball 4 Cage 5 Pump 6 Control means 7 Tank 8 Battery 10 Oil supply unit 11 Nozzle 11a Tip part 11b Root part 11c Hole (opening)
11d Large diameter part (lubricant holding part) 11x Outer peripheral surface 11y Inner peripheral surface 12 Nozzle 12a Tip part (lubricant holding part) 12b Root part 12c Hole (opening)
12x outer peripheral surface 12y inner peripheral surface 13 annular member (lubricant holding part)
21 Nozzle 21a Tip 21b Root 21c Hole (opening)
21x outer peripheral surface 21y inner peripheral surface O lubricant S annular space

Claims (4)

A pump having a pipe-shaped nozzle is disposed in or near the annular space formed between the concentric and relatively rotating track members, and the tip of the nozzle is placed in the annular space. In the rolling bearing device for supplying the lubricant to the vicinity of the rolling elements arranged in the annular space from the opening provided at the nozzle tip,
A rolling bearing device characterized in that a lubricant holding portion that protrudes at least vertically downward from the peripheral surface of the nozzle is formed at or near the tip of the nozzle.   The rolling bearing device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant holding portion is formed by making the vicinity of the tip of the nozzle larger in diameter than other portions.   The rolling bearing device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant holding portion is formed by making a tip opening diameter of the nozzle larger than an inner diameter of another portion. The rolling bearing device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant holding portion is formed by an annular member fitted on an outer periphery of the nozzle.

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