JP2007071295A - Retainer for thrust roller bearing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a retainer for a roller bearing capable of increasing the number of rollers and increasing rated load. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of pockets 7 for mounting the needle-like roller 4 are formed in equally distributed sections in the circumferential direction of an annular retainer main body 6 like a flat plate in this retainer. A plurality of roller stopping pieces 8 for preventing the roller from coming off are integrally formed on both side faces opposing in the peripheral direction of each pocket. A bending angle is changed depending on a part positioned on an inside diameter side of the retainer of the roller stopping pieces apportioned onto both side faces of each pocket 7 and a part positioned on other than the inside diameter side to set amount of protrusion in the peripheral direction of the roller stopping piece 8 in the part positioned on the inside diameter side to be smaller than amount of protrusion in the peripheral direction of the roller stopping piece 8 in the part positioned on other than the inside diameter side. A bending angle is changed as the part positioned on the inside diameter side reaches a part close to inside diameter from a part close to outside diameter to reduce amount of protrusion in the peripheral direction of the roller stopping piece 8 gradually. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a thrust roller bearing retainer, and more particularly to a roller bearing retainer for bearing a thrust needle roller, which relates to the shape of a roller stopper piece that prevents the needle roller from falling off.

In general, a thrust needle roller bearing is composed of two flat bearing rings facing each other in the axial direction, and a plurality of thrust bearings that are arranged radially from the center of both the bearing rings and are freely rollable between the both bearing rings. Needle rollers and a cage for holding the needle rollers at circumferentially equidistant positions are provided.
The cage is formed in an annular shape from a single metal plate. Further, the plate surface is bent so as to have a substantially M-shaped cross section by press working.
A plurality of pockets for mounting the needle rollers are formed by punching at equidistant positions in the circumferential direction of the plate surface.

In this way, by punching out the M-shaped section and forming a pocket, a portion that guides the needle roller and holds its posture at the inner and outer positions in the thickness direction of the cage is formed in the pillar portion of the cage. Will be.
When the pocket is punched into the M-shaped part formed in the cage, the roller stopper and the column part are formed at the same time.
In this way, in the conventional thrust needle roller bearing retainer, the plate surface of the column portion between the pockets of the retainer is formed in a substantially M-shaped cross section in order to provide a portion for guiding and retaining the needle roller. . However, particularly when needle rollers having a short length are used, it is difficult to perform processing to form a substantially M-shaped cross section.

One countermeasure is used as a countermeasure to eliminate the difficulty of processing, and the retainer is attached with needle rollers by opening the circumferentially uniform portion of the annular and flat retainer body. Forming a plurality of pockets, and on both side surfaces facing each other in the circumferential direction of each pocket, a roller stopper piece that contacts the peripheral surface of the needle roller to prevent the roller from being bent is integrally formed, There is a thrust needle roller bearing in which these roller stopper pieces are distributed to both side surfaces of a pocket so as to be able to contact one half circumferential surface and the other half circumferential surface of the needle roller (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-84797 (first page, FIG. 1)

  However, since the conventional thrust needle roller bearing described in Patent Document 1 forms a roller stopper piece by bending both side surfaces facing each other in the circumferential direction of each open pocket of the annular and flat cage body. When trying to maintain the column width between them, there is a problem that the number of rollers is reduced and the rated load is reduced as compared with a conventional case where a pocket is formed by punching an M-shaped section.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a thrust roller bearing cage capable of increasing the number of rollers and increasing the rated load.

  A cage for a thrust roller bearing according to the present invention is for holding a plurality of rollers, which are arranged so as to be capable of rolling, in a circumferentially equidistant position between raceway surfaces which are spaced apart in the axial direction. A thrust roller bearing retainer, wherein a plurality of pockets for mounting the rollers are formed in circumferentially equidistant portions of an annular and flat retainer body, and the pockets are opposed in the circumferential direction. A plurality of roller stopper pieces that integrally contact the outer peripheral surface of the roller and prevent the roller from coming off are formed on both side surfaces, and these roller stopper pieces are on one half circumferential surface and the other half circumferential surface of the roller. It is distributed to both side surfaces of each pocket so as to be able to contact the top, and a portion located on the inner diameter side of the cage and a portion positioned on the inner diameter side of the roller stopper pieces distributed on both side surfaces of each pocket The part located on the inner diameter side by changing the bending angle The amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the roller stopper piece is made smaller than the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the roller stopper piece located outside the inner diameter side, and the portion located on the inner diameter side extends from the outer diameter side toward the inner diameter side. Accordingly, the bending angle is changed in accordance with this, and the amount of protrusion of the roller stopper piece in the circumferential direction is gradually reduced.

  Another thrust roller bearing retainer according to the present invention holds a plurality of rollers arranged in a freely rolling manner at equal circumferential positions between raceway surfaces arranged apart in the axial direction. A thrust roller bearing retainer for connecting two annular and flat retainer bodies together and attaching the rollers to circumferentially equidistant portions of the retainer bodies. A plurality of pockets are formed, and on both side surfaces facing each other in the circumferential direction of each pocket, a roller stopper piece that contacts the peripheral surface of the roller and prevents the roller from being integrally bent outward is formed. The roller stoppers formed on both side surfaces facing each other in the circumferential direction of each pocket of one cage body, and the rollers formed on both side surfaces facing each other in the circumferential direction of each pocket of the other cage body Holding the rollers with stoppers, The amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the portion located on the inner diameter side is changed by changing the bending angle between the portion located on the inner diameter side of the cage and the portion located on the inner diameter side of the roller stopper piece formed on each side surface of the roller. The amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the portion located outside the inner diameter side is made smaller than that of the portion located on the inner diameter side, and the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction is gradually reduced by changing the bending angle from the outer diameter side toward the inner diameter side. It is what you do.

In the portion located on the cage inner diameter side of the roller stopper piece, the bending angle of the roller stopper piece is increased toward the cage inner diameter, and a non-contact portion is formed with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the roller end face side. is there.
Further, the roller stopper pieces distributed on both side surfaces of each pocket are divided into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction, and the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the divided roller stopper pieces located on the inner diameter side is divided roller stoppers located on the other side than the inner diameter side. The split roller stopper pieces that are smaller than the protruding amount in the circumferential direction of the piece and are located on the inner diameter side are gradually reduced in the circumferential direction as they move from the outer diameter side toward the inner diameter side.
Further, the bending angle of the portion near the inner diameter of the cage of the split roller stopper piece is greatly changed and becomes a non-contact portion with respect to the outer peripheral surface on the end face side of the roller.
The non-contact portion of the roller stopper piece or the split roller stopper piece is 50% or less of the overall circumferential length of the pocket.

  As described above, the present invention is for a thrust roller bearing for holding a plurality of rollers, which are arranged in a freely rolling manner, between raceway surfaces which are arranged apart from each other in the axial direction. It is a cage, and a plurality of pockets for mounting the rollers are formed on the circumferentially equidistant portion of the annular and flat cage body, on both side surfaces facing each other in the circumferential direction of each pocket, A plurality of roller stoppers that come in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roller to prevent the roller from coming off are integrally formed, and these roller stopper pieces can be in contact with the one half circumferential surface and the other half circumferential surface of the roller. The folding angle is changed between the portion positioned on the inner diameter side of the cage and the portion positioned on the inner diameter side of the roller stopper piece distributed on both side surfaces of each pocket so as to be Roller stopper for the part located on the inner diameter side The amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the roller is smaller than the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the roller stopper piece located on the portion other than the inner diameter side, and the angle of the portion located on the inner diameter side is changed from the outer diameter toward the inner diameter. Since the amount of overhang in the circumferential direction of the roller stopper piece is gradually reduced, the column width of the radially innermost diameter portion in the interval is the same even if the distance between the pocket and the pocket in the radial direction is the same. The dimension H can be reduced by the amount by which the circumferential protrusion amount of the portion located on the inner diameter side of the roller stopper piece is smaller than the circumferential protrusion amount of the roller stopper piece portion other than the inner diameter side. By reducing the distance between the pockets in the radial direction, the number of pockets can be increased, and the number of needle rollers can be increased by the increase in the number of pockets. It can be increased.

  Further, a thrust roller bearing retainer for holding a plurality of rollers, which are arranged so as to be able to roll between the raceway surfaces arranged apart in the axial direction, in a circumferentially equidistant position, Two annular and flat retainer bodies are joined together, and a plurality of pockets for mounting the rollers are formed in circumferentially equidistant portions of each retainer body, and the periphery of each of these pockets is formed. The roller stopper pieces that come into contact with the peripheral surface of the roller and prevent the roller from coming off are formed by bending outward in an integrated manner on the opposite side surfaces in the direction, and the circumferential direction of each pocket of one cage body Each of the pockets is held by the roller stopper pieces respectively formed on both side surfaces facing each other and the roller stopper pieces respectively formed on both side surfaces facing each other in the circumferential direction of each pocket of the other cage body. Of roller stoppers formed on both sides Change the bending angle between the part located on the inner diameter side of the cage and the part located on the inner diameter side to change the amount of circumferential protrusion of the part located on the inner diameter side in the circumferential direction. The part that is smaller than the amount and located on the inner diameter side, the bending angle is gradually changed from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side so that the amount of overhang in the circumferential direction is gradually reduced. Even if the mutual interval in the direction is the same, the column width dimension H of the radially innermost diameter portion in that interval is a roller in which the protruding amount in the circumferential direction of the portion located on the inner diameter side of the roller stopper piece is other than the inner diameter side. The amount of pockets can be increased by reducing the distance between the pockets in the radial direction. , It is possible to up the number of the only needle roller minute to the increased number of pockets, it is possible to increase the load rating.

Further, the roller stopper pieces distributed on both side surfaces of each pocket are divided into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction, and the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the divided roller stopper pieces located on the inner diameter side is divided roller stoppers located on the other side than the inner diameter side. The same applies to the split roller stopper pieces that are smaller than the protruding amount in the circumferential direction of the piece and the protruding amount in the circumferential direction gradually decreases from the outer diameter side toward the inner diameter side. By narrowing the mutual spacing in the radial direction of each pocket, the number of pockets can be increased, the number of needle rollers can be increased by the increase in the number of pockets, and the rated load can be increased. Can do.
Further, in the portion located on the inner diameter side of the roller stopper piece, the bending angle of the roller stopper piece is increased toward the inner diameter of the cage, and a non-contact portion is formed with respect to the outer peripheral surface on the end face side of the roller. In addition, the portion near the inner diameter of the cage of the split roller stopper piece has its bending angle changed drastically and becomes a non-contact part with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the roller end. Since it is only with respect to an outer peripheral surface, it becomes difficult for needle rollers to fall off from each pocket.
Further, if the non-contact portion is 50% or less of the overall length in the circumferential direction of the pocket, it is possible to prevent the needle rollers from falling off from each pocket.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an overall configuration of a thrust needle roller bearing having a thrust roller bearing retainer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the thrust roller bearing retainer, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the thrust roller bearing retainer, FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the thrust roller bearing retainer, and FIG. 5A is a sectional view taken along line II in FIG. (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 4, (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 4, and (a) in FIG. 6 is a side view of a part of the cage for the thrust roller bearing. Explanatory drawing which shows a state, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which looked at a part of the cage for the thrust roller bearing from the top, FIG. 7 shows the state which punched the pocket of the cage for the thrust roller bearing FIG. 8A is a plan view, and FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing a state of another thrust roller bearing cage as viewed from the side, and FIG. 8B is another thrust. Explanatory view showing a state seen from above a part of the cage for roller bearings, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a change of the column width in the radial direction inner diameter portion of the cage for the thrust roller bearing.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the needle roller bearing 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes annular race rings (bearing discs) 2, 3 that are arranged to be opposed to each other in the axial direction. A plurality of needle rollers 4 which are rotatably arranged between the two race rings 2 and 3, and a metal roller bearing retainer for holding the needle rollers 4 at circumferentially equidistant positions. And 5.

The raceway surfaces of the needle rollers 4 are formed on the opposing surfaces of the raceways 2 and 3 respectively. The track rings 2 and 3 include a rotating wheel attached to a rotating shaft (not shown) and a fixed wheel attached to the housing.
The roller bearing retainer 5 includes a retainer body 6 formed in an annular and flat plate shape, and a plurality of roller retaining pockets (hereinafter simply referred to as pockets) 7 that are opened at circumferentially equidistant portions of the retainer body 6. With. The shape of the center hole of the cage body 6 is slightly larger than the shape of the center holes of both race rings.
A needle roller 4 is attached to each pocket 7. The length of each pocket 7 in the radial direction is slightly longer than the length of the needle roller 4.

  A plurality of roller stoppers 11 and 12 that are in contact with the peripheral surface of the needle roller 4 and prevent the needle roller 4 from being removed are integrally formed on both side surfaces of each pocket 7 facing in the circumferential direction. . As shown in FIG. 3, these roller stopper pieces 8 are distributed to both side surfaces of each pocket 7 so as to be able to come into contact with one half circumferential surface 9 and the other half circumferential surface 10 of the needle roller 4. Yes.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, one side of the rolling direction of the needle roller 4 on both side surfaces of each pocket 7 is one side of the needle roller 4 on each side portion in the radial direction. The first roller stopper piece 11 that can come into contact with a half circumferential surface (for example, the upper half circumferential surface) 9 is integrally above the cage body 6 so as to be along the thickness direction (axial direction) of the cage body 6. It is formed by bending.
Between the first roller stopper pieces 11, a second roller stopper piece 12 that can come into contact with the other half circumferential surface (for example, the lower half circumferential surface) 10 of the needle roller 4 is integrated with the cage body 6. And bent downward.

Of the two side surfaces of each pocket 7, the other side B of the needle roller 4 in the rolling direction is opposite to one A, and the other side half circumferential surface (for example, The second roller stopper piece 12 that can come into contact with the lower half circumferential surface 9 is bent downward integrally with the cage body 6 so as to be along the thickness direction (axial direction) of the cage body 6. Is formed.
Between the second roller stopper pieces 12, a first roller stopper piece 11 that can come into contact with one side circumferential surface (for example, the upper half circumferential surface) 10 of the needle roller 4 is integrated with the cage body 6. It is formed by bending upward.

Of the six first roller stopper pieces 11 and the second roller stopper pieces 12 located on both side surfaces of each pocket 7, the first roller stopper piece 11 and the other roller stopper piece 11 located on the inner diameter side at both radial side portions of one side surface. The second roller stoppers 12 (hereinafter referred to as “first roller stoppers 11 and second roller stoppers 12 positioned on the inner diameter side”) positioned on the inner diameter side at both sides in the radial direction of the side surface are not on the inner diameter side. By changing the bending angle between the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 that are positioned, the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 that is positioned on the inner diameter side is the inner diameter side. It is set smaller than the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 that are located outside.
Further, the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 positioned on the inner diameter side are gradually bent at a larger bending angle from the middle of the outer diameter (the portion B shown in FIG. 6) to the inner diameter. Thus, the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction is gradually reduced.

  FIG. 5 shows, for example, a state where the bending angle of the first roller stopper piece 11 located on the inner diameter side is specifically changed. The bending angle near the outer diameter is α, the intermediate bending angle is β, and the inner bending angle is closer to the inner diameter. Assuming that the bending angle is γ, there is a relationship of α <β <γ, and it can be seen that the bending angle gradually increases from the middle of the outer diameter toward the inner diameter. In addition, the 2nd roller stopper piece 12 located in an internal diameter part is the same as that of the 1st roller stopper piece 11. FIG.

As described above, the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 positioned on the inner diameter side are changed so that the bending angle gradually increases from the middle of the outer diameter toward the inner diameter. As shown in FIG. 6, the needle roller 4 is kept in contact with the entire length of the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 to prevent the needle roller 4 and maintain stability. Is.
Further, the length A in the radial direction of the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 located on the inner diameter side in which the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction is gradually reduced in this way is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the length of the pocket 7 is approximately 1/3 of the length L in the longitudinal direction.

The roller bearing cage 5 having the above-described configuration is formed from a single metal plate, and is formed by punching the pockets 7 at circumferentially equidistant positions in the cage body 6 and at predetermined radial positions. Is done.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, processing is performed so as to leave the corresponding portions 11 a and 12 a of the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 on both side surfaces of each pocket 7. Thereafter, the corresponding portions 11a and 12a of the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 are raised from both side surfaces of each pocket 7 in a direction along the axial direction so as to have a predetermined inclination.
Then, the needle rollers 4 are fitted into the respective pockets 7 against the elasticity of the first roller stopper pieces 11 or the second roller stopper pieces 12 from one side or the other side in the thickness direction of the cage body 6. The needle rollers 4 fitted in the pockets 7 are prevented from falling off from the cage 5 in the thickness direction by the first roller stopper pieces 11 and the second roller stopper pieces 12.

  In this case, the length A in the radial direction of the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 located on the inner diameter side where the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction is gradually reduced is the length in the longitudinal direction of the pocket 7. Since approximately 1/3 (30%) of L, the needle rollers 4 are prevented from dropping from the pockets 7 of the cage 5.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which a part of another cage for a thrust roller bearing is viewed from the side and from the top, and is an example in which the needle roller 4 is not in contact with the middle.
In the example in which the needle roller 4 becomes non-contact from the middle, the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 positioned on the inner diameter side have bending angles as they approach the inner diameter from the middle of the outer diameter. 6 is the same as FIG. 6 in that it is changed so as to increase, but the difference is that the bending angle increases rapidly from the middle of the outer diameter (location B in FIG. 8) to the inner diameter. To do.

As described above, when the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 positioned on the inner diameter side are close to the inner diameter and the bending angle is suddenly increased, the needle roller 4 is moved closer to the inner diameter than the first roller stopper piece 11. And it becomes non-contact with respect to the 2nd roller stopper piece 12. FIG. Thus, even if there is a portion where the needle roller 4 is not in contact with the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12, the needle roller from each pocket 7 of the roller bearing retainer 5 is provided. The dropout of 4 does not occur.
The length of the portion closer to the inner diameter where the bending angle of the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 located on the inner diameter side where the needle rollers 4 are in non-contact is suddenly increased (C in FIG. 8). The location) should not exceed 50% of the total length of the pocket 7 window. This is because if it exceeds 50%, the roller inclination amount increases, and the needle rollers 4 fall off from the pockets 7 of the cage 5.

  Further, as described above, a part in which the needle roller 4 is mounted on the roller bearing retainer 5 is sandwiched between the inner ring and the outer ring. When the inner ring of the races rotates about the axis, the first roller stopper piece 11 comes into contact with the one half circumferential surface 9 of the needle roller 4 according to the rotation direction of the inner ring, and the other half circumferential surface 10 The second roller stopper piece 12 comes into contact with the needle roller 4 to guide the needle roller 4 in the circumferential direction, that is, the rolling direction, and the needle roller 4 rolls on the raceway surface.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece respectively formed on both side surfaces of each pocket 7 provided in the cage body 6 of the roller bearing cage 5. 4, the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 located on the inner diameter side are, as shown in FIG. 4, the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 located on the other side than the inner diameter side. By changing the bending angle, the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 located on the inner diameter side is changed to the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper located on the outer diameter side. The first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 which are smaller than the protruding amount in the circumferential direction of the piece 12 and located on the inner diameter side are gradually changed in bending angle from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side. Depending on the amount of overhang in the direction Since the distance between the pockets in the radial direction is the same as that in the conventional case, as shown in FIG. 9, the column width dimension H of the radially innermost portion in the gap is on the inner diameter side. The amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 located is smaller than the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 located outside the inner diameter side. The number of pockets 7 can be increased by narrowing the mutual spacing in the radial direction of each pocket 7, and the number of needle rollers 4 can be increased by the amount of pockets 7. The rated load can be increased.

  In addition, the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 positioned on the inner diameter side gradually change the bending angle gradually from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side, thereby rapidly reducing the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction. Therefore, even if the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 each have a non-contact portion with respect to the needle roller 4, the non-contact portion is an end surface of the needle roller 4. Since it is only the side outer peripheral surface, it is assumed that the needle rollers 4 are not easily dropped from each pocket.

Further, the roller bearing retainer 5 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and the roller bearing retainer 5 shown in FIG. 9 both have the first roller stopper 11 and the second roller stopper left when the pockets 7 are formed. Since the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 can be formed simply by bending the corresponding portions 11a and 12a of 12, the cage 5 can be manufactured easily.
In addition, since the conventional press work that has a substantially M-shaped cross section is omitted and the pockets 7 are formed by punching the mere flat plate-shaped retainer body 6, the radial positions at which the pockets 7 are formed. The degree of freedom increases.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
10 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the thrust roller bearing retainer according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 10, and FIG. II is a sectional view taken along line II, and FIG. 4C is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.
In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, among the both side surfaces of each pocket 7, one of the rolling directions of the needle roller 4 is on the other side of the needle roller 4 on the both sides in the radial direction. The second roller stopper piece 12 that can contact the side half circumferential surface (for example, the lower half circumferential surface) 9 is integrated with the cage body 6 so as to be along the thickness direction (axial direction) of the cage body 6. And bent downward.
Between the second roller stopper pieces 12, a first roller stopper piece 11 that can come into contact with one half circumferential surface (for example, the upper half circumferential surface) 9 of the needle roller 4 is integrated with the cage body 6. It is formed by bending upward.

Further, of the both side surfaces of each pocket 7, the other side in the rolling direction of the needle roller 4, similarly to the other, is provided on the other side half of the needle roller 4 on the other side in the radial direction (for example, the lower side) A second roller stopper piece 12 that can be contacted on the (semi-peripheral surface) 9 is formed by bending downward integrally with the cage body 6 along the thickness direction (axial direction) of the cage body 6. ing.
Between the second roller stopper pieces 12, a first roller stopper piece 11 that can come into contact with one half circumferential surface (for example, the upper half circumferential surface) 9 of the needle roller 4 is integrated with the cage body 6. It is formed by bending upward.

Of the six first roller stoppers 11 and the second roller stoppers 12 formed on both side surfaces of each pocket 7, the two second roller stoppers 12 located on the inner diameter side are the first ones located on the other side than the inner diameter side. By changing the bending angle between the one roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12, the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the two second roller stopper pieces 12 positioned on the inner diameter side is the first roller stopper positioned on a position other than the inner diameter side. The protruding amount in the circumferential direction of the piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 is made smaller.
Further, the two second roller stopper pieces 12 positioned on the inner diameter side are each changed so that the bending angle gradually increases from the middle of the outer diameter portion to the inner diameter portion so that the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction is gradually reduced. I have to.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the bending angle of the second roller stopper piece 12 located on the inner diameter side is specifically changed, the bending angle closer to the outer diameter is α, the intermediate bending angle is β, and the bending angle closer to the inner diameter is shown. Γ is a relationship of α <β <γ, and it can be seen that the bending angle gradually increases from the middle of the outer diameter toward the inner diameter.
Thus, the second roller stopper piece 12 positioned on the inner diameter side is changed so that the bending angle gradually increases from the middle of the outer diameter toward the inner diameter, as in the first embodiment. Further, the needle rollers 4 are brought into contact over the entire lengths of the first roller stopper pieces 11 and the second roller stopper pieces 12 so as to prevent the needle rollers 4 from falling off and maintain stability.
In addition, the radial length of the second roller stopper piece 12 positioned on the inner diameter side in which the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction is gradually reduced in this way is approximately 1/3 of the longitudinal length of the pocket 7. Yes.

Further, the roller bearing retainer 5 of the second embodiment also has an example in which the needle rollers 4 are not in contact with each other as in the first embodiment.
This example is the same as FIG. 6 in that the second roller stopper piece 12 positioned on the inner diameter side is changed so that the bending angle increases from the middle of the outer diameter toward the inner diameter. The bending angle increases rapidly from the middle of the outer diameter (position B shown in FIG. 8) to the inner diameter, and the needle rollers 4 are not in contact with the inner diameter.
In this way, the length near the inner diameter of the second roller stopper piece 12 located on the inner diameter side where the bending angle increases rapidly and the needle rollers 4 are not in contact does not exceed 50% of the total window length of the pocket 7. It is necessary. This is because if it exceeds 50%, the roller inclination amount increases, and the needle rollers 4 fall off from the pockets 7 of the cage 5.

  In the second embodiment, among the six first roller stopper pieces 11 and the second roller stopper pieces respectively formed on both side surfaces of each pocket 7 provided in the cage body 6 of the roller bearing cage 5, The two second roller stopper pieces 12 positioned on the inner diameter side are changed from the first roller stopper pieces 11 and the second roller stopper pieces 12 positioned on the inner diameter side by changing the bending angle. The amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the two roller stopper pieces 12 is set to be smaller than the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 located outside the inner diameter side, and Since the two roller stoppers 12 gradually change the bending angle as the distance from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side decreases, the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction is gradually reduced. same Even so, the column width dimension of the radially innermost portion located in the interval is the first roller stopper in which the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the two second roller stopper pieces 12 positioned on the inner diameter side is other than the inner diameter side. The number of pockets 7 can be increased by narrowing the mutual spacing in the radial direction of each pocket 7 by making it smaller than the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12. The number of needle rollers 4 can be increased by the amount of pockets 7 increased, and the rated load can be increased.

  In addition, the second roller stopper piece 12 located on the inner diameter side gradually changes the bending angle gradually from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side, so that the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction is rapidly reduced. Even if the two roller stopper pieces 12 each have a non-contact portion with respect to the needle roller 4, the non-contact portion is only at both ends of the needle roller 4. It is assumed that the dropout is unlikely to occur.

Furthermore, the roller bearing retainer 5 according to the second embodiment also has the first roller only by bending the corresponding portions of the first roller stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 left when the pockets 7 are formed. Since the stopper piece 11 and the second roller stopper piece 12 can be formed, the roller bearing retainer 5 can be easily manufactured.
In addition, since the conventional press work that has a substantially M-shaped cross section is omitted and the pockets 7 are formed by punching the mere flat plate-shaped retainer body 6, the radial positions at which the pockets 7 are formed. The degree of freedom increases.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
12 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the thrust roller bearing retainer according to the third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 10, and FIG. FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line II. FIG. 14A is an explanatory view showing a state of a part of the thrust roller bearing cage as viewed from the side. FIG. 14B is a diagram showing a part of the thrust roller bearing cage from above. FIG. 15A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a part of another thrust roller bearing cage is viewed from the side, and FIG. 15B is a diagram of another thrust roller bearing cage. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which looked at a part from the top.
The roller bearing cage 5 according to the first and second embodiments is composed of a single cage body 6 formed in an annular and flat plate shape, whereas the roller bearing cage 5 according to the third embodiment is annular. And it consists of two retainer main bodies 6 formed in a flat plate shape.
One retainer main body 6 and the other retainer main body 6 are provided with a plurality of pockets 7 opened at their circumferentially equidistant portions at the same position.
Roller stopper pieces 8 that protrude toward the center of the pocket and are bent toward the outer surface of the cage body 6 to prevent the needle rollers 4 from being integrally formed on both side surfaces facing each other in the circumferential direction of each pocket 7. Is formed.

  For any cage body 6, the inner diameter side portions of the two roller stoppers 8 formed on both side surfaces of each pocket 7 can be changed to two portions by changing the bending angle with the portions other than the inner diameter side. The amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the inner diameter side portion of the roller stopper piece 8 is made smaller than the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction located on the portion other than the inner diameter side, and the inner diameter side portion gradually increases from the outer diameter toward the inner diameter. The amount of overhang in the circumferential direction is gradually reduced by changing the bending angle.

  In this way, the two retainer bodies 6 having the roller stopper pieces 8 having the portions located on the inner diameter side that gradually reduce the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction on both side surfaces of each pocket 7 are connected to each other. Thus, as shown in FIG. 13, the needle rollers 4 are held between the four roller stoppers 8 formed in the pockets 7 of the two cage main bodies 6.

FIG. 15 shows a state in which a part of another cage for a thrust roller bearing is viewed from the side and from the top, and is an example in which the needle roller 4 becomes non-contact from the middle.
This example is the same as FIG. 6 in that the four roller stopper pieces 8 positioned on the inner diameter side are changed so that the bending angle gradually increases from the middle of the outer diameter toward the inner diameter. The difference is that the bending angle is rapidly increased from the middle of the outer diameter (location B shown in FIG. 15) to the inner diameter.

  In this way, when the bending angle increases rapidly from the middle of the four roller stopper pieces 8 positioned on the inner diameter side to the inner diameter, the needle roller 4 becomes non-contact at the inner diameter portion. In this way, the portion closer to the inner diameter of the four roller stoppers 8 (location C shown in FIG. 15) located on the inner diameter side where the needle roller 4 becomes non-contact is abruptly increased. It is necessary not to exceed 50% of the total length. This is because if it exceeds 50%, the roller inclination amount increases, and the needle rollers 4 fall off from the pockets 7 of the cage 5.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the roller bearing retainer 5 includes the two retainer bodies 6 and is formed on both side surfaces of each pocket 7 provided in each retainer body 6. The amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the portion on the inner diameter side of each roller stopper piece 8 is made smaller than the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction located on the portion other than the inner diameter side, and the portion on the inner diameter side increases from the outer diameter toward the inner diameter. Since the bulging angle is gradually changed to gradually reduce the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction, even if the distance between the pocket and the pocket in the radial direction is the same, the column of the radially innermost portion at that distance The width dimension can be reduced by the amount by which the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the portion on the inner diameter side of the two roller stoppers 8 located on the inner diameter side is smaller than the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction located on the portion other than the inner diameter side. ,each By narrowing the mutual spacing in the radial direction of the ket 7, the number of pockets 7 can be increased, the number of needle rollers 4 can be increased by the amount of the increased number of pockets 7, and the rated load is increased. Can be made.

  Further, the inner diameter side portions of the two roller stopper pieces 8 gradually change the bending angle gradually from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side, so that the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction is rapidly reduced. Even if each of the stopper pieces 8 has a non-contact portion with respect to the needle roller 4, the non-contact portion is only the outer peripheral surface of the end surface side of the needle roller 4, and therefore the needle roller 4 from each pocket. It is assumed that the omission is unlikely to occur.

Furthermore, the roller stopper can be obtained simply by bending a corresponding portion of the roller stopper piece 8 left when forming each pocket 7 of each of the two cage main bodies 6 constituting the roller bearing cage 5 of the third embodiment. Since the piece 8 can be formed, the cage 5 can be easily manufactured.
In addition, since the conventional press work that has a substantially M-shaped cross section is omitted and each pocket 7 is formed by punching in each flat plate-like retainer body 6, the radial direction in which each pocket 7 is formed Increased freedom of position.

Sectional drawing which shows the whole structure of the thrust needle roller bearing which has the retainer for thrust roller bearings of Embodiment 1 of this invention. The perspective view which shows the retainer for the same thrust roller bearing. Sectional drawing which expanded a part of retainer for the same thrust roller bearing. The perspective view which expanded a part of same cage for thrust roller bearings. (A) is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 4, (b) is the II-II sectional view of FIG. 4, (c) is the III-III sectional view of FIG. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which looked at a part of the retainer for thrust roller bearings from the side, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which looked at a part of the retainer for thrust roller bearings from the top. The top view which shows the state which punched the pocket of the cage for the thrust roller bearings. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which looked at the part of another thrust roller bearing retainer from the side, (b) is the description which shows the state which looked at part of another thrust roller bearing retainer from the top. Figure. Explanatory drawing which shows the change of the column width dimension of the radial direction internal diameter part of the cage for thrust roller bearings. The perspective view which expanded a part of cage for thrust roller bearings of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. (A) is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 10, (b) is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 10, (c) is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. The perspective view which expanded a part of cage for thrust roller bearings of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. (A) is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 10, (b) is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which looked at a part of the retainer for thrust roller bearings from the side, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which looked at a part of the retainer for thrust roller bearings from the top. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which looked at the part of another thrust roller bearing retainer from the side, (b) is the description which shows the state which looked at part of another thrust roller bearing retainer from the top. Figure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Needle roller bearing, 4 Needle roller, 5 Roller bearing cage, 6 Cage body, 7 Pocket, 8 Roller stopper piece, 9 One half circumference surface, 10 Other half circumference surface, 11 First roller stopper piece, 12 Second roller stopper.

Claims (6)

A thrust roller bearing retainer for holding a plurality of rollers, which are arranged so as to be able to roll, between raceway surfaces spaced apart in the axial direction at equal circumferential positions,
A plurality of pockets for mounting the rollers are formed in the circumferentially equidistant portion of the annular and flat cage body, and the outer circumferential surfaces of the rollers are formed on both side surfaces facing each other in the circumferential direction of the pockets. A plurality of roller stoppers that come in contact with each other to prevent the rollers from coming off are formed integrally.
These roller stopper pieces are distributed to both side surfaces of each pocket so as to be able to come into contact with one half circumferential surface and the other half circumferential surface of the rollers,
The circumference of the roller stopper piece of the portion positioned on the inner diameter side by changing the bending angle between the portion positioned on the inner diameter side of the cage and the portion positioned on the inner diameter side other than the inner diameter side of the roller stopper pieces distributed to both side surfaces of each pocket. The amount of protrusion in the direction is made smaller than the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the roller stopper piece at the portion other than the inner diameter side, and the bending angle of the portion positioned at the inner diameter side is changed from the outer diameter toward the inner diameter. A thrust roller bearing retainer characterized in that the protruding amount of the roller stopper piece in the circumferential direction is gradually reduced. A thrust roller bearing retainer for holding a plurality of rollers, which are arranged so as to be able to roll, between raceway surfaces spaced apart in the axial direction at equal circumferential positions,
Two annular and flat retainer bodies are joined together, and a plurality of pockets for mounting the rollers are formed in circumferentially equidistant portions of each retainer body, and the periphery of each of these pockets is formed. The roller stopper pieces that contact the peripheral surfaces of the rollers and prevent the rollers from coming off on both side surfaces that face each other in a direction are formed by integrally bending outward,
Roller stopper pieces respectively formed on both side surfaces facing each other in the circumferential direction of each pocket of one cage body, and roller stopper pieces respectively formed on both side surfaces facing each other in the circumferential direction of each pocket of the other cage body. And hold the roller with
The circumferential extension of the portion located on the inner diameter side by changing the folding angle between the portion located on the inner diameter side of the cage and the portion located on the inner diameter side of the roller stopper piece formed on each side surface of each pocket. The amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction is made smaller than the amount of protrusion in the circumferential direction of the portion located outside the inner diameter side, and the portion located on the inner diameter side is changed in bending angle from the outer diameter side toward the inner diameter side. A thrust roller bearing retainer characterized by being gradually reduced in size.   In the portion of the roller stopper piece located on the inner diameter side of the cage, the bending angle of the roller stopper piece was increased toward the cage inner diameter, and a non-contact portion was formed on the outer peripheral surface of the roller end face side. The thrust roller bearing retainer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:   Each of the roller stopper pieces distributed on both side surfaces of each pocket is divided into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction, and the amount of protrusions in the circumferential direction of the divided roller stopper pieces located on the inner diameter side of the divided roller stopper pieces located outside the inner diameter side is The roller claim characterized in that the protruding amount in the circumferential direction is gradually reduced from the outer diameter side toward the inner diameter side of each of the divided roller stopper pieces located on the inner diameter side and smaller than the circumferential protrusion amount. Item 3. A thrust roller bearing retainer according to item 1 or 2.   5. A thrust roller bearing according to claim 4, wherein a bending angle of the portion near the inner diameter of the cage of the split roller stopper piece is greatly changed to be a non-contact portion with respect to the outer peripheral surface on the end face side of the roller. Retainer. The non-contact part of the said Claim 3 or 5 is 50% or less of the circumferential direction full length of the said pocket, The holder for thrust roller bearings characterized by the above-mentioned.

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