JP2009197895A - Ball bearing cage and ball bearing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball bearing cage for effectively reducing grease shearing resistance while preventing an occurrence of cage sounds during rotation, and also to provide a ball bearing. <P>SOLUTION: The ball bearing cage 10 is incorporated in the ball bearing having bearing rings 40, 42 and a plurality of balls 12 for holding the balls in pockets 8. Planarly flat portions 2 and approximately semispherical recessed portions 4 recessed from the flat portions are alternately connected to each other to form annular cage structures 20. The two cage structures are combined together so that approximately spherical recessed spaces are arranged at predetermined spaces in the peripheral direction to form the pockets. Relationships of d2<da≤d1, dap<dp, 0.30×da≤h≤0.37×da, and r1≥0.65×h are established where d1 is the radial size on the outer diameter side of the pocket, d2 is the radial size on the inner diameter side thereof, dp is a pitch circle diameter, da is the diameter of the ball, dap is the pitch circle diameter of the ball, h is a half value for a size difference between the inner and outer diameters of the cage, and r1 is a half value for a size difference between the pitch circle diameter of the pocket and the inner diameter of the cage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball bearing retainer that is incorporated in, for example, a ball bearing used for a washing machine drum support, an air conditioner fan motor, and the like and rotatably holds a plurality of balls as rolling elements, and in particular, two annular plate members. And a ball bearing incorporating the cage.

  Conventionally, in ball bearings (hereinafter simply referred to as bearings) used in various devices as described above, balls that are rolling elements that roll between races are arranged at predetermined intervals in a ring-shaped cage. Each one is accommodated in a pocket and is incorporated between the race rings while being rotatably held, and revolves (rolls) with the cage between the race rings (race surfaces) of the bearings. As a result, each ball can smoothly roll between the raceways (between the raceway surfaces) without the rolling surfaces coming into contact with each other. Prevention of an increase in rotational resistance and seizure due to the occurrence of this is achieved.

At that time, there are various types of cages such as crown type, machined type, or corrugated type, and each type of cage is properly used depending on the usage and purpose of the bearing. It has been.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a corrugated combination type retainer (hereinafter referred to as a corrugated retainer), and its configuration is illustrated in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the corrugated cage 10 has a structure in which two annular plate members (hereinafter referred to as a cage structure) 20 are combined. A flat plate-like flat portion 2 having a through hole (not shown) to be inserted and a concave portion 4 recessed in a substantially hemispherical shape than the flat portion 2 are alternately connected.

  In this case, the two cage structures 20 are opposed to each other so that the concave portions 4 are recessed in opposite directions and the flat portions 2 communicate with each other through the through holes, and the through holes communicated with each other. By inserting the rivet 6 and caulking one end portion of the shaft, the two cage constituting bodies 20 are integrally combined. By combining the two cage structures 20 in this way, the substantially spherical concave spaces formed by the opposed concave portions 4 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, and the corrugated shape holding the concave spaces as pockets 8. A container (hereinafter simply referred to as a cage) 10 can be configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pocket 8 has a spherical shape with a pocket surface 8a having a predetermined curvature, and its diameter is set to be larger than the diameter of the ball 12 to be held. ing. In this case, generally, the pitch circle diameter of the pocket 8 (the diameter of a virtual circle connecting the central points of the pockets 8 to each other, the so-called pocket PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter)) is the pitch circle diameter of each ball 12 (each ball It is set to be the same as the diameter of a virtual circle connecting 12 central points to each other, so-called ball PCD).

  Thus, since the pocket diameter of the cage 10 is larger than the diameter of the ball 12, when lubrication is performed by enclosing a lubricant (eg, grease) inside the bearing, the pocket surface 8a The torque of the bearing may increase due to the resistance (shear resistance) when the grease interposed between the balls 12 is sheared. Moreover, a vibration may be generated in the cage 10 due to the shear resistance, and an abnormal sound called a cage sound may be generated due to the vibration.

In order to avoid such inconveniences, various measures have been conventionally taken. For example, for the purpose of reducing the shear resistance, a configuration of a cage having a difference between the ball PCD and the pocket PCD is known. It has been. That is, by providing a difference between the ball PCD and the pocket PCD in this way, the grease adhering to the surface of the ball 12 is scraped off at the edge portion of the pocket 8, and the grease adhering in the pocket 8 can be reduced. As a result, the shear resistance is reduced.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-195118

  However, in the above-described measures, since the contact ratio between the pocket surface of the pocket 8 and the surface of the ball 12 is not changed from the conventional technology, the shear resistance itself in the pocket 8 still exists and is always sufficiently avoided. It is not a solution. For this reason, a policy capable of reducing the shear resistance more effectively is desired, but at present, such a policy is not known.

  The present invention has been made to meet such a demand, and the purpose thereof is to effectively reduce the resistance (shear resistance) when the grease interposed between the pocket surface of the cage and the surface of the ball is sheared. An object of the present invention is to provide a ball bearing retainer (wave cage) and a ball bearing that can reduce the rotation torque of the bearing and prevent generation of cage noise during rotation.

In order to achieve such an object, a ball bearing retainer according to the present invention includes at least a pair of bearing rings arranged to face each other so as to be relatively rotatable, and a plurality of balls that roll between the bearing rings. The balls are housed one by one in pockets that are incorporated in ball bearings and arranged at predetermined intervals, and are rotatably held. In such a ball bearing retainer, a flat plate-like flat portion having a through-hole through which a fixing member is inserted and a concave portion recessed in a substantially hemispherical shape from the flat portion are alternately connected to each other to form an annular retainer. Each of the through-holes that constitute the structure, the two recessed parts are opposed to each other so that the concave parts are recessed in opposite directions, and the flat parts communicate with each other through the through-holes. The pockets are configured by fixing by a fixing member inserted through a hole and combining them together and arranging substantially spherical concave spaces formed by opposed concave portions at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. At that time, the outer diameter side diameter dimension of the pocket is d1, the inner diameter side diameter dimension is d2, the pitch circle diameter is dp, the ball diameter is da, the pitch diameter of the ball is dap, and the ball bearing is held. D2 <da ≦ d1 and dap, where h is the half value of the dimensional difference between the inner and outer diameters of the cage and r1 is the half value of the dimensional difference between the pitch circle diameter of the pocket and the inner diameter of the ball bearing retainer. <Dp, 0.30 × da ≦ h ≦ 0.37 × da, and r1 ≧ 0.65 × h.
In this case, the ball bearing retainer may be made of iron.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a ball bearing according to the present invention includes at least a pair of bearing rings opposed to each other so as to be relatively rotatable and a plurality of balls that roll between the bearing rings. Each ball is rotatably held at a predetermined interval by the ball bearing cage described above.

According to the present invention, the pocket pitch circle diameter (pocket PCD) is set to be larger than the ball pitch circle diameter (ball PCD), and the dimensional ratio from the pocket pitch circle diameter to the cage inner diameter is increased and held. By setting the cross-sectional height dimension of the container to be small, the resistance (shear resistance) when the grease interposed between the pocket surface of the cage and the surface of the ball is sheared can be effectively reduced. . As a result, the rotational torque of the bearing can be reduced, and the generation of cage noise during rotation can be prevented.
In addition, this makes it possible to continuously rotate the cage and the ball bearing incorporating the cage with a certain degree of accuracy, thereby extending the life of the cage.

Hereinafter, a ball bearing retainer and a ball bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. At this time, as the ball bearing retainer according to the present embodiment, a corrugated matching type is assumed, and the basic configuration thereof is the same as that of the conventional ball bearing retainer described above (FIG. 2). This will be described below assuming a certain case.
As shown in FIG. 1 (a), a corrugated mating type ball bearing retainer (hereinafter simply referred to as a retainer) 10 according to this embodiment includes a pair of race rings (which are opposed to each other so as to be relatively rotatable). An inner ring 40 and an outer ring 42) and a ball bearing 30 including a plurality of balls 12 rolling between the inner and outer rings 2 and 4, and each of the balls 12 is accommodated in the pockets 8 arranged at predetermined intervals. And is held rotatably.

Note that the ball bearing 30 in which the cage 10 is incorporated can have an arbitrary configuration (size, shape, number, material, operation, etc.) depending on the use condition, use mode, and the like. For example, in the ball bearing, any of the inner and outer rings may be a rotating ring or a stationary ring, a single-row configuration in which only one track for rolling the ball with respect to the inner and outer rings is formed, or the track has 2 It may be a double row structure formed more than this. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which combined two or more ball bearings. Furthermore, a predetermined sealing member (a contact type seal or a non-contact type seal or shield) may be interposed between the inner and outer rings as necessary.
Moreover, this ball bearing can be configured by combining various metal and resin inner and outer rings, rolling elements and cages.

  For such a ball bearing 30, friction and wear are reduced at portions where the inner and outer rings 2, 4, the ball 12 and the cage 10 are in contact with each other (for example, the pocket surface 8 a and the surface of the ball 12). Lubrication is performed by enclosing a lubricant in the ball bearing 30 for the purpose of preventing sticking or extending the fatigue life. In this case, as the lubricant, various lubricating oils and greases can be arbitrarily selected and used in accordance with the use conditions and use modes of the ball bearing 30, but in this embodiment, the grease is contained inside the bearing. A case where grease lubrication is performed by enclosing is assumed as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cage 10 has a structure in which two annular plate members (a cage structure) 20 are combined, and the cage structure 20 penetrates the fixing member 6. A flat plate-like flat portion 2 having a hole (not shown) and a concave portion 4 recessed in a substantially hemispherical shape than the flat portion 2 are alternately connected. In addition, what is necessary is just to select and use various members arbitrarily for the fixing member 6 according to the use condition, usage mode, etc. of the ball bearing 30, for example, a rivet, a volt | bolt, a nut, a screw, etc. can be used.

  The cage 10 has two cage structures 20 facing each other so that the concave portions 4 are recessed in opposite directions and the flat portions 2 communicate with each other's through-holes, and each of the through holes communicated with each other. The fixing member 6 is inserted into the hole, and one end thereof is fixed (for example, if one is a rivet, the one end of the shaft is swaged) so that the two cage components 20 are integrally combined. Has been. As described above, by combining the two cage structures 20, two substantially hemispherical concave portions 4 face each other to form a substantially spherical concave space, and the concave space is spaced at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction. Can be arranged. Thereby, the holder 10 is configured with the concave space as the pocket 8.

  In addition, the recessed part 4 should just provide with respect to the cage | basket structure 20 only the same number as the number of built-in balls preset based on the use condition of the ball bearing 30 in which the cage | basket 10 is integrated, a usage condition, etc. . Then, the size, shape and number of the flat portions 2 are arbitrarily set and held so that the set number of concave portions 4 can be arranged at a predetermined interval (as an example, at equal intervals). What is necessary is just to comprise the container structure 20, ie, the holder | retainer 10. FIG.

  As an example, in FIG. 2, nine concave portions 4 are arranged at equal intervals so that nine balls 12 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) can be rotatably held. And the structure of the holder | retainer 10 and the holder | retainer structure 20 which connected these concave-shaped parts 4 mutually by the nine flat parts 2 is shown. However, a cage structure capable of holding eight or less balls 12 or ten or more balls 12 may be used, and the same number of concave portions 4 and flat portions 2 may be connected to each other to hold the cage. May be configured.

  Further, the material of the cage 10 (the cage component 20) depends on the use conditions and usage of the ball bearing 30 in which the cage 10 (the cage component 20) is incorporated, the material of the balls 12 to be held, and the like. What is necessary is just to set. For example, the cage 10 (the cage structure 20) can be made of various metals such as an iron plate, a copper plate, and a stainless plate, or a resin such as a plastic plate. In this embodiment, the cage 10 ( The case where the cage structure 20) is made of iron is assumed as an example.

  Here, the size and shape of the cage 10 (the cage structure 20) are arbitrarily set according to the size and shape of the ball bearing 30 into which the cage 10 constituted by the cage structure 20 is incorporated. However, in the present embodiment, the relative sizes and shapes of the cage 10, its pockets 8 and balls 12 are set as follows.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1B, the diameter of the outer diameter side (right side of the figure) of the pocket 8 of the cage 10 is d1, the diameter of the inner diameter side (left side of the figure) is d2, and the ball 12 The outer diameter side dimension d1 is set to a dimension larger than the ball diameter da, and the inner diameter side dimension d2 is set to a dimension smaller than the ball diameter da (d2 <da ≦). d1).

In addition, when the dimensional difference between the inner and outer diameters of the cage 10 is half, that is, when the height of the longitudinal section of the cage 10 is h, the cage height h is 30% or more and 37% or less of the ball diameter da. The dimensions are set (0.30 × da ≦ h ≦ 0.37 × da).
At that time, the cage height h, specifically the lower limit dimension thereof, needs to ensure a size of 30% or more of the ball diameter da in order to ensure the strength of the cage 10. In particular, when the bearing width (the axial dimension of the inner and outer rings 40, 42 (distance B shown in FIG. 1A)) is smaller than the ball diameter da, specifically, the bearing width B is equal to the ball diameter Da. In the case of 1.5 times or less (B ≦ 1.5 × Da), in order to avoid interference with the sealing member (not shown), the plate thickness of the cage 10 (distance t shown in FIG. 5B) is increased. From this point of view, the cage height h needs to be 30% or more of the ball diameter da. In addition, the cage height h, specifically, the upper limit dimension thereof is suppressed to 37% or less of the ball diameter da, so that the cage height h can be made smaller than the conventional one.

  Further, when the pitch circle diameter (pocket PCD) of the pocket 8 of the cage 10 is dp and the pitch circle diameter (ball PCD) of the ball 12 is dap, the pocket pitch circle diameter dp is set larger than the ball pitch circle diameter dap. (Dap <dp).

  When the half value of the dimensional difference between the pocket pitch circle diameter dp and the inner diameter of the cage 10 is r1, the dimensional difference r1 is set to 65% or more of the cage height h (r1 ≧ 0. 65 × h).

  The outer diameter side dimension d1, the inner diameter side dimension d2, the pocket pitch circle diameter dp, the dimension difference r1 between the pocket pitch circle diameter dp and the inner diameter, the cage height h, and the ball diameter of the ball 12 By setting da and the ball pitch circle diameter dap as described above, the contact area between the pocket 8 of the cage 10 and the ball 12 can be reduced. In particular, by increasing the dimensional difference r1 between the pocket pitch circle diameter dp and the inner diameter (r1 ≧ 0.65h) as compared with the conventional case, the ball 12 is more surely connected to the inner diameter portion of the pocket 8 (peripheral portion on the inner diameter side). It can be set as a held form.

  Thereby, the resistance (shear resistance) when the grease interposed between the pocket surface 8a of the cage 10 and the surface of the ball 12 is sheared can be effectively reduced, and the torque of the bearing can be reduced. . Further, in addition to reducing the grease shear resistance, the amount of movement of the cage 10 during rotation can be suppressed, so that cage noise can be effectively prevented.

  Here, the shear resistance of the grease is not only increased as the contact area between the pocket 8 and the ball 12 of the cage 10 increases, but is also influenced by the gap between the pocket 8 and the ball 12. That is, the shear resistance increases as the gap increases. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1B, the cage 10 is configured such that the gap increases toward the outer diameter side (the right side in the figure). Therefore, on the inner diameter side of the cage 10 (the left side in FIG. 1B), which is the contact side between the pocket 8 and the ball 12, the gap can be reduced, and the grease shear resistance can be effectively reduced. it can.

FIG. 1B shows a configuration in which the opening on the outer diameter side (right side in FIG. 1) of the cage 10 is made larger than the inner diameter side. Even if the structure is made larger than the outer diameter side, the above-described grease shear reduction effect and cage noise prevention effect can be obtained. However, in consideration of the grease flow in the ball bearing 30, the outer diameter side opening of the cage 10 is made larger than the inner diameter side, particularly under the condition that the ball bearing 30 is rotated at a high speed. (FIG. 1B) is preferable.
Further, the plate thickness t of the cage 10 may be set based on the ball diameter da, the ball pitch circle diameter dap, and the bearing width B in order to ensure the strength.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows the structure of the ball bearing retainer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is principal part sectional drawing, (b) is an expansion for demonstrating the relative relationship of a pocket and a ball | bowl. Figure. The perspective view which shows the whole structure of the cage for ball bearings. The principal part sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the conventional ball bearing cage.

Explanation of symbols

2 Flat part 4 Concave part 6 Fixing member 8 Pocket 10 Ball bearing cage 12 Ball 20 Cage component 30 Ball bearing 40 Inner ring 42 Outer ring d1 Cage outside diameter side diameter d2 Cage inside diameter side diameter da Ball Diameter dap Ball pitch circle diameter dp Pocket pitch circle diameter h Cage height r1 Dimensional difference between pocket pitch circle diameter dp and inner diameter

Claims (3)

The ball is incorporated in a ball bearing having at least a pair of bearing rings that are opposed to each other so as to be relatively rotatable and a plurality of balls that roll between the bearing rings, and each of the balls is stored in a pocket arranged at a predetermined interval. And a ball bearing retainer that is rotatably held,
A flat plate-like flat portion having a through-hole through which the fixing member is inserted and a concave portion recessed in a substantially hemispherical shape from the flat portion are alternately connected to form an annular cage structure, and the concave portion With the fixing member inserted into each of the communicated through-holes, the two cage structures are opposed to each other so that they are recessed in opposite directions and the flat portions communicate with each other. The pockets are configured by fixing and integrally combining the substantially spherical concave spaces formed by the opposed concave portions arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction,
The outer diameter of the pocket is d1, the inner diameter is d2, the pitch diameter of the pocket is dp, the diameter of the ball is da, the pitch diameter of the ball is dap, and the ball bearing is held. When the half value of the dimensional difference between the inner and outer diameters of the container is h, and the half value of the dimensional difference between the pitch circle diameter of the pocket and the inner diameter of the ball bearing retainer is r1,
d2 <da ≦ d1, dap <dp, 0.30 × da ≦ h ≦ 0.37 × da, and r1 ≧ 0.65 × h Bearing cage.   The ball bearing retainer according to claim 1, wherein the ball bearing retainer is made of iron. A ball bearing comprising at least a pair of bearing rings arranged so as to be relatively rotatable and a plurality of balls rolling between the bearing rings,
Each ball is rotatably held at a predetermined interval by the ball bearing retainer according to claim 1 or 2.

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