JP7485948B2 - Cage for spherical roller bearing - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a retainer for use in a self-aligning roller bearing, and more specifically to such a retainer having a flange that extends radially outward from the large diameter ring portion.

There is a self-aligning roller bearing that has a structure in which barrel-shaped spherical rollers are incorporated as rolling elements between an outer ring of a spherical raceway and an inner ring of a double-row raceway, and the center of curvature of the outer ring raceway surface coincides with the center of the bearing, providing self-alignment with respect to the inclination of the shaft (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 5).

A single spherical roller bearing can withstand radial loads and axial loads in both directions, and has a particularly large radial load capacity, making it suitable for use in locations subject to heavy loads or shock loads, and is therefore used in the drive units and axles of various mechanical devices.

As a cage for guiding the spherical rollers, there is one that uses two cages with flanges that extend radially outward from the large diameter ring portion, and guides each of the two rows of rollers individually (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4).

On the other hand, there is a cage that guides the spherical rollers and uses an integrated cage that does not have a flange that extends radially outward on the large diameter ring portion, and guides both rows of rollers (see, for example, Patent Document 5).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-28576 Patent No. 2527418 Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 5-30556 JP 2010-43734 A Patent No. 6337482

In the case of the retainers for spherical roller bearings described in Patent Documents 1 to 4, the two rows of rollers are individually guided by two separate retainers. Therefore, when a load is applied to one of the roller rows, the load is not transmitted from one retainer to the other retainer, and the other roller row and retainer may not rotate. This causes problems such as roller skew and fretting, shortening the life of the bearing.

The retainer for a spherical roller bearing as in Patent Document 5 is an integrated type that guides both rows of rollers, so the problems described above that arise from guiding the two rows of rollers with two separate retainers as in Patent Documents 1 to 4 do not occur.

However, with an integrated cage that guides both rows of rollers as in Patent Document 5, when assembling the bearing, one of the roller rows must be inserted while elastically deforming the cage for all rollers, resulting in poor assembly workability.

Furthermore, with an integrated cage that guides both roller rows as in Patent Document 5, it is not possible to adopt a raceway guide system with a flange portion 9 on the outer rim portion 5b as shown in Figure 6, which shows the prior art of the invention described in Patent Document 5. If two separate cages 4, 4 using a raceway guide system as shown in Figure 6 of Patent Document 5 were integrated, the inner diameter of the flange portion 9 of the cage would be smaller than the maximum diameter of the inner ring 2, making it impossible to axially assemble the cage relative to the inner ring 2.

The present invention aims to provide a retainer for a self-aligning roller bearing that is easy to assemble and can use not only the roller guide system but also the raceway guide system, without reducing the life of the bearing due to roller skew or fretting.

The gist of the present invention is as follows:

[1]
A cage for use in a self-aligning roller bearing having two roller rows, comprising:
a pair of single row cages for guiding each of the two roller rows,
The single row cage is
Manufactured as a single unit,
The large diameter ring portion and the small diameter ring portion are spaced apart in the axial direction and connected by a plurality of pillar portions.
The large diameter ring portion is provided with a flange extending radially outward,
A concave-convex engagement portion consisting of a concave portion and a convex portion is provided on the large diameter side end surface of the flange of the single row cage, or
a recessed portion is provided on a large diameter side end surface of the flange of one of the single row cages, and a protruding portion is provided on a large diameter side end surface of the flange of the other single row cage,
A state in which the concave-convex engagement portions of the pair of single-row cages are engaged with each other, or
the recess of one of the single-row cages is engaged with the protrusion of the other of the single-row cages;
an engagement depth in a state in which the concave-convex engagement portions of the pair of single-row cages are engaged with each other; and
The engagement depth of the recess of one of the single-row cages and the protrusion of the other of the single-row cages is
The axial clearance of the bearing is set larger than the axial clearance of the bearing.
Cage for spherical roller bearings.

[2]
The recesses and the protrusions of the concave-convex engagement portions of the pair of single-row cages, and
The recess of one of the single-row cages and the protrusion of the other of the single-row cages are
At a circumferential position of the flange,
Located on the outer diameter side of the portion where the column portion is connected to the large diameter ring portion,
The retainer for a self-aligning roller bearing according to [1].

[3]
The pair of single row cages have the same shape.
The retainer for a self-aligning roller bearing according to [1] or [2].

[4]
It is a raceway guide system.
The retainer for a self-aligning roller bearing according to any one of [1] to [3].

As described above, the cage for a self-aligning roller bearing according to the present invention comprises a pair of single-row cages which guide each of two rows of rollers. The single-row cages are manufactured as a single unit, and a flange extending radially outward is provided on a large diameter ring portion, and a concave-convex engagement portion consisting of a recess and a protrusion is provided on the large diameter side end face of the flange. Alternatively, a recess is provided on the large diameter side end face of the flange of one of the single-row cages, and a protrusion is provided on the large diameter side end face of the flange of the other single-row cage.

The self-aligning roller bearing retainer according to the present invention is used with the concave-convex engaging portions of the pair of single-row retainers engaged with each other, or with the concave portion of one single-row retainer engaged with the convex portion of the other single-row retainer. The engagement depth of the concave-convex engaging portions of the pair of single-row retainers engaged with each other, and the engagement depth of the concave portion of one single-row retainer and the convex portion of the other single-row retainer are set to be larger than the axial gap of the self-aligning roller bearing retainer, so that the pair of single-row retainers become one unit when in use.

Since the pair of single-row cages become one in use, when a load is applied to one of the roller rows, the cage for a self-aligning roller bearing according to the present invention transmits the load from one of the single-row cages to the other single-row cage, and the one roller row and the single-row cage and the other roller row and the single-row cage rotate as one. Therefore, the cage for a self-aligning roller bearing according to the present invention can equalize the rotation (revolution) of both roller rows. As a result, the cage for a self-aligning roller bearing according to the present invention does not have the problems with the configurations of Patent Documents 1 to 4, in which two roller rows are guided by two separate cages, that is, the problems of roller skew and fretting occurring and reducing the life of the bearing.

In addition, since the retainer for the self-aligning roller bearing according to the present invention is composed of a pair of the single-row retainers, there is no need to insert the retainer while elastically deforming it when assembling the self-aligning roller bearing, which improves assembly workability.

Furthermore, the self-aligning roller bearing retainer according to the present invention can suppress wear between the large diameter end faces of the large diameter ring portions and between the large diameter end faces of the flanges in a pair of single row retainers.

Furthermore, since the retainer for the self-aligning roller bearing according to the present invention is made up of a pair of the single-row retainers, the retainer can be assembled axially to the inner ring even in a raceway guided type, so that a raceway guided type that cannot be used with an integrated retainer that guides both roller rows, such as that in Patent Document 5, can also be used.

1 is a perspective view of a retainer for a self-aligning roller bearing according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cage of FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 is a front view of the cage of FIG. 1 . 2 is an enlarged front development view showing only the flange of the cage shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a self-aligning roller bearing using the cage of FIG. 1 . FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the self-aligning roller bearing of FIG. 4 . FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 5A. FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional perspective view of the self-aligning roller bearing of FIG. 4 . FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a retainer for a self-aligning roller bearing according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a retainer for a self-aligning roller bearing according to embodiment 3 of the present invention. 13 is an enlarged front development view of a main portion showing only a flange of a retainer for a self-aligning roller bearing according to embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an oblique view of a self-aligning roller bearing using a retainer for a self-aligning roller bearing according to embodiment 5 of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the self-aligning roller bearing of FIG. 9 . FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional perspective view of the self-aligning roller bearing of FIG. 9 .

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

In this specification, the direction of the rotation axis J (see Figures 5A and 10A) of the self-aligning roller bearing 10 is referred to as the "axial direction", the direction perpendicular to the axial direction and moving away from the rotation axis J is referred to as the "radial direction", and the direction in which the rollers 13 of the roller row R1 or R2 (see Figures 5A to 5C, 10A and 10B) are lined up is referred to as the "circumferential direction". In addition, a view from the outside in the radial direction is referred to as a front view.

In a pair of single-row retainers 2A, 2B according to an embodiment of the present invention, the "large diameter side end face" of the large diameter ring portion 3 and flange 6 of one single-row retainer 2A or 2B refers to the axial end face 6A closer to the other single-row retainer 2B or 2A. Also, the "small diameter side end face" of the flange 6 of one single-row retainer 2A or 2B refers to the axial end face 6B farther from the other single-row retainer 2B or 2A.

<First embodiment>
(Cage for spherical roller bearings)
A cage 1A for a self-aligning roller bearing according to a first embodiment of the present invention, shown in the perspective view of Figure 1, the exploded perspective view of Figure 2, and the front view of Figure 3A, is made up of a pair of single-row cages 2A, 2B. The single-row cages 2A, 2B can be manufactured by pressing a steel plate, injection molding of synthetic resin, or cutting of metal or synthetic resin.

The pair of single-row retainers 2A, 2B may have, for example, the same shape, but may also have different shapes. However, by making the pair of single-row retainers 2A, 2B the same shape, manufacturing costs and parts management costs can be reduced.

The single-row cages 2A and 2B have a number of pocket holes P formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction to accommodate the spherical rollers 13 (see, for example, Figures 4 and 5A to 5C).

The single-row cages 2A and 2B are formed by connecting a large diameter ring portion 3 and a small diameter ring portion 4 that are spaced apart in the axial direction with multiple pillar portions 5, and the large diameter ring portion 3 is provided with a flange 6 that extends radially outward.

(Concave-convex engagement portion)
The single-row cages 2A, 2B have a concave-convex engagement portion A consisting of a concave portion B and a convex portion C on the large diameter side end face 6A of the flange 6. In this embodiment, the concave portions B and the convex portions C are provided alternately in the circumferential direction. The convex portions C are located on the outer diameter side of the point where the column portion 5 is connected to the large diameter ring portion 3 in the circumferential position of the flange 6. The concave portion B is located midway between the convex portions C, C that are adjacent in the circumferential direction. In other words, the concave portion B is located in the circumferential center of the pocket hole P in the circumferential position of the flange 6.

When the single-row retainers 2A and 2B are pressed retainers made of steel plate, the flange 6 is subjected to axial pressing to form a recess B and a protrusion C on the large-diameter end surface 6A of the flange 6.

As shown in Figures 1, 3A, and 5A, the cage 1A is used with the concave-convex engagement portions A of the pair of single-row cages 2A and 2B engaged with each other. When the concave-convex engagement portions A are engaged with each other, the large diameter side end face 3A of the large diameter ring portion 3 of the single-row cage 2A abuts against the large diameter side end face 3A of the large diameter ring portion 3 of the single-row cage 2B, and the large diameter side end face 6A of the flange 6 of the single-row cage 2A abuts against the large diameter side end face 6A of the flange 6 of the single-row cage 2B.

The engagement depth D of the pair of single-row retainers 2A, 2B shown in the enlarged front view of the main part of FIG. 3B when the concave-convex engagement portions A are engaged with each other is set to be larger than the axial clearance of the self-aligning roller bearing 10 shown in the perspective view of FIG. 4, the vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 5A, and the vertical cross-sectional perspective view of FIG. 5C in order to ensure that the concave-convex engagement portions A of the pair of single-row retainers 2A, 2B are engaged with each other when in use.

When the single-row cages 2A, 2B are pressed steel cages, when the flange 6 is subjected to axial pressing to form a recess B on the large diameter end face 6A, a protrusion F is formed on the small diameter end face 6B of the flange 6, as shown in the enlarged view of the main part in Figure 5B. The depth of the recess B on the large diameter end face 6A is set so that the protrusion F protruding from the small diameter end face 6B does not come into contact with the end face 13A of the spherical roller 13.

(Spherical roller bearing)
As shown in the perspective view of Fig. 4, the vertical cross-sectional view of Fig. 5A, and the vertical cross-sectional perspective view of Fig. 5C, self-aligning roller bearing 10 has two circumferential roller rows R1, R2, and has a structure in which barrel-shaped spherical rollers 13 are incorporated as rolling elements between outer ring 11 and inner ring 12. Raceway 11A of outer ring 11 is spherical, and raceway 12A of inner ring 12 is double-row. Self-aligning roller bearing 10 has self-aligning properties with respect to axial inclination, as the center of curvature of raceway 11A of outer ring 11 coincides with the bearing center.

In the usage state shown in Figures 5A and 5C, the single-row retainer 2A of the retainer 1A guides the roller row R1, and the single-row retainer 2B of the retainer 1A guides the roller row R2. As described above, the retainer 1A is used with the concave-convex engagement portions A of the pair of single-row retainers 2A, 2B engaged with each other. In the vertical cross-sectional view of Figure 5A, the column portion 5 is located on the inner diameter side of the pitch circle diameter of the roller rows R1, R2, and the inner diameter portion 4A of the small diameter ring portion 4 of the single-row retainers 2A, 2B slides against the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 12 to provide inner ring guidance. In other words, the retainer 1A for a self-aligning roller bearing is a raceway ring guide type.

<Embodiment 2>
A spherical roller bearing cage 1B according to a second embodiment of the present invention shown in the exploded perspective view of Figure 6 differs from spherical roller bearing cage 1A according to the first embodiment in the shape of the recessed portion B. That is, whereas recessed portion B of spherical roller bearing cage 1A is an axial recess, recessed portion B of spherical roller bearing cage 1B is a radially inward notch provided on the outer circumferential edge of flange 6.

As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 of the first embodiment and Fig. 6 of the second embodiment, when the concave-convex engagement portions A of a pair of single-row retainers 2A, 2B are engaged with each other, the circumferential position of the pocket hole P of the single-row retainer 2A is different from the circumferential position of the pocket hole P of the single-row retainer 2B. In other words, the phases of the roller row R1 guided by the single-row retainer 2A and the roller row R2 guided by the single-row retainer 2B are different.

<Third embodiment>
7 shows a spherical roller bearing cage 1C according to embodiment 3 of the present invention, which has a different number of recessed portions B and protruding portions C from spherical roller bearing cage 1A according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, and the number of recessed portions B and protruding portions C of spherical roller bearing cage 1C is half the number of recessed portions B and protruding portions C of spherical roller bearing cage 1A. The recessed portions B and protruding portions C of spherical roller bearing cage 1C are provided alternately in the circumferential direction, similar to that of spherical roller bearing cage 1A, and the recessed portions B and protruding portions C of spherical roller bearing cage 1C are located on the outer diameter side of the portion where column portion 5 is connected to large diameter ring portion 3, in the circumferential position of flange 6.

As can be seen from FIG. 7 of the third embodiment, when the concave-convex engagement portions A of a pair of single-row retainers 2A and 2B are engaged with each other, the circumferential position of the pocket hole P of the single-row retainer 2A is the same as the circumferential position of the pocket hole P of the single-row retainer 2B. In other words, the phase of the roller row R1 guided by the single-row retainer 2A is the same as that of the roller row R2 guided by the single-row retainer 2B.

According to the retainer 1C for a self-aligning roller bearing of the third embodiment of the present invention, unlike the retainer 1A for a self-aligning roller bearing of the first embodiment of the present invention, there is no recess B in the circumferential center of the pocket hole P. Therefore, even if the small diameter side end face 6B of the flange 6 and the end face 13A of the spherical roller 13 (FIG. 5A) are close to each other, the convex portion protruding from the small diameter side end face 6B on the opposite side of the recess B does not come into contact with the end face 13A of the spherical roller 13.

In the case of the present invention, the engaging recessed portion B and protruding portion C receive a circumferential force in order to connect the single-row retainers 2A and 2B and eliminate the rotation difference between them. By positioning the engaging recessed portion B and protruding portion C on the outer diameter side of the part where the column portion 5 is connected to the large diameter ring portion 3, the circumferential force is received near the column portion 5, which is advantageous in terms of strength.

<Fourth embodiment>
8 shows an enlarged front development of a main portion of a self-aligning roller bearing cage 1D according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which only the flange 6 is shown, and which illustrates an example in which one recess B is provided on the large diameter side end face 6A of the flange 6 of one single-row cage 2A, and one protrusion C is provided on the large diameter side end face 6A of the flange 6 of the other single-row cage 2B. Two or more recesses B only may be provided on the single-row cage 2A, and two or more protrusions C only may be provided on the single-row cage 2B.

The engagement depth E of the recessed portion B of the single-row retainer 2A and the protruding portion C of the single-row retainer 2B shown in FIG. 8 is set to be larger than the axial clearance of the self-aligning roller bearing 10 shown in the perspective view of FIG. 4, the vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 5A, and the vertical cross-sectional perspective view of FIG. 5C, in order to ensure that the recessed portion B of the single-row retainer 2A and the protruding portion C of the single-row retainer 2B are engaged in use.

In the fourth embodiment, the recess B of one single-row retainer 2A and the protrusion C of the other single-row retainer 2B are positioned on the outer diameter side of the portion where the column portion 5 connects to the large diameter ring portion 3 in the circumferential position of the flange 6, which provides a strength advantage similar to that of the third embodiment.

<Fifth embodiment>
A spherical roller bearing cage 1E according to embodiment 5 of the present invention, shown in the perspective view of Fig. 9, the vertical cross-sectional view of Fig. 10A, and the vertical cross-sectional perspective view of Fig. 10B, differs from spherical roller bearing cage 1A of embodiment 1 in the guiding method of spherical rollers 13. That is, as described above, spherical roller bearing cage 1A uses a raceway ring guide type. In contrast, spherical roller bearing cage 1E uses a roller guide type, with column portions 5 located on the outer diameter side of the pitch circle diameters of roller rows R1 and R2 in the vertical cross-sectional view of Fig. 10A.

<Action and effect>
The spherical roller bearing cages 1A to 1E according to the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention are made up of a pair of single-row cages 2A, 2B which guide each of the two roller rows R1, R2. The single-row cages 2A, 2B are provided with a flange 6 extending radially outward on their large diameter ring portion 3, and a concave-convex engagement portion A consisting of a recess B and a protrusion C is provided on the large diameter side end face 6A of the flange 6 (embodiments 1 to 3 and 5). Alternatively, a recess B is provided on the large diameter side end face 6A of the flange 6 of one single-row cage 2A, and a protrusion C is provided on the large diameter side end face 6A of the flange 6 of the other single-row cage 2B (embodiment 4).

The retainers 1A to 1E for self-aligning roller bearings are used with the concave-convex engagement portions A of a pair of single-row retainers 2A, 2B engaged with each other, or with the concave portion B of one single-row retainer 2A engaged with the convex portion C of the other single-row retainer 2B. The engagement depth D when the concave-convex engagement portions A of the pair of single-row retainers 2A, 2B are engaged with each other, and the engagement depth E of the concave portion B of one single-row retainer 2A and the convex portion C of the other single-row retainer 2B are set to be larger than the axial clearance of the retainer 10 for self-aligning roller bearings, so that the pair of single-row retainers 2A, 2B become one unit when in use.

Since the pair of single-row retainers 2A, 2B become one unit in use, in the retainers 1A-1E for spherical roller bearings, when a load is applied to one of the roller rows R1, the load is transmitted from the single-row retainer 2A to the other single-row retainer 2B, and the one roller row R1 and the single-row retainer 2A and the other roller row R2 and the single-row retainer 2B rotate as one unit. Therefore, the retainers 1A-1E for spherical roller bearings can equalize the rotation (revolution) of both roller rows R1, R2. As a result, the retainers 1A-1E for spherical roller bearings do not have the problems with the configurations of Patent Documents 1-4, which guide the two roller rows R1, R2 with two separate retainers, that is, the problems of roller skew and fretting that reduce the life of the bearing.

In addition, because the self-aligning roller bearing retainers 1A-1E are composed of a pair of single-row retainers 2A, 2B, when assembling the self-aligning roller bearing 10, there is no need to insert the retainers 1A-1E while elastically deforming them, which improves assembly workability.

Furthermore, the retainers 1A to 1E for self-aligning roller bearings can suppress wear between the large diameter end faces 3A of the large diameter ring portion 3 and between the large diameter end faces 6A of the flanges 6 in a pair of single row retainers 2A and 2B.

Furthermore, since the retainer for the spherical roller bearing is made up of a pair of single-row retainers 2A, 2B, the retainers 1A to 1C can be assembled axially to the inner ring 12 even if they are of a raceway guide type, such as the retainers 1A to 1C for the spherical roller bearing of embodiments 1 to 3. Therefore, it is also possible to employ a raceway guide type that cannot be employed with an integrated retainer that guides both rows of rollers, such as that of Patent Document 5.

The above description of the embodiments is merely illustrative and is not intended to be limiting. Various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Description of the drawings 1A to 1E Cage for spherical roller bearing 2A, 2B Single row cage 3 Large diameter ring portion 3A Large diameter side end face 4 Small diameter ring portion 4A Inner diameter portion 5 Column portion 6 Flange 6A Large diameter side end face 6B Small diameter side end face 10 Spherical roller bearing 11 Outer ring 11A Raceway 12 Inner ring 12A Raceway 13 Spherical roller 13A End face A Concave-convex engagement portion B Concave portion C Convex portion D, E Engagement depth F Convex portion J Rotation shaft P Pocket hole R1, R2 Row of rollers

Claims (4)

A cage for use in a self-aligning roller bearing having two roller rows, comprising:
a pair of single row cages for guiding each of the two roller rows,
The single row cage is
Manufactured as a single unit,
The large diameter ring portion and the small diameter ring portion are spaced apart in the axial direction and connected by a plurality of pillar portions.
The large diameter ring portion is provided with a flange extending radially outward,
A concave-convex engagement portion consisting of a concave portion and a convex portion is provided on the large diameter side end surface of the flange of the single row cage, or
a recess is provided on a large diameter side end surface of the flange of one of the single row cages, and a protrusion is provided on a large diameter side end surface of the flange of the other single row cage,
A state in which the concave-convex engagement portions of the pair of single-row cages are engaged with each other, or
the recess of one of the single-row cages is engaged with the protrusion of the other of the single-row cages;
an engagement depth in a state in which the concave-convex engagement portions of the pair of single-row cages are engaged with each other; and
The engagement depth of the recess of one of the single-row cages and the protrusion of the other of the single-row cages is
The axial clearance of the bearing is set larger than the axial clearance of the bearing.
Cage for spherical roller bearings.
The recesses and the protrusions of the concave-convex engagement portions of the pair of single-row cages, and
The recess of one of the single-row cages and the protrusion of the other of the single-row cages are
At a circumferential position of the flange,
Located on the outer diameter side of the portion where the column portion is connected to the large diameter ring portion,
2. The retainer for a spherical roller bearing according to claim 1. The pair of single row cages have the same shape.
3. The retainer for a spherical roller bearing according to claim 1 or 2. It is a raceway guide system.
The retainer for a spherical roller bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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