WO1999036141A1

WO1999036141A1 - Ball bearing for roller skate

Info

Publication number: WO1999036141A1
Application number: PCT/SE1999/000032
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hendrikus Adrianus Van Egeraat; Jens Erik Jacobsson
Original assignee: Hendrikus Adrianus Van Egeraat; Jens Erik Jacobsson
Priority date: 1998-01-16
Filing date: 1999-01-13
Publication date: 1999-07-22
Also published as: SE9800092L; SE9800092D0

Abstract

Ball bearing for a roller skate wheel comprising, an outer ring (1,3), and an inner ring (2,4), between the inner ring (2,4) and the outer ring (1,3) engaging balls (5), wherein an elastic ring (6) is sealingly attached in an inner ring groove (9,10) in the inner ring (2) and co-operating with an outer ring groove (7) axially connecting the outer ring (1,3) to the inner ring (2,4) by the ring (6).

Description

BALL BEARING FOR ROLLER SKATE

TECHNICAL FIELD:

The present invention relates to a split case ball-bearing assembly, fitting the bore of an in-line roller skate wheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

In-line roller skates and the bearings within the wheel are under operating conditions exposed to continuously changing (shock) loads, which are a combination of radial and thrust forces and perform under a wide range of weather- , road- and environmental (dust) conditions.

Today the bearings in the bore of a roller skate wheel are formed by two single rows of bearings, see WO 92/10251. Radial ball bearings, which are not self-aligning, fitted with their outer rings at each side of the bore of said wheel and have a spacer-ring in between the inner rings of the bearings. Through the inner rings of the bearings the spacer ring and the roller skate frame a bolt is inserted and than the whole assembly is tightened on each other. Aiming at the following result: - the inner ring of the bearings forms together with said spacer ring and said bolt and frame a solid, non rotating connection, around which the balls and outer ring of the bearing -together with the wheel- are assumed to rotate freely. This whole construction is in itself very speculative. Because it assumes that the balls in between the inner and outer ring locate said rings to each other even when the bearing is installed. In other words the bore of the wheel is supposed to fit tightly around the outer ring of the bearing, however it is not allowed to exert any thrust pressure on it, because this immediately will impair the function of the bearing. The use of a disc brake, which engages the side of a wheel directly, is therefore impossible. The bearings used today have a cage in which the balls are separated from each other and are supposed to turn freely in said case. It is well known that a cage impairs the lubrication locally and a ball can seize up in it when dust particles are lodged in between the ball and said cage. The use of said cage is necessary to produce a ball bearing, which form a self- containing unit. The ball bearings used are used either unprotected (to achieve minimum friction) or with a shield and there functioning is greatly influenced by dust, water etc. entering the bearing, the use completely sealed bearings is because of the; - limited space, -generous axial clearance and - the high friction not a much used solution.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:

The purpose of the invention is to avail a self-containing bearing in two parts which: - is self aligning, - can take radial as well as thrust forces, - has low friction, - is not susceptible to environmental conditions, - has a higher bearing capacity and lower roller resistance at comparable dimensions . Has such low axial clearance and can take the thrust loads generated by a disc brake, which engages the side of the wheel directly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention is comprising two self containing parts, each of which design with two rings containing between them a number of hardened steel balls and which parts are mounted together by means of a ring of elastic material, which when installed hold the parts together. In the bore of an in-line roller skate wheel the ring together with the self containing parts acting as a sealed roller bearing, which is self-aligning and can accept radial as well as thrust forces.

It can take radial, as well as thrust loads, it is aligning in itself and is both water- and dust resistant. Allowing the practice of roller skating under nearly all possible, road and atmospheric conditions, without impairing the function of the bearing, while reducing the roller resistance considerable, making the energy use more effective. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

A detailed description of the invention will now be given with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 shows a exploded view of a sealed bearing for a roller skate wheel according to the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal cross section through a sealed bearing assembly in two self-containing parts as showed in fig.l and which also indicates a preferably used disc brake.

Fig. 3 shows the compression of the seal- and lock ring during the mounting of the self-containing parts of a self- containing bearing part at the present invention. Fig. 4 shows the mounting of an alternative seal and lock ring according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

The embodiments hereafter described is showing a sealed bearing in two self containing units, which can take radial as well as thrust loads and has such a low axial clearance that a disc brake can be used engaging the side of a roller skate wheel directly. The bearing is mounted in the central bore of a roller skate wheel .

Fig. 1 shows a sealed bearing with a left outer rings 1 and a right outer 3 , an left inner ring 2 and a right inner ring 4 , bearing balls 5 which freely rotates and placed between the inner rings 2,4, an elastic locking- and sealing ring 6, a wheel axle 22, a lock screw 21 and a roller skate wheel 23. The bearing parts constitutes a pre-assembled right side bearing part 26 and a pre- assembled left side bearing part 27.

Fig. 2 shows the whole bearing assembly of the roller skate wheel 23 mounted with the inner rings 2, 4 of the bearings 26,27 which rings 2,4 each are provided with an inner ring groove 9,10. In the inner ring grooves 9,10 an elastic dual function ring 6 is fitted which has the function of a seal combined with the function as being a retainer for holding the inner rings 2 , 4 together with the respectively outer rings 1,3. The outer rings 1 and 3 are fitted to the inner rings 2,4 by pressing the outer rings 1 and 3, respectively the inner rings 2 and 4 together with the balls 5 in place there between together with grease while said rings are pressed together. The ring 6 will be compressed in the grooves 9,10 during mounting between the contact area of a chamfered edge 24 of the rings 1 and 3. Outer ring grooves 6 , 7 are placed in the outer rings 1,3 arranged to co-operate with the said inner ring grooves 9,10. As soon as the rings 6 reach the outer ring grooves 7,8, they will expand to their natural form and it will not be easy to separate the outer rings 1 and 3 from the inner rings 2 and 4. The two bearing parts 26 and 27 have now become two pre-assembled self- containing units, ready for further assembly or packaging, distribution and commercialisation. The balls 5 are now, without the use of a cage, locked in between the high shouldered races 11 and 13 respectively 12 and 14 of the said inner- and outer rings 1,2,3,4. The bearing acts in the same manner as would a double ordinary angular contact ball bearing, arranged one at each side of the roller skate wheel. They have now been spaced at a minimal interval, to achieve highest bearing capacity and lowest roller- resistance under load conditions. The two bearing parts 26 and 27 are now installed in the wheel 23 with cylindrical light drive fits 15,16,17,18 in the two bores of different diameters in the roller skate wheel at the points 15 and 16 for the left outer ring 1 and at the points 17 and 18 for the right outer ring 3. The outer rings 1,3 will now fit together at a central outer ring fitting 19 with a negative diameter tolerance and the inner rings 2 and 4 will fit together at a central inner ring fitting 20 with a positive diameter tolerance. The two bearing parts 26,27 are now installed in the wheel 23.

For the final assembly of the bearing, the wheel 23 and bearing are slid between a left frame half 28 and a right frame half 29 of roller skate. Hereafter the wheel axle 22 is mounted through the frame halves 28,29 and the inner rings 2,4 and being secured by a locking screw 21. Which when tightened assembles the roller skate frame halves 28 and 29 and the inner rings 2 and 4 solidly together. The outer rings are pressed together over the balls 5 but, once installed and used the inner rings 2 and 4 will settle themselves, leaving no or a minimal axial force on said balls 5 at radial loads. The bearing is now fully aligned and installed, the bearing parts can easily bee disassembled from the wheel bores, by pressing the bearing parts apart by at a de-mounting flange 30, once the wheel axle 22 is removed from wheel 23.

Fig. 3 A shows the position of the elastic ring 6 against the chamfered edge 24, which will help to compress the ring 6, just prior to the fitting together of the outer ring 1 and the inner ring 2.

Fig. 3 B shows the position of the elastic ring 6 when it is compressed between the outer ring 1 and the inner ring 2. The elastic material of said ring 6 is pressed in to fill the inner ring groove 9 and under the continuing motion snap into the outer ring groove 7- in the outer ring 1. This embodiment show an elastic ring 6 in the form of an O-ring seal.

Fig. 4 A-B and C shows a second embodiment of an elastic ring 6 in the form of a lip seal which will give a better sealing effect. A seal base 35 is mounted in the inner ring groove 9 whereby the inner ring 2 is pushed into the outer ring 1 so that the lip 36 of the seal slides over the chamfered edge 24 of the inner ring 1 (B) and into its correct position in the outer ring groove 7, (C) .

Claims

Claims :

1. Ball bearing for a roller skate wheel comprising, an outer ring (1,3), and an inner ring (2,4), between the inner ring (2,4) and the outer ring (1,3) engaging balls (5), characterised in that an elastic ring (6) is attached in an inner ring groove (9,10) in the inner ring (2) and cooperating sealingly with an outer ring groove (7) axially connecting the outer ring (1,3) to the inner ring (2,4) by the ring (6) .

2. Ball bearing according to claim 1, characterised in that a left outer ring (1), a right outer ring (3) , a left inner ring (2) and a right inner ring (4) together constitutes a pre-assembled right side bearing part (26) and a pre-assembled left side bearing part (27) .

3. Ball bearing according to any of the claims 1-2, characterised in that the left outer ring (1) is arranged to co-operate with the right outer ring (3) for centring and aligning the outer rings (1,3) .

4. Ball bearing according to any of the claims 1-3, characterised in that the left inner ring (2) is arranged to co-operate with the right inner ring (4) for centring and aligning the inner rings (1,3) .

5. Ball bearing according to any of the claims 1-4, characterised in that the left inner ring (2) abuts the right inner ring (4) and that the left outer ring (1) abuts the right outer ring (3) .

6. Bearing according to any of the claims 1-5, characterised in that a ring 6 is adapted to act as a retainer to keep the bearing parts (1, 3, 5 and 2, 4, 5) together as pre assembled units .

7. Bearing according to any of the claims 1-6, characterised in that a ring [6) is adapted to act as a seal .

8. Bearing according to any of the claims 1-7, characterised in that outer ring (1) abuts outer ring (3) at (19) centring and aligning them.

9. Bearing according to any of the claims 1-8, characterised in that inner ring (2) abuts inner ring (4) at (20) centring and aligning them.