WO2012155958A1

WO2012155958A1 - Rolling bearing comprising a housing having two parts and method of manufacturing such a bearing

Info

Publication number: WO2012155958A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/057877
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stéphane CORDIER; Yves-André LIVERATO; Charles Massoteau; Pietro TESINI
Original assignee: SKF AB
Current assignee: SKF AB
Priority date: 2011-05-16
Filing date: 2011-05-16
Publication date: 2012-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2013-11-16
Also published as: DE112011105249T5; CN103547823A; JP2014513782A; SE537997C2; US20140341491A1; US9206841B2; SE1351342A1

Abstract

Rolling bearing comprising an inner ring (1), an outer ring (2), at least one row of rolling elements (3) between the inner and outer rings (1, 2), and an annular housing (5) surrounding at least one of the rings (2), said outer ring (2) comprising two separate parts (2a, 2b), the housing (5) comprising two distinct parts (17, 18) for retaining the parts (2a, 2b) of said outer ring (2) and fixing means for fixing the distinct parts (17, 18) together. The first part (17) of the housing (5) comprises an inner axial cylindrical portion (19) for retaining radially said outer ring (2) and the second part (18) of the housing (5) comprises an outer axial cylindrical portion (21) surrounding said inner axial cylindrical portion (19).

Description

Rolling bearing comprising a housing having two parts and method of manufacturing such a bearing.

The present invention relates to rolling bearings, in particular to rolling bearings having an inner ring and an outer ring with one or more rows of rolling elements held by a cage between raceways provided in the two rings . The ro lling elements may, for example, be balls . The rolling bearings may be, for example, those used in industrial electric motors or in motor vehicle gearboxes. In such applications, the bearings are mainly lo aded radially, often with relatively weak load compared to the capacity o f the bearings used. The rotational speeds in such applications are o f the order of 3000 revo lutions/ minute.

Patent US 3 , 876,266 discloses a rolling bearing comprising an inner ring, an outer ring made in two parts, a housing ho lding the two parts of the said ring and a row of balls held by a cage . One of the parts of the outer ring, together with the housing, defines a space inside which an axially prelo aded resilient element is housed.

This document also discloses a method of manufacturing such rolling bearings comprising the steps of inserting the rolling element into the associated cage and mounting this subassembly on the inner ring. Then positioning the two parts of the outer ring are around the row of balls, mounting this subassembly and the resilient prelo aded element in an L-shaped housing having an outer cylindrical part and fo lding said cylindrical part over one clo sed space and one ring until it enclo ses said one ring and said rolling elements. Given the way these rolling bearings are manufactured, and particularly the fact that the housing is fo lded over to form a second radial plate, it is relatively difficult to guarantee the desired axial clearance or, the predefined axial preload. Furthermore, it is necessary to provide a resilient axial preloaded element, which adds to the cost of the rolling bearing. Patent application FR 2 945 090 so lve these problems by proposing a rolling bearing comprising a housing made o f two distinct parts fixed together. The housing comprises two radial flanges for axially retaining the parts of the outer ring and an axial cylindrical portion connected to one of the radial flanges and in radial contact with the parts of said outer ring and extending radially outwards by a radial proj ection. One of the radial flanges is fixed to the radial proj ection.

However, such a rolling bearing needs a specific reception ho le for the rolling bearing having a stepped shape. Furthermore, when assembling such a ro lling bearing, a slightly deformation o f the outer surface of the axial cylindrical portion may modify the positioning o f the two separate parts of the outer ring. Such a ro lling bearing does not prevent so lid and liquid po llutants from entering between the flanges and the radial proj ection.

One aim o f the present invention is therefore to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

It is a particular obj ect of the present invention to provide a rolling bearing o f simple design, that is easy to assemble, economical, and in which the desired clearance or axial prelo ad can easily be obtained during the assembly operations and maintained once the bearing has been assembled.

It is also an obj ect of the present invention to provide a rolling bearing having a good radial stiffness and which is able to operate for a long time in both an effective and economic manner.

Another obj ect of the invention is to provide a rolling bearing in which the positioning of the half rings is not sensitive to the deformation o f the housing.

In one embodiment, a ro lling bearing comprises an inner ring, an outer ring, at least one row of rolling elements between the inner and outer rings, and an annular housing surrounding at least one of the rings, said outer ring comprising two separate parts. The housing comprises two distinct parts for retaining the parts of said outer ring and fixing means for fixing the distinct parts together.

The first part of the housing comprises an inner axial cylindrical portion for retaining radially said outer rings and the second part of the housing comprises an outer axial cylindrical portion surrounding said inner axial cylindrical portion.

Assembling two separate parts or components in order to obtain the enclosing ring or housing that retains the parts of the ring makes the assembly operations easier and makes it possible to guarantee that the desired operational clearance or axial preload for the rolling bearing will be obtained. This thus provides a rolling bearing able to operate for a long time thanks to effective internal lubrication.

The first part of the housing preferably comprises a radial flange extending radially from the inner cylindrical portion towards the inner ring and defining with one o f the parts of the outer ring a first closed space.

The second part of the housing preferably comprises a radial flange extending radially from the outer cylindrical portion towards the inner ring and defining with one o f the parts of the outer ring a second clo sed space.

In one embodiment, both closed spaces contain a lubricant and act as lubricant reservoirs. The lubricant may be grease or oil. When the lubricant is oil, this oil may advantageously be contained in a porous element mounted inside the clo sed space.

Advantageously, each o f said separate parts of the outer ring comprises passage means for the lubricant contained in the closed spaces.

The passage means for the lubricant may comprise axial ho les at least partly facing one another provided in the thickness o f a radial portion of each o f the two separate parts of said outer ring, so as to put the two closed spaces into communication. Special-purpose passage means are preferably provided to allow lubricant to pass between the clo sed space and the raceways . The passage means may comprise ho les or passages made in the thickness of the said ring. These passages preferably open onto the raceway of the said ring.

In one embodiment, the distinct parts of the housing are manufactured by cutting and pressing a metal sheet.

Fixing means may comprise welds or brazing or glue . Alternatively, it is even possible to fix the two parts together using crimping, bonding, riveting, snap-fastening, etc.

According to another aspect, it is proposed a method o f manufacturing a rolling bearing as disclosed above, comprising the steps of:

- inserting one o f the separate parts of the outer ring in a first part of the housing having an L-shaped structure comprising an inner axial cylindrical portion for retaining radially said outer ring,

- inserting the inner ring and said ro lling elements in the first part of the housing,

- inserting the other separate part of the outer ring in the first part of the housing,

- fixing the second part of the housing having an L-shaped structure comprising an outer axial cylindrical portion so as to surround said inner axial cylindrical portion.

The present invention will be better understood from studying the detailed description of a number of embodiments considered by way o f entirely non-limiting examples and illustrated by the attached drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is an axial half-section of the rolling bearing according to the invention, in a first embo diment;

- Figure 2 is an axial half-section of a second embodiment;

- Figure 3 to 5 are steps of a manufacturing method according to the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 , which illustrates an embodiment o f a rolling bearing according to the invention; said bearing comprises an inner ring 1 , an outer ring 2, a row of rolling elements 3 consisting, in the example illustrated, of balls, held by a cage 4 between the inner ring 1 and the outer ring 2 and an annular housing 5 surrounding the outer ring 2.

The inner ring 1 is so lid and has on its outer cylindrical surface l a a toroidal groove 6, the radius o f curvature o f which is slightly greater than the radius of the rolling elements 3 and forms a bearing race for the rolling elements 3. The inner ring 1 may be manufactured by machining or by pressing a steel blank, which is then ground and optionally lapped at the bearing race 6 in order to give the ring 1 its geometrical characteristics and its final surface finish.

The cage 4 comprises a plurality o f cavities 7 designed to house the rolling elements 3 and keep them uniformly circumferentially spaced. The cavities 7 are advantageously of spherical shape with a diameter slightly greater than that of the ro lling elements 3. The cavities 7 are provided in the radial thickness of the cage 4 having a radial portion 8 radially facing the outer ring 2 and extending radially inwards by a conical portion 9. The conical portion is located radially facing the inner ring 1 and extends axially towards the rolling elements 3. The radial portion 8 and the conical portion 9 define the cavities 7. The conical portion 9 forms a guide portion for the rolling elements 3.

In this embodiment, the outer ring 2 comprises two separate parts 2a, 2b or half rings. The separate parts 2a, 2b are identical and symmetric with respect to the axial plane of symmetry of the bearing, in order to reduce manufacturing costs . These two outer half rings 2a, 2b may advantageously be manufactured by cutting and stamping a metal sheet, the pieces obtained being then hardened by heat treatment. The bearing races intended for the rolling elements 3 may be ground and/or lapped in order to give them their geometric characteristics and their definitive surface finish. Since the two half- rings 2a, 2b are identical in this example, only one o f them, having the reference "a" will be described here, it being understood that the identical elements of the other half-ring 2b bear the reference "b" in the figures.

The half-ring 2a of the outer ring 2 comprises an outer axial cylindrical portion 1 1 a, a radial portion 12a, a toroidal portion 1 3 a and an inner axial cylindrical portion 14a. The radial portion 12a is connected to the outer axial portion 1 1 a and to the toroidal portion 13 a. The toroidal portion 13 a defines part of a raceway 15 a for the rolling elements 3. The radius of curvature of the raceway 15 a slightly exceeds the radius of the rolling elements 3. The toroidal portion 1 3 a extends axially towards the outside o f the rolling bearing with the inner axial portion 14a. The two outer half-rings 2a, 2b are arranged with the axially internal radial faces 16a, 16b of the radial portions 12a, 12b in axial contact with one another, substantially in the radial symmetry plane of the rolling elements 3.

The housing 5 , which is advantageously made of a stamped metal sheet, comprises two distinct annular parts 17, 1 8 surrounding the two outer half-rings 2a, 2b so as to hold them firmly together in the axial direction. The parts 17, 1 8 of the housing 5 may advantageously be produced in an economical way from a single metal sheet by cutting and pressing. Each distinct part 17, 1 8 have an reshaped structure.

The first part 17 comprises an inner axial cylindrical portion

19 for retaining radially said outer rings 2a, 2b . The inner axial cylindrical portion 19 surrounds the outer rings 2a, 2b and is in contact with the outer surface of the axial portions 1 1 a, l i b of the outer rings 2a, 2b . The first part 17 further comprises a radial flange

20 extending radially from the inner axial cylindrical portion 19 towards the immediate vicinity o f the outer cylindrical surface l a o f the inner ring 1 , so as to leave a clearance between the inner edge 20a of the radial flange 20 and the cylindrical surface l a o f the inner ring 1 .

The second part 1 8 of the housing 5 comprises an outer axial cylindrical portion 21 surrounding the inner axial cylindrical portion 19 of the first part 17. The second part 1 8 further comprises a radial flange 22 extending radially from the outer cylindrical portion 21 towards the immediate vicinity o f the outer cylindrical surface l a o f the inner ring 1 , so as to leave a clearance between the inner edge 22a of the radial flange 22 and the outer cylindrical surface l a of the inner ring 1 .

The half-rings 2a, 2b are centred in the inner axial portion 1 9 of the first part 17 of the housing 5 by contact between the axial portions 1 1 a, l i b and the bore of the said inner axial portion 19. The outer radial faces 23 a, 23b which form the outer edges o f the outer axial portions 1 1 a, l i b are respectively in contact with the radial flanges 20, 22 o f the parts 17, 1 8 o f the housing 5 , thus axially clamping the two half-rings 2a, 2b together. The outer radial faces 24a, 24b which form the outer edges o f the inner axial portions 14a, 14b are also in contact with the radial flanges 20, 22.

As an alternative, an axial clearance (not shown) may be provided between the outer edges 24a, 24b of the inner axial portions 14a, 14b and the radial flanges 20, 22 of the housing 5.

Each of the half-rings 2a, 2b defines, with the housing 5 , an annular clo sed space 25 a, 25b. More specifically, the clo sed space 25 a is delimited by the outer axial portion 1 1 a, the radial portion 12a, the toroidal portion 13 a, and the inner axial portion 14a, and, adj acent to these portions, the radial flange 20 o f the first part 17 o f the housing 5. One o f the two or both spaces 25 a, 25b may act as a lubricant reservoir, the lubricant contained in these spaces 25 a, 25b not being depicted in the figures. The lubricant used may be grease or oil. Lubricant can be packed into the space 25 a which constitutes a first lubricant reservoir between the half-ring 2a and the inner ring 1 . Lubricant is also packed into the second space 25b and into the vo lume remaining between the inner 1 and outer 2 rings.

Each part 2a, 2b of the outer ring 2 comprises passage means for the lubricant contained in the closed spaces 25 a, 25b . In the example illustrated in Figure 1 , these passage means are of several types. First, these passage means comprise a plurality o f radial through-ho les 26a, 26b provided the thickness of the inner axial portions 14a, 14b of the outer half-rings 2a, 2b . This arrangement of the ho les allows the lubricant contained in the clo sed spaces 25 a, 25b to flow by gravity directly towards the rolling elements 3. Further a plurality o f axial through-ho les 27a, 27b can be provided the thickness of the radial portion 12a, 12b at least partially facing one another, so as to put the two closed spaces 25 a, 25b into communication. This arrangement, which can be maintained by suitable positioning during assembly or by angular indexing means (not shown), provided on the two half-rings 2a, 2b, allows the two closed spaces 25 a, 25b to intercommunicate. As an alternative, each inner radial face 16a, 16b of the corresponding radial portion 12a, 12b can be provided with a radial groove (not shown) forming a radial passage or duct so that the outer end of the radial duct is in communication with the corresponding through-ho le 27a, 27b and its inner end is in communication with the toroidal race 15 a, 15b so as to guide the lubricant directly onto the balls 3. In this example, it should be understood that the axial through-ho les 27a, 27b associated with a radial duct can easily not be located facing one another.

The outer axial cylindrical portion 21 is fixed to the inner axial cylindrical portion 19 by means o f welding, brazing or glue .

In the embo diment of Figure 1 , the inner radial faces 16a, 16b of the radial portions 12a, 12b are in contact with one another. This contact between the radial portions 12a, 12b makes it possible to obtain a rolling bearing with internal preload.

The only difference with the embodiment of Figure 2, in which identical elements bear the same references, is the presence of an axial clearance 28 between the inner radial faces 16a, 16b of the radial portions 12a, 12b so that the rolling bearing can operate with no internal preload. In some applications, it is preferred that the rolling bearing has an internal prelo ad, that is to say a prelo ad both in the radial and axial directions . For instance, in an electric power assisted steering system for a vehicle, such a bearing advantageously supports in rotation the rotor of the vehicle motor in order to prevent any click noise. In other applications though, it is desired to use a rolling bearing with no internal prelo ad i.e . with an internal clearance, in order, for instance, to reduce friction and to compensate thermal expansion o f the rings .

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the radial through-ho les have been removed and the toroidal portions 13 a, 13b are now provided with through-ho les 29a, 29b in order to let the lubricant flow directly onto the balls 3. Of course, as a variant, it could be possible to mix all types of passages means described above.

The method of manufacturing such types of bearings will now be described on the basis of figures 3 to 5. On Figure 3 , one o f the half rings 2a of the outer ring 2 is inserted in the L-shaped structure of the first part 17 of the housing 5 , with the radial faces 23 a, 24a o f the half ring 2a resting on the inner surface of the radial flange 20 and the outer surface of the axial portion 1 1 a in contact with the inner axial cylindrical portion 19 o f the first part 17. On Figure 4, the inner ring 1 is then mounted. Having inserted the rolling elements 3 into the cavities 7 of the cage 4 and having mounted that subassembly on the inner ring 1 , the second half-ring 2b is positioned around the row o f rolling elements 3 in the L-shaped structure 17 with the radial face 16a o f the radial portion 12a in contact with the radial face 1 6b of the radial portion 12b of the half ring 2b . The outer surface of the outer axial portion l i b is in contact with the inner surface o f the inner axial cylindrical portion 19. As illustrated in Figure 5 , the second part 1 8 of the housing 5 is then positioned so that its outer axial cylindrical portion 21 surrounds the inner axial cylindrical portion 19 of the first part 17. The outer radial faces 23b, 24b of the axial portions l i b, 14b are in contact with the inner radial face 22b o f the radial flange 22 o f the second part 1 8. The second part 1 8 of the housing 5 is fitted to retain the half-rings 2a, 2b axially. The specific features and characteristics mentioned for each o f the embodiments could be applied without major modification to the other embodiments. Moreover, although the present invention has been illustrated using single-row ball bearings, it will be understood that the invention can be applied without major modification to bearings using rolling elements that are not balls and/or that have several rows of rolling elements. Alternatively, the inner ring could comprise two half rings and be surrounded by a housing having two distinct parts as described above.

Thanks to the housing made of two L-shaped parts, the rolling bearing according to the invention is less sensitive to deformation of the outer surface of the outer cylindrical portion o f the second part of housing, and therefore has a good radial stiffness . Furthermore, such a rolling bearing prevents so lid and liquid po llutants from entering inside the rolling bearing.

Claims

1. Rolling bearing comprising an inner ring (1), an outer ring (2), at least one row of rolling elements (3) between the inner and outer rings (1, 2), and an annular housing (5) surrounding at least one of the rings (2), said outer ring (2) comprising two separate parts (2a, 2b), the housing (5) comprising two distinct parts (17, 18) for retaining the parts (2a, 2b) of said outer ring (2) and fixing means for fixing the distinct parts (17, 18) together, characterized in that the first part (17) of the housing (5) comprises an inner axial cylindrical portion (19) for retaining radially said outer ring (2) and the second part (18) of the housing (5) comprises an outer axial cylindrical portion (21) surrounding said inner axial cylindrical portion (19).

2. Rolling bearing according to Claim 1, in which the first part (17) of the housing (5) comprises a radial flange (20) extending radially from the inner cylindrical portion (19) towards the inner ring (1) and defining with one of the parts (2a) of the outer ring (2) a first closed space (25a).

3. Rolling bearing according to Claim 2, in which the second part (18) of the housing (5) comprises a radial flange (22) extending radially from the outer cylindrical portion (21) towards the inner ring (1) and defining with one of the parts (2b) of the outer ring (2) a second closed space (25b).

4. Rolling bearing according to Claim 3, in which both closed spaces (25a, 25b) contain a lubricant and act as lubricant reservoirs.

5. Rolling bearing according to Claim 4, in which each of said separate parts (2a, 2b) of the outer ring (2) comprises passage means (26a, 27a, 29a, 26b, 27b, 29b) for the lubricant contained in the closed spaces (25a, 25b).

6. Rolling bearing according to Claim 5, in which the passage means for the lubricant comprise axial holes (27a, 27b) at least partly facing one another provided in the thickness of a radial portion (12a, 12b) o f each of the two separate parts (2a, 2b) o f said outer ring (2), so as to put the two closed spaces (25 a, 25b) into communication

7. Rolling bearing according to one o f the preceding claims, in which the distinct parts ( 17, 1 8) of the housing (5) are manufactured by cutting and pressing a metal sheet.

8. Rolling bearing according to one o f the preceding claims, in which the fixing means comprise welds or brazing or glue.

9. Method of manufacturing a rolling bearing according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of:

- inserting one of the separate parts (2a) of the outer ring (2) in a first part ( 17) of an housing (5) having an L-shaped structure comprising an inner axial cylindrical portion ( 19) for retaining radially said outer ring (2),

- inserting the inner ring ( 1 ) and said rolling elements (3) in the first part ( 17) of the housing (5),

- inserting the other separate part (2b) o f the outer ring (2) in the first part ( 17) of the housing (5),

- fixing the second part ( 1 8) of the housing (5) having an reshaped structure comprising an outer axial cylindrical portion (21 ) so as to surround said inner axial cylindrical portion ( 19) .