WO2014090237A1

WO2014090237A1 - Two-part bearing cage comprising multiple lugs which form retaining shells, project outwards from two annular bodies into the interior and form free areas for lubricant, and ball bearing comprising a bearing cage of this type

Info

Publication number: WO2014090237A1
Application number: PCT/DE2013/200278
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Scheidel; Reinhard Rehner; Thomas FICKERT-GUENTHER; Andreas-Johann Bohr; Frank Zwanzger
Original assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
Priority date: 2012-12-11
Filing date: 2013-11-07
Publication date: 2014-06-19
Also published as: DE102012222800A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a two-part bearing cage for a ball bearing, comprising a first and a second annular body (1a, 1b) having a plurality of retaining shells (2) on their opposing end faces. The two annular bodies (1a, 1b) have an identical design and can be mounted opposite each other in such a way that the retaining shells (2) form pockets (3) for receiving and guiding rolling bodies (4). In addition, the number of pockets (3) corresponds to the number of rolling bodies (4). According to the invention, the individual pockets (3) are arranged at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction in such a way that a free area (5) for receiving lubricant is formed between two pockets (3). Two retaining shells (2) and the base of a pocket combine to form one individual pocket (3). The invention also relates to a ball bearing comprising a two-part bearing cage of this type.

Description

TWO-PIECE BALL BEARING CAGE WITH MULTIPLE STOP SHELLS FORMING TONGUE, WHICH ARE ORIGINATED FROM TWO RINGER-BODY BODIES, AND ARE MADE FOR LUBRICANTS, AND A BALL BEARING WITH SUCH A BEARING CAGE

Description Field of the Invention The invention relates to a two-part bearing cage for a ball bearing, comprising a first and a second annular body having at their facing end faces a plurality of holding shells, wherein the two annular bodies are formed identical to each other and so in front of each other can be mounted so that the holding plates Ta- see for receiving and guiding of rolling elements, wherein the number of pockets corresponds to the number of rolling elements.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a ball bearing, comprising such a two-part bearing cage.

Background of the invention

The publication DE 35 10 467 A1 discloses a ball bearing cage for radial ball bearings, consisting of a ring body of resilient material, wel- rather pockets for receiving balls in the snap fit and guide pin for guiding the balls in the pockets, when the ring body from the side in the bearing is used. A retaining ring can be placed on the guide pins to maintain equal viewing distances between the guide pins and to limit deformation of the ring body. As a result, the annular body can not be ejected under the influence of contact forces occurring between the balls and the cage during operation of the bearing. From the document DE 10 2010 007 789 A1 is a plastic cage for a rolling bearing with pockets for receiving rolling elements, which is divided in the axial direction into two identical cage parts and is plugged together over a plurality of snap connections, shows. The snap connection is formed by a latching latch and a latching groove, at least one detent pawl and one latching groove being provided on each cage part, which can be latched into an annular groove or latching pawl of the other cage part. The snap connection is effective in the radial direction. Furthermore, document GB 2 049 070 A discloses two identical cages which are mounted opposite each other and have retaining claws for the rolling bodies. However, the cages are angularly offset so that the respective jaws of the cage do not come into contact. Each cage thus holds only half of the rolling elements of the bearing.

In addition, the subject of the invention closest to the publication DE 699 25 976 T2 discloses a cage for a ball bearing, which has an annular body which is provided with receptacles in the form of a hemispherical dome. The recordings are open on one side of the ring-shaped body and pick up the balls. The other side of the annular body has a wall which forms a deflector. The number of shots is equal to the number of bearing balls. The receptacles are extended by at least one retaining claw of the balls and have recesses which allow the use of the cage in conjunction with a second, identical cage which is mounted opposite. Each end of the hemispherical dome forming the receptacle has at least one claw. The jaws of a same receptacle are offset radially from each other in relation to the axis of the cage, the receptacles having a recess for each jaw. The recesses are located at the same radial height as the claw at the other end of the receptacle.

A disadvantage of the previously cited documents is that after the assembly of the two cage halves by the compact design bearing ring only one limited or non-existent space for lubricant in the warehouse. This significantly affects the lubricating properties and reduces the life of the bearing. Object of the invention

Based on the stated disadvantages of the known prior art, the invention is therefore based on the object, a two-piece bearing cage with optimized lubricating properties and a ball bearing, comprising such a bearing cage to provide to increase the life of the ball bearing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The object is achieved on the basis of a two-part bearing cage according to the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with its characterizing features. Advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the following dependent claims. According to the individual pockets are circumferentially spaced from each other, so that forms a space between two pockets for receiving lubricant, wherein two holding shells together with a pocket bottom form a single pocket. The holding shells have a wälzkörperumschlingenden undercut, so that the two annular body are held together by a positive connection when mounted to a bearing cage. The wälzkörperumschlingende undercut realized a snapping of the holding shells to the rolling elements, so that the bearing cage is mounted in a simple manner to a roller bearing. Furthermore, the axial support of the two annular bodies takes place via the holding shells. An inner contour of the pockets is adapted to the rolling elements, so that the retaining claws on the inner contour have a concave shape. Preferably, the holding shells are arranged symmetrically over the peripheral surface of the mutually facing end faces of the two annular body. The symmetrical arrangement achieves consistently good lubrication properties over the entire circumference. Furthermore, the production and assembly of the annular body is also improved.

The invention includes the technical teaching that the holding shells of the annular body over the entire circumferential surface have the same orientation. This is also an important feature that contributes to ease of manufacture and assembly

It is further proposed that the two annular bodies each have a disk-shaped ring at their end faces facing away from each other. The disk-shaped ring is advantageously formed directly on the ring-shaped body, so that a subsequent attachment by welding or gluing is eliminated.

Preferably, the two disc-shaped rings have a radially inwardly on an inner circumference and a lip formed radially outwardly on an outer circumference. The radially inwardly facing lip arranged on the inner circumference forms a sealing labyrinth together with the inner ring of the ball bearing, whereas the radially outwardly pointing lip arranged on the outer circumference forms a sealing labyrinth together with the outer ring of the ball bearing. This not only ensures protection of the ball bearing against contamination of the environment, but also kept the lubricant within the bearing cage and thus on the running surfaces of the rolling elements.

It is further preferred that the two annular bodies are formed from a polymer material. Preferably, the polymer material is thermoplastic, in particular polyamide. Advantageously, the polyamide has a reinforcement by glass fibers. The use of the polymer material is particularly advantageous with respect to the manufacture of the annular body. The preparation is preferably carried out by injection molding. The preparation is preferably carried out by injection molding. Furthermore, retaining shells made of a polymer material have a higher elasticity and better friction values than metallic retaining shells.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of a respective web is formed on a rear side of the respective holding shell, which has a smaller width and length than the holding shells. In the case of an end-side merging of the two annular bodies for forming the bearing cage, two webs preferably come to rest in the circumferential direction at the rear. The back concerns of the webs prevents rotation of the annular body relative to each other, so that jamming of the rolling elements can be excluded. Since the webs have small dimensions compared to the dimensions of the free space, sufficient space for lubricant absorption is ensured. Brief description of the drawings

Further, measures improving the invention will be described in more detail below together with the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show:

Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of an inventive

Ball bearing comprising a two-part bearing cage, Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the two annular

Kör-per the two-part bearing cage according to the invention of Figure 1, a perspective view of the two-part bearing cage according to the invention of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the two-part bearing cage according to the invention according to a preferred embodiment. Detailed description of the drawings

1 shows a ball bearing, comprising an outer ring 9, an inner ring 10 and a plurality of between outer ring 9 and inner ring 10 rolling rolling elements 4. The rolling elements 4 are circumferentially formed by a polymer material from a bearing cage, comprising a first and a second annular body 1 a and 1 b arranged spaced from each other. The two annular bodies 1 a and 1 b each have a disc-shaped ring 6 a and 6 b on their end faces facing away from each other. The two disk-shaped rings 6a and 6b each have a radially inwardly on an inner circumference and in each case one lip 7a and 7b formed radially outwardly on an outer circumference. The arranged on the inner circumference radially inwardly facing lips 7a form together with the inner ring 10 of the ball bearing a sealing labyrinth, whereas the arranged on the outer circumference radially outwardly facing lips 7b together with the outer ring 9 of the ball bearing forming a sealing labyrinth.

According to FIG. 2, the first annular body 1 a, which is identical to the second annular body 1 b, has a multiplicity of holding shells 2 on an end face directed inwards towards the rolling bodies 4. Overall, seven holding shells 2 are formed on the directed to the rolling elements 4 face. The holding shells 2 have a wälzkörperumschlingenden undercut.

Figure 3 shows the two annular body 1 a and 1 b in the mounted state. The thus formed bearing cage has between two pockets 3 on a space 5 for receiving lubricant. The axial support of the two annular bodies 1 a and 1 b via a concern of the holding shells 2 to the respective opposite end face of the respective annular body 1 a, 1 b.

The embodiment shown in Figure 4 offers the advantage that the annular body 1 a and 1 b are not rotatable relative to each other. At a rear side of the respective holding shell 2, a web 8 is formed in each case, which has a smaller width and length than the holding shell 2. In an end-side merging of the two annular body 1 a and 1 b for forming the bearing cage come two webs 8 in the circumferential direction at the back to the plant. As a result, jamming of the rolling elements 4 is reliably prevented.

In addition, it should be understood that "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps and "a" or "an" does not exclude a multitude. "Further, it should be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments also can be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above, and reference signs in the claims are not intended to be limiting.

List of reference annular body

Halteschale

bag

rolling elements

free space

disc-shaped ring

lip

web

outer ring

inner ring

Claims

claims

1 . A two-part bearing cage for a ball bearing, comprising a first and a second annular body (1 a, 1 b) having a plurality of holding shells (2) at their end faces facing each other, the two annular bodies (1 a, 1 b) are formed identically to one another and are mountable relative to one another such that the holding shells (2) form pockets (3) for receiving and guiding rolling elements (4), the number of pockets (3) being the number of rolling elements ( 4), characterized in that the individual pockets (3) are spaced apart in the circumferential direction, so that between two pockets (3) forms a free space (5) for receiving lubricant, wherein two holding shells (2) together with a pocket bottom form a single bag (3).

2. bearing cage according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding shells (2) are arranged symmetrically over the peripheral surface of the mutually facing end faces of the two annular body (1 a, 1 b).

3. bearing cage according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding shells (2) of the annular body (1 a, 1 b) over the entire peripheral surface have the same orientation.

4. bearing cage according to claim 1, characterized in that the two annular body (1 a, 1 b) at their end faces facing away from each other each having a disc-shaped ring (6 a, 6 b).

5. bearing cage according to claim 4, characterized in that the two disc-shaped rings (6a, 6b) have an inner circumference radially inwardly NEN and on an outer circumference radially outwardly formed lip (7a, 7b).

6. bearing cage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two annular body (1 a, 1 b) are formed of a polymer material.

7. bearing cage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on a rear side of the respective holding shell (2) each have a web (8) is formed, which has a smaller width and length than the holding shell (2).

8. bearing cage according to claim 7, characterized in that in an end-side merging of the two annular body (1 a, 1 b) for forming the bearing cage in each case two webs (8) come in the circumferential direction at the back to rest.

9. ball bearing comprising an outer ring (9), an inner ring (10) and a plurality of between outer ring (9) and inner ring (10) rolling rolling elements (4) in the circumferential direction by a bearing cage according to one of claims 1-8 evenly to each other spaced apart.