BEARING, OUTER SLEEVE, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A BEARING

Abstract

A bearing (1) is provided, comprising an inner sleeve (6), an outer sleeve (2), and an elastomer body (24), which resiliently interconnects the inner sleeve (6) and the outer sleeve (2), wherein the outer sleeve (2) comprises a circumferential portion (8) and at least one deformation portion (10) that is recessed radially inwards from the circumferential portion (8), and wherein the deformation portion (10) comprises a support-surface portion (12) arranged so as to be offset radially inwards relative to the circumferential portion (8) of the outer sleeve (2), wherein the support-surface portion (12) extends substantially perpendicularly to the radial direction (Ra). A method for producing a bearing is also provided.

Claims

1. A bearing, comprising: an inner sleeve; an outer sleeve, and an elastomer body, which resiliently interconnects the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve, wherein the outer sleeve comprises a circumferential portion and at least one deformation portion that is recessed radially inwards from the circumferential portion, and wherein the deformation portion comprises a support-surface portion arranged so as to be offset radially inwards relative to the circumferential portion of the outer sleeve, wherein the support-surface portion extends substantially perpendicularly to a radial direction.

2. The bearing according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve is calibrated, and wherein during calibration, the support-surface portion is prevented from being displaced radially inwards by means of a counterholder, which abuts the support-surface portion.

3. The bearing according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve is covered substantially completely by the elastomer body at least on a radial inner face.

4. The bearing according to claim 1, wherein the support-surface portion, when viewed in cross section, extends substantially in a circumferential direction that is offset radially inwards relative to the circumferential portion and/or extends over an angular section of approximately 10° to approximately 45°.

5. The bearing according to claim 1, wherein the deformation portion further comprises: a pair of multiple-curvature portions, which each comprise at least one first curvature portion, an inflection-point portion and a second curvature portion opposite the first curvature portion, wherein the first curvature portion connects the circumferential portion to the inflection-point portion and the second curvature portion connects the inflection-point portion to the support-surface portion.

6. The bearing according to claim 5, wherein the first curvature portion and the second curvature portion are formed to have a greater wall thickness than the inflection-point portion and/or the support-surface portion.

7. The bearing according to claim 5, wherein a distance between the multiple-curvature portions when the outer sleeve has been calibrated is shorter than a distance between the multiple-curvature portions when the outer sleeve has not been calibrated.

8. The bearing according to claim 5, wherein when the outer sleeve has been calibrated, a distance between the multiple-curvature portions that increases again after calibration due to the deformation portion resiliently springing back is prevented by end regions of the multiple-curvature portions that are opposite one another in the circumferential direction being connected by adhesive bonding and/or welding when the outer sleeve has been calibrated.

9. The bearing according to claim 1, further comprising: an intermediate sleeve, which is designed as a damping mass, wherein the elastomer body comprises: at least one pair of outer suspension springs, which resiliently interconnects the intermediate sleeve and the outer sleeve, and at least one pair of inner suspension springs, which resiliently interconnects the intermediate sleeve and the inner sleeve, wherein the at least one pair of outer suspension springs and the at least one pair of inner suspension springs are arranged in a row in the radial direction.

10. The bearing according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate sleeve is formed in multiple parts and so as to be interrupted in the circumferential direction.

11. The bearing according to claim 10, wherein the multiple-part intermediate sleeve is calibrated and wherein an extent of calibration of the multiple-part intermediate sleeve is controllable by means of a width of a gap, measured in the circumferential direction, between intermediate sleeve parts.

12. The bearing according to claim 9, wherein the inner sleeve comprises at least one inner-sleeve stop, which projects radially outwards and limits a relative radial displacement of the inner sleeve and/or the intermediate sleeve, and wherein the deformation portion and the inner-sleeve stop are arranged in a row in the radial direction.

13. An outer sleeve for a bearing, in particular for the bearing according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve comprises a circumferential portion and at least one deformation portion that is recessed radially inwards from the circumferential portion, and wherein the deformation portion comprises a support-surface portion arranged so as to be offset radially inwards relative to the circumferential portion of the outer sleeve, wherein the support-surface portion extends substantially perpendicularly to the radial direction.

14. The outer sleeve according to claim 13, wherein the deformation portion comprises two multiple-curvature portions, which are formed to be opposite one another in the circumferential direction and have a distance from one another in the circumferential direction.

15. A method for producing a bearing, comprising: providing an inner sleeve; providing an outer sleeve, wherein the outer sleeve comprises a circumferential portion and at least one deformation portion that is recessed radially inwards from the circumferential portion, wherein the deformation portion comprises a support-surface portion arranged so as to be offset radially inwards relative to the circumferential portion of the outer sleeve, and wherein the support-surface portion extends substantially perpendicularly to a radial direction; providing an elastomer body, which resiliently interconnects the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve, inserting a counterholder between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve such that the counterholder abuts the support-surface portion, and calibrating the outer sleeve, wherein, by means of the counterholder, the support-surface portion is prevented from being displaced radially inwards.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0098] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a bearing according to the disclosure in the uncalibrated state.

[0099] FIG. 2 shows the bearing according to FIG. 1 in the calibrated state.

[0100] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bearing according to FIG. 1.

[0101] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bearing according to FIG. 2.

[0102] FIG. 5 is a cross section of the bearing according to FIG. 1 comprising a multiple-part intermediate sleeve.

[0103] FIG. 6 is a cross section of the bearing according to FIG. 2 comprising a multiple-part intermediate sleeve.

[0104] FIG. 7 is a plan view of an outer sleeve of the bearing according to FIG. 1.

[0105] FIG. 8 is a plan view of an outer sleeve of the bearing according to FIG. 2.

[0106] FIG. 9 is a plan view of an outer sleeve of the bearing according to FIG. 2 with a distance between the deformation portions approximately equal to zero.

[0107] FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail of a deformation portion of the outer sleeve according to FIG. 7.

[0108] FIG. 11 is an enlarged detail of a deformation portion of the outer sleeve according to FIG. 8.

[0109] FIG. 12 is a three-dimensional view of the outer sleeve according to FIG. 7 with a counterholder abutting its support-surface portions.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0110] An axial direction Ax, a circumferential direction Um, a tangential direction Ta and two exemplary radial directions Ta are shown in the drawings by means of directional arrows, in the manner of a coordinate system. Although the directional arrows only point in one direction, the indication of the direction also includes the opposite direction in each case. By way of example, two radial directions Ra are indicated in order to give an impression of the many possible radial directions Ra.

[0111] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, embodiments of a bearing 1 are described in the following.

[0112] The bearing 1 may comprise an outer sleeve 2, an intermediate sleeve 4 and an inner sleeve 6. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the respective extensions of the outer sleeve 2 and the inner sleeve 6 in the axial direction Ax are substantially the same, whereas the extension of the intermediate sleeve 4 in the axial direction Ax may be shorter in order to allow the intermediate sleeve 4 to oscillate without any disruption. In the embodiment of the bearing 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the inner sleeve 6, the outer sleeve 2 and/or the intermediate sleeve 4 may be formed as closed sleeves that are circumferential in cross section. Alternatively, in the embodiment of the bearing 1 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the intermediate sleeve 4 may be formed in multiple parts and so as to be interrupted in the circumferential direction Um. A gap 9 which separates the intermediate sleeve parts 7 from one another may be arranged between each set of two intermediate sleeve parts 7 of the intermediate sleeve 4 in the circumferential direction.

[0113] As also shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the outer sleeve 2 may comprise four circumferential portions 8, which can be connected by means of four deformation portions 10. In this case, the circumferential portions 8 and the deformation portions 10 may each be opposite one another in pairs and may be arranged so as to be distributed evenly in the circumferential direction Um such that an angle between the midpoints of the respective adjacent circumferential portions 8 and the respective deformation portions 10 may be approximately 90° when viewed in the axial direction Ax. The outer sleeve 2 may be formed in one piece, as shown.

[0114] The deformation portion 10 comprises a support-surface portion 12 arranged so as to be offset radially inwards relative to the circumferential portion 8 of the outer sleeve 2, wherein the support-surface portion 12 extends substantially perpendicularly to the radial direction Ra. An axial extension of the deformation portion 10 may substantially correspond to an axial extension of the outer sleeve 2.

[0115] The support-surface portion 12 may function as a stop, wherein the support-surface portion 12, when the bearing 1 is not loaded, may have a predetermined radial distance 16 radially inwards from the midpoint 18 of the outer sleeve, and thus a predetermined space from the radially inwardly adjacent intermediate sleeve 4.

[0116] According to the embodiments of the bearing 1, when viewed in cross section, the deformation portion 10 may be formed as a recess in the outer sleeve 2 that is open radially outwards, wherein the deformation portion 10 may comprise two multiple-curvature portions 14, which can be formed to be opposite one another in the circumferential direction Um and have a distance 20, 22 from one another in the circumferential direction Um.

[0117] As shown in the embodiments of the bearing 1, the support-surface portion 12 may extend in a planar manner in the axial direction Ax and in the circumferential direction Um or tangential direction Ta. According to the axial extension of the deformation portion 10, an axial extension of the support-surface portion 12 may also substantially correspond to the axial extension of the outer sleeve 2.

[0118] For the bearing 1 shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6 in the calibrated state, the distance 20 between the multiple-curvature portions 14 is significantly shorter than the distance 22 for the bearing 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 in the uncalibrated state, wherein the multiple-curvature portions 14 formed to be opposite one another in the circumferential direction Um or each portion of the elastomer body 24 attached to the multiple-curvature portions 14 can also abut one another after the calibration, as shown in FIG. 6, in which the distance 20 between the deformation portions 10, at least those having their elastomer coating, is approximately equal to zero.

[0119] During the calibration of the bearing 1, such as the outer sleeve 2, in addition to the plastic deformation, elastic deformation of the outer sleeve 2 may also occur, which can cause the deformation portion 10 to “spring back” at least in part after the calibration, i.e. can cause the distance 20 between the multiple-curvature portions 14 to enlarge when the outer sleeve 2 has been calibrated after the calibration.

[0120] In order to prevent the deformation portion 10 from “springing back”, i.e. to also maintain the distance 20 between the deformation portions 10, which, as shown in FIG. 6, is approximately equal to zero, for example, after the calibration, various measures can be taken depending on the material of the outer sleeve 2:

[0121] The deformation portion 10 “springing back” may be prevented in an outer sleeve 2 made of at least partially resilient material, such as metal, by what is known as “overcompression”. In this case, during the calibration, the outer sleeve 2 is compressed by an “excessive” amount, for example, by which the distance 20 “springs back” again after the calibration.

[0122] Alternatively or additionally, the distance 20 when the outer sleeve 2 has been calibrated can be prevented from “springing back” by means of adhesively bonding and/or welding the end regions 62 of the multiple-curvature portions 14 which are opposite one another in the circumferential direction Um. For example, before the calibration a temperature-activated adhesive may be applied to the end regions 62, which is activated during or after the calibration. Alternatively or additionally, the end regions 62 may be welded to one another, for example by means of ultrasonic welding with an outer sleeve 2 made of plastics material.

[0123] Furthermore, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the effects of the calibration on the multiple-part intermediate sleeve 4 and the gaps 9 between their intermediate sleeve parts 7 and the differences between the uncalibrated multiple-part intermediate sleeve 4 and their gaps 9 and the calibrated multiple-part intermediate sleeve 4 and their gaps 9 are described in the following.

[0124] During the calibration, the multiple-part intermediate sleeve 4 can also be radially compressed and the inner suspension spring 28 can thus also be preloaded. In this case, the extent of the radial compression of the multiple-part intermediate sleeve 4 can be controlled by means of a width 58 of the gap 9, measured in the circumferential direction Um, between the intermediate sleeve parts 7.

[0125] The width 25 of the gap 9 when the intermediate sleeve 4 has been calibrated is smaller than the width 25 of the gap 9 when the intermediate sleeve 4 has not been calibrated.

[0126] As also shown, an extension of the support-surface portion 12 in the circumferential direction Um and/or in the tangential direction Ta before and after the calibration of the bearing 1 may be greater than the distance 20, 22 in the circumferential direction Um between the deformation portions 10, such as the first curvature portions 44 thereof described below.

[0127] According to the embodiments of the bearing 1, the outer sleeve 2 and the intermediate sleeve 4 may each be covered with an elastomer body 24 on their radial outer face and their radial inner face, wherein the inner sleeve 6 may be covered with an elastomer body 24 on its radial outer face and may be free of the elastomer body 24 on its radial inner face.

[0128] By means of the elastomer body 24, the outer sleeve 2 and the intermediate sleeve 4 may be resiliently interconnected, for example by means of suspension-spring portions of the elastomer body 24 formed as outer suspension springs 26. Furthermore, by means of the elastomer body 24, the intermediate sleeve 4 and the inner sleeve 6 may be resiliently interconnected, for example by means of suspension-spring portions of the elastomer body 24 formed as inner suspension springs 28.

[0129] As shown, the elastomer body 24 may comprise two pairs of outer suspension springs 26 and two pairs of inner suspension springs 28. In this case, the outer suspension springs 26 and the inner suspension springs 28 may each be opposite one another in pairs and may be arranged so as to be distributed evenly in the circumferential direction Um such that an angle between the midpoints of the respective adjacent outer suspension springs 26 and the respective inner suspension springs 28 may be approximately 90° when viewed in the axial direction Ax. The pairs of outer suspension springs 26 and the pairs of inner suspension springs 28 may each be arranged in a row in the radial direction Ra.

[0130] According to the embodiments of the bearing 1 shown, the inner sleeve 6 may comprise four inner-sleeve stops 30, which each project radially outwards and limit a relative radial displacement of the inner sleeve 6 and/or the intermediate sleeve 4.

[0131] The inner-sleeve stops 30 and the deformation portions 10, such as their support-surface portions 12, may be arranged opposite one another in pairs and so as to be distributed evenly in the circumferential direction Um. According to the embodiments, the bearing 1 may comprise eight stops 12, 30, i.e. two pairs of inner-sleeve stops 30 and two pairs of support-surface portions 12, wherein one pair of support-surface portions 12 and one pair of inner-sleeve stops 30 can be arranged in a row when viewed in the radial direction Ra. An angle between the midpoints of the respective adjacent stops 12, 30 may be approximately 90° when viewed in the axial direction Ax.

[0132] As shown, free spaces 32 may be formed around the stops 12, 30, for example around the deformation portions 10 and the inner-sleeve stops 30, which are free of the elastomer body.

[0133] With reference to FIGS. 7 to 11, the effects of the calibration on the outer sleeve 2 and its deformation portions 10 and the differences between the uncalibrated outer sleeve 2 and its deformation portions 10 and the calibrated outer sleeve 2 and its deformation portions 10 are described in the following according to the embodiments of the bearing 1.

[0134] The diameter 34 of the calibrated outer sleeve 2 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is smaller than the diameter 36 of the uncalibrated outer sleeve 2 shown in FIG. 7. Furthermore, the diameter 20 of the calibrated outer sleeve 2 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is smaller than the distance 22 of the uncalibrated outer sleeve 2 shown in FIG. 7.

[0135] The radial distance 16 of the support-surface portion 12 functioning as a stop radially inwards towards the midpoint 18 of the calibrated outer sleeve 2 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is the same as the radial distance 16 radially inwards towards the midpoint 18 of the uncalibrated outer sleeve 2 shown in FIG. 7. The radial distance 16 has not been changed by the calibration, for example has not been reduced.

[0136] This may be achieved by means of a counterholder 38, which abuts the support-surface portions 12 during the calibration of the bearing 1, as shown symbolically in FIG. 12, in order to illustrate the position of the counterholder 38 in relation to the outer sleeve 2 and for example in relation to its support-surface portions 12.

[0137] As shown in the embodiment of the counterholder 38, the counterholder 38 may comprise four retaining fingers 40, corresponding to the number of deformation portions 10. A retaining-surface portion 42 may be formed on the retaining fingers 40, wherein an extension of the relevant retaining-surface portion 42 in the circumferential direction Um and/or in the axial direction Ax may correspond at least to the extension of the relevant support-surface portion 12 in the circumferential direction Um and/or in the axial direction Ax. The counterholder 38, such as its retaining finger 40, may preferably be designed to be stable such that the counterholder 38 can withstand a force during the calibration.

[0138] Furthermore, the targeted deformation of the outer sleeve 2 during the calibration can be promoted by the design of the deformation portions 10 described in the following.

[0139] As described above, the deformation portion 10 may comprise multiple-curvature portions 14, wherein the outer sleeve 2 comprises four pairs of multiple-curvature portions 14, as shown in the embodiments of the bearing 1.

[0140] According to the embodiments of the bearing 1, each multiple-curvature portion 14 may comprise a first curvature portion 44, an inflection-point portion 46 and a second curvature portion 48 curved in the opposite direction to the first curvature portion 44, wherein the first curvature portion 44 connects the circumferential portion 8 to the inflection-point portion 46 and the second curvature portion 48 connects the inflection-point portion 46 to the support-surface portion 12. In the inflection-point portion 46, a change of sign of the curvature of the curvature portions 44, 48 takes place, so to speak.

[0141] As shown, the first and/or the second curvature portion 44, 48 may each enclose a curvature angle of approximately 120° when viewed in plan view.

[0142] As also shown, the curvature angle of the first curvature portion 44 may be substantially the same as the curvature angle of the second curvature portion 48, wherein the inflection-point portion 46 may be substantially straight.

[0143] According to the embodiments of the bearing 1 shown, the relevant wall thickness 50 of the first curvature portion 44 and the second curvature portion 48 may be greater than a wall thickness 52 of the inflection-point portion and/or a wall thickness 54 of the support-surface portion.

[0144] As shown, the wall thickness 50 of the relevant curvature portion 44, 48 may become gradually thicker and then thinner, i.e. the relevant curvature portion 44, 48 may progress from a thicker to a thinner wall thickness and vice versa, i.e. the wall thickness 50 of the relevant curvature portion 44, 48 may thus not be stepped.

[0145] According to the embodiments of the bearing 1 shown, in the thickest region the wall thickness 50 of the relevant curvature portion 44, 48 may be approximately twice as thick as a region of the thinnest wall thickness 52 of the inflection-point portion and/or a region of the thinnest wall thickness 54 of the support-surface portion. The elastomer body 24 may be constructed to be thicker in the region of the second curvature portions 48 than in the region of the first curvature portions 44 and/or in the region of the inflection-point portions 46.

[0146] Preventing the distance 20 between the deformation portions 10 from “springing back” and therefore maintaining the distance 20, as shown in FIG. 9, which may be approximately equal to zero, can be achieved using the measures that have already been described above, including “overcompression”, for example in an outer sleeve 2 made of metal, and/or joining the end regions 62 of the multiple-curvature portions 14 that are opposite one another in the circumferential direction by adhesive bonding and/or welding, for example ultrasonic welding in an outer sleeve 2 made of plastics material.

[0147] The distance 20 shown in FIG. 9 is minimally greater than zero. This is due to this being the only view of the outer sleeve 2 without other components of the bearing 1, wherein the distance 20 in the calibrated bearing 1 is generally closed by means of the elastomer coating. This is why the distance 20 in FIG. 9 is referred to as “approximately equal to zero”.