Cage for a rolling-element bearing

Abstract

A rolling-element bearing cage includes a plurality of pockets each configured to receive a rolling element, and retaining elements associated with each of the plurality of pockets, each of the retaining elements being configured to secure the rolling elements against falling out of the pockets in a radially inward direction while permitting the rolling elements to be inserted into the pockets in a radially outward direction.

Claims

1. A rolling-element bearing cage comprising: a plurality of pockets each configured to receive a rolling element, and retaining means associated with each of the plurality of pockets for securing the rolling elements against falling out of the pockets in a radially inward direction while permitting the rolling elements to be inserted into the pockets in a radially outward direction, wherein the plurality of pockets are configured such that the plurality of rolling elements cannot pass radially outward out of the pockets or radially inward into the pockets, wherein the bearing cage comprises a first side ring and a second side ring axially spaced from the first side ring and a plurality of bridges connecting the first side ring to the second side ring, the pockets being defined by the first and second side rings and adjacent pairs of the plurality of bridges, wherein the retaining means comprises a first lug extending axially into each of the pockets from the first side ring, and wherein the second side ring has a plurality of portions located radially inward of the bridges and wherein the retaining means further comprises a plurality of second lugs extending axially from the plurality of portions.

2. The bearing cage according to claim 1, wherein a circumferential width of the pockets narrows in a radially outward direction.

3. The bearing cage according to claim 2, wherein the circumferential width of the pockets is narrowed by beveled walls radially outward of the second lugs.

4. An assembly comprising: the bearing cage according to claim 3, and the plurality of rolling elements in the pockets, wherein a diameter of the rolling elements is greater than a circumferential distance between the beveled walls.

5. An assembly comprising: the bearing cage according to claim 1; and the plurality of rolling elements in the pockets.

6. A tapered rolling-element bearing including the assembly according to claim 5.

7. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein each of the first lugs engages an opening in an axial end of one of the plurality of rolling elements, and wherein a pair of the second lugs contact a rolling surface of one of the plurality of rolling elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part of a cage according to an embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the part illustrated in FIG. 1 along an axial direction.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pocket of the cage with a rolling element mounted in the pocket.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another cage that includes a pocket, which pocket contains a rolling element.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part of the cage according to FIG. 4 along an axial direction.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another cage that includes a pocket, which pocket contains a rolling element.

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a part of the cage according to FIG. 6 along an axial direction.

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another cage that includes a pocket, which pocket contains a rolling element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a part of a cage 10 according to the disclosure, which is formed as a tapered roller bearing cage. A pocket 12 is configured to receive a rolling element 11, i.e., a tapered roller. The pocket 12 is delimited in the circumferential direction by bridges 16, 17. Inward in the radial direction, the bridge 17 includes a plate-shaped extension 18. The extension 18 forms a retaining element 14 (FIGS. 1 to 3). Inward in the radial direction, the bridge 16 includes a plate-shaped extension 20. The extension 20 forms a retaining element 15. The retaining elements 14, 15 secure a rolling element 11, inserted into the pocket 12, from falling radially inward out of the pocket, wherein in this regard the retaining elements form an interference-fit attaching of the rolling element (FIGS. 1 to 3). In other words, the extensions are formed by extensions of the bridges.

(10) During a filling of the pocket 12 by the rolling element 11, the rolling element 11 is simultaneously pressed from radially inward by its rolling surface against the retaining elements 14, 15 until they elastically deflect in the circumferential direction, so that the rolling element moves into the pocket 12 and the retaining elements 14, 15 subsequently move back into their initial position. The rolling element 11 is also protected from falling radially outward from the pocket 12 by a bevel surface 52 of the bridge 16, which starting from the extension 20, extends obliquely radially outward and toward a center of the pocket 12. A bridge of the cage, which bridge delimits the pocket 12 on a side opposite the bridge 16, includes a bevel surface 50 that is configured mirror-inverted with respect to the bevel surface 52.

(11) If in addition to the rolling element 11 the further rolling elements are inserted into the cage, the cage together with all rolling elements forms a unit that can be transported without the rolling elements falling out and getting lost. The rolling elements are thus captively retained in the pockets. The unit is transported to an assembly line where it is assembled with an inner ring and an outer ring into a rolling-element bearing. The rolling-element bearing is a tapered roller bearing. The cage can be formed from a plastic.

(12) Alternative exemplary embodiments are depicted in FIGS. 4 to 8. Essentially identical components, features, and functions are generally numbered with the same reference numbers. However, to differentiate the exemplary embodiments the letters “a,” “b,” etc. are added to the reference numbers of the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 4-8. The following description is essentially limited to the differences relative to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, wherein with respect to components, features, and functions remaining the same, reference can be made to the description of the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3.

(13) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a further cage 10a including a pocket 12a according to the present disclosure, which pocket 12a contains a rolling element 11a. The cage includes a retaining lug 28a that is directly adjacent to an edge 30a (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the pocket 12a, and starting therefrom extends into the pocket 12a. In a plan view of the pocket from radially outward the pocket has the shape of a rectangle 34a. Starting from a short side 32a of this rectangle, as already mentioned, the retaining lug 28a extends into the pocket, and, specifically, extends essentially parallel to a long side 36a of the pocket. Furthermore, the cage includes an annular part 38a, starting from which two lugs 42a, 44a extend in axial direction 40a toward an axial end of the cage that opposes the annular part 38a. If the rolling elements 11a and the further rolling elements are inserted into the pocket 12a and the further pockets of the cage, then the cage together with the rolling elements forms a unit in which the rolling elements 11a are captively disposed. If a radially outer side of the pocket 12a is oriented upward, then a rolling surface 48 of the rolling element 11a abuts against the lugs 42a, 44a, and the retaining lug 28 engages in an end-side recess of the rolling element 11a and abuts against the edge of the recess, so that the lugs 42a, 44a and the retaining lug 28a protect the rolling element 11a in an interference-fit manner from falling out from the pocket 12a. The elements and the retaining lug thus also attach the rolling element 11a in the pocket 12a in an interference-fit manner. With respect to a radial direction outward the rolling element 11a is held in the pocket 12a in an interference-fit manner by the bridge shape.

(14) FIGS. 6 and 7 show a further inventive exemplary embodiment of a cage. A pocket 12b of the cage is delimited, inter alia, by retaining elements 14b, 15b. The retaining element 14b includes a retaining lug 24b that extends in the circumferential direction to the retaining element 15b. Furthermore, the retaining lug 24b is disposed on a surface that is facing the retaining element 15b. In addition, the retaining lug 24b is disposed on a radially innermost-lying region of this surface. The retaining element 15b also includes a retaining lug 26b on its radially inner end, which retaining lug 26b extends in the circumferential direction toward the retaining element 14b. During installing of a rolling element 11b into the pocket 12b, the rolling element 11b is pressed against the retaining elements, and in particular the retaining lugs, until the retaining lugs deflect somewhat in the circumferential direction and the rolling element slides into the pocket. Thereafter the retaining elements move back into their initial position, whereby the rolling element in the pocket 12b is protected from falling out radially inward by the retaining lugs. In other words, the retaining lugs extend into the pocket 12b. The retaining lug 24b is disposed on a first extension 18b of a bridge of the cage. The retaining lug 26b is disposed on a further extension 20b of a further bridge of the cage. Both extensions extend radially inward from the respective bridge.

(15) FIG. 8 shows a further inventive exemplary embodiment of a cage, wherein a roller 11c is inserted into a pocket 12c of the cage. A retaining element 14c and a retaining element 15c secure the roller 11c in an interference-fit manner from a falling-out radially inward from the pocket. The two retaining elements are constructed identically. Each of the two retaining elements includes a groove in its radially inner side, which groove extends essentially in the axial direction. A comparatively easy inserting of the rollers in the cage can thereby occur, since a yielding of the retaining elements in the circumferential direction is facilitated during the inserting of the rollers from radially inward.

(16) Representative, non-limiting examples of the present invention were described above in detail with reference to the attached drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, each of the additional features and teachings disclosed above may be utilized separately or in conjunction with other features and teachings to provide improved bearing element cages.

(17) Moreover, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the above detailed description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe representative examples of the invention. Furthermore, various features of the above-described representative examples, as well as the various independent and dependent claims below, may be combined in ways that are not specifically and explicitly enumerated in order to provide additional useful embodiments of the present teachings.

(18) All features disclosed in the description and/or the claims are intended to be disclosed separately and independently from each other for the purpose of original written disclosure, as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed subject matter, independent of the compositions of the features in the embodiments and/or the claims. In addition, all value ranges or indications of groups of entities are intended to disclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity for the purpose of original written disclosure, as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed subject matter.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

(19) 10 Cage

(20) 11 Rolling element

(21) 12 Pocket

(22) 14 Retaining element

(23) 15 Retaining element

(24) 16 Bridge

(25) 17 Bridge

(26) 18 Extension

(27) 20 Extension

(28) 22 Circumferential direction

(29) 24 Retaining lug

(30) 26 Retaining lug

(31) 28 Retaining lug

(32) 30 Edge

(33) 32 Side

(34) 34 Rectangle

(35) 36 Side

(36) 38 Part

(37) 40 Axial direction

(38) 42 Lug

(39) 44 Lug

(40) 46 End side

(41) 48 Rolling surface

(42) 50 Bevel surface

(43) 52 Bevel surface

(44) 54 Recess