INSTALLATION DEVICE AND INSTALLATION METHOD

Abstract

An installation device for installing rollers in a shaft-hub connection includes a base ring having radially inwardly opening recesses configured to receive axial end portions of the rollers. The recesses extend axially and are distributed circumferentially, and the base ring including the received rollers is configured to be pushed onto a shaft. Also an installation method of installing the installation unit and rollers between a shaft and a hub.

Claims

1. An installation device for installing rollers in a shaft-hub connection, comprising: a base ring having radially inwardly opening recesses configured to receive axial end portions of the rollers, wherein the recesses extend axially and are distributed circumferentially, and wherein the base ring including the received rollers is configured to be pushed onto a shaft.

2. The installation device according to claim 1, wherein the recesses each include a curved side wall configured to engage a portion of a curved side wall of the rollers and an axially facing bottom wall configured to support an axial end surface of the rollers

3. The installation device according to claim 2, wherein the installation device includes retaining bridges projecting axially from the base ring, the bridges being configured to stabilize the rollers during installation, and wherein the retaining bridges extend from the base ring at locations circumferentially between the recesses.

4. The installation device according to claim 3, wherein the retaining bridges are spaced to allow lubricant to flow between the bridges in an installed state.

5. The installation device according to claim 3, wherein the bridges are supported only at one end.

6. The installation device according to claim 3, wherein the installation device is formed from an electrically insulative material.

7. The installation device according to claim 3, including radially outer radial notches in the base ring configured to be engaged by an installation tool.

8. An assembly comprising: at least one of the installation device according to claim 3; the rollers mounted in the installation device with first axial end portions of the rollers received in the recesses and the bridges in contact with curved side surfaces of the rollers; and a shaft extending through the base ring.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein the shaft includes a flange in contact with a first axial surface of the base ring.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, further including a hub, wherein the shaft and the rollers extend into the hub, and wherein a second axial surface of the base ring includes a chamfer in contact with the hub.

11. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein the at least one installation device comprise a plurality of installation devices, wherein a side surface of the base ring includes depressions opposite the recesses, and wherein second axial end portions of the rollers of a first one of the installation devices are received in the depressions of a second one of the installation devices.

12. A method of installing rollers in a shaft-hub connection comprising: providing an installation device according to claim 1, disposing axial end portions of the rollers in the recesses, pushing the installation device and rollers onto a shaft, and pushing the shaft into a hub such that the hub engages the base ring and axially separates the base ring from the rollers.

13. The method according to claim 12, including clamping the base ring between the hub and a flange of the shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of an installation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the installation device of FIG. 1 from below.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the installation device of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the installation device of FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the installation device of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a perspective view from below of a shaft-hub connection including the installation device of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective view from above of the shaft-hub connection of FIG. 6.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the shaft-hub connection of FIG. 6.

[0031] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of installation devices stacked for transport.

[0032] FIG. 10 is a further sectional view of installation devices stacked for transport.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In the following, identical or functionally equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numbers.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows an installation device 1 that serves to retain rollers in a hub-shaft connection during transport and installation, in order to thus simplify the installation into the shaft-hub connection. For this purpose the installation device 1 includes a base ring 2. This base ring 2 includes recesses 4 that are open radially inward in order to receive the rollers. Here the rollers can be retained on their axial end side by stop elements 5 that can be a part of the base ring 2.

[0035] In addition, retaining bridges 6 are provided that extend axially. The rollers are supported in their axial extension during transport and installation by the retaining bridges 6 that are respectively disposed on both sides of each recess 4. The retaining bridges 6 each include openings 8 that allow lubricant to flow through the shaft-hub connection after the installation in the shaft-hub connection.

[0036] In order to make possible an automated transport and an automated installation, the installation device 1 can include notches 10. A tool can engage in these notches 10 in order to make possible an automated handling of the installation device 1 including the rollers received therein.

[0037] As is shown in FIG. 2, the stop elements 5 can form depressions 12 on their rear side, into which depressions 12 adjacent rollers can engage during transport. This makes possible an aligned stacking of multiple installation devices including the rollers received therein. This is described in more detail in connection with FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0038] As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the recesses 4 have a shape complementary to the rollers. Due to this complementary shape, the recesses 4 can enclose the rollers on the outer surfaces of the rollers.

[0039] The recesses 4 and retaining bridges 6 can preferably be uniformly distributed circumferentially, as is shown, for example, in FIGS. 3 and 4. Due to this uniform circumferential distribution of the recesses 4 and of the retaining bridges 6, the rollers can also be uniformly distributed circumferentially both during transport and during installation. In this way it can be ensured that the rollers do not abut against one another during transport and installation, which could lead to damage.

[0040] If the installation device 1 is installed in a shaft-hub connection, a side surface 16 that is disposed opposite to the retaining bridges 6 and the recesses 4 can serve as a stop surface for a stop element of the shaft-hub connection. In addition, the installation device 1 can include a chamfer 14 on the opposite side, which chamfer can be adapted to a shape of the hub. As will be described below, an optimal seating of the installation device 1 between the shaft and the hub can be ensured by this chamfer 14.

[0041] As is shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the installation device 1 including the rollers 18 received therein can first be pushed onto a shaft 20, for example, a hollow shaft of an electric motor. A hub 22, for example, an input shaft of the electric motor, is subsequently pushed onto the installation device 1, or onto the shaft 20. Due to this process, the hub 22 pushes the installation device 1 toward the stop element 24 of the shaft 20. During this, the installation device 1 is pushed down from the rolling elements 18, which are then disposed, without installation device 1, between the shaft 20 and the hub 22. The installation device 1 is clamped between the shaft 20 and the hub 22, wherein the side surface 16 of the installation device 1 abuts against the shaft 20 on the stop element 24. After the installation, the installation device 1 can serve as a spacer between the shaft 20 and the hub 22. When the installation device 1 is manufactured from plastic or another insulating material, an insulation can additionally occur in the axial direction between the shaft 20 and the hub 22.

[0042] In the final position, the installation device 1 is completely pushed down from the rollers 18. Since the installation device 1 remains in the shaft-hub connection and is not removed again, it must be ensured that the installation device 1 does not negatively impact the function of the shaft-hub connection, and, for example, prevent a flow of lubricant. As is described above, the installation device 1 therefore includes openings 8. These serve to make possible a through-flow of lubricant also in the final installation position.

[0043] As is already mentioned above, a plurality of installation devices 1 can be stacked in order to make possible a simple transport. This is depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10. For example, the installation devices 1 can be pushed onto a sleeve 26, for example, a cardboard sleeve. Here the rollers 18 of an installation device 1 can engage into the depressions 12 of the adjacent installation device 1 in order to allow an aligned stacking between the installation devices 1. This serves for a secure transport, wherein damage to the rollers 18 can be prevented, since rollers 18 of adjacent installation devices 1 cannot abut against one another.

[0044] If the installation devices 1 include notches 10 as are described above, an automated removal of the installation devices 1 from the sleeve 26 can be effected by a tool. An automated placement of the installation devices 1 and installing of rollers 18 in a shaft-hub connection is thereby possible.

[0045] Due to the above-described installation device it is thus possible to securely transport and install rollers in a shaft-hub connection. At the same time the installation of the rollers in the shaft-hub connection is simplified, since the installation device can remain in shaft-hub connection after the installation and can act here as a spacer as required.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

[0046] 1 Installation device [0047] 2 Base ring [0048] 3 Recesses [0049] 4 Stop element [0050] 5 Retaining bridges [0051] 8 Openings [0052] 10 Notches [0053] 12 Depressions [0054] 14 Chamfer [0055] 16 Side surface [0056] 18 Rollers [0057] 20 Shaft [0058] 22 Hub [0059] 24 Stop element [0060] 26 Sleeve