BALL BEARING

Abstract

A ball bearing for the scroll of a scroll compressor, having an outer race, an inner race and a plurality of balls disposed therebetween, characterized in that the balls are held and guided in a ball bearing cage, wherein the ball bearing cage is formed as an externally guided plastic cage with a reinforcing structure made of metal as a hybrid cage.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A ball bearing for the scroll of a scroll compressor, comprising an outer race, an inner race, and a plurality of balls disposed therebetween, wherein the balls are held and guided in a ball bearing cage, wherein the ball bearing cage is formed as an externally guided plastic cage with a reinforcing structure made of metal as a hybrid cage.

15. The ball bearing according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcing structure is disposed inside the plastic cage.

16. The ball bearing according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcing structure is disposed outside the plastic cage and is firmly connected to the ball bearing cage.

17. The ball bearing according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcing structure is an insert in the plastic cage of the ball bearing cage for reinforcing the web area.

18. The ball bearing according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcing structure is formed from circumferentially shaped rings or wires.

19. The ball bearing according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcing structure is formed as a circumferentially shaped ring with an I-profile.

20. The ball bearing according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcing structure is formed as a circumferentially shaped ring with an H-profile.

21. The ball bearing according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcing structure is formed as a circumferentially shaped ring with an X-profile.

22. The ball bearing according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcing structure is formed as a circumferentially shaped ring with an L-profile.

23. The ball bearing according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcing structure is formed as a circumferentially shaped ring with an O-profile.

24. The ball bearing according to claim 14, wherein the ball bearing cage is formed from polyamide-imide.

25. The ball bearing according to claim 14, wherein the ball bearing cage is formed from polyether ether ketone.

26. The ball bearing according to claim 14, wherein the ball bearing cage is formed from phenolic resin with fine-meshed cotton fabric.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] Further details, features, and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0036] FIG. 1: shows a perspective view and cross-section of a ball bearing with a hybrid ball bearing cage and H-profile

[0037] FIG. 2A: shows a detailed cross-section of a ball bearing with double O-profile as a reinforcing structure

[0038] FIG. 2B: shows a reinforcing structure as an X-profile

[0039] FIG. 2C: shows a reinforcing structure as an I-profile.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a sectional and perspective view of a ball bearing. The ball bearing consists of the basic elements of outer race (1) as well as the inner race (2) and balls (3) disposed therebetween. The balls (3) are held in their position by a ball bearing cage (4) and, in addition, a suspension (5) is shown for fixing the components to each other and a reinforcing structure (6) is shown as part of the ball bearing cage (4).

[0041] In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the reinforcing structure (6) has an H-profile. The H-profile has two parallel lateral flanks or legs, which are connected to each other by a central web. The shape of the letter H is shown in the cross-section and positioned accordingly between the outer race (1) and the inner race (2). The one lateral flank is integrated into the plastic matrix of the ball bearing cage (4) and is fully received by the latter, whereas the other lateral flank of the H-profile is configured outside the plastic cage, shown as a wide ring in the illustration according to FIG. 1. Due to material thinning, the ball bearing cage (4) with its component of plastic cage is more susceptible to mechanical strain in the areas in which the ball is positioned. The reinforcing structure (6) stabilizes these areas subject to particular mechanical strain by forming the hybrid ball bearing cage. Thus, higher speeds with correspondingly higher centrifugal forces and, as a result, higher mass flows are possible in the employed scroll compressor without changing the dimensions of the ball bearing or the ball bearing cage (4).

[0042] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, a one-sided ball bearing cage (4) is shown. The upper section through the ball bearing shows an area outside the ball (3). The plastic cage of the ball bearing cage (4) is hatched opposite to the section through the reinforcing structure (6). The area of the suspension (5) of the plastic cage encloses the ball (3) towards the open right side of the ball bearing and holds and guides it accordingly.

[0043] The lower section of the ball bearing shows the cross-section in the web area of the ball bearing cage (4). The ball (3) is shown in full cross-section. In this location, the web area has the lowest material thickness of plastic material. In these areas, the reinforcing structure (6) made of metal leads to a significant improvement in the strength and load capacity values of the ball bearing cage (4) and thus to an improvement of the entire ball bearing.

[0044] FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C each show a portion of a ball bearing with particular focus on the design of the reinforcing structure (6) inside the ball bearing cage (4).

[0045] All embodiments of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C show the basic components of the ball bearing with outer race (1), inner race (2) and balls (3) disposed therebetween. The individual embodiments differ in the way the reinforcing structure (6) is designed.

[0046] FIG. 2A shows two O-profiles which are integrated in the ball bearing cage (4) in an annular manner as solid profiles in the form of wire rings. The O-rings of the reinforcing structure (6) are completely surrounded by the plastic material of the ball bearing cage (4).

[0047] FIG. 2B shows the special design feature of the reinforcing structure (6) inside the ball bearing cage (4) in the form of the X-profile. The X-profile is disposed in the cross-section between the outer race (1) and the inner race (2) and is completely surrounded by the plastic matrix of the plastic cage. This design provides particular torsional stiffness.

[0048] FIG. 2C shows an I-profile as the reinforcing structure (6), which is completely received by the plastic matrix of the plastic ball bearing cage (4). The I-profile shown is also completely surrounded by the plastic matrix of the plastic cage.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0049] 1 Outer race [0050] 2 Inner race [0051] 3 Ball [0052] 4 Ball bearing cage [0053] 5 Suspension [0054] 6 Reinforcing structure