Method for producing a bearing, and bearing

Abstract

A method for producing a bearing, in particular a hydraulic axle support bearing, which comprises the following steps: preassembling an inner part in an outer part with an elastomer body which is arranged in between and is reinforced by a plastic cage which at least partially bears against an inner wall of the outer part. The plastic cage is configured to radially protrude over an upper edge and a lower edge of the out part and, at the lower edge of the outer part, to project over the latter. Simultaneously calibrating the outer part and the plastic cage by constricting the outer part and the plastic cage from a respective first diameter to a respective second diameter which is smaller than the respective first diameter. After the constriction, the plastic cage projects over the upper edge of the outer part for the form-fitting axial securing of the outer part.

Claims

1. A method for producing a bearing, comprising the steps of: preassembling an inner part in an outer part with an elastomer body disposed therebetween, the elastomer body being reinforced by a plastic cage, the plastic cage at least partially bearing against an inner wall of the outer part; wherein the plastic cage is configured to protrude radially over an upper edge and to protrude over and project beyond a lower edge of the outer part; wherein, in an uncalibrated state, the plastic cage projects over the outer part only on the lower edge; and simultaneously calibrating the outer part and the plastic cage by constricting the outer part and the plastic cage from a respective first diameter to a respective second diameter, wherein, after the constriction, the plastic cage projects over the upper edge of the outer part for form-fitting axial securing of the outer part.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein there is clearance during the preassembling step.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the constricting of the outer part from the first diameter to the second diameter comprises constricting by at least 3 mm.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the constricting of the outer part from the first diameter to the second diameter comprises constricting by approximately 4 mm.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein in the preassembling step, the outer part is slid onto the inner part with the elastomer body and the plastic cage from above.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the elastomer body is connected to the plastic cage in a vulcanization step, and wherein the plastic cage is placed into a tool substantially in a form fit manner.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bearing is a hydraulic axle support bearing.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least some areas of the plastic cage directly bear against an inner wall of the outer part.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a contact region of the plastic cage against the inner wall of the outer part is more than 20% of a curved surface area of the inner wall.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the plastic cage has at least one sealing groove arranged on an outer side of the plastic cage, the outer side of the plastic cage being opposite the inner wall of the outer part; and the at least one sealing groove is filled with an elastomer material.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the at least one sealing groove comprises a plurality of sealing grooves.

12. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plastic cage has at least one web region.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one web region comprises a plurality of web regions.

14. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a radial stop made of plastic.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the radial stop is configured as an upper radial stop and arranged on an upper edge of the bearing.

16. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein during the preassembling step, the inner part, the elastomer body and the outer part are assembled loosely.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein with the loose preassembly, clearance of approximately 2 mm is assured and resulting constriction of the plastic cage is approximately 2 mm in diameter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1A-1E show different views of a bearing according to one embodiment;

(2) FIGS. 2A-2D show different views of a bearing according to a further embodiment;

(3) FIGS. 3A-3F show different further views of a plastic cage according to one embodiment; and

(4) FIGS. 4A-4F show different views of a plastic cage according to a further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIGS. 1A to 1E show different views of a bearing 1 configured as a hydraulic axle support bearing according to one embodiment wherein FIG. 1A represents an isometric view of the bearing 1, FIG. 1B a sectional view through the bearing 1, FIG. 1C another sectional view through the bearing rotated 90 about the longitudinal axis L, FIG. 1D a top view of the bearing 1 and FIG. 1E a view from below. As can be seen particularly from FIG. 1B, the bearing 1 has an inner part 2, a substantially hollow cylindrical outer part 3 made of aluminum and an elastomer body 21 arranged between the inner part 2 and the outer part 3. The elastomer body 21 forms balancing chambers 5 in fluid communication with each other on radially opposing sides over a radial channel 14. The right-hand balancing chamber 5 shown in FIG. 1B opens radially in the inside into a recessed filling channel 8 in the inner part 2. Furthermore, a radial stop 4 made of plastic is arranged on an upper edge of the bearing thus forming an upper radial stop. The upper radial stop is mounted on top of the inner part 2.

(6) The elastomer body 21 is vulcanised onto the inner part 2. Moreover, a further stop is provided as lower radial stop 9 on an axial end of the inner part 2, which supports an axial stop 10, which is mounted on a front side end or on the bottom side 6 of the inner part 2. The lower radial stop 9 is also made of plastic. The axial stop is made of aluminium.

(7) The elastomer body 21 is reinforced by a plastic cage 11, which is vulcanised into the elastomer body 21. Sections of the plastic cage 11 bear against an inner wall 7 of the outer part 3. A lower axial end 12 and an upper axial end 12 of the plastic cage 11 (see FIGS. 1B and 1C) are each formed radially outwards at 90 in order to project over a lower edge 13 and an upper edge 13 of the outer part 3 thereby axially securing the outer part 3 in a form fit manner, and consequently the outer part 3 is held securely in an axial direction relative to the plastic cage 11 and thus the elastomer body 21.

(8) Furthermore, the plastic cage 11 has web regions 15, which can be lined in order to demonstrate increased stability. The web regions 15 prevent constriction or closure of the radial channel 14 during the calibration process.

(9) FIGS. 2A to 2D show different views of a bearing 1 configured as a hydraulic axle support bearing according to a further embodiment, wherein FIG. 2A represents an isometric view of the bearing 1, FIG. 2B a sectional view through bearing 1, FIG. 2C a top view of the bearing 1 and FIG. 2D a view of the bearing 1 from below. The design of the bearing 1 shown here essentially corresponds to the design of the bearing 1 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1E and only differs in terms of the design of the axial stop 10 on the lower end of the bearing 1.

(10) The bearing 1, which is shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D, as well as the bearing 1, which is shown in FIGS. 1A to 1E, is produced as follows. In a preassembling step, the inner part 2, the elastomer body 21, the radial channel 14 and the outer part 3 made of aluminium are assembled loosely such that the plastic cage 11 is arranged directly on the inner wall 7 of the outer part 3. The hollow cylindrical outer part 3 is slid on from above here. The plastic cage 11 protrudes radially over the outer part 3 at both ends thereof, i.e. on the upper and lower edges 13, 13. In this uncalibrated state, the plastic cage 11 projects over the outer part 3 only on the lower edge 13. In a subsequent calibration process, the aluminium outer part 3 is constricted, i.e. the diameter of the outer part 3 is reduced by approx. 4 mm. However, not only the diameter of the outer part 3 is reduced in the process, but also the diameter of the plastic cage 11 in the same step. Clearance of 2 mm is assured with the loose pre-assembly. The resulting constriction of the plastic cage is therefore approx. 2 mm in diameter. Thus, both the outer part 3 and the plastic cage 11 are calibrated in a single method step. After calibration, the plastic cage 11 then also projects over the outer part 3 on the upper edge 13 thereof and consequently creates the required axial securing against sliding in an upwards direction.

(11) FIGS. 3A to 3F show different further views of a plastic cage 11 according to one embodiment, wherein FIG. 3A represents an isometric view of the plastic cage 11, FIG. 3B a sectional view through the plastic cage 11, FIG. 3C a further sectional view through the plastic cage 11 which, compared with the sectional view in FIG. 3B, is rotated 90 about the longitudinal axis L of the plastic cage 11, FIG. 3D a detailed view of the upper edge 16 of the plastic cage 11, FIG. 3E a view of the plastic cage 11 from below and FIG. 3F a top view of the plastic cage 11. As can be seen here, the plastic cage 11 has two of the web regions 15 described above. Furthermore, the plastic cage 11 has a plurality of sealing grooves 18 on its outer side 20 on an upper section 17 and on a lower section 17, which sealing grooves are opposite the inner wall 7 of the outer part 3 in the assembled state of the bearing 1 (see, for example, FIG. 1B). The sealing grooves 18 are filled with elastomer material during the process of spraying the elastomer body 21.

(12) Moreover, it can be seen in the detailed view of the upper edge 16 of the plastic cage 11 shown in FIG. 3D (characterised by A in FIG. 3B), that the upper edge 16 curves outwards and is thus rounded. In contrast to this, the lower protruding edge 16 of the plastic cage 11 is not curved.

(13) FIGS. 4A to 4F show different views of a plastic cage 11 according to a further embodiment, wherein FIG. 4A represents an isomeric view of the plastic cage 11, FIG. 4B a sectional view through the plastic cage 11, FIG. 4C a further sectional view through the plastic cage 11, which compared with the sectional view in FIG. 4B, is rotated 90 about the longitudinal axis L of the plastic cage 11, FIG. 4D a detailed view of the upper edge 16 of the plastic cage 11 (characterised by A in FIG. 4B), FIG. 4E a view of the plastic cage 11 from below and FIG. 4F a top view of the plastic cage 11. The embodiment of the plastic cage 11 shown here differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A to 3F, firstly in that the upper edge 16 of the plastic cage 11, which is shown in detail in FIG. 4D, is rounded, but not does not curve outwards, and secondly in that the lower edge 16 is provided with two conical support contours 19, 19 that point downwards and are angled slightly outwards.

(14) Thus, while there have been shown, described, and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or steps that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way, to achieve the same results be within the scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated. It is also to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but that they are merely conceptual in nature. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

(15) Every issued patent, pending patent application, publication, journal article, book or any other reference cited herein is each incorporated by reference in their entirety.