NON-LOCATING BEARING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A non-locating bearing assembly includes a bearing unit configured to support a rotating component relative to a stationary component, and the bearing unit includes a first stationary bearing ring and a second rotatable bearing ring that is fixedly connectable to the rotating component. The bearing assembly also includes a bearing carrier to which the stationary bearing ring is attached in a rotationally fixed but axially displaceable manner, and the bearing carrier is configured to be fixedly connected to the stationary component.

Claims

1. A non-locating bearing assembly comprising: a bearing unit configured to support a rotatable component relative to a stationary component, the bearing unit including a first stationary bearing ring and a second rotatable bearing ring, the rotatable bearing ring being fixedly connectable to the rotatable component, and a bearing carrier to which the stationary bearing ring is attached by an interference fit in a rotationally fixed but axially displaceable manner, the bearing carrier being configured to be fixedly connected to the stationary component.

2. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the non-locating bearing assembly is configured as a pre-installable unit.

3. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 1, including a spring disposed in the bearing carrier, the spring being located between an end of the bearing carrier and a side of the stationary bearing ring to axially preload the bearing unit relative to the bearing carrier.

4. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 3, including a stop on the bearing carrier, the stop being configured to interact with the spring or the stationary bearing ring to limit an axial displacement of the stationary bearing ring.

5. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the stationary bearing ring includes first means for preventing rotation and the bearing carrier includes second means for preventing rotation configured to interact with the first means for preventing rotation to form the interference fit between the stationary bearing ring and the bearing carrier.

6. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first means for preventing rotation comprises an axial groove and the second means for preventing rotation comprises a projection that extends into the axial groove.

7. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 6, wherein the projection is complementary to the axial groove.

8. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 7, wherein the projection is a staking, a bending or an embossing.

9. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 5, wherein the second means for preventing rotation comprises an axial groove and the first means for preventing rotation comprises a projection that extends into the axial groove.

10. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 9, wherein the projection is complementary to the axial groove.

11. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 1, including a means for preventing rotation located between an outside of the stationary bearing ring and an inside of the bearing carrier, the means for preventing rotation connecting the stationary bearing ring to the bearing carrier in an interference-fit manner.

12. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 11, wherein the means for preventing rotation is a plastic body attached to or overmolded on the stationary bearing ring in an interference fit manner, the plastic body including at least one projection that engages into at least one receptacle formed on the bearing carrier.

13. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 12, wherein the plastic body is crown-shaped, and wherein the at least one projection comprises a plurality of projections configured as axially extending prongs that engage in an interference-fit manner into the at least one receptacle, the at least one receptacle being complementarily to the at least one projection.

14. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 11, wherein the means for preventing rotation is a plastic element attached to or overmolded on the bearing carrier in an interference fit manner, the connecting element including a projection that engages into a receptacle formed on the stationary bearing ring.

15. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 9, wherein the bearing carrier is pot-shaped and includes a pot wall and a pot base and a pot rim, and wherein the axial groove is a continuous but axially delimited recess in the pot wall and/or in the pot base and/or in the pot rim of the bearing carrier.

16. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 9, wherein the bearing carrier is pot-shaped and includes a pot wall and a pot base and a pot rim, and wherein the recess is configured as at least one one-side axially open slit that extends from the pot base along the pot wall to the pot rim.

17. The non-locating bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bearing carrier and/or the stationary bearing ring and/or the connecting element is configured slightly oval and/or wavy in cross-section so that an interference fit is provided via the ovality and/or waviness.

18. A non-locating bearing assembly comprising: a bearing unit configured to support a rotatable component relative to a stationary component, the bearing unit including a first stationary bearing ring and a second rotatable bearing ring, the rotatable bearing ring being fixedly connectable to the rotatable component, and a bearing carrier to which the stationary bearing ring is attached in a rotationally fixed but axially displaceable manner, the bearing carrier being configured to be fixedly connected to the stationary component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 is sectional side elevational view of a non-locating bearing assembly, which includes a bearing and a bearing carrier, according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bearing of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 3. is perspective view of the bearing carrier of FIG. 1.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bearing of FIG. 2. mounted in the bearing carrier of FIG. 3.

[0031] FIG. 5 is sectional side elevational view of a non-locating bearing assembly, which includes a bearing and a bearing carrier, according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bearing of FIG. 5.

[0033] FIG. 7 is perspective view of the bearing carrier of FIG. 5.

[0034] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bearing of FIG. 6 mounted in the bearing carrier of FIG. 7.

[0035] FIG. 9 is a sectional side elevational view of a third embodiment of the disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 10 is sectional side elevational view of a non-locating bearing assembly, which includes a bearing and a bearing carrier, according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIGS. 11a and 11b are side elevational views of two portions of the bearing assembly of FIG. 10.

[0038] FIG. 12 is a first perspective view of the bearing assembly of FIG. 10.

[0039] FIG. 13 is a second perspective view of the bearing assembly of FIG. 10.

[0040] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a non-locating bearing assembly, which includes a bearing and a bearing carrier, according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the bearing carrier of FIG. 14.

[0042] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the bearing carrier of FIG. 14 including a spring element.

[0043] FIG. 17 is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] In the following, identical or functionally equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numbers.

[0045] The appended Figures show preferred exemplary embodiments of a non-locating bearing assembly 1 including a bearing carrier 2 in which a bearing unit 4 and a spring element 6 are disposed. The exemplary embodiments depicted show a non-locating bearing assembly 1 that can be used, for example, for supporting a shaft in a housing, wherein the housing is stationary and the shaft is rotating. Of course, the non-locating bearing assembly 1 is also usable in other applications, for example, a stationary pin and a rotating housing.

[0046] It is advantageous here in particular when the bearing carrier 2 and the bearing unit 4 are manufactured from the same material, or at least from materials having identical or similar coefficients of thermal expansion. Fit changes in operation can thereby be prevented.

[0047] In the depicted exemplary embodiments, the bearing carrier 2 is configured pot-shaped and includes a pot rim configured as a flange 20, a pot wall 22, and a pot base 24. The pot base 24 includes a large recess 26 in order to attach the non-locating bearing assembly 1 to the movable component (not depicted). Furthermore, the bearing carrier 2 includes attachment elements 28 that are preferably disposed equally spaced around the flange 22. The attachment elements 28 can be configured as through-holes that are suitable for receiving screws. Of course, other attachment elements are also possible, such as, for example, threaded through-stems or separate inserts.

[0048] The bearing unit 4 comprises a bearing outer ring 40 that is configured in the depicted exemplary embodiment as a stationary bearing ring, and a bearing inner ring 42 that is rotatable, which are disposed spaced with respect to each other and configured to receive rolling elements 44 between them that are guided and held uniformly spaced by a cage 46. As mentioned above, the exemplary embodiments are suited in particular for a shaft bearing assembly in a housing in which the outer ring is disposed substantially rotationally fixed but axially displaceable. However, it is equally possible to form the bearing inner ring axially displaceable. Such a design is advantageous in particular with rotating housings, such as, for example, a hollow shaft.

[0049] In the disclosed exemplary embodiments the bearing unit is furthermore configured as a ball bearing, but all other types of rolling-element bearings and plain bearings are also possible.

[0050] Furthermore, it can be seen from the Figures that in addition to the bearing unit 4 a spring element 6 is also disposed in the bearing carrier 2. This spring element 6 ensures that the bearing outer ring 40 is preloaded in the bearing carrier 2. Here one end of the spring element 6 is supported on one side on the pot base 24 of the bearing carrier 2 and the other end is supported on an end side 50 of the bearing outer ring 40.

[0051] In order to in particular provide a preinstalled non-locating bearing assembly 1, the bearing carrier 2 can furthermore be equipped on the flange side with a stop 32 that contacts and supports the bearing outer ring 40 on its other end side 52. It is thereby also possible to arrange the bearing unit overall in an already preloaded rest position in the bearing carrier 2. At the same time the entire non-locating bearing assembly 1 can be attached to a stationary component without having to take account of tolerances so that a particularly simple installation is possible. A shaft spring made of a flat wire is preferably used as the spring element 6. However, every other type of spring element 6 is also equally possible, such as, for example, a plate spring.

[0052] As mentioned above, in the disclosed exemplary embodiments, the non-locating bearing assembly 1 is a non-locating bearing assembly in which the outer ring 40 is rotationally fixed but axially displaceable, while the bearing inner ring 42 is rotatably connected to a shaft not depicted here. In contrast, the bearing carrier 2 that receives the bearing unit 4 is rotationally fixed and also axially fixed (not axially displaceable) with respect to a housing (not depicted) in which the non-depicted shaft is supported.

[0053] In order to attach the bearing unit 4 in the bearing carrier 2 such that it is axially displaceable but rotationally fixed, in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 and in detail in FIG. 2 the bearing outer ring 40 includes an axially extending groove 48 as a first rotational securing element that interacts with an embossing (or projection) 34 on the bearing carrier 2, which embossing 34 is configured as a second rotational securing element. The projection configured as the embossing 34 on the bearing carrier 2 can also be seen in FIG. 3. Such an embossing 34 can easily be manufactured by a corresponding embossing tool. Since in particular the walls (here the pot wall 22) of the bearing carrier 2 are relatively thin, such an embossing 34 is easy to produce. The shape of the embossing 34 essentially corresponds to the groove 48 as can be seen in a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0054] In order to limit the axial mobility of the bearing unit 4 in the bearing 2, and to provide a preinstalled unit made of the bearing carrier and the bearing and spring element, stakings 32 are furthermore formed on the bearing carrier 2 (see in particular FIG. 4) that are formed after installation of the spring element 6 and the bearing unit 4, and axially secure the bearing 4 in the bearing carrier 2. Here the bearing 4 can be installed in a preload position against the spring 6, but it is also possible to provide the spring in the bearing carrier 2 in the unloaded state.

[0055] In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4, one side the spring element 6 abuts against the base region 24 of the bearing carrier 2, and the other side acts against the end surface 50 of the bearing outer ring 40. The staking 32 preferably interacts with the other end surface 52 of the bearing outer ring 40.

[0056] FIGS. 5 to 8 show a further preferred exemplary embodiment of a non-locating bearing assembly 1 in which a bearing unit 4 is also disposed again in a bearing carrier 2, and furthermore in which a spring element 6 is provided for the preload. However, in contrast to the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4, the position of the bearing unit 4 and of the spring element 6 in the bearing carrier 2 is exchanged. One side of the spring element 6 thus abuts against the end surface 52 of the bearing outer ring 40 and the other side abuts against the stop 32 that is formed from the bearing carrier 2 by a corresponding staking.

[0057] In order to ensure the axially displaceable but rotationally fixed arrangement of the bearing outer ring 40 in the bearing carrier 2, in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5 to 8, an axial groove 48 is also formed in the bearing outer ring into which groove 48, however, a projection 34 formed by a bending over of a portion of the base region 24 is received. This projection 34 interacts again with the groove 48 so that a rotationally fixed connection is produced. Here the projection 34 is in turn configured complementary to the groove 48, as can be seen from the views of the bearing ring from FIG. 6 and of the bearing carrier in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 also shows again the protruding bending 34 in the base region 24 of the bearing carrier 2 in its state received in the groove 48.

[0058] FIG. 9 shows a further preferred exemplary embodiment of a non-locating bearing assembly 1 in which the staking 32 on the bearing carrier ensures both an axial limiting of mobility and a rotationally fixed attaching of the bearing outer ring 40 in the bearing carrier 2. For this purpose a groove 48 is in turn formed on the bearing outer ring 40 into which groove 48 the staking 32 engages in this exemplary embodiment. Since the groove 48 does not extend over the entire length of the bearing outer ring, but rather only up to a certain region, in this case the step 54, the bearing outer ring is also captively attached in the bearing carrier 2.

[0059] Furthermore, FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment for the spring element 6. While in FIGS. 1 to 8 the spring element 6 is manufactured as a shaft spring from a flat wire, in FIG. 9 an annular plate spring is provided as spring element 6. One side of this plate spring 6 is supported on one side of the base region 24 of the bearing carrier 2 and the other side is supported on the end surface 50 of the bearing outer ring 40.

[0060] In addition to the rotational securing elements being disposed on the bearing carrier 2 or on the bearing ring 40 itself, it is also possible to provide a separate connecting element 60 that in the exemplary embodiments depicted is attached to the bearing ring 40 in an interference-fit manner and engages into a corresponding element on the bearing carrier 2 in an interference-fit manner. Of course it is naturally also possible to attach the connecting element 60 to the bearing carrier 2 and to bring it into interference-fit interaction with the bearing ring 40.

[0061] FIGS. 10 to 17 show two different exemplary embodiments for such a connecting element 60 that interacts with both the bearing ring 40 and with the bearing carrier 2 in an interference-fit manner and thus provides the interference-fit attaching of the bearing ring 40 in the bearing carrier 2.

[0062] FIG. 10 shows a construction of the non-locating bearing assembly 1 analogous to that depicted in FIGS. 1 to 8. However, for the rotationally fixed connection, the connecting element 60 is attached to the bearing outer ring 40 (depicted in more detail in FIGS. 11a+11b) that is fixedly connected to the bearing outer ring, in particular in an interference-fit manner. Furthermore, the connecting element 60 has a crown shape, including axially extending prongs 62, a radially extending annular region 64, and a flange region 66, wherein the radially extending annular region 64 extends along the end surface 50 of the bearing outer ring 40. As can furthermore be seen from FIG. 10, the bearing ring 40 furthermore includes a groove 48 that extends in an edge region between radial the surface 54 and the end surface 50 of the bearing outer ring. The flange 66 of the connecting element 60 is molded into this groove 48 in an interference-fit manner, for example, by staking or beading or rolling-in. For this purpose the groove 48, as can be seen in particular from the detail view of FIG. 11a, can include additional structures 56 wherein the material of the flange region 66 can be received.

[0063] In order to also attach the bearing ring 40 to the bearing carrier 2 such that they are rotationally fixed, recesses 36 are furthermore provided in the base region 24 of the bearing carrier 2, wherein the axially extending prongs 62 of the connecting element 60 are receivable. The recesses 36 thus form the second rotational securing element, while the groove 48 forms the first rotational securing element with the structure 56 and the flange 66.

[0064] For limiting the axial mobility of the bearing ring 40 even in the preloaded state by the spring element 6, stakings 32 are in turn provided, as can be seen in particular from FIGS. 10 and 12. The receiving of the prong-shaped elements 62 in the recesses 36 on the bearing carrier can also be seen in particular from FIG. 13.

[0065] FIGS. 14 to 17 show a further preferred exemplary embodiment for a non-locating bearing assembly 1 including a connecting element 60. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 14, a connecting element 60 is applied onto the bearing outer ring of the bearing unit 4. This applying is preferably effected by overmolding so that the connecting element 60 is attached to the outer ring 40 of the bearing unit 4 in an interference-fit manner. Of course other attaching options are also possible, such as, for example, also material attachment options, in particular adhering. The connecting element 60 can preferably be manufactured from plastic, but it is also possible to manufacture the connecting element 60 from a metallic material.

[0066] However, since there is a risk, particularly with plastic, that small-surface rotational securing elements may be sheared off with high circumferential loads, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 14 a plurality of rotational securing elements 62 are configured as large-surface teeth. These large-surface toothings 62 in turn interact with recesses 36 in the bearing carrier 2. FIG. 15 shows an associated bearing carrier 2 that is essentially pot-shaped, equipped with a flange region, a pot wall region 22, and a pot base region 24. However, since the recesses 34 extend from the flange 22 to the base region 24, the bearing carrier shows a crown shape including prong elements 38 separated by the recess 36.

[0067] In the installation situation as is depicted in FIGS. 16 and 17, as is already known a spring element 6 that ensures a preloaded axial supporting of the bearing ring 40 is also provided in addition to the bearing ring including the connecting element 60. One side the spring element 6 in turn abuts against the base region 24 and the other side contacts the end surface 50 of the bearing outer ring and the overmolded connecting element 60. Due to the recess region 36-2 formed in the flange 20 (see FIG. 17), the recess 36 extending in the flange region makes it possible that the bearing ring 40 including the overmolded connecting element 60 and the prongs 62 is insertable into the bearing carrier 2.

[0068] In order to limit an axial mobility of the bearing 4 in the bearing carrier 2 and to provide a preassembled unit, a staking 32 not depicted in the Figures is in turn provided at the transition between flange region 20 and wall surface 22, which staking 32 ensures the axial attaching of the bearing.

[0069] It is to be noted overall that all exemplary embodiments and the features shown therein can also be present combined with one another differently. Thus a plate spring, as depicted in FIG. 6, can always be used instead of the shaft spring. The arrangement of the bearing unit 4 and the spring element 6 is also arbitrarily selectable. It is furthermore possible to provide a corresponding spring element 6 on both sides of the bearing 4. Instead of the staking forming the stop 32, other possibilities for providing a stop 32 or an axial movement limitation of the bearing ring are also included within the scope of protection.

[0070] Overall, using the disclosed non-locating bearing assembly 1 a simple to handle unit can be provided that can be directly installed in its entirety without having to take account of tolerances of the housing, shaft, bearing, snap ring, elastomer ring, and spring. Using an entirely preassembled unit also reduces the installation time and thus installation costs. Since the bearing carrier 2 and the bearing unit 4 are manufactured from the same material, or from materials that thermally expand in a similar manner, a drastic reduction of the negative influence of different temperature-dependent expansions of bearing and light metal of a housing can be achieved.

[0071] 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 assemblies.

[0072] 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.

[0073] 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

[0074] 1 Non-locating bearing assembly [0075] 2 Bearing carrier [0076] 20 Flange [0077] 22 Pot wall [0078] 24 Pot base [0079] 26 Recess [0080] 28 Attachment element [0081] 30 Abutment surface [0082] 32 Stop [0083] 34 Rotational securing element—embossing [0084] 36 Recess [0085] 38 Prong element [0086] 4 Bearing unit [0087] 40 Bearing outer ring [0088] 42 Bearing inner ring [0089] 44 Rolling element [0090] 46 Cage [0091] 48 Rotational securing element—groove [0092] 50; 52 End surfaces of the bearing ring [0093] 54 Step [0094] 56 Structure [0095] 6 Spring [0096] 60 Connecting element [0097] 62 Rotational securing element—prong [0098] 64 Annular region [0099] 66 Flange region