Rolling bearing assembly

Abstract

A rolling bearing assembly including a rolling bearing provided with a first race having a bore, two front edges and an outer cylindrical surface, and with a second race provided with a bore, two front edges and an outer cylindrical surface. The first and second races rotate relatively about a central axis. The assembly is intended to be mounted in a housing. The assembly provides at least one first annular flange that is secured to the first race and at least partially covers a front edge of the first race, and at least one second annular flange that is secured to the second race and at least partially covers a front edge of the second race. Free ends of the first and second annular flanges are in sliding contact. The difference in dimensions between the housing and the rolling bearing is compensated by the flanges.

Claims

1. A rolling bearing assembly mounted in a housing, the assembly comprising: a rolling bearing providing: a first race including a bore, a first edge and a second edge, an outer cylindrical surface, a first annular flange secured to the first race and covering the first edge of the first race and a second annular flange secured to the first race and covering the second edge of the first race, wherein the first annular flange and the second annular flange are connected and entirely cover the outer cylindrical surface of the first race by being directly secured to the outer cylindrical surface of the first race, a second race including a bore, a first edge and a second edge, an outer cylindrical surface, a first annular flange secured to the second race and covering the first edge of the second race, wherein the first annular flange is disconnected from the two annular flanges of the first race, a second annular flange secured to the second race and covering the second edge of the second race, wherein the second annular flange is disconnected from the two annular flanges of the first race, and the bore of the first race and the bore of the second race form a raceway for rolling elements defining an axis of rotation of the roiling elements, and the first race and second race rotate relatively about a central axis (X1), wherein the first annular flange of the first race and the first annular flange of the second race are directly secured to the first race and the second race, respectively, and are in sliding contact with each other without overlapping or interconnecting, wherein the sliding contact is located at the axis of rotation of the rolling elements, and the second annular flange of the first race and the second annular flange of the second race are directly secured to the first race and the second race, respectively, and are in sliding contact with each other without overlapping or interconnecting, wherein the sliding contact is located at the axis of rotation of the rolling elements.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first annular flange and the second annular flange are in sliding contact, partially cover one another, in a contact portion.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first annular flange and the second annular flange provides a first part made of rigid material at least partially covering the first edge of one race, and a second part made of flexible material being in sliding contact with another of the first annular flange and the second annular flange.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein portions extending from the first annular flange and the second annular flange of at least one of the first race and the second race are annular and form an envelope surrounding the at least one of the first race and the second race.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) The invention will be understood better and further advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent from the following description of embodiments of a rolling bearing assembly in accordance with the principle of the invention, these embodiments being given only by way of example and with reference to the appended non-limiting drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a rolling bearing assembly according to a first embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the rolling bearing assembly of the first embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a rolling bearing assembly according to a second embodiment;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a rolling bearing assembly according to a third embodiment; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a rolling bearing assembly according to a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) An assembly 10 provides a rolling bearing 1 with a central axis X1 of rotation, provided with an outer race 2, an inner race 3, a row of rolling elements 4, in this case balls, that are disposed in parallel planes and held respectively by a cage 5. Such an assembly is intended to be mounted in a housing provided in a mechanical system (not shown).

(8) The races 2, 3 are coaxial with the central axis X1 in a normal operating mode.

(9) The outer race 2 provides an outer cylindrical surface 21, a bore 22 in which a raceway for the rolling elements 4 is formed.

(10) The inner race 3 provides an outer cylindrical surface 31 in which a raceway for the rolling elements 4 is formed.

(11) The inner race 3 may be a turning race and the outer race 2 a non-turning race, or vice versa, or the two races may turn relative to one another about the central axis X1.

(12) The outer race 2 is delimited axially by two radial front edges 23 and 24, and the inner race 3 is delimited axially by two radial front edges 33 and 34 such that the edges are respectively aligned axially so as to define an axial dimension of the rolling bearing 1.

(13) The inner race 3 also provides a cylindrical through-bore 32. For example, a shaft or a mounting can be inserted into the bore 32. The bore 32 in the inner race 3 and the outer cylindrical surface 21 of the outer race 2 define a radial dimension of the rolling bearing.

(14) The cylindrical outer surface 31 of the inner race 3, the bore 22 in the outer race 2 and the radial front edges 23, 33 and 24, 34 define a bearing chamber 8 in which the rolling elements 4 are in motion between the races 2, 3. The bearing chamber 8 can be filled with lubricant, for example grease or oil, in order to reduce friction between the contact surfaces of the moving elements, in this case the rolling elements 4, the raceway provided at the cylindrical outer surface 31 and the raceway provided at the bore 22 in the outer race 2.

(15) The races 2, 3 and the rolling elements 4 define a pitch diameter P1 of the rolling bearing 1 as being an axis of rotation of the rolling elements, the races being in relative rotation parallel to this axis situated between the races.

(16) According to the rotation models illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the pitch diameter P1 is parallel to the central axis X1 of rotation. According to an alternative that is not shown, the pitch diameter P1 can be perpendicular to the central axis.

(17) In accordance with the invention, the assembly 10 also provides radial annular flanges 11, 12, 13 and 14 mounted securely on the races 2, 3 of the rolling bearing 1.

(18) The radial annular flanges 12 and 14 secured to the inner race 3 each provide an outer circumferential lip 12a and 14a, respectively, and an inner circumferential lip 12b and 14b, respectively. The radial annular flanges 11 and 13 secured to the outer race 2 each provide an inner circumferential lip 11b and 13b, respectively, and are both extended by axial portions 11c and 13c, respectively.

(19) The annular flanges 11, 12, 13 and 14 are coaxial with the central axis X1 in a normal operating mode.

(20) The flanges 11 and 13 rest on the radial front edges 23 and 24, respectively, of the outer race 2. The flanges 12 and 14 rest on the radial front edges 33 and 34, respectively, of the inner race 3.

(21) The flanges 12 and 14 are secured to the inner race 3 by fixing means (not shown), for example by welding, adhesive bonding, moulding, cooperation of mechanical means such as parts of the flange and of the race with matching shapes or any other appropriate means.

(22) The axial portions 11c and 13c of the flanges 11, 13 of the outer race 2 are annular and each cover a part of the outer cylindrical surface 21 of the outer race 2 so as to entirely cover the surface 21. According to an alternative embodiment that is not shown, it is possible for the axial portions 11c and 13c not to be annular, the flanges 11 and 13 then being extended by a plurality of axial portions 11c and 13c, respectively.

(23) The axial portions 11c and 13c are securely connected together at their respective axial ends 11d and 13d. The fixing means (not shown) that ensure their connection can consist of a weld, an adhesive bond, a moulding, cooperation of mechanical means of parts of the axial portions with matching shapes or any other appropriate means.

(24) By virtue of the invention, the flanges 11 and 13 are both secured to the outer race 2 by cooperation of their respective axial portions 11c and 13c. It is thus not necessary to fix the flanges 11 and 13 directly to the rolling bearing. The assembly made up of the flanges 11 and 13 with their respective axial portions 11c and 13c defines a U shape in which the outer race 2 is incorporated. Interference can be provided between the radial flanges 11 and 13 and the edges 23 and 24 of the outer race 2 so as to provide rotation prevention.

(25) By virtue of this embodiment, a difference in the radial dimensions between the rolling bearing 1 and the housing in which the assembly 10 is intended to be mounted is compensated by the axial portions 11c and 13c.

(26) The inner circumferential lips 12b, 14b of the flanges 12, 14 respectively mounted on the inner race 3 of the rolling bearing 1 do not overlap the bore 32 in the inner race 3 axially towards the inside.

(27) The outer circumferential lips 12a, 14a of the flanges 12, 14 respectively mounted on the inner race 3 of the rolling bearing 1 come into sliding contact with the inner circumferential lips 11b, 13b of the flanges 11, 13 respectively mounted on the outer race 2 of the rolling bearing 1.

(28) During the relative rotation of the inner race 3 and outer race 2 of the rolling bearing 1, the lips 12a and 11b, 14a and 13b remain in contact and slide over one another.

(29) The difference in the axial dimensions between the rolling bearing 1 and the housing in which the assembly 10 is intended to be mounted is compensated by the flanges 11, 12, 13, 14.

(30) According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each flange 11, 12, 13, 14 is made of a single material, for example a plastic or synthetic material.

(31) Alternatively, and according to a second embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 3, the flanges 12 and 14 of the inner race 3 are also extended by axial portions 12c and 14c, respectively.

(32) The axial portions 12c and 14c are annular and each cover a part of the bore 32 in the inner race 3 so as to entirely cover the surface 32. According to an alternative embodiment which is not shown, it is possible for the axial portions 12c and 14c not to be annular, the flanges 12 and 14 then being extended by a plurality of axial portions 12c and 14c, respectively.

(33) The axial portions 12c and 14c are connected securely together at their respective axial ends 12d and 14d.

(34) By virtue of this second embodiment, the flanges 12 and 14 are both secured to the inner race 3 by cooperation of their respective axial portions 12c and 14c. It is then not necessary to fix the flanges 12 and 14 directly to the rolling bearing. The assembly made up of the flanges 12 and 14 with their respective axial portions 12c and 14c defines a U shape in which the inner race 3 is incorporated. Interference can be provided between the radial flanges 12 and 14 and the edges 33 and 34 of the outer race 3 so as to provide rotation prevention.

(35) According to an alternative that is not shown, only the flanges 12 and 14 are extended by axial portions 12c and 14c, respectively, and not the flanges 11 and 13 which are thus similar to those described in FIG. 1.

(36) A third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, in which identical elements have the same references, differs from the first embodiment in that the outer circumferential lips 12a, 14a of the flanges 12, 14 respectively mounted on the inner race 3 and the inner circumferential lips 11b, 13b of the flanges 11, 13 respectively mounted on the outer race 2 of the rolling bearing 1 form sealing lips.

(37) The outer circumferential lips 12a, 14a form sealing lips 12e, 14e for the flanges 12 and 14, respectively. The inner circumferential lips 11b, 13b form sealing lips 11e, 13e for the flanges 11 and 13, respectively. The lips 12e, 14e are in sliding contact with the lips 11e, 13e and are all made of a flexible polymeric or synthetic material. For example, the material of the lips may be PA66 reinforced with 30% glass fibre to limit the abrasion thereof.

(38) The flanges 11, 12, 13 and 14 are made of a material that is more rigid than the lips, for example a hard plastic or metal. The lips 11e, 12e, 13e, 14e can be moulded, adhesively bonded or vulcanized for example to the flanges 11, 12, 13 and 14, respectively.

(39) Being sufficiently rigid, the flanges 11, 12, 13, 14 act as contact surfaces for the assembly 10 in its housing. The lips 11e, 12e, 13e, 14e made of more flexible material make it possible to reduce the friction torque while providing sealing.

(40) According to an alternative embodiment that is not shown, only one flange of a pair of flanges in sliding contact is provided with a lip made of flexible material.

(41) A fourth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, in which identical elements have the same references, differs from the third embodiment in that the lips 11e, 12e and 13e, 14e in sliding contact are axially superposed.

(42) The flexibility of the flexible material forming the lips allows their axial deformation and thus ensures that they overlap.

(43) By virtue of this fourth embodiment, the contact between two lips 11e, 12e and/or 13e, 14e is preserved even if there is misalignment of the rolling bearing 1 during mounting or use.

(44) According to embodiments that are not shown, the rolling bearing can be provided with one or more rows of rolling elements. The rolling elements can be balls, rollers, needles or any other type of rolling element. By contrast, it is possible for the rolling bearing not to be provided with rolling elements and to consist of a plain bearing.

(45) According to embodiments that are not shown, at least one flange provides at least one layer of material made of vibration damping material and/or at least one flange provides at least one layer of electrically insulating material so as to prevent the passage of electric current through the rolling bearing.

(46) The technical features of the embodiments and variants that are envisaged above can be combined with one another.