Elastomeric Journal Bearing

Abstract

An elastomeric journal bearing, comprising inner part (2) extending in axial direction (x), outer sleeve (3) surrounding inner part (2), elastomeric bearing body (4) arranged between inner part (2), outer sleeve (3), connected to inner part (2), said bearing body comprising at least two radially extending webs (5, 6) which are offset in circumferential direction (u), and two annular walls (7, 8) which are offset in axial direction (x), between which extend axially webs (5, 6), and at least two chambers (10, 11) filled with liquid (9) and are separated from each other in circumferential direction (u) by webs (5, 6), said chambers being fluidically connected via at least one channel (12). The axial ends (36, 37, 38, 39) of the webs (5, 6) have at least in the region of the radially outer web ends (22, 23) axial end faces (40, 41, 42, 43) which bear against the walls (7, 8).

Claims

1. An elastomeric journal bearing comprising an inner part (2) extending in an axial direction (x), an outer sleeve (3) surrounding the inner part (2), and an elastomeric bearing body (4) arranged between the inner part (2) and the outer sleeve (3) and connected with the inner part (2), the elastomeric bearing body (4) comprising at least two radially extending webs (5, 6) which are offset relative to one another in a circumferential direction (u) and two annular walls (7, 8) which are offset relative to one another in the axial direction (x), with the webs (5, 6) extending axially between the walls (7, 8), and at least two separate chambers (10, 11) which are filled with liquid (9) and are separated in the circumferential direction (u) by the webs (5, 6) and are fluidically connected to one another by at least one channel (12), wherein the axial ends (36, 37, 38, 39) of the webs (5,6) comprise at least in a region of the radially outer web ends (22, 23) axial end faces (40, 41, 42, 43) which bear against the walls (7, 8).

2. The elastomeric journal bearing according to claim 1, wherein the axial end faces (40, 41, 42, 43) of the webs (5, 6) are not materially connected with the walls (7, 8).

3. The elastomeric journal bearing according to claim 1, wherein the axial end faces (40, 41, 42, 43) of the webs (5, 6) are movable relative to the walls (7, 8).

4. The elastomeric journal bearing according to claim 1, further comprising a carrier element (13) which is arranged between the bearing body (4) and the outer sleeve (3) and surrounds the bearing body (4), by way of which carrier element (13) the elastomeric bearing body (4) is radially biased, wherein the radially outer web ends (22, 23) of the webs (5, 6) bear against the carrier element (13).

5. The elastomeric journal bearing according to claim 4, wherein the channel (12) is provided in the carrier element (13).

6. The elastomeric journal bearing according to claim 4, wherein the carrier element (13) is composed of two half-shells (44, 45) that are interconnected by a snap connection.

7. The elastomeric journal bearing according to claim 4, wherein axially continuous recesses (26, 27) are provided on the inner circumference of the carrier element (13), with the radially outer web ends (22, 23) of the webs (5, 6) being inserted in the recesses (26, 27).

8. The elastomeric journal bearing according to claim 4, wherein the webs (5, 6) comprise overflow lips (30, 31; 32, 33) at their radially outer web ends (22, 23), with the webs (5, 6) bearing against the outer sleeve (3) or the carrier element (13) with the overflow lips (30, 31; 32, 33).

9. The elastomeric journal bearing according to claim 8, wherein the overflow lips (30, 31; 32, 33) are inclined relative to the radial direction and the webs (5, 6) each have two of the overflow lips (30, 31; 32, 33) which are inclined to one another in opposite directions.

10. The elastomeric journal bearing according to claim 8, wherein the overflow lips (30, 31; 32, 33) extend in the radial direction through the openings (34, 35) provided in the carrier element (13).

11. A method for producing an elastomeric journal bearing according to claim 1, comprising the steps of producing the elastomeric bearing body (4), connecting the elastomeric bearing body (4) with the inner part (2), whereafter inserting the elastomeric bearing body (4) connected with the inner part (2) is into the outer sleeve (3) while immersed in liquid (9) and subsequently secured in the outer sleeve (3), producing the elastomeric bearing body (4) such that the axial end faces (40, 41, 42, 43) of the webs (5, 6) enclose axial gaps (e) with the walls (7, 8), wherein the elastomeric bearing body (4) connected with the inner part (2) is inserted in the outer sleeve (3) while applying axial pressure to the elastomeric bearing body (4) such that the axial gaps (e) are closed and the axial end faces (40, 41, 42, 43) of the webs (5, 6) are placed in contact with the walls (7, 8).

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a mounting of the carrier element (13) on the elastomeric bearing body (4) in such a way that the elastomeric bearing body (4) is surrounded by the carrier element (13) and is placed under radial prestress, wherein the elastomeric bearing body (4) connected with the inner part (2) is inserted into the outer sleeve (3) together with the carrier element (13) surrounding the elastomeric bearing body (4), so that the carrier element (13) is arranged between the elastomeric bearing body (4) and the outer sleeve (3).

Description

[0045] The invention will now be described hereinafter with reference to a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows in:

[0046] FIG. 1 a perspective and partially cutaway view of an elastomeric journal bearing according to one embodiment,

[0047] FIG. 2 a plan view of the journal bearing,

[0048] FIG. 3 a longitudinal section through the journal bearing along the section line A-A shown in FIG. 2,

[0049] FIG. 4 a longitudinal section through the journal bearing along the section line B-B shown in FIG. 2,

[0050] FIG. 5 a cross section through the journal bearing along the section line C-C shown in FIG. 4,

[0051] FIG. 6 a cross section through the journal bearing along the section line D-D shown in FIG. 4,

[0052] FIG. 7 a longitudinal section through the elastomeric bearing body of the journal bearing prior to its installation in the outer sleeve, and

[0053] FIG. 8 an exploded view of the journal bearing.

[0054] Different views of an elastomeric journal bearing 1 according to an embodiment of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6. The journal bearing 1 includes an inner part 2 extending in an axial direction x, an outer sleeve 3 surrounding the inner part 2, and an elastomeric bearing body 4 which is arranged between the inner part 2 and the outer sleeve 3 and connected to the inner part 2, the elastomeric bearing body 4 surrounding the inner part 2 and having at least two radially extending webs 5 and 6 which are offset relative to one another in the circumferential direction u, and two annular walls 7 and 8 which are offset relative to one another in the axial direction x, wherein the webs 5 and 6 extend axially between the walls 7, 8, and at least two chambers 10 and 11 which are filled with a liquid 9 and are mutually separated in the circumferential direction u by the webs 5 and 6, and which are fluidically connected with one another by a channel 12, and a carrier element 13 disposed between the elastomeric bearing body 4 and the outer sleeve 5 and surrounding the bearing body. 4 The channel 12 is formed as a groove introduced in the outer periphery of the carrier element 13 and is delimited in the radial direction by the outer sleeve 3. The channel is connected with the chambers 10 and 11 by discharge holes provided in the carrier element. The carrier element 13 thus forms a channel support.

[0055] The inner member 2 includes an inner metal body 14 which is surrounded by a plastic body 15 which is materially connected to the elastomeric bearing body. 4 Furthermore, a mounting hole 16 which is used, in particular, for affixing the journal bearing 1 to another component extends through the metal body 14 in the axial direction x. A longitudinal center axis of the journal bearing 1 extending in the axial direction x is marked with the reference numeral 17.

[0056] The annular walls 7 and 8 each include an annular reinforcing member 18 and 19, respectively, wherein the reinforcing member 18 is embedded in the wall 7 and the reinforcing member 19 is embedded in the wall 8. The carrier element 13 is arranged in the axial direction x between the annular walls 7 and 8 and axially bears against the same. The carrier element 13 thus applies a radial prestress to the elastomeric bearing body 4.

[0057] Furthermore, the elastomeric bearing body 4 is disposed in the axial direction x between the radially inwardly extending and/or folded-over axial end regions 20 and 21 of the outer sleeve 3 and axially bears against the same. Axial prestress is hereby applied to the elastomeric bearing body 4 by the axial end portions 20 and 21.

[0058] The radially outer web ends 22 and 23 of the webs 5 and 6 are plate-shaped and protrude in the circumferential direction on both sides from the respective web. Furthermore, the radially outer web ends 22 and 23 each have a reinforcing plate 24 and 25, wherein the reinforcing plate 24 is embedded in the radially outer web end 22 of the web 5 and the reinforcing plate 25 is embedded in the radially outer web end 23 of the web. 6 The reinforcing plates 24 and 25 are spaced apart with respect to one another in the circumferential direction u and are not directly connected with one another.

[0059] Recesses 26 and 27 which are continuous in the axial direction x are provided on the inner circumference of the carrier element 13, with the radially outer web ends 22 and 23 of the webs 5 and 6 accomodated in the recesses. The web 5 hereby rests with its radially outer web end 22 in the recess 26, and the web 6 rests with its radially outer web end 23 in the recess 27.

[0060] The webs 5 and 6 each have at their radially outer web ends 22 and 23 a radial end face 28 or 29, wherein the radial end face 28 is associated with the web 5 and the radial end face 29 is associated with the web 6. Furthermore, the webs 5 and 6 have at their radial end faces 28 and 29 overflow lips 30, 31, 32 and 33 that radially extend through openings 34 and 35 provided in the carrier element 13 and bear against the inner circumference of the outer sleeve 3. The overflow lips 30 and 31 are associated with the web 5 and the overflow lips 32 and 33 are associated with the web 6. Furthermore, the opening 34 is provided in the recess 26 and the opening 35 is provided in the recess 27.

[0061] The overflow lips 30 to 33 are inclined with respect to the circumferential direction u and extend obliquely outwardly from the respective radial end face 28 or 29. In this case, each web 5 and 6 has two oppositely inclined overflow lips 30 and 31 or 32 and 33. The overflow lips 30 and 31 are arranged next to one another in the axial direction x and have each a first axial lip end 49 and a second axial lip end 50, wherein the first axial lip ends 49 of the two overflow lips 30 and 31 merge into one another. Furthermore, the overflow lips 30 and 31 are at their first axial lip ends 49 completely vulcanized to the web 5 in the radial direction, but are only partially vulcanized to the web 5 at their second axial lip ends 50, so that the second axial lip ends 50 are free at their radially outer ends. Additionally, the second axial lip ends 50 are inclined at their front faces and abut axial contact surfaces 51 of the carrier element which are correspondingly inclined. The overflow lips 32 and 33 are formed analogous to the overflow lips 30 and 31.

[0062] FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section through the elastomeric bearing body 4 prior to its installation in the outer sleeve 3. As can be seen, the axial ends 36, 37, 38 and 39 of the webs 5 and 6 have axial end faces 40, 41, 42 and 43 in the region of the radially outer web ends 22 and 23, wherein the axial end faces 40 and 42 each have an axial spacing from the annular wall 7 and the axial end faces 41 and 43 each have an axial spacing from the annular wall 8. Thus, the axial end faces 40 and 42 each enclose a respective gap e with the annular wall 7 and the axial end faces 41 and 43 each enclose a respective gap e with the annular wall 8. The axial ends 36 and 37 and the axial end faces 40 and 41 are hereby associated with the web 5, whereas the axial ends 38 and 39 and the axial end faces 42 and 43 are associated with the web 6. The gaps e are closed during installation of the journal bearing by applying an axial pressure to the elastomeric bearing body 4 so that, in the assembled state of the journal bearing 1, the axial end faces 40 and 42 axially bear against the annular wall 7 and the axial end faces 41 and 43 axially bear against the annular wall. 8 The closed gaps e are shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 4 and designated with the reference numeral 48.

[0063] FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the journal bearing 1, wherein it is evident that the carrier element 13 is composed of two half-shells 44 and 45 which are connected to each other during assembly of the journal bearing 1 by a snap connection and form in the interconnected state the carrier element 13. For this purpose, each of the half-shells has two snap-hooks 46 and two engagement contours 47, in which the snap hooks of the respective other half-shell can positively lock and are snapped in the assembled state of the carrier element 13.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0064] 1 journal bearing

[0065] 2 inner part

[0066] 3 outer sleeve

[0067] 4 elastomeric bearing body

[0068] 5 web

[0069] 6 web

[0070] 7 annular wall

[0071] 8 annular wall

[0072] 9 liquid

[0073] 10 chamber

[0074] 11 chamber

[0075] 12 channel

[0076] 13 carrier element

[0077] 14 metal body of the inner part

[0078] 15 plastic body of the inner part

[0079] 16 mounting hole of the inner part

[0080] 17 longitudinal center axis

[0081] 18 annular reinforcing member

[0082] 19 annular reinforcing member

[0083] 20 axial end region of the outer sleeve

[0084] 21 axial end region of the outer sleeve

[0085] 22 radially outer web end

[0086] 23 radially outer web end

[0087] 24 reinforcing plate

[0088] 25 reinforcing plate

[0089] 26 recess in carrier element

[0090] 27 recess in carrier element

[0091] 28 radial end face of the web

[0092] 29 radial end face of the web

[0093] 30 overflow lip

[0094] 31 overflow lip

[0095] 32 overflow lip

[0096] 33 overflow lip

[0097] 34 opening in carrier element

[0098] 35 opening in carrier element

[0099] 36 axial end of the web

[0100] 37 axial end of the web

[0101] 38 axial end of the web

[0102] 39 axial end of the web

[0103] 40 axial end face of the web

[0104] 41 axial end face of the web

[0105] 42 axial end face of the web

[0106] 43 axial end face of the web

[0107] 44 half-shell of the carrier element

[0108] 45 half-shell of the carrier element

[0109] 46 snap hook

[0110] 47 engagement contour

[0111] 48 closed gap

[0112] 29 axial lip end

[0113] 50 axial lip end

[0114] 51 axial contact surface

[0115] x axial direction

[0116] u circumferential direction

[0117] e gap/spacing