METHOD FOR PRODUCING A COMPOSITE ROLLING BEARING

Abstract

A method for producing a composite rolling bearing (1) having a bearing flange (3) and at least one rolling bearing (4, 5) held on the bearing flange (3) by an inner ring (6, 7). In order to be able to fix the inner ring (7) on the bearing flange (3) with axial preloading without expansion, the inner ring (7) is acted upon by a holding-down device (23) that radially holds down the inner ring (7) and is preloaded against the inner ring (7) by a regulated axial force (F), and, by way of an advancing cone (21) introduced radially on the inside axially into the bearing flange (3), material (11) present on the bearing flange (3) is displaced radially towards the outside into a recessed formation (15, 16) in the inner ring (7).

Claims

1. A method for producing a composite rolling bearing having a bearing flange and at least one rolling bearing held on the bearing flange by an inner ring, the method comprising: providing the inner ring on a portion of the bearing flange; acting on the inner ring by a holding-down device radially holding down the inner ring and preloaded against the inner ring by a controlled axial force; and displacing, by way of a feed cone introduced radially on an inside of the bearing flange axially into the bearing flange, a reserve material at the portion of the bearing flange radially outwardly into a recessed formation in the inner ring, the portion of the bearing flange including an outermost inner diameter and the reserve material protruding radially inward from the outermost inner diameter before the displacing, the inner ring including an innermost inner diameter and being offset radially outward from the innermost inner diameter at the recessed formation before the displacing.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the reserve material is displaced at least partially by rollers arranged rotatably on the feed cone.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein an angle of inclination between an axis of rotation of the rollers of the feed cone and an axis of rotation of the composite rolling bearing is set in accordance with a radial variation in an axial width of the reserve material.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the holding-down device is centered on a centering chamfer provided radially on an outside of the inner ring.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the reserve material includes a material overhang formed radially on the inside of the bearing flange on one end of the bearing flange, the recessed formation being a chamfer radially on an inside of the inner ring on one end of the inner ring, the material overhang being displaced into the chamfer.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the reserve material includes a material overhang formed radially on the inside of the bearing flange at an axial distance from one end of the bearing flange, the recessed formation being at an axial distance from one end of the inner ring, the material overhang being displaced into the recessed formation.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the holding-down device fits over the inner ring radially on an inside of the inner ring and radially on an outside of the inner ring.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein an annular collar is formed at an end of the bearing flange at an axial distance from an end of the inner ring.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein end toothing is introduced into the annular collar.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a radially extending wall of the holding-down device and the recessed formation delimit a space receiving the reserve material during the displacing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The invention is explained in greater detail by means of the illustrative embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, where:

[0015] FIG. 1 shows an unprocessed form of a composite rolling bearing in partial section,

[0016] FIG. 2 shows the unprocessed form of FIG. 1 with the forming tool applied, in partial section,

[0017] FIG. 3 shows the composite rolling bearing in the finished state in partial section,

[0018] FIG. 4 shows a composite rolling bearing modified as compared with the composite rolling bearing in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the unprocessed form, having end toothing to be formed, in partial section,

[0019] FIG. 5 shows a partial section of the composite rolling bearing in FIG. 4 in the finished state,

[0020] FIG. 6 shows an unprocessed form of a composite rolling bearing with end toothing introduced even before the process of material displacement, in partial section,

[0021] FIG. 7 shows an unprocessed form of a composite rolling bearing with the holding-down means fitted over the inner ring radially on the inside and outside, in partial section,

[0022] FIG. 8 shows an unprocessed form of a composite rolling bearing with a material overhang stepped radially toward the outside from the end of the bearing flange, in partial section,

[0023] FIG. 9 shows an unprocessed form of a composite rolling bearing with material overhangs formed relative to the axis of rotation of the inner ring by steeply angled rollers of the feed cone, in partial section,

[0024] FIG. 10 shows an unprocessed form of a composite rolling bearing with a wall of the holding-down means which is set back axially relative to an end of the inner ring, in partial section,

[0025] and

[0026] FIG. 11 shows a partial section of an unprocessed form of a composite rolling bearing having holding-down means centered conically on the inner ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a partial section through the composite rolling bearing 1 in unprocessed form arranged around the axis 2 of rotation. The bearing flange 3 accommodates two rolling bearings 4, 5, which are arranged axially adjacent to one another and the inner rings 6, 7 of which are mounted without play, by means of an interference fit, against the axial stop 9, on the flange part 8 arranged along and around the axis 2 of rotation.

[0028] The reserve material 11 in the form of the material overhangs 12, 13 is extended out of the cylindrical surface 10 radially inward and in a ring over the circumference of the inner circumference of the bearing flange 3. At the end 14 of the bearing flange 3, material overhang 12 has a substantially wedge shaped cross section which widens radially in the direction of the end 14. Material overhang 13 is at an axial distance from the end 14 in the direction of the axial stop 9.

[0029] Recessed formations 15, 16 complementary to the material overhangs 12, 13 are provided in the inner ring 7, which are off-tool features or are machined into the inner ring 7 subsequently. The ends 14, 17 of the bearing flange 3 and of the inner ring 7 are formed axially flush, with the result that recessed formation 15 is formed as an outward-opening chamfer 18. Recessed formation 16 is designed as an annular groove 19.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the unprocessed form of the composite rolling bearing 1 with the roll-forming tool 20 (shown schematically) applied at the beginning of the roll-forming process, said tool being formed by the feed cone 21 with the rollers 22, such as forming rollers, mounted rotatably thereon, the holding-down means 23 and the corresponding bearing arrangements (not shown) for the composite rolling bearing 1, the feed cone 21 and the holding-down means 23 as well as driving and control devices thereof

[0031] At the beginning of the roll-forming process, the holding-down means 23 is applied to the ends 14, 17 of the bearing flange 3 and of the inner ring 7, with a selected axial force F, which is controlled during the roll-forming process, being input, thus enabling a predetermined preload on the inner rings 6, 7 relative to the axial stop 9 of the bearing flange 3 to be set.

[0032] The holding-down means 23 fits around the outer circumference 24 of the inner ring 7 by means of the shoulder 25, which is extended axially relative to the end 17 and which can be in the form of a ring or of a ring segment, and thus fixes the inner ring 7 radially on the outer circumference 26 of the flange part 8, preventing the latter from undergoing any radial expansion in the subsequent roll-forming process.

[0033] During the roll-forming process, the feed cone 21 with the rollers 22 mounted thereon in an axially fixed manner which allows rotation about the axis 27 of rotation is moved axially, as a result of which the reserve material in the form of the material overhangs 12, 13 is rolled radially inward as the rollers 22 rotate, beginning with material overhang 12.

[0034] As can be seen from FIG. 3, the rolled-in material in the final state of the roll-forming process has displaced material 28, 28a displaced material from the flange part 8 into the recessed formations 15, 16 in the finished composite rolling bearing 1. In this case, material from the flange part 8 is displaced into the recessed formations 15, 16, with the result that, with a preload being applied to the holding-down means 23, the inner rings 6, 7 are fixed axially on the bearing flange 3 with a constant preload against the axial stop 9.

[0035] After the roll-forming process, the surface 10 of the inner circumference of the bearing flange is substantially cylindrical, and the feed cone 21 and the holding-down means 23 are moved back.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a variant of a composite rolling bearing 1a in unprocessed form with a roll-forming tool 20a adapted thereto. Here, the inner ring 7a is extended axially relative to the flange part 8a of the bearing flange 3a. The material overhang 12a is arranged at the end 14a of the flange part 8a, being extended radially inward. The inner ring 7a has a corresponding recessed formation 15a. The holding-down means 23a is designed as a die 30 in the form of axial toothing on its wall 29 facing the end 14a.

[0037] At the beginning of the roll-forming process, the holding-down means 23a is subjected to the axial force F, and the feed cone 21a is moved axially, rotating the rollers 22a. As a result, the material overhang 12a is displaced radially outward, as a result of which displaced material flows out of the flange part 8a into the recessed formation 15a on the inner ring 7a. During this process, end toothing is formed on the end 14a by the die 30.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows the finished composite rolling bearing 1a of FIG. 4 with end toothing 31, which has been formed in the flange part 8a in relation to the ends 14a and 17a of the flange part 8a and of the inner ring 7a respectively and can form a connection for conjoint rotation with another component, e.g. a drive shaft in the case of a wheel bearing.

[0039] FIG. 6 shows another variant of a composite rolling bearing 1b having end toothing 31a already provided before the roll-forming process. Consequently, only the material overhang 13b at an axial distance from the end 14b on the flange part 8b of the bearing flange 3b and a correspondingly oppositely situated recessed formation 16b on the inner ring 7b are provided.

[0040] FIG. 7 shows a variant in the form of the composite rolling bearing 1c, over the inner ring 7c of which the holding-down means 23c fits from both sides, i.e. radially on the inside and radially on the outside. Here, the wall 29c of the holding-down means 23c is provided axially with the recess 32 opposite the end 17c of the inner ring 7c, with the result that, after the displacement of the material overhang 12c, the recessed formation 15c is filled with displaced material in such a way that the inner ring 7c forms the overhang 33 axially relative to the flange part 8c of the bearing flange 3c.

[0041] FIG. 8 shows a variant in the form of the composite rolling bearing 1d in which the material overhangs 12d, 13d of the flange part 8d of the bearing flange 3d merge into one another in a stepped manner. The recessed formations 15d, 16d are provided radially opposite in a complementary manner on the inner ring 7d.

[0042] Whereas the rollers 22 in the preceding figures displace the material overhangs radially outward substantially perpendicularly to the axis 2 of rotation (FIG. 1), a variant of a roll-forming tool 20d for displacing the material overhangs 12d, 13d of the flange part 8d of the composite rolling bearing 1d of FIG. 8 is shown in FIG. 9. The axes 27d of rotation ring 1d of FIG. 8 is shown. The axes 27d of rotation of the of the rollers 22d accommodated in the feed cone 21d have a large angle of inclination, e.g. between 15 and 25, relative to the axis 2 of rotation of the composite rolling bearing 1d, leading to the rollers 22d displacing the material overhangs 12d, 13d obliquely, as a result of which the expenditure of force for displacement of material is lower. In the final state of the roll-forming process, a displacement surface inclined relative to the surface 10d of the flange part 8d is provided, forming an undercut which can be used for other purposes and on which other components can be snapped or hooked.

[0043] FIG. 10 shows a variant in the form of a composite rolling bearing 1e having ends 14e, 17e of the flange part 8e of the bearing flange 3e and of the inner ring 7e, respectively, which are axially spaced apart, wherein the flange part 8e is extended axially relative to the inner ring 7e. Accordingly, the holding-down means 23e is provided with an axially stepped wall 29e to form the recessed formation 15e and to subject the inner ring 7e to the axial force F.

[0044] FIG. 11 shows a variant in the form of the composite rolling bearing if in which the inner ring has the centering chamfer 34 on the outer circumference 24f thereof for centering the holding-down means 23f. Accordingly, the holding-down means has the centering cone 35.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0045] 1 composite rolling bearing [0046] 1a composite rolling bearing [0047] 1b composite rolling bearing [0048] 1c composite rolling bearing [0049] 1d composite rolling bearing [0050] 1e composite rolling bearing [0051] 1f composite rolling bearing [0052] 2 axis of rotation [0053] 3 bearing flange [0054] 3a bearing flange [0055] 3b bearing flange [0056] 3c bearing flange [0057] 3d bearing flange [0058] 3e bearing flange [0059] 4 rolling bearing [0060] 5 rolling bearing [0061] 6 inner ring [0062] 7 inner ring [0063] 7a inner ring [0064] 7b inner ring [0065] 7c inner ring [0066] 7d inner ring [0067] 7e inner ring [0068] 7f inner ring [0069] 8 flange part [0070] 8a flange part [0071] 8b flange part [0072] 8c flange part [0073] 8d flange part [0074] 8e flange part [0075] 9 axial stop [0076] 10 surface [0077] 10d surface [0078] 11 reserve material [0079] 12 material overhang [0080] 12a material overhang [0081] 12c material overhang [0082] 12d material overhang [0083] 13 material overhang [0084] 13b material overhang [0085] 13d material overhang [0086] 14 end [0087] 14a end [0088] 14b end [0089] 14e end [0090] 15 recessed formation [0091] 15a recessed formation [0092] 15c recessed formation [0093] 15d recessed formation [0094] 15e recessed formation [0095] 16 recessed formation [0096] 16b recessed formation [0097] 16d recessed formation [0098] 17 end [0099] 17a end [0100] 17c end [0101] 17e end [0102] 18 chamfer [0103] 19 annular groove [0104] 20 roll-forming tool [0105] 20a roll-forming tool [0106] 20d roll-forming tool [0107] 21 feed cone [0108] 21a feed cone [0109] 21d feed cone [0110] 22 roller [0111] 22a roller [0112] 22d roller [0113] 23 holding-down means [0114] 23a holding-down means [0115] 23c holding-down means [0116] 23e holding-down means [0117] 23f holding-down means [0118] 24 outer circumference [0119] 24f outer circumference [0120] 25 shoulder [0121] 26 outer circumference [0122] 27 axis of rotation [0123] 27d axis of rotation [0124] 28 displaced material [0125] 28a displaced material [0126] 29 wall [0127] 29c wall [0128] 29e wall [0129] 30 die [0130] 31 end toothing [0131] 31a end toothing [0132] 32 recess [0133] 33 overhang [0134] 34 centering chamfer [0135] 35 centering cone [0136] F axial force [0137] angle of inclination