阅读说明：本技术 具有圆柱形滚动元件的轴承组件 (Bearing assembly with cylindrical rolling elements ) 是由 S.伯拉德 J-P.克劳维林 V.古雅德 P.马蒂厄斯 A.奥马尔 F.波吉特 于 2020-02-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种具有圆柱形滚动元件(2)的轴承组件(1),该轴承组件包括内环(3)、外环(4)和径向布置在内滚道(5)和外滚道(9)之间的多个圆柱形滚动元件(2)。内环(3)包括相对于内滚道(5)突出的环形肩部(6),在所述环形肩部(6)和内滚道(5)之间限定有圆弧形式的圆角(8)。外环(4)包括相对于外部滚道(9)突出的环形肩部(10),外环(4)的所述环形肩部(10)轴向容纳在内环(3)的环形肩部(6)和圆柱形滚动元件(2)之间。外环(4)的所述环形肩部(10)在内环(3)上限定的所述圆角(8)的紧邻处设有环形倒角(13)。(The invention relates to a bearing assembly (1) with cylindrical rolling elements (2), comprising an inner ring (3), an outer ring (4) and a plurality of cylindrical rolling elements (2) arranged radially between an inner raceway (5) and an outer raceway (9). The inner ring (3) comprises an annular shoulder (6) projecting relative to the inner raceway (5), between which annular shoulder (6) and inner raceway (5) a fillet (8) in the form of a circular arc is defined. The outer ring (4) comprises an annular shoulder (10) projecting with respect to the outer raceway (9), said annular shoulder (10) of the outer ring (4) being axially housed between the annular shoulder (6) of the inner ring (3) and the cylindrical rolling elements (2). The annular shoulder (10) of the outer ring (4) is provided with an annular chamfer (13) in the immediate vicinity of the fillet (8) defined on the inner ring (3).)

1. Bearing assembly (1) with cylindrical rolling elements (2), comprising an inner ring (3) provided with a cylindrical outer surface (5) forming an inner raceway, an outer ring (4) provided with a cylindrical inner surface (9) forming an outer raceway, the two rings (3, 4) being coaxial along a central axis (X1), and a plurality of cylindrical rolling elements (2) arranged radially between the inner raceway (5) and the outer raceway (9),

characterized in that the inner ring (3) comprises at one axial end of the inner raceway (5): an annular shoulder (6) projecting relative to the inner raceway (5) and directed in a radial direction away from the central axis (X1); a fillet (8) in the form of a circular arc defined between the annular shoulder (6) and the inner raceway (5); the outer ring (4) comprises, at one axial end of the outer raceway (9), an annular shoulder (10) projecting with respect to the outer raceway (9) and directed radially towards the central axis (X1), said annular shoulder (10) of the outer ring (4) being axially housed between the annular shoulder (6) of the inner ring (3) and the cylindrical rolling elements (2), said annular shoulder (10) of the outer ring (4) having a first lateral face (11) facing towards the outside of the bearing assembly (1) and axially facing the lateral face (7) of the annular shoulder (6) of the inner ring (3), said annular shoulder (10) of the outer ring (4) having a second lateral face (12) facing towards the inside of the bearing assembly (1) and forming an axial abutment surface for the cylindrical rolling elements (2); and said first lateral face (11) of the annular shoulder (10) of the outer ring (4) is provided with an annular chamfer (13) in the immediate vicinity of said fillet (8) defined on the inner ring (3).

2. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner ring (3) is provided, at the other axial end of the inner raceway (5) and on an axially opposite side of the annular shoulder (6), with a retaining washer (14) which is firmly mounted on the inner ring (3), the retaining washer (14) having a lateral surface (15) facing towards the inside of the bearing assembly (1) and forming an axial abutment surface for the cylindrical rolling elements (2).

3. An assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the outer ring (4) comprises, at the other axial end of the outer raceway (9) and on the axially opposite side of the annular shoulder (10), an annular groove (16) which retains a portion of the retaining washer (14).

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the outer ring (4) comprises an annular lip (17) which radially surrounds a portion of the retaining washer (14).

Technical Field

The invention belongs to the field of needle roller bearing assemblies.

Background

It is known practice to use needle roller bearing assemblies in many industrial, automotive or aerospace applications. Such assemblies typically include an inner ring having a cylindrical outer surface forming an inner raceway, an outer ring having a cylindrical inner surface forming an outer raceway, and a plurality of cylindrical pins radially disposed between the inner and outer raceways, the two rings being coaxial. One of the main advantages of this type of assembly is that it has an optimum radial compactness due to the small diameter of the needle, while being able to support relatively large radial loads. However, in the construction of the assembly, it is necessary to provide means for ensuring that the needle is held between the rings in both axial directions.

To meet this need, it is known practice to provide a washer mounted axially between a shoulder of the inner ring, which projects radially with respect to the inner raceway, and the lateral surface of the outer ring. However, the angle of connection between the shoulder and the inner raceway is affected by the load, and more specifically the region susceptible to tension. This may lead to faster fatigue of the inner ring at this location, with a significant risk of breakage and a shorter service life.

It is known practice to provide rounded corners with a connection radius that is as large as possible. However, providing a satisfactory shape for the fillet is a particularly complicated matter in view of the compactness, weight and radial loads that need to be supported.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention seeks to remedy the above-mentioned drawbacks.

More specifically, the present invention aims to provide a bearing assembly which is cheaper, easy to manufacture, has an optimum compactness capable of supporting significant radial loads, and has a longer service life.

The invention relates to a bearing assembly with cylindrical rolling elements, comprising an inner ring provided with a cylindrical outer surface forming an inner raceway, an outer ring provided with a cylindrical inner surface forming an outer raceway, and a plurality of cylindrical rolling elements arranged radially between the inner and outer raceways, the two rings being coaxial along a central axis.

According to the invention, the inner ring comprises at one axial end of the inner raceway: an annular shoulder projecting relative to the inner raceway and directed in a radial direction away from the central axis, a fillet being defined between the annular shoulder and the inner raceway in the form of a circular arc. The outer ring comprises, at one axial end of the outer raceway, an annular shoulder projecting with respect to the outer raceway and directed radially towards the central axis, said annular shoulder of the outer ring being axially housed between the annular shoulder of the inner ring and the cylindrical rolling elements, said annular shoulder of the outer ring having a first lateral face facing the outside of the bearing assembly and axially facing the lateral face of the annular shoulder of the inner ring, said annular shoulder of the outer ring having a second lateral face facing the inside of the bearing assembly and forming an axial abutment surface for the rolling elements. Said first lateral face of the annular shoulder of the outer ring is provided with an annular chamfer in the immediate vicinity of said fillet defined on the inner ring.

According to further advantageous but not mandatory features of the invention, such an assembly may also comprise the following features, alone or in any technically feasible combination:

the inner ring is provided with a fixed washer, firmly mounted on said inner ring, at the other axial end of the inner raceway and on an axially opposite side of the annular shoulder, said washer having a lateral surface facing towards the interior of the bearing assembly and forming an axial abutment surface for the rolling elements.

The outer ring includes an annular groove at the other axial end of the outer raceway and on an axially opposite side of the annular shoulder, the annular groove retaining a portion of the retaining washer.

The outer ring includes an annular lip radially surrounding a portion of the retaining washer.

Drawings

The invention will be better understood from reading the following description, which is given by way of non-limiting example only.

The description is given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is an axial cross-section of a bearing assembly with cylindrical rolling elements according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a bearing assembly with cylindrical rolling elements 2, having the general reference numeral 1.

The assembly 1 comprises a plurality of cylindrical rolling elements housed between an inner ring 3 and an outer ring 4.

In the normal operating mode, the rings 3, 4 are coaxial about the central axis X1 of the assembly 1.

The inner ring 3 comprises a cylindrical outer surface 5 which forms the inner raceway of the cylindrical rolling elements 2.

The inner ring 3 further comprises an annular shoulder 6 projecting radially with respect to the inner raceway 5. The shoulder 6 extends in a radial direction away from the central axis X1. The shoulder 6 defines an inner lateral surface 7 facing axially towards the rolling element 2.

A fillet 8 is defined between the annular shoulder 6 and the inner raceway 5 of the inner ring 3. The fillet is in the form of a circular arc in axial cross-section and has a defined radius in order to limit the tension in this region in the event of strong radial loads on the assembly 1.

The outer ring 4 comprises a cylindrical inner surface 9 which forms the outer raceway of the cylindrical rolling elements 2.

The rings 3, 4 are concentric. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the ring is solid, that is to say obtained by removing material from a metal tube, rod, forged part or rolled blank by machining or grinding. The rings 3, 4 are advantageously made of metal, for example steel. Advantageously, the rings 3, 4 may have been subjected to a heat treatment and/or a surface treatment to improve their mechanical and structural properties.

Each cylindrical rolling element 2 extends along an axis parallel to the central axis X1 and is housed in a radial space defined between the inner and outer raceways 5 and 9. According to an embodiment not shown, the cylindrical rolling elements 2 may be regularly spaced circumferentially by annular retaining cages.

According to one embodiment, the inner ring 3 is stationary and the outer ring 4 rotates. Alternatively, the inner ring 3 rotates while the outer ring 4 is stationary.

According to one embodiment, the inner ring 3 is constituted by a shaft provided with a cylindrical outer surface portion forming an inner raceway 5 for the cylindrical rolling elements 2.

According to the invention, the outer ring 4 also comprises an annular shoulder 10 projecting radially with respect to the outer raceway 9. Shoulder 10 extends radially towards central axis X1 of the assembly and thus towards inner ring 3.

The shoulder 10 of the outer ring 4 has an outer lateral face 11 directed axially towards the outside of the assembly 1, and an inner lateral face 12 directed axially towards the inside of the assembly 1 and the cylindrical rolling elements 2.

The shoulder 10 of the outer ring 4 is axially housed between the shoulder 6 of the inner ring 3 and the cylindrical rolling elements 2. The outer lateral surface 11 of the shoulder 10 of the outer ring 4 axially faces the inner lateral surface 7 of the shoulder 6 of the inner ring 3. The inner lateral surface 12 of the shoulder 10 of the outer ring 4 forms an abutment surface of the cylindrical rolling element 2 in the first axial direction.

The outer lateral surface 11 of the shoulder 10 of the outer ring 4 is provided with an annular chamfer 13. The chamfer 13 makes it possible to free up space between the inner ring 3 and the outer ring 4 so that the shoulder 10 is immediately adjacent to the fillet 8.

According to the invention, the bearing assembly 1 does not require any additional parts to form the abutment of the cylindrical rolling elements 2 in the first axial direction, this function being achieved by the shoulder 10 of the outer ring 4. The outer ring 4 itself is held in this first axial direction by a shoulder 6 of the inner ring 3.

The dimensions of the fillet 8 and the chamfer 13 are such that the rings 3, 4 can be assembled as compactly as possible, while ensuring sufficient space to determine the dimensions of the fillet. Thus, any feasible shape and radius of curvature may be provided for supporting as reliably as possible the loads normally applied radially on the component 1, in particular in the region of the rounded corners 8.

Furthermore, the inner ring 3 is provided at the other axial end of the inner raceway 5 and on the axially opposite side of the annular shoulder 6 with a retaining washer 14, which retaining washer 14 is firmly mounted on said inner ring 3.

For example, the washer 14 is firmly fastened by screwing the threaded hole of said washer 14 onto the threaded surface of the inner ring 3. According to a further alternative, the gasket 6 may be welded, glued or fitted in an annular groove provided on the outside of the inner ring 3, or in any other technically feasible way.

The retaining washer 14 comprises an inner lateral surface 15 facing towards the inside of the bearing assembly 1 and towards the cylindrical rolling elements 2. The inner lateral surface 15 forms an abutment surface for the rolling element 2 in the second axial direction. The cylindrical rolling elements 2 are thus held axially between the inner raceway 5 and the outer raceway 9 in a first axial direction by the first surface 12 and in a second axial direction by the second surface 15.

Furthermore, the outer ring 4 includes, at the other axial end of the outer raceway 9 and on the axially opposite side of the annular shoulder 10, an annular groove 16, the annular groove 16 retaining a portion of the retaining washer 14. The outer ring 4 comprises an annular lip 17 radially surrounding a portion of the retaining washer 14. The surfaces defined by the groove 16 and the lip 17 and facing the corresponding surfaces of the retaining washer 14 form a narrow passage capable of limiting the intrusion of contaminants, particles, water into the radial space between the rings 3, 4. This arrangement makes it possible to ensure that the bearing assembly 1 is sealed and to prevent premature deterioration of the mating bearing surfaces of the cylindrical rolling elements 2, the inner raceway 5 and the outer raceway 9. Thereby improving the efficiency and service life of the bearing assembly 1.

Furthermore, all or only some of the technical features of the various embodiments may be combined with each other. Thus, the bearing assembly can be adjusted in terms of cost, performance, and ease of use.