Patent Abstract:
A rolling bearing cage has at least U-shaped limited pockets for rolling bodies. In the rolling cage, the U-shaped delimitation of one of the pockets is configured by the bonded connection of two web elements on an annular circumferential element, the circumferential element is free of cavities and penetrations for a complete connection to sections of the web elements, and the elements are configured to have a shape adapted to each other for placing the elements in the intended position for the bonded connection such that the positions of the web elements on the circumferential element is predetermined in the circumferential direction and/or in the axial direction of the circumferential element.

Full Description:
TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a rolling bearing cage with pockets bordered at least in a U-shape for rolling bodies. 
       BACKGROUND DISCUSSION 
       [0002]    For example, DE 79 35 982 U1 discloses a rolling bearing cage which consists of two side parts and a plurality of separately manufactured web parts connected by welding or the like to the side parts, the web parts forming between themselves pockets for holding the rolling bodies. Here the side parts and web parts are made of flat-rolled or profile-rolled wire and the web parts are embossed for formation of stop surfaces for the rolling bodies. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    One object of this invention is to devise an improved rolling bearing cage with pockets bordered at least in a U-shape for rolling bodies, which cage can be produced especially precisely but also easily and thus economically. 
         [0004]    A rolling bearing cage with pockets bordered at least in a U-shape for rolling bodies includes the following features:
       The U-shaped boundary of one of the pockets is formed by bonded connection of two web elements on a ring-like peripheral element,   the peripheral element is free of cavities and penetrations for a fully peripheral connection to the sections of the web elements and   for proper positioning of the elements to one another for a bonded connection, the elements are made with a shape matched to one another such that the positions of the web elements on the peripheral element are predetermined in the peripheral direction and/or in the axial direction of the peripheral element.       
 
         [0008]    The subject matter of this invention is based on the finding that relative to the initially described rolling bearing cage according to DE 79 35 982 U1 the positions of the web elements on the peripheral element in the peripheral direction and/or in the axial direction of the peripheral element are predetermined by the indicated matched shaping of the elements in the corresponding assembly of the elements for bonded connection of the elements by the indicated shaping, so that as an inherent consequence of the indicated shaping the given geometry of the cage is exactly and easily maintained. In this respect, for the rolling bearing cage as claimed in DE 79 35 982 U1 positioning of the parts which are to be connected to one another is not supported by the shaping of the parts so that positioning within the framework of a welding process of the parts must be ensured. In this respect, for this invention the indicated process for connecting the elements to one another is relieved at least partially so that compared to DE 79 35 982 U1 the cage can be produced more easily, more quickly and thus more economically. Furthermore the invention is based on the finding that for positioning of the elements to one another, not as known from the prior art, it is necessary to make the peripheral element with cavities or penetrations into which the correspondingly made axial ends of the web elements are designed for insertion. Because the peripheral element as claimed in the invention is free of cavities and penetrations for a fully peripheral connection to sections of the web elements, the peripheral element can be in turn produced comparatively easily, quickly and thus economically. Here on the peripheral element for example bulges in the radial direction or recesses which extend in the axial direction are sufficient to advantageously ensure both the indicated positioning and also a sufficiently fixed connection between the elements. Of course the roller bearing cage as claimed in the invention compared to rolling bearing cages which are machined out of a hollow cylinder-like blank also offers the advantage that waste material is not formed by machining especially the cage pockets and thus advantageously material is saved compared to these methods. 
         [0009]    In one advantageous configuration the peripheral element on the one hand and the web elements on the other are made with different properties. Thus it is advantageously possible to pair different materials and for example depending on the application to produce less loaded elements from more economical material. Furthermore it is also possible to make one of the elements for high wear resistance from heat treated steel and to leave the other elements, for example for high toughness, untreated. 
         [0010]    In another advantageous configuration it is possible to make at least one of the elements coated. As a result of assembly of the rolling bearing cage from peripheral and web elements it is much simpler and thus also more economical to undertake only coating of individual elements, for example the web elements. The corresponding applies to another advantageous configuration in which on the surfaces of the web elements facing the rolling bodies for example impressions which are made droplet-shaped are provided in operation as lubricating pockets. Here the lubricating pockets can be arranged in one embodiment in the left axial half of the web element obliquely according to a line which runs from the right rolling bearing cage region obliquely to the center point of the rolling bearing and are made accordingly mirror-inverted in the right half. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0011]    Other advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below using the figures: 
           [0012]      FIGS. 1 and 2  in a perspective view show a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two peripheral elements with indentations for web elements with a uniform trapezoidal cross section in the connected and unconnected state of the elements, 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3 and 4  in a perspective view show a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two peripheral elements with bulges for web elements with a uniform trapezoidal cross section in the connected and unconnected state of the elements, 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5 and 6  in a perspective view show a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two peripheral elements with indentations for web elements with axial ends reinforced in the manner of a hammer head in the connected and unconnected state of the elements, 
           [0015]      FIGS. 7 and 8  in a perspective view show a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two ring-like peripheral elements with end-side, rectangle-like recesses for web elements with a uniform trapezoidal cross section in the connected and unconnected state of the elements, 
           [0016]      FIGS. 9 and 10  in a perspective view show a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two ring-like peripheral elements with end-side, rectangle-like recesses for web elements with axial ends reinforced in the manner of a hammer head in the connected and unconnected state of the elements, 
           [0017]      FIGS. 11 and 12  in a perspective view show a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two ring-like peripheral elements with end-side trapezoidal recesses which taper axially to the inside for web elements with the correspondingly trapezoidally thickened axial ends in the connected and unconnected state of the elements, 
           [0018]      FIGS. 13 and 14  in a perspective view show a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two ring-like peripheral elements and with web elements whose insides are made on the axial ends each with a shoulder for adjoining the outside edge of the peripheral elements, in the connected and unconnected state of the elements, 
           [0019]      FIGS. 15 and 16  in a perspective view show a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two ring-like peripheral elements and with web elements whose outsides are made on the axial ends each with a shoulder for adjoining the inside edge of the peripheral elements, in the connected and unconnected state of the elements, 
           [0020]      FIG. 17  shows in a perspective view a cylindrical roller bearing cage accordingly to the one in  FIG. 2  with additional lubricating pockets in the web elements, 
           [0021]      FIG. 18  shows in a perspective view one of the web elements of  FIG. 17  and 
           [0022]      FIGS. 19 and 20  in a perspective view show a tapered roller bearing cage with two peripheral elements with indentations for web elements with a uniform trapezoidal cross section in the connected and unconnected state of the elements. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show as one embodiment of the invention in a perspective view a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two peripheral elements  11  with indentations  12  for web elements  14  with a uniform trapezoidal cross section.  FIG. 1  shows the cage in the still unconnected state of the elements  11  and  14 , and  FIG. 2  shows the cage after connecting the elements  11  and  14 . Here the indentations  12  on the peripheral elements  11  in conjunction with the web elements  14  shaped according to the indentations  12  when the elements  11  and  14  are assembled for welding of the web elements  14  on the peripheral elements  11  provide for prepositioning of the web elements  14  in the peripheral direction of the peripheral elements  11 . 
         [0024]    Here the elements  11  and  14  are produced from an iron material, especially from a steel wire. In other embodiments however also other materials can be used and instead of welding also soldering or cementing can be used. Furthermore, especially also the web elements  14  can be made with a coating for achieving a special sliding behavior, especially in the region of their contact surfaces toward the rolling bodies. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show as another embodiment of the invention in a perspective view a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two peripheral elements  21  with bulges  22  for web elements  24  with a uniform trapezoidal cross section. Here  FIG. 3  shows the cage in the still unconnected state of the elements  21  and  24  and  FIG. 4  shows the cage after connecting the elements  21  and  24 . Otherwise what was described above for  FIGS. 1 and 2  applies accordingly to the cage of  FIGS. 3 and 4  accordingly. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show as another embodiment of the invention in a perspective view a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two peripheral elements  31  with indentations  32  for web elements  34  with axial ends reinforced in the manner of a hammer head. Here  FIG. 5  shows the cage in the still unconnected state of the elements  31  and  34  and  FIG. 6  shows the cage after connecting the elements  31  and  34 . Here the cage of  FIGS. 5 and 6  differs from the one of  FIGS. 1 and 2  essentially in that the web elements  34  on their axial ends are reinforced in the manner of a hammer head, and also the indentations  32  matched thereto are made accordingly wider, with which an especially large connecting surface between the web elements  34  and the peripheral elements  31  and thus an especially strong connection and stiff execution of the entire cage can be achieved. Otherwise what was described above for  FIGS. 1 to 4  applies. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show as another embodiment of the invention in a perspective view a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two ring-like peripheral elements  41  with end-side, rectangle-like recesses  42  for web elements  44  with a uniform trapezoidal cross section.  FIG. 7  shows the cage in the still unconnected state of the elements  41  and  44  and  FIG. 8  shows the cage after connecting the elements  41  and  44 . Here the recesses  42  in the peripheral elements  41  when the web elements  44  are inserted into the peripheral elements  41  provide for welding of the elements  41  and  44  to one another, for prepositioning of the web elements  44  in the peripheral direction, but also in the axial direction of the peripheral elements  41 . Differently than in the cages according to  FIGS. 1 to 6 , thus in the cage as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  the distance between the two peripheral elements  41  is fixed at the same time since the web elements  44  are inserted so-to-speak between the peripheral elements  41 . Otherwise what was described above for  FIGS. 1 to 6  applies. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 9 and 10  as another embodiment of the invention in a perspective view show a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two ring-like peripheral elements  51  with end-side, rectangle-like recesses  52  for web elements  54  with axial ends reinforced in the manner of a hammer head.  FIG. 9  shows the cage in the still unconnected state of the elements  51  and  54  and  FIG. 10  shows the cage after connecting the elements  51  and  54 . Compared to the cage of  FIGS. 7 and 8  the cage as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  differs essentially by the hammer head-like reinforcements on the axial ends of the web elements  54 . Otherwise what was described above for  FIGS. 7 to 8  applies accordingly. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 11 and 12  as another embodiment of the invention in a perspective view show a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two ring-like peripheral elements  61  with end-side trapezoidal recesses  62  which taper axially to the inside for web elements  64  with the correspondingly trapezoidally thickened axial ends.  FIG. 11  shows the cage in the still uninstalled state of the elements  61  and  64  and  FIG. 12  shows the cage after connecting the elements  61  and  64 . Compared to the cage of  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the cage as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  differs essentially by the recesses  62  as well as the ends of the web elements  64 , which ends are thickened in the manner of a hammer head, in addition, seen in the peripheral direction, being made trapezoidal, by which especially advantageously after assembly of the elements  61  and  64  the elements  61  and  64  in the axial direction as a result of the positive connection between the axial ends of the web elements  64  and the peripheral elements  61  are held tightly together. After welding of the elements  61  and  64  to one another advantageously an especially securely joined cylindrical roller bearing cage results. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 13 and 14  in a perspective view as another embodiment of the invention show a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two ring-like peripheral elements  71  and with web elements  74  whose insides are made on the axial ends each with a shoulder  75  for adjoining the outside edge of the peripheral elements  71 .  FIG. 13  shows the cage in the still unconnected state of the elements  71  and  74  and  FIG. 14  shows the cage after connecting the elements  71  and  74 . In the cage as shown in  FIGS. 13 to 14 , the elements  71  and  74  are shaped only such that the position of the web elements  74  in the axial direction of the peripheral elements  71  is predetermined and thus only the distance of the two peripheral elements  71  to one another is fixed, conversely the correct distribution of web elements  74  in the peripheral direction must be ensured by external measures, for example when the elements  71  and  74  are connected. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 15 and 16  as another embodiment of the invention in a perspective view show a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two ring-like peripheral elements  81  and with web elements  84  whose outsides are now made on the axial ends each with a shoulder  85  for adjoining the inside edge of the peripheral elements  81 .  FIG. 15  shows the cage in turn in the still unconnected state of the elements  81  and  84  and  FIG. 16  shows the cage after connecting the elements  81  and  84 . Otherwise what was described above for  FIGS. 13 and 14  applies accordingly. 
         [0032]      FIG. 17  shows as another embodiment of the invention in a perspective view a cylindrical roller bearing cage with two peripheral elements  91  with indentations for web elements  94  with lubricating pockets  96 . Aside from the lubricating pockets  96  the cage of  FIG. 17  corresponds to that of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 18  shows an enlarged perspective representation of one of the web elements  94  with the lubricating pockets  96 . The lubricating pockets  96  in the left axial half of the web elements  94  are arranged obliquely, parallel to a line which runs from the right cage area obliquely to the center point of the cage, are made accordingly mirror-inverted in the right half, and one lubricating pocket  96  is radially oriented in the middle. Here the lubricating pockets  96  are made droplet-shaped. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 19 and 20  as one embodiment of the invention in a perspective view show a tapered roller bearing cage with two peripheral elements  101  and  102  with indentations for web elements  104  with a uniform trapezoidal cross section.  FIG. 19  shows the cage in turn in the still unconnected state of the elements  101 ,  102  and  104  and  FIG. 20  shows the cage after connecting the elements  101 ,  102  and  104 . Aside from the fact that in the cage of  FIGS. 19 and 20  the two peripheral elements  101  and  102  are made with different diameters and the web elements  104  are made angled in the transition from their axial ends to their middle area, the cage of  FIGS. 19 and 20  corresponds to that of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Here what was described otherwise for  FIGS. 1 and 2  applies accordingly to the cage for  FIGS. 19 and 20 . Of course what was stated otherwise for  FIGS. 3 to 18  can be applied to a correspondingly made tapered roller bearing cage, 
         [0034]    Finally, what was described above for  FIGS. 1 to 20  on the example of window cages for a single-row cylindrical or tapered roller radial bearing can also be applied to other roller bearings, for example spherical bearings, CARB bearings and also spherical roller bearings. but also to bearings with comb-like cages, to roller bearings with several rows of rolls and also to thrust bearings.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5