Patent Application
20150152919
The present disclosure relates to a bearing and bearing cage with axial retention features, in particular, a bearing ring and bearing cage with mating features to limit axial movement of the cage relative to the bearing ring.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a bearing assembly including: a cylindrical outer ring including: first and second axial ends; a radially inner circumferential surface and a radially outer circumferential surface; a bearing race on the radially inner circumferential surface; and, at least one circumferential groove extending around the radially inner circumferential surface of the outer ring, between the bearing race and at least one of the first and second axial ends; a cylindrical rolling element guide radially aligned within the outer ring including; a cylindrical wall having a radially inner circumferential surface and a radially outer circumferential surface and first and second axial ends; a plurality of slots in the cylindrical wall arranged to retain rolling elements; and at least one circumferential protrusion extending at least 180 degrees around the radially outer cylindrical surface of the cylindrical wall between the slots and the first or second axial ends of the rolling element guide; and the circumferential protrusion radially and axially aligned with the circumferential groove and at least partially mating with each other, such that relative axial movement is limited between the outer ring and the rolling element guide.
Various embodiments are disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the disclosure. It is to be understood that the disclosure as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.
Furthermore, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It should be understood that any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the disclosure.
To clarify the spatial terminology, objects 12, 13, and 14 are used. An axial surface, such as surface 15 of object 12, is formed by a plane co-planar with axis 11. Axis 11 passes through planar surface 15; however any planar surface co-planar with axis 11 is an axial surface. A radial surface, such as surface 16 of object 13, is formed by a plane orthogonal to axis 11 and co-planar with a radius, for example, radius 17. Radius 17 passes through planar surface 16; however any planar surface co-planar with radius 17 is a radial surface. Surface 18 of object 14 forms a circumferential, or cylindrical, surface. For example, circumference 19 passes through surface 18. As a further example, axial movement is parallel to axis 11, radial movement is orthogonal to axis 11, and circumferential movement is parallel to circumference 19. Rotational movement is with respect to axis 11. The adverbs “axially,” “radially,” and “circumferentially” refer to orientations parallel to axis 11, radius 17, and circumference 19, respectively. For example, an axially disposed surface or edge extends in direction AD, a radially disposed surface or edge extends in direction R, and a circumferentially disposed surface or edge extends in direction CD.
Protrusion 60 and groove 45 have mating cross sectional shapes, with groove 45 having a concave form and protrusion 60 having a convex form of whatever suitable cross-sectional shape is used. For example, in
Bearing assembly 20 also includes seal 80 retained in seal recess 81 in outer ring 30. Seal 80 is shown only at axial end 34 of outer ring 30, however, one of skill in the art will understand that seals may be at both ends, either end, or there may be no seals without varying the scope of the present application. It should be understood that cage 25 can include multiple protrusions 60 on each end or a combination of multiple protrusions at one end and one or no protrusions at the other end, with an equal number of mating grooves 45 on outer ring 30 without varying the scope of the present application. By varying the number of protrusions 60 from one axial end to the other, the protrusions may also be used as orientation features during assembly, if needed. It should also be understood that cage 25 is not limited to the configuration of slots 36 or rolling elements 35 in
It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
