Roller bearing

Abstract

A roller bearing assembly for supporting a shaft axially and radially in a rack includes a roller bearing with a carrier, a portion of which is supported at the rack with an element with elastomeric properties being interposed between a support for the rack and the portion of the carrier. In order to indicate a roller bearing, which supports the shaft axially and radially, and makes an inclined position of the shaft possible without causing straining of the system of shaft, roller bearing and rack, the element with elastomeric properties, viewed in the tangential (circumferential) direction of the roller bearing, has at least a first region, the stiffness of which is different from that of the remaining tangential (circumferential) region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken through an inventive roller bearing;

FIG. 2 is a view of an element with elastomeric properties in the direction of the arrow x in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through a support of a roller bearing with elements with elastomeric properties disposed axially on both sides.

Claims

1.-18. (canceled)

19. A roller bearing assembly for supporting a shaft axially and radially in a rack, the roller bearing assembly comprising: a roller bearing;a carrier axially and radially surrounding said roller bearing, said carrier including a bearing ring; andat least one element having elastomeric properties being interposed between a support for the rack and a portion of said carrier, said element having elastomeric properties including at least a first circumferential region having a stiffness which is different from that of a remaining circumferential region.

20. A roller bearing according to claim 19, wherein the stiffness in the at least first circumferential region of the at least one element is increased over a corresponding stiffness in said remaining circumferential region.

21. A roller bearing according to claim 19, wherein said at least first circumferential region further includes a second circumferential region with a corresponding stiffness which is different from that of the remaining circumferential region.

22. A roller bearing according to claim 21, wherein the stiffness in the second circumferential region of the at least one element is of a magnitude equal to that in the first circumferential region.

23. A roller bearing according to claim 22, wherein the first and second circumferential regions are of increased stiffness over a corresponding stiffness in said remaining region.

24. A roller bearing according to claim 23, wherein the first and second circumferential regions are disposed diametrically opposite to one another.

25. A roller bearing according to claim 20, wherein the first and second circumferential regions of increased stiffness are used to support the bearing ring or the carrier of the roller bearing in at least one of the axial or radial direction of the shaft.

26. A roller bearing according to claim 21, wherein a straight line through the first and second circumferential regions of increased stiffness defines a pivoting axis for the shaft.

27. A roller bearing according to claim 24, wherein a straight line through the first and second circumferential regions of increased stiffness defines a pivoting axis for the shaft.

28. A roller bearing according to claim 19, wherein the element extends around an entirety of a peripheral region of the roller bearing.

29. A roller bearing according to claim 19, wherein an axial length of at least one of the first circumferential region or the second circumferential region is larger than a corresponding length of the remaining circumferential region of the element in the axial direction.

30. A roller bearing according to claim 19, wherein said at least one element includes two of said elements each which is disposed on a corresponding axial side of the bearing ring of said carrier.

31. A roller bearing according to claim 23, wherein said at least one element includes two of said elements each which is disposed on a corresponding axial side of the bearing ring of said carrier.

32. A roller bearing according to claim 24, wherein said at least one element includes two of said elements each which is disposed on a corresponding axial side of the bearing ring of said carrier.

33. A roller bearing according to claim 20, wherein the increased stiffness in the first circumferential region is brought about by a greater material density as compared to the remaining circumferential region.

34. A roller bearing according to claim 23, wherein the increased stiffness in the first and second circumferential regions is brought about by a greater material density as compared to the remaining circumferential region.

35. A roller bearing according to claim 20, wherein the increased stiffness in the first circumferential region is brought about by selecting a material which is stiffer than that in the remaining circumferential region.

36. A roller bearing according to claim 23, wherein the increased stiffness in the first and second circumferential regions is brought about by selecting a material which is stiffer than that in the remaining circumferential region.

37. A roller bearing according to claim 20, wherein the increased stiffness in the first circumferential region is brought about by a spring rate which is higher than that in the remaining circumferential region.

38. A roller bearing according to claim 23, wherein the increased stiffness in the first and second circumferential regions is brought about by a spring rate which is higher than that in the remaining circumferential region.

39. A roller bearing according to claim 20, wherein the increased stiffness in the first circumferential region is brought about by a local pre-stressing of the material of the at least one element in said first circumferential region.

40. A roller bearing according to claim 23, wherein the increased stiffness in the first and second circumferential regions is brought about by a local pre-stressing of the material of the at least one element in said first and second circumferential regions.

41. A roller bearing according to claim 20, wherein the increased stiffness in the first circumferential region is brought about by a cross-sectional shape which is different from that of the remaining circumferential region.

42. A roller bearing according to claim 23, wherein the increased stiffness in the first and second circumferential regions is brought about by a cross-sectional shape which is different from that of the remaining circumferential region.

43. A roller bearing according to claim 19, wherein the at least one element with elastomeric properties is formed from an elastomeric material or as a metallic spring element.

44. A roller bearing according to claim 19, wherein the shaft is part of a transmission gear.

45. A roller bearing according to claim 44, wherein the transmission gear is a ball-and-nut spindle gear or a ball-and-nut headstock gearing power steering system of an electric or hydraulic power steering system.