Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
- ~075128
SHALLOW RING BEARING FABRICATED FROM S'lkUClUKAL BAR ~STOCK
Shallow-ring bearings are real antifriction bearings,
having an inner and outer ring with rolling components between
them, although as shallow as possible in relation to their
diameter and that of the rolling components. The cross-
section of the wall of the bearing is preferably square. The
bearing's critical diameters are related by the formula 0.25
(D - d) S Dw, wherein D is the bearing's outside diameter, d
its inside diameter, and Dw the diameter of the rolling
component.
In spite of their flatness, shallow-ring bearings are
just as precise as other types of bearing with respect to
dimension, true, and axial impact. They are accordingly
complicated to make. The rings in shallow-ring bearings are
preferably made from tube, and their contours are completely
machined.
Manufacturing the rings in wire-race bearings by bending,
slicing, and simultaneously or subsequently hardening the wire
is known. Such wires, however, are of constant diameter and
are intended only to accommodate and uniformly distribute the
forces on the rolling components when the bearing is subject
to load. True and axial impact are dictated by the actual
rings the wires are inserted in. A bearing of this type is
disclosed in German 2 460 120 A1. German OS 1 602 446 dis-
closes the manufacture of wires for wire-race bearings. The
method employed to manufacture race wires, however, is not
appropriate for manufacturing shallow-ring bearings, especial-
ly because the wires are as aforesaid not intended to carry
out any actual bearing functions.
The object of the present invention is to manufacture
shallow-ring bearings more simply and economically without
detriment to quality.
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The advantages of the invention consist in particular in
the cost-effective manufacture of shallow-ring bearings. Such
shallow-ring bearings can preferably be employed for subsid-
iary applications without being machined. When they are
manufactured whereby the rings are machined, their true, axial
impact, and dimensions will be particularly precise. This
simple approach will produce highest-quality shallow-ring
bearings. A particular advantage of the bearings in accor-
dance with the invention is that they can be 100% occupied by
rolling components, achieving twice the load-bearing capacity
of known shallow-ring bearings.
One embodiment of the invention will now be specified by
way of example with reference to the drawing, which comprises
one sole figure, an axial cross-section through half a bear-
ing.
The bearing has an outer ring 1 and an inner ring 2,
between which are races 3 and 4. There is at least one
separation site 6 between outer ring 1 and inner ring 2. The
cross-section of the bearing's wall is square, meaning that
half the difference between the bearing's outside diameter D
and inside diameter d equals the bearing's depth B. Since the
diameter Dw of the rolling components is longer than 1/4 of
the difference between outside diameter D and inside diameter
d, the bearing in question is a shallow-ring bearing.
Rolling components 5 are balls separated and positioned
by a comb-like cage 7. The balls can be sealed off from
contA in~nts entering from outside and from leaking lubricant
with unillustrated seals between outer ring 1 and inner ring
2.
Rings 1 and 2 are made from previously or subsequently
structural-sectioned rod. The rod is heated to forging
temperature and bent in curving-roller machines, for example,
into rounds of the requisite diameter. When the starting
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material is previously structural-sectioned, the rollers
produce the final annular shape, especially the finished races
3 and 4, at this stage. Hardening is initiated directly from
forging temperature by quenching in an appropriate liquid.
This step is followed by slicing the section into separate
rings. To attain sufficiently precise true and axial impact
requires planishing, preferably of the already established
ring along the bearing's axis 8. The work can be simulta-
neously or subsequently annealed to toughen the material.
Bearing rings that have been-treated in this way will exhibit
true and an axial impact of a precision surprising to one of
skill in the art. If the bearings must be of maximal preci-
sion, their races 3 and 4 can now be ground. The remaining
surfaces, especially the outer and inner surfaces and the
faces, need no additional machining.
The rolling components can be introduced between outer
ring 1 and inner ring 2 by known means, by Konrad's method for
example. This will result in an occupation of 50%. Since on
the other hand outer ring 1 has a separation site 6, the
bearing can be even more tightly packed. In this event outer
ring 1 will be bent down resiliently at the separation site to
produce an opening wide enough to admit the rolling compo-
nents. This approach can provide an occupation of up to 100~.
A cage 7 is then inserted as necessary between the
- rolling components. The bearing can now be sealed.
Assembly can alternatively be carried out with a solid
cage already accommodating rolling components 5 and inserted
directly between rings 1 and 2.
The bearing's tolerances with respect to diameters D and
d and races 3 and 4 can be compensated for by packing it with
rolling components 5 of an appropriate gradation (excess or
deficiency). the tension recited in claim 2 can accordingly
.
be attained as necessary.
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It is even possible to compensate for tolerance errors in
the bore or seat in the adjacent machinery in that the diame-
ter Dw of the rolling components affects diameters D and d due
to the separation site 6 in rings 1 and 2.
This measure can also be initiated while the bearing is
being assembled if correctly fitting rolling components 5 have
been inserted between rings 1 and 2.
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