DE102005054113B4 - thrust washer - Google Patents

Abstract

Thrust washer for an axial sliding bearing, in particular for a stub axle bearing of a steerable axle of a vehicle, characterized in that the thrust washer (1, 9, 16) is formed as an integrated unit, comprising a sleeve (2) with a first axial bearing surface (5), a with respect to the sleeve (2) rotatable disc (3, 17) with one of the first axial bearing surface (5) opposite the second axial bearing surface (6), one with the sleeve (2) or the disc (3, 17) connected, forming a sliding pair Sliding disc (4) and a sealing element sealing the region between the sleeve (2) and the disc (3, 17), wherein the sliding disc (4) is pressed into the disc (3) and forms a sliding pair with the sleeve (2).

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a thrust washer for an axial sliding bearing, in particular for a stub axle bearing a steerable axle of a vehicle.

Background of the invention

Thrust washers for stub axle bearings are used on steerable front axles of commercial vehicles and buses. In order for these vehicles to be steerable, the wheels or wheel heads at least one vehicle axle must be rotatably mounted about a king pin. The axle fist is connected via the vehicle axle with the vehicle, in the axle fist the kingpin is inserted twist-proof. The wheel head and the wheel are rotatably supported about the upper and lower bearings about the kingpin. There are known both Achsschenkellagerungen with a separate radial and axial bearing and combined radial-axial bearings. The upper and lower radial bearing can be designed as a plain bearing, but usually as a needle bearing. The radial bearing takes radial, z. B. on cornering forces. The lower thrust bearing can z. B. be designed as a plain bearing and takes on the weight of the vehicle or forces arising during driving. The upper bearing designed as an axial sliding bearing absorbs forces that arise via the thrust washer during driving, for example when the vehicle drives over a bump, a pothole or a curb.

In the DE 199 58 180 A1 a steerable axle for commercial vehicles is described in which a kingpin is rotatably supported via an upper and a lower bearing point. At the upper bearing a thrust washer is provided, which is referred to there as a support ring and the axle fist supported upwards. The thrust washer described there is made of non-ferrous metal in practice and protected by a separate seal.

The US Pat. No. 6,485,181 B2 shows a thrust bearing. The bearing is preferably in cartridge form and includes an inner circular spring. The spring is arranged between two discs and pushes them apart at low bearing load. If the load exceeds a predetermined value, the spring allows direct contact between both disks without affecting the rotational movement of a bearing part.

The DE 37 37 770 C2 shows a thrust bearing made of plastic, in particular for use in the wheel suspension of motor vehicles. The previously required in the field of front wheels for such pressure bearings gaskets for dust sealing proved to be disadvantageous in terms of the steering operation of the front wheels. It is provided a split plastic thrust bearing whose part body realize by snap engagement elements a captive rotary engagement, which also forms a labyrinth seal, so that can be dispensed with special gaskets in the area of the thrust bearing. This is applicable to thrust bearings, especially in automotive engineering.

The DE 32 25 552 C2 shows a sliding or brake pad, consisting of a support body, on the support surface by means of a composite layer, a running layer of plastic is applied. The application and permanent attachment of the overlay on the composite layer is here to simplify. The support body has a coating layer on the support surface as a composite layer and the running layer has an admixture of material which connects to the coating layer and in that the overlay is connected to the support body by sintering parts of the admixture with the coating layer.

The DE 25 07 626 A1 shows a low-friction laminate insert for bearings and their manufacturing processes. In particular, it shows compact, thin laminate type bushings having a fine, low friction, fibrous polymeric tread and a resin backing.

The DE 27 05 067 A1 shows a sealing element of the lip seal type, with a sealing body from which a sealing lip extends, wherein a first holding device is provided, which extends in the one axial direction away from the sealing body that a complementary second holding device extends in the opposite axial direction of the sealing body, wherein at least one of these two holding devices is elastically deformable, and that the first holding device is designed so that it can be brought into engagement with a complementary second holding device of an axially adjacent sealing element.

The DE 43 11 194 C2 shows a small bearing, which has the properties of a sliding bearing, which has a small coefficient of friction, and those of a rolling bearing. The bearing includes an outer metallic cylinder, an inner plastic cylinder, rolling elements, and a ring, wherein a plurality of rolling element holding or receiving grooves are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder. The grooves are formed parallel to the axis of the bearing and the rolling elements positioned therein are rotatable. On the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder grease can be applied, which holds the rolling elements, and the entire inner cylinder is with encased in the outer cylinder with the end portions of the outer cylinder being bent over the axis. By forming the metal components of an austenite-type or austenitic-type stainless steel, the problem of corrosion is overcome.

In addition, other simple solutions are known in which a deep-drawn sleeve is used with a seal as thrust washer to form a thrust bearing. However, such conventional thrust washers cause comparatively high material and manufacturing costs. The material properties, in particular the surface pressure, are very bad for non-ferrous metals.

Summary of the invention

The invention is therefore based on the problem to provide a thrust washer for a thrust bearing, which is easier to manufacture, a long life and a good seal guaranteed.

To solve this problem is inventively provided in a thrust washer of the type mentioned that it is formed as an integrated unit, comprising a sleeve having a first axial bearing surface, a sleeve rotatable relative to the sleeve with one of the first axial bearing surface opposite the second axial bearing surface, a connected to the sleeve or the disc, a sliding pair forming sliding washer and a sealing area between the sleeve and the disc sealing element.

The invention is based on the recognition that instead of the usual individual components such as a support ring with one or more separate sealing elements a thrust washer can be used as a complete unit, so that only a single part must be mounted. This eliminates the previously required individual assembly steps, resulting in cost savings. By integrated into the thrust washer according to the invention the sealing element Axialgleitlager is reliably protected against water ingress, corrosion and contamination, in addition, the radial bearing is sealed above the Axialgleitlagers.

According to the invention, it is provided that the sliding disk is pressed into the disk and forms a sliding pair with the sleeve. The sliding disk is firmly connected to the disk and rotatable relative to the sleeve.

Alternatively, the thrust washer according to the invention may be formed so that the disk having the second axial bearing surface is sleeve-shaped and surrounds the sliding disk on two or three sides. In this variant, the sliding disk is inserted into a formed, preferably deep-drawn sleeve. Preferably, the sleeve or the sleeve-shaped, deformed disc on the inner diameter has an axial portion which is pressed in the installed state on the kingpin.

In both described variants of the thrust washer according to the invention, the sliding disk may be formed as provided with a sliding metal disc. Alternatively, a special sliding coating can be provided on the steel disc here.

According to a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the sliding disk may be formed as a coated fabric. Preferably, the coated fabric may be attached to the inside of the sleeve, preferably it may be glued.

In all described embodiments of the thrust washer according to the invention, the sealing element between the outside of the disc and the inside of an axial portion of the sleeve can be arranged. The sealing element prevents the penetration of moisture and dirt and the escape of a lubricant from the inside of the thrust washer. A particularly good sealing effect results when the sealing element is designed as a multi-lip seal. The sealing element may be made of an elastomeric material and vulcanized on the disc. A particularly stable sealing results when the sealing element has a reinforcement, which can be located in the interior of the sealing element. This sealing element is preferably pressed onto a sleeve.

The thrust washer according to the invention can be designed as a maintenance-free unit, alternatively, the thrust washer can be used even with durchschmierbaren axes, in this case, a sliding disk is used, which has on one or both sides grooves or channels for a lubricant. If the sliding disk has grooves on both sides, these can be arranged offset to the other side.

The sliding disk of the thrust washer according to the invention may consist of a sliding particle having, wear-free or low-wear plastic material. A high wear resistance of the sliding disk is a crucial feature to ensure the required minimum clearance of the storage during the entire life.

The sleeve of the thrust washer according to the invention may be a forming part, in particular the sleeve should be deep-drawn. The material used for the sleeve metal, preferably deep-drawable steel is used. The sleeves can be made of stainless material. Alternatively, suitable protective coatings are to be provided for corrosion protection.

In addition, the invention relates to a stub axle storage.

The axle stub axle according to the invention has an upper bearing point with a thrust washer of the type described.

Brief description of the drawings

Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments. Showing:

1 a first embodiment of a thrust washer according to the invention in a sectional view;

2 a second embodiment of the invention;

3 a third embodiment of the invention; and

4 a sliding disk of a thrust washer according to the invention.

Detailed description of the drawings

1 shows an annular thrust washer 1 , which is used in the upper bearing of a stub axle bearing a steerable axle of a vehicle. The thrust washer 1 is formed as an integrated unit and consists essentially of a sleeve 2 , a slice 3 with one in the disk 3 pressed-in sliding disk 4 , The disc 3 and the sliding washer 4 are firmly connected and opposite the sleeve 2 rotatable. The sliding disk 4 is a metal disc provided with a sliding layer. The sliding layer forms with the inside of the sleeve 2 a sliding pair.

The sleeve 2 has a first axial bearing surface 5 on, a second axial bearing surface 6 located on the outside of the disc 3 , Over the axial bearing surfaces 5 . 6 be absorbed during operation of the vehicle forces.

In addition, the thrust washer has 1 as a multi-lip seal 7 trained sealing element, which is the interior of the thrust washer 1 and protects the area of the sliding surface against the ingress of dirt or moisture. The interior of the thrust washer 1 can be filled with a lubricant such as grease. To enable relubrication later in the maintenance, are in the sliding disk 4 provided corresponding grooves, as in 4 is shown. The multi-lip seal 7 lies on an axial section 8th the sleeve 2 the thrust washer 1 at.

The deep-drawn thrust washer 1 is made of stainless steel, it could also consist of a steel having a corrosion protection layer.

2 shows a second embodiment of the invention. The thrust washer 9 has a deep-drawn sleeve in accordance with the first embodiment 2 on. A sliding washer 10 is in a sleeve-shaped disc, which subsequently as a sleeve 11 is designated, received, which has a U-shaped cross section and the sliding disk 10 surrounds on three sides. The free side surface 12 the sliding disk 10 forms with the inside of the sleeve 2 a sliding pair. The sleeve 11 is designed as a deep-drawn part and is pressed on the inner diameter during assembly on the kingpin. The sealing of the thrust washer 9 gets through the multi-lip seal 14 ensures the inside a reinforcement 15 contains. Also with this thrust washer, the sliding disk 10 Having grooves or lubrication channels, so that they can be used in durchschmierbaren axes.

The sliding disk 10 preferably consists of a plastic material in which sliding particles are introduced distributed, in this case it is polyamide with embedded polytetrafluoroethylene. As a plastic material may alternatively be used glass fiber reinforced plastic. In general, all materials with particularly good sliding properties and high wear resistance are conceivable.

3 shows a third embodiment of the invention.

The disc 17 is in the sleeve 2 rotatable. The sleeve 2 is pressed in when installed and can not turn. The disc 17 is pressed onto the swiveling kingpin. The disc 17 However, does not include a sliding disk, instead is on the inside of the sleeve 2 one as a sliding fabric 18 trained sliding washer attached. In the illustrated embodiment, the sliding fabric 18 glued. This results in a sliding pair between the disc 17 and the sliding fabric 18 , The seal is again made by a multi-lip seal 19 ensured. The disc 17 is made of steel and has a suitable galvanic coating to enable a high quality sliding bearing.

4 shows the sliding disk 4 in a plan view, arranged on one side perpendicular to each other grooves 20 . 21 for a lubricant.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

thrust washer

2

shell

3

disc

4

sliding disk

5

first axial bearing surface

6

second axial bearing surface

7

More lip seal

8th

axial section

9

thrust washer

10

sliding disk

11

shell

12

side surface

13

axial section

14

More lip seal

15

reinforcement

16

thrust washer

17

disc

18

sliding fabric

19

More lip seal

20

groove

21

groove

Claims (16)

Thrust washer for an axial sliding bearing, in particular for a stub axle bearing of a steerable axle of a vehicle, characterized in that the thrust washer ( 1 . 9 . 16 ) is formed as an integrated unit, comprising a sleeve ( 2 ) with a first axial bearing surface ( 5 ), one opposite the sleeve ( 2 ) rotatable disc ( 3 . 17 ) with one of the first axial bearing surface ( 5 ) opposite second axial bearing surface ( 6 ), one with the sleeve ( 2 ) or the disc ( 3 . 17 ), a sliding pair ( 4 ) and an area between the sleeve ( 2 ) and the disc ( 3 . 17 ) sealing sealing element, wherein the sliding disc ( 4 ) in the disc ( 3 ) is pressed and a sliding mating with the sleeve ( 2 ). Thrust washer according to claim 1, characterized in that the disc having the second axial bearing surface ( 11 ) is sleeve-shaped and the sliding disc ( 10 ) on two or three sides. Thrust washer according to claim 2, characterized in that the sleeve or the sleeve-shaped disc ( 11 ) at the inner diameter of an axial section ( 13 ), which is pressed in the installed state on a kingpin. Thrust washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding disc ( 4 . 10 ) is formed as provided with a sliding layer metal disc, in particular as a steel disc. Thrust washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding disk as a coated sliding fabric ( 18 ) is trained. Thrust washer according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the coated sliding fabric ( 18 ) on the inside of the sleeve ( 2 ), preferably glued, is. Thrust washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing element between the outside of the disc ( 3 . 17 ) and the inside of an axial section ( 8th ) of the sleeve ( 2 ) is arranged. Thrust washer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing element (as a multi-lip seal 7 . 14 . 19 ) is trained. Thrust washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing element consists of an elastomeric material and / or is vulcanized on the disc. Thrust washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing element has a preferably inner reinforcement ( 15 ) and preferably on a surrounding sleeve ( 11 ) is pressed. Thrust washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding disc ( 4 . 10 ) has on one or both sides grooves or channels for a lubricant. Thrust washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding disc ( 4 ) has a sliding plastic material exhibiting a high wear resistance and best sliding properties. Thrust washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve ( 2 ), in particular deep-drawn. Thrust washer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve ( 2 ) made of metal, preferably of steel. Thrust washer according to claim 14, characterized in that the sleeve ( 2 ) of stainless Steel exists or has a corrosion protection layer. Achsschenkellagerung, characterized in that it comprises an upper bearing point with a thrust washer according to one of claims 1 to 15.

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