DE102024200218A1 - Method for producing a bearing outer ring, bearing outer ring and rolling bearing - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing a bearing outer ring (1) for a rolling bearing (2) for a motor vehicle. The method comprises:
- forming a blank (3) to form a round bowl (4) with a flange (5),
- creating a central clearance (6) in a bowl bottom (7) of the bowl (4),
- forming the cup base (7) onto an inner side of a cup side wall (8) of the cup (4) to produce a bearing outer wall (9), and
- Inserting a raceway (10) for rolling elements (11) of the rolling bearing (2) onto an inner side of the bearing outer wall (9).
Furthermore, the invention relates to a bearing outer ring (1) for a rolling bearing (2) for a motor vehicle and a rolling bearing (2) for a motor vehicle.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing a bearing outer ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a bearing outer ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle and a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle.

Rolling bearings for motor vehicles are known in which a bearing outer ring is held to a bearing seat by an additional component, such as a threaded ring, a snap ring, an adjusting screw, a clamping washer, or the like. It is also known to integrate a flange into a bearing outer ring to better fix it to the bearing seat. In this case, the bearing outer ring with the flange was manufactured as a turned part from a blank.

From the document EP 2 336 589 A1 A rolling bearing is known in which a bearing outer ring is held by a formed sheet metal to a flange for fixing the rolling bearing to a bearing seat. The document DE 10 2012 216 435 A1 discloses a rolling bearing arrangement in which a rolling bearing is axially secured by a formed sheet metal that is fixed directly to a housing. An angular contact ball bearing in which a bearing outer ring is held by a housing ring is known from the document DE 10 2005 008 007 A1 known.

Conventional rolling bearings have the disadvantage of being very complex and costly to manufacture. Machining processes involve high material loss and relatively long processing times. Furthermore, the assembly of rolling bearings, in which the bearing outer ring is secured by additional retaining components, is particularly time-consuming and requires the availability of a large number of components.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to eliminate, or at least partially eliminate, the disadvantages described above in a rolling bearing. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing a bearing outer ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle, a bearing outer ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle, and a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle, which reduce material consumption in a simple and cost-effective manner and/or have improved assembly.

The above object is achieved by the patent claims. Accordingly, the object is achieved by a method for producing an outer bearing ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle with the features of independent claim 1, a bearing outer ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle with the features of independent claim 7, and a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle with the features of independent claim 10. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the method according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the outer bearing ring according to the invention and the rolling bearing according to the invention, and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is and can always be made to each other.

• - Umformen eines Rohlings zur Bildung eines runden Napfes mit einem Flansch,
• - Erzeugen einer zentralen Freimachung in einem Napfboden des Napfes,
• - Umformen des Napfbodens auf eine Innenseite einer Napfseitenwand des Napfes zur Erzeugung einer Lageraußenwand, und
• - Einbringen einer Laufbahn für Wälzkörper des Wälzlagers auf eine Innenseite der Lageraußenwand.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for producing a bearing outer ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle. The method comprises:

• - Forming a blank to form a round bowl with a flange,
• - Creating a central clearance in a bowl bottom of the bowl,
• - forming the cup base onto an inner side of a cup side wall of the cup to produce a bearing outer wall, and
• - Inserting a raceway for rolling elements of the rolling bearing onto an inner side of the bearing outer wall.

First, a blank is provided. The blank is preferably made of a material that is easy to form mechanically, such as metal, sheet metal, or the like. More preferably, the blank is made of a hardenable material in which a raceway that is as wear-resistant as possible can be produced. The blank preferably has a circular or square base. A width and a length of the blank are preferably many times greater than a thickness of the blank. The forming process creates a round bowl in the blank, preferably in the center. In the context of the invention, a round bowl is understood to be a depression with a round bowl base and an annular bowl side wall. The bowl is open on an upper side.

The bowl is formed by deforming the blank such that the flange is formed on the upper side of the bowl. The flange is preferably annular disk-shaped. More preferably, the flange extends in the radial direction, preferably at right angles to the bowl side wall. Thus, the flange and the bowl side wall are formed monolithically with one another.

The central opening is created in the bowl base. The central opening is preferably round. More preferably, the central opening is created coaxially with the bowl base. The central opening can be created, for example, by drilling, milling, cutting, sawing, or the like. The central opening is designed as a through-opening, so that the bowl is open to the outside through the central opening via the bowl base. According to the invention, the central opening can be created before, during, or after the bowl is created.

The cup base is then formed such that the cup base covers, or at least partially covers, the inside of the cup side wall. Thus, the bearing outer wall is formed from the cup base and the cup side wall. The bearing outer wall is preferably annular or hollow-cylindrical. The cup base preferably forms an inner ring, and the cup side wall an outer ring. The bearing outer wall is therefore preferably formed in two layers, consisting of the inner ring and the outer ring. On a side facing away from the flange, the outer ring is formed monolithically with the inner ring.

Finally, the raceway for the rolling elements of the rolling bearing is machined onto the inside of the bearing's outer wall, for example, by pressing, milling, turning, or the like. In this context, the raceway may be additionally treated, such as hardened, coated, or the like, to reduce raceway wear. The raceway is preferably machined into the bearing's outer wall in such a way that the raceway is formed only on the inside of the inner ring, without causing any changes to the outer ring.

A method according to the invention for producing a bearing outer ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle has the advantage over conventional methods that a bearing outer ring can be produced using simple means and in a cost-effective manner. Complex machining of the flange is not required, thus significantly reducing material expenditure and material loss compared to conventional methods. Furthermore, the bearing outer ring can be produced particularly quickly and in a manner suitable for large-scale production using the method according to the invention.

According to a preferred further development of the invention, a method can be provided in which the forming of the blank to form the round bowl with the flange is carried out by deep drawing and/or the creation of the central recess in the bowl base is carried out by punching. For deep drawing, a corresponding deep drawing tool with a die, a deep drawing punch, and a hold-down device is used. The hold-down device is designed to hold the flange against a support surface of the blank, while the deep drawing punch is designed to press a central region of the blank into the die and thus form the bowl. For punching, a corresponding punching tool with a punch and a die is used. A hold-down device can also be provided. The punch is designed to be moved into the die and thus punch the central recess into the blank. Preferably, the forming is carried out by deep drawing and the creation of the central recess is carried out by punching. This has the advantage that the bearing outer ring can be produced using simple means and in a cost-effective manner. In addition, these process variants are particularly suitable for automated mass production.

According to the invention, it is preferred that the blank is provided together with several blanks in a sheet metal strip. The sheet metal strip thus has several regions, each corresponding to a blank. The regions for the blanks are preferably arranged next to one another in a row. More preferably, the regions can be arranged next to one another in several rows. In this way, the individual work actions can be better parallelized and synchronized. First, the sheet metal strip is provided and fed to a forming device for forming the round cup with flange. In this case, for example, an outer contour of the flange can already be created or at least largely created. Preferably, the flange is still connected to the sheet metal strip so that it can be conveyed further with the sheet metal strip. By further conveying the sheet metal strip, the region with the cup can be moved to the device for creating the central clearance and an adjacent region can be moved to the forming device. While the central clearance is being created, the cup can be produced in the adjacent region. Preferably, the finished bearing outer ring is separated from the sheet metal strip after the raceway has been introduced. This has the advantage of improving the production of the bearing outer ring using simple and cost-effective means. Such sheet metal strips are particularly advantageous for automated mass production.

Further preferably, the forming of the bowl base is carried out in such a way that an inner side of the bowl base faces the inner side of the bowl side wall. Preferably, the bowl base is pressed onto the bowl side wall. Furthermore, it is preferred that the entire inner side of the bowl base facing the inside of the cup side wall. In this case, the entire inside of the cup base extends at least over a partial section, in particular over a predominant partial section, of the cup side wall or over the entire cup side wall. Alternatively, the inside of the cup base faces the entire inside of the cup side wall. In this case, the entire inside of the cup base extends over the entire cup side wall and beyond. A free end face of the cup base is then preferably formed towards the flange. In order to achieve a flange surface that is as smooth as possible, extending in the radial direction and facing away from the bearing outer wall, a recess is preferably created in the flange beforehand to accommodate the material of the free end face of the bearing outer wall. This has the advantage that an outer bearing wall can be produced using simple means and in a cost-effective manner which has twice the wall thickness of the flange and sufficient load-bearing capacity for the rolling elements.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a method can be provided for the forming of the cup base in such a way that a clearance edge of the central clearance faces an inner edge of the flange. A clearance edge is understood to be an edge which is created around the central clearance when the central clearance is created. This preferably relates to the clearance edge which is created between the inner side of the cup base and the central clearance. Particularly preferably, the clearance edge is applied to the flange in such a way that only a parting line is formed between the clearance edge and the flange. This has the advantage that a particularly compact and robust bearing outer ring can be produced using simple means and in a cost-effective manner.

The raceway is preferably created by grinding the inside of the bearing's outer wall. A conventional grinding tool for producing a raceway for rolling bearings is preferably used for this purpose. The material thickness of the blank is preferably selected such that only the inside of the inner ring, i.e., the part of the bearing's outer wall formed by the cup base, is machined during grinding. This creates a raceway free of joints. This has the advantage that a particularly low-friction and low-wear raceway can be produced using simple means and in a cost-effective manner.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a bearing outer ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle. The bearing outer ring has a flange extending in the radial direction, a bearing outer wall connected to the flange and extending in the axial direction, and a raceway for rolling elements of the rolling bearing arranged on an inner side of the bearing outer wall. According to the invention, the bearing outer wall has an outer ring and an inner ring, wherein the outer ring is formed monolithically with the inner ring on a side facing away from the flange, wherein the outer ring is formed monolithically with the flange, and wherein a free end face of the inner ring is arranged adjacent to the flange.

The bearing outer ring is preferably made of a formable material, such as metal. According to the invention, the material is suitable for a bearing outer ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle. The flange is formed monolithically with the bearing outer wall. The flange is thus formed monolithically with the outer ring and the inner ring of the bearing outer wall, with the outer ring being arranged between the flange and the inner ring. The outer ring preferably completely surrounds the inner ring. The raceway is arranged on the inside of the bearing outer ring. The raceway is preferably arranged on a side of the inner ring facing away from the outer ring. The free end face of the inner ring is arranged adjacent to the flange, for example in the radial direction next to the flange or in a recess in the flange.

The bearing outer ring according to the invention provides all the advantages already described for a method for producing a bearing outer ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle according to the first aspect of the invention. Accordingly, the bearing outer ring according to the invention has the advantage over conventional bearing outer rings that a bearing outer ring is provided using simple means and in a cost-effective manner, which bearing outer ring has a flange and a raceway for rolling elements. Complex machining of the flange is not required, so that material expenditure and material loss are significantly reduced compared to conventional bearing outer rings. Furthermore, the bearing outer ring can be manufactured particularly quickly and is suitable for large-scale production.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a bearing outer ring can be provided with a parting line formed between the free end face of the inner ring and the flange. Further preferably, a parting line is formed between the inner ring and the outer ring, so that an inner surface of the outer ring contacts an outer surface of the inner ring or is arranged directly adjacent to it. This has the advantage that the bearing outer ring can be manufactured by forming a cup previously formed from a blank using simple means and in a cost-effective manner.

Particularly preferably, the bearing outer ring is manufactured by a method according to the first aspect of the invention. This has the advantage that a bearing outer ring is provided using simple means and in a cost-effective manner, which has a flange and a raceway for rolling elements. Complex machining of the flange is not required, thus significantly reducing material expenditure and material loss compared to conventional bearing outer rings. Furthermore, the bearing outer ring can be manufactured particularly quickly and is suitable for large-scale production.

According to a third aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle. The rolling bearing comprises a bearing inner ring with a raceway, a bearing outer ring surrounding the bearing inner ring with a raceway, and a plurality of rolling elements arranged on the raceways. According to the invention, the bearing outer ring is designed as a bearing outer ring according to the second aspect of the invention.

The rolling elements are preferably held in a rolling element cage or the like. The bearing outer ring surrounds the bearing inner ring such that the raceway of the bearing outer ring and the raceway of the bearing inner ring face each other and form a rolling space for the rolling elements. The rolling elements are arranged in the rolling space and roll on the two raceways, ensuring relative rotation between the bearing outer ring and the bearing inner ring. The rolling bearing can be arranged on a bearing mount via the flange of the bearing outer ring and secured against falling out of the bearing mount.

The rolling bearing according to the invention offers all the advantages already described for a method for producing a bearing outer ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle according to the first aspect of the invention and for a bearing outer ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle according to the second aspect of the invention. Accordingly, the rolling bearing according to the invention has the advantage over conventional rolling bearings that a bearing outer ring is provided using simple means and in a cost-effective manner, said bearing outer ring having a flange and a raceway for rolling elements. Complex machining of the flange is not required, so that material expenditure and material loss are considerably reduced compared to conventional bearing outer rings. Furthermore, the bearing outer ring can be manufactured particularly quickly and is suitable for large-scale production.

• 1 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht einen ersten Zeitpunkt während der Durchführung einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,
• 2 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht einen zweiten Zeitpunkt während der Durchführung einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,
• 3 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht einen dritten Zeitpunkt während der Durchführung einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,
• 4 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht einen Lageraußenring gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung,
• 5 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht ein Wälzlager gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung,
• 6 in einer Draufsicht eine bevorzugte erste Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Rohlings während der Durchführung einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,
• 7 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht eine bevorzugte zweite Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Rohlings während der Durchführung einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens, und
• 8 in einem Ablaufdiagramm eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

A method according to the invention for producing a bearing outer ring for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle, a bearing outer ring according to the invention for a rolling bearing for a motor vehicle, and a rolling bearing according to the invention for a motor vehicle are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. They each show schematically:

• 1 in a perspective view a first point in time during the implementation of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention,
• 2 in a perspective view a second point in time during the implementation of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention,
• 3 in a perspective view a third point in time during the implementation of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention,
• 4 in a perspective view a bearing outer ring according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
• 5 in a perspective view a rolling bearing according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
• 6 in a plan view a preferred first embodiment of a blank according to the invention during the implementation of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention,
• 7 in a perspective view a preferred second embodiment of a blank according to the invention during the implementation of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, and
• 8 in a flowchart a preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention.

Elements with the same function and mode of action are listed in the 1 to 8 each provided with the same reference symbols.

In 1 A first point in time during the implementation of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is schematically shown in a perspective view. At the first point in time, a blank 3 (cf. 6 ) such deformed to form a bowl 4 with an annular bowl side wall 8 and a bowl bottom 7. An opening of the bowl 4 is surrounded by an annular flange 5. The flange 5 is formed monolithically with the bowl side wall 8 and the bowl bottom 7, wherein the bowl side wall 8 is arranged between the flange 5 and the bowl bottom 7.

2 shows a second point in time during the implementation of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, schematically in a perspective view. At the second point in time, a central clearance 6 designed as a feedthrough is arranged in the bowl base 7. An upper edge of the central clearance 6 is referred to as clearance edge 13.

In 3 A third point in time during the implementation of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is depicted schematically in a perspective view. At the third point in time, the cup base 7 is formed such that a free end face 17 of the cup base 7 is arranged adjacent to the flange 5. The clearance edge 13 is thus arranged adjacent to a flange inner edge 14 of the flange 5. A parting line 18 is formed between the clearance edge 13 and the flange inner edge 14. An inner ring 16 of the bearing outer ring 1 is formed by the cup base 7. An outer ring 15 of the bearing outer ring 1 is formed by the cup side wall 8. The outer ring 15 and the inner ring 16 together form a bearing outer wall 9.

4 shows a bearing outer ring 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention schematically in a perspective view. The bearing outer ring 1 differs from the illustration in 3 in a raceway 10 which is ground into an inner side of the inner ring 16.

In 5 A rolling bearing 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in a perspective view. The rolling bearing 2 has an inventive bearing outer ring 1 with a raceway 10, in which a bearing inner ring 19 with a raceway 10 is arranged. Several rolling elements 11 are arranged on the raceways 10.

6 shows a preferred first embodiment of a blank 3 according to the invention during the implementation of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, schematically in a top view. The blank 3 is arranged with several blanks 3 in a single row on a sheet metal strip 12. In this view, the blanks 3 are machined stepwise from left to right to produce a bearing outer ring 1 according to the invention.

7 shows a preferred second embodiment of a blank 3 according to the invention during the implementation of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, schematically in a perspective view. The blank 3 is arranged with several blanks 3 in four rows on a sheet metal strip 12. In this view, the blanks 3 are machined stepwise from left to right to produce a bearing outer ring 1 according to the invention.

In 8 A preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention is shown schematically in a flow diagram. In a first method step 100, a blank 3 is formed, for example by deep drawing, to form a round bowl 4 with a flange 5. The flange 5 surrounds the bowl 4, for example, completely. In a second method step 200, a central cutout 6 is created in a bowl base 7 of the bowl 4, for example by punching. The central cutout 6 is preferably coaxial with the bowl base 7. The central cutout 6 is preferably round.

In a third process step 300, the cup bottom 7 is formed onto an inner side of a cup side wall 8 of the cup 4. An inner side of the cup bottom 7 is thus arranged on an inner side of the cup side wall 8. In this way, a bearing outer wall 9 is created by the cup bottom 7 and the cup side wall 8. In a fourth process step 400, a raceway 10 for rolling elements 11 of the rolling bearing 2 is introduced onto an inner side of the bearing outer wall 9, for example by grinding.

List of reference symbols

1

Bearing outer ring

2

Rolling bearings

3

blank

4

bowl

5

flange

6

central clearance

7

Bowl bottom

8

Bowl side wall

9

Warehouse outer wall

10

career

11

Rolling elements

12

sheet metal strips

13

clearance edge

14

Flange inner edge

15

Outer ring

16

inner ring

17

free front side

18

Separation joint

19

Bearing inner ring

100

first procedural action

200

second procedural action

300

third procedural action

400

fourth procedural action

QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 2 336 589 A1 [0003]
• DE 10 2012 216 435 A1 [0003]
• DE 10 2005 008 007 A1 [0003]

Claims (10)

A method for producing a bearing outer ring (1) for a rolling bearing (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising: - forming a blank (3) to form a round cup (4) with a flange (5), - creating a central recess (6) in a cup base (7) of the cup (4), - forming the cup base (7) onto an inner side of a cup side wall (8) of the cup (4) to produce a bearing outer wall (9), and - introducing a raceway (10) for rolling elements (11) of the rolling bearing (2) onto an inner side of the bearing outer wall (9). Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the forming of the blank (3) to form the round bowl (4) with the flange (5) is carried out by deep drawing and/or the production of the central clearance (6) in the bowl base (7) is carried out by punching. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the blank (3) is provided together with several blanks (3) in a sheet metal strip (12). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the forming of the bowl base (7) takes place in such a way that an inner side of the bowl base (7) faces the inner side of the bowl side wall (8). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the forming of the bowl base (7) takes place in such a way that a clearance edge (13) of the central clearance (6) faces an inner flange edge (14) of the flange (5). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the introduction of the raceway (10) takes place by grinding the inside of the bearing outer wall (9). Bearing outer ring (1) for a rolling bearing (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising a flange (5) extending in the radial direction, a bearing outer wall (9) connected to the flange (5) and extending in the axial direction, and a raceway (10) for rolling elements (11) of the rolling bearing (2) arranged on an inner side of the bearing outer wall (9), characterized in that the bearing outer wall (9) has an outer ring (15) and an inner ring (16), wherein the outer ring (15) is formed monolithically with the inner ring (16) on a side facing away from the flange (5), wherein the outer ring (15) is formed monolithically with the flange (5), and wherein a free end face (17) of the inner ring (16) is arranged adjacent to the flange (5). Bearing outer ring (1) after Claim 7 , characterized in that a parting line (18) is formed between the free end face (17) of the inner ring (16) and the flange (5). Bearing outer ring (1) after Claim 7 or 8 , characterized in that the bearing outer ring (1) is produced by a method according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 is manufactured. Rolling bearing (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising a bearing inner ring (19) with a raceway (10), a bearing outer ring (1) surrounding the bearing inner ring (19) with a raceway (10) and a plurality of rolling elements (11) arranged on the raceways (10), characterized in that the bearing outer ring (1) is designed as a bearing outer ring (1) according to one of the Claims 7 until 9 is trained.

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