GB2351534A

GB2351534A - Assembly for the axial location of a bearing ring

Info

Publication number: GB2351534A
Application number: GB0014687A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ralf Cordruwisch; Helmut Hauck; Kurt Kemmer; Armin Schneider
Original assignee: SKF GmbH
Current assignee: SKF GmbH
Priority date: 1999-06-28
Filing date: 2000-06-15
Publication date: 2001-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-15
Also published as: GB2351534B; FR2795466B1; DE19929536C1; FR2795466A1; GB0014687D0; JP2001012486A

Abstract

A locating element 4 is provided for the axial location of a bearing ring 1 relative to a housing 3 or a shaft (not shown), wherein said locating element has an annular section and portions of greater width than said annular section for engaging with recesses 5, 6 in the bearing ring and housing 3 or shaft (not shown). A plurality of recess engaging portions 7, 7' are disposed around the annular section of the locating element 4. Preferably, the recess engaging portions 7, 7' are made from a hard deformable material.

Description

2351534 Assembly for the axial location of a bearing ring The invention

relates to an assembly for the axial location of a bearing ring, in particular of a rolling bearing ring, relative to a housing or to a shaft by means of a locating element, wherein the locating element engages in a form- locking manner with recesses in the bearing ring and housing or shaft.

An assembly of the type used for the axial location of a rolling bearing ring is known from DE-OS 15 10 920. In this case one portion of a deformable locating element engages with a groove, which is incorporated in the outer ring of a rolling bearing. Another portion of the locating element engages with a groove provided in the housing. Since the bearing outer ring is fitted with a clearance fit in its is housing bore, axial location of the outer ring of the rolling bearing relative to the housing is obtained in this way.

This known locating element for locating a bearing is mostly suitable for the transmission of low to medium high axial forces only. Although this is sufficient for many applications, problems may arise if too little space remains for the locating ring to be inserted simultaneously into both grooves (in the bearing outer ring and in the housing). This may result in a blocking of the ring, so that mounting is laborious and difficult.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is based on further developing this type of known assembly for the axial location of a bearing ring in such a way that the locating element can be mounted without such problems, whilst reliable axial location is still assured. Accordingly, it should be possible, without excessively high energy consumption, to accommodate the locating element in the respective recesses in the bearing ring and in the 2 housing. Nevertheless, it should be ensured that the bearing is secured adequately against axial displacement.

This object is achieved by the invention in that the locating element (4) has an annular section and the portions engaging with the recesses are divided into several sections which are disposed around the annular section of the locating element (4).

Unlike the known arrangement, the locating element of the present invention comprises individual circumferential portions which themselves can be inserted into the recesses in the bearing ring and/or in the housing. The cost of mounting is thereby reduced, since jamming or blocking of the ring cannot take place as readily as in the arrangements known in the art.

According to one development, it is provided that at least the circumferential portions of the locating element are made of a hard but deformable material, and preferably of a thermoplastic or thermosetting plastics material. Said material is particularly suitable for ensuring not only a relatively easy mounting, but also for adequate axial securing of the bearing.

Furthermore, it is especially advantageous if at least two adjacent circumferential portions of the locating element are so designed that the first portion engages with the bearing ring only and the following second portion engages only with the housing or with the shaft. In this case, in particular, it may be provided that the locating element has an even number of circumferential portions which engage alternately only with the bearing rings or only the housing or the shaft.

With the last-mentioned embodiment, there is an even more advantageous method of mounting, since the respective portions, which are disposed around the circumference of the locating ring, now engage alternately with the groove in the 3S bearing ring and the groove in the housing. Any blocking of 3 the locating element during mounting is thus excluded to all practical purposes. At the same time, however, an adequate blocking action against axial displacement of the bearing ring is obtained.

Examples of embodiments of the assembly according to the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a part cross-sectional side elevation of a bearing and a housing, which are secured against axial movement relative to one another by means of a known locating element; Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of a locating element according to the invention, the portions of which engage alternately into the recesses in the bearing ring and the housing; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the ring of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a part cross-sectional side elevation of a bearing and a housing incorporating the ring of Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 1 shows a part of a bearing 2 (not shown in detail), namely its outer ring 1. The latter is fitted with a clearance fit in a housing 3, in which it is required to be axially located relative thereto. In a bearing assembly of this type, no excessively high forces should be transmitted in the axial direction; it is rather a question of securing the outer ring of a loose fitting bearing against displacement in the axial direction during operation.

A known locating element 4 is provided for this purpose. It is usually made of an injection-moulded plastics material (thermoplastic) and has a substantially circular base with a substantially annular ring projecting from the base. The ring has a thicker section at the free end thereof, formed by portions 7 and 7', which are of a greater width than the remainder of the ring. The portions 7,7 extend on either side of the ring, around the inner and 4 outer circumferences of the ring. In the mounted condition, these portions 7,7' engage with a groove-like recess 5 in the bearing ring and, at the same time, with a further groove-like recess 6 in the housing. The grooves 5 and 6 do not necessarily have to be located opposite one another; they may also be arranged at spaced apart locations.

During the mounting process, the ring 1 and the housing 3 are first positioned relative to each other, then the locating element 4 is inserted in the direction of the arrow shown in figure 1. Since at least the portions 7 and 7' of the locating element are made of a hard, but deformable, material, they are compressible. Thus, they are able to pass over the wall 8 of the bearing ring and also is the wall 9 of the housing, and to snap into the recesses 5 and 6 in the bearing ring and in the housing respectively. The axial location of the ring 1 relative to the housing is accomplished by this snap-fitting action.

In the arrangement of the present invention, however, as a result of this form-locking engagement of the portions 7 and 71 with the recesses 5 and 6, it is ensured that the ring 1 is no longer axially displaceable relative to the housing 3. Moreover, as a result of the strength of the plastics material, the portions 7,71 represent a blocking element in this respect. The locating element 4 is so formed that the portions 7 and 71 do not extend homogeneously and continuously over the circumference of the ring of the locating element 4, but instead are divided into individual sections. This is clearly apparent from Figure 2. The locating element 4 has a number of portions 7 and 7', preferably eight in total, which engage with the respective recesses 5 and 6. The segment-like division of the portions 7 and 7' around the ring of the locating element 4 has the result that, in accordance with the object to be achieved, the mounting process is much easier. The individual circumferential portions can be aligned, namely within the limits of the elasticity with which they are attached to the locating element 4, thereby preventing any jamming or blocking of the locating element.

As can also be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the portions 7 and 7' are arranged alternately so that they engage either "inwardly" or "outwardly": the portions 7 are aligned so that they only engage outwardly, i.e. with the recess 6 in the housing. In contrast thereto, the portions 71 engage inwardly, i.e. with the recesses 5 in the bearing ring. This situation is also clearly apparent from Figure 3, in which the locating element 4 of Figure 2 is illustrated along the section A-A.

Figure 4 shows how the locating element 4, as shown is in Figure 2 and Figure 3, appears in the assembled condition. In this case the method of installation is evident, as in section A-A of Figure 2. In the upper region of Figure 4 it is evident that the portion 7 engages outwardly with the recess 6 in the housing 3; it is free in the other direction, i.e. in the direction of the recess 5 in the bearing ring, for which reason especially simple mounting is achieved. On the other hand, in the lower region of Figure 4 it is evident that here the portion 7' of the locating element 4 engages with the groove-like recess 5 in the bearing ring. Here too, there is clearance in the other direction (towards the groove 6 in the housing) so that mounting can be accomplished without difficulty.

The proposed manner of achieving the object set makes it possible for the locating ring 4 to be mounted without difficulty, for which purpose no excessively high forces have to be applied. Nevertheless, adequate axial location of the bearing outer ring relative to the housing is ensured.

6 Although it has not been illustrated, the locating element 4 can also be provided with sealing elements for the bearing 2 and, to this extent, have a dual function.

7

Claims

1. A locating element (4) for the axial location of a ring (1) of a bearing (2) relative to a housing (3) or to a shaft, wherein the locating element (4) has an annular section and portions of greater width than the annular section for engaging, in use, with recesses (5,6) in the bearing ring (1) and housing (3) or shaft, characterized in that there are a plurality of recess engaging portions (7,7') which are disposed around the annular section of the locating element (4).

2. A locating element (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the recess engaging portions (7,7') are made of a hard deformable material.

3. A locating element according to claim 2, in which the material is a thermoplastic or thermosetting plastics material.

4. A locating element (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two adjacent recess engaging portions (7, 71) are so arranged that, in use, one portion (7) only engages with the bearing ring recess (5) and the other portion (71) only engages with the housing recess (6) or the shaft.

5. A locating element (4) according to claim 4, characterized in that an even number of portions (7,7') are provided which, in use, engage alternately with only the bearing rings (1) or only the housing (3) or the shaft.

6. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.