Tapered roller bearing

• US 20050213861A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ono, Kenichi, Tachi, Hiroshi, Yokota, Kunihiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,175,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 384/571
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/364 with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/54 Systems consisting of a plurality of bearings with rolling friction spindle bearings F16C35/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2240/40 Linear dimensions, e.g. length, radius, thickness, gap
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/61 Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/543 from a single part
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/6674 related to the amount supplied, e.g. gaps to restrict flow of the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/423 characterised by bearing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/021 Shaft support structures, e.g. partition walls, bearing eyes, casing walls or covers with bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/037 Gearboxes for accommodating differential gearings rotating cases for differential gearings F16H48/40
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0421 on or within the casing, e.g. shields or baffles for collecting lubricant, tubes, pipes, grooves, channels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0471 Bearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0483 Axle or inter-axle differentials

Abstract

A tapered roller bearing comprises an outer race, an inner race, a plurality of tapered rollers, and a cage. A small-diameter end portion of the inner race is formed with a small flange portion for limiting axial movement of the tapered rollers and a cylindrical portion which has a less diameter than the small flange portion and is connected to an axial outer end of the small flange portion. The cage is formed at a small-diameter end portion thereof with a bent portion which is bent inward in a radial direction. A small-diameter end portion of the cage has a bent portion which is faced to an outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the inner race with a predetermined clearance therefrom such that a labyrinth is created between the cage and the inner race.

Claims

1. A tapered roller bearing comprising:

an outer race;

an inner race;

a plurality of tapered rollers interposed between the outer race and the inner race; and

a cage that retains the tapered rollers;

wherein the inner race includes a tapered raceway in which the tapered rollers are disposed and a small-diameter end portion and a large-diameter end portion which are formed at opposite ends of the raceway,

wherein the small-diameter end portion of the inner race is formed with a small flange portion for limiting axial movement of the tapered rollers and a cylindrical portion which has a less diameter than the small flange portion,

wherein the cage includes a small-diameter end portion which is positioned at the small-diameter end portion of the inner race and a large-diameter end portion which is positioned at the large-diameter end portion of the inner race, and

wherein the small-diameter end portion of the cage includes a bent portion which is faced to an outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the inner race with a predetermined clearance therefrom such that a labyrinth is formed between the small-diameter end portion and the inner race.

2. The tapered roller bearing according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the bent portion of the cage is less than an outer diameter of the small flange portion of the inner race.

3. A bearing device for supporting a pinion shaft, comprising:

a housing;

a pinion shaft having a pinion gear formed at one end thereof;

an inclined contact type rolling bearing for supporting the pinion shaft with respect to the housing; and

a tapered roller bearing which is positioned closer to the pinion gear than the inclined contact type rolling bearing and supports the pinion shaft with respect to the housing, wherein the inclined contact type rolling bearing and the tapered roller bearing are back-to-back assembled on the pinion shaft and lubricated by oil bath lubrication;

wherein the tapered roller bearing includes;

an outer race;

an inner race;

a plurality of tapered rollers interposed between the outer race and the inner race; and

a cage that retains the tapered rollers;

wherein the inner race includes a tapered raceway in which the tapered rollers are disposed and a small-diameter end portion and a large-diameter end portion which are formed at opposite ends of the raceway,

wherein the small-diameter end portion of the inner race is formed with a small flange portion for limiting axial movement of the tapered rollers,

wherein the cage includes a greater diameter than a virtual tapered surface which is formed by connecting rotational axes of the tapered rollers,

wherein the cage is formed at a small-diameter end portion thereof with a bent portion which is bent inward in a radial direction, and

wherein an inner diameter of the bent portion is less than an outer diameter of the small flange portion of the inner race, and the bent portion is positioned opposite to a front surface of the inner race in a non-contacted manner.

4. The bearing device according to claim 3, wherein the inclined contact type rolling bearing includes a tapered roller bearing.

5. The bearing device according to claim 3, wherein oil accommodated in the housing passes through rear surfaces of the outer races into the tapered roller bearing and the inclined-contact type rolling bearing.

6. The bearing device for supporting a pinion shaft according to claim 4, wherein oil accommodated in the housing passes through the rear surfaces of the outer races into the tapered roller bearing and the inclined-contact type rolling bearing.