CAGE FOR A TOROIDAL ROLLER BEARING

• US 20140153857A1
• Filed: 05/07/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Kullin, Arne Lars Jonas
• Granted Patent: US 9,316,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 384/576
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 53/12 cages for bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/26 with a single row of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 23/08 self-adjusting
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 23/086 forming a track for rolling elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2300/02 General use or purpose, i.e. no use, purpose, special adaptation or modification indicated or a wide variety of uses mentioned
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/4623 formed as one-piece cages, i.e. monoblock cages
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/4635 made from plastic, e.g. injection moulded window cages
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/4682 of the end walls, e.g. interaction with the end faces of the rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/06 Placing rolling bodies in cages or bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/065 in cages
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/08 by deforming the cages or the races
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4968 Assembling of race, cage, and rolling anti-friction members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49698 Demounting

Abstract

The invention presents a cage (1) for separating rollers in a toroidal roller bearing. The cage (1) comprises a first and second annular ring (2, 3), a plurality of elongated axial members (4) interposed between the first and second annular ring to thereby form a number of roller pockets (5). The cage further presents a portion (6) extending radially inwardly on at least one of the first and second annular ring. The portion further extends in at least a part of the circumference of the at least one first and second annular ring. The radially outer peripheral surface of the annular ring presenting the portion presents axial grooves (7) at least at the circumference having the portion, wherein each axial groove is located at the axial end face of each roller pocket in such a way that a roller can be inserted and pulled out via the axial groove into and out of each roller pocket.

Claims

1. A cage (1) for separating rollers in a toroidal roller bearing having an outer and an inner ring, wherein said toroidal roller bearing allows for axial and angular displacement between said outer and inner ring, said cage comprising,

a first and second annular ring (2, 3) displaced axially from each other,

a plurality of elongated axial members (4) interposed between the first and second annular ring (2, 3) and thereby forming a number of roller pockets (5), each roller pocket (5) meant to receive at least one roller element, characterized by,

a portion (6) extending radially inwardly on at least one of the first and second annular ring (2, 3), wherein the portion (6) is at least partly located at a radius being smaller than the radial location of the elongated axial members (4), said portion (6) further extending in at least a part of the circumference of the at least one first and second annular ring (2, 3),

wherein the radially outer peripheral surface of the annular ring (2, 3) presenting the portion (6) presents axial grooves (7) at least at the circumference having the portion (6), wherein each axial groove (7) is located at the axial end face of each roller pocket (5) in such a way that a roller can be inserted and pulled out via the axial groove (7) into and out of each roller pocket.

2. A cage (1) according to claim 1,

wherein the radially inwardly extending portion (6) extends in any of:

one third of the circumference of the annular ring (2, 3),

half the circumference of the annular ring (2, 3),

two thirds of the circumference of the annular ring (2, 3) or,

the whole circumference of the annular ring (2, 3).

3. A cage (1) according to claim 1,

wherein at least one of the axial grooves (7) presents a radius essentially matching a radius of a roller element being meant to be received in the said roller pocket (5).

4. A cage (1) according to claim 1,

presenting a radially inwardly extending portion (6) on the first and the second annular ring (2, 3).

5. A cage (1) according to claim 1,

wherein the cage is made of a polymer or metal.

6. A cage (1) according to claim 1,

wherein the cage is elastic in such a way that it can be compressed so that at least one of the annular rings (2, 3) attains an essentially oval shape.

7. A cage (1) according to claim 1,

wherein the cage is made in one piece.

8. A cage (1) according to claim 1,

wherein a radially inner peripheral surface of the portion (6) is configured to be able to be in sliding contact with the inner ring of the toroidal roller bearing.

9. A cage (1) according to claim 8,

wherein the radially inner peripheral surface of the portion (6) has a friction coefficient μ

being equal or less than 0.1.

10. A toroidal roller bearing (10) which allows for angular and axial displacement, said toroidal roller bearing comprising an inner ring (13), an outer ring (11), a plurality of roller elements (12) and a cage (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

11. Method for assembling or dismounting a toroidal roller bearing (10) according to claim 10, said method comprising the steps of:

angularly displacing the inner ring (13) relative the outer ring (11),

angularly and axially displacing the cage (1) relative the inner ring (13) in such a way that a part of the circumference of the radially inwardly extending portion (6) is located axially outside the inner ring (13),

inserting or pulling out roller elements (12) into or out of the roller pockets (5) of the cage at the location where the portion (6) is located axially outside the inner ring (13).

12. Method for assembling a toroidal roller bearing (10) according to claim 11,

wherein a step of inserting the cage (1) between the inner ring and the outer ring is executed at least before the step of angularly and axially displacing the cage (1) relative the inner ring (13).

13. Method for assembling a toroidal roller bearing (10) according to claim 12,

comprising a following step by angularly aligning the inner ring (13) and the outer ring (11) after inserting roller elements into the roller pockets of the cage.