Snap-action cage for a tapered roller bearing, and tapered roller bearing with the snap-action cage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12480542-B2
Application number	US-202218580252-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2022
Priority date	Aug 3, 2021
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

A snap-action cage for a tapered roller bearing is configured as a window cage with a plurality of windows for receiving tapered rollers, with a first cage portion having a plurality of first web portions. The first web portions in each case define run-on surfaces for the tapered rollers. A second cage portion has a plurality of second web portions that are connectable and/or are connected to the first web portions via a snap-action connection, in order to form in each case one web. The second web portions are configured spaced apart in the circulating direction from and/or without contact with the run-on surfaces. The hook receptacle has a fork hook with a hook groove which is configured in between, and the snap-action hook snaps into the fork hook, and a guide portion is held in the hook groove in a positively locking manner in the circulating direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A snap-action cage for a tapered roller bearing,
the snap-action cage is configured as a window cage with a plurality of windows for receiving tapered rollers and comprises: a first cage portion having a plurality of first web portions that in each case define run-on surfaces for the tapered rollers; a second cage portion having a plurality of second web portions that are connectable and/or are connected to the first web portions via a snap-action connection, in order to form in each case one web, and the second web portions are configured spaced apart in a circulating direction from and/or without contact with the run-on surfaces; the snap-action connection includes a hook receptacle having a fork hook with a hook groove configured in between on one of the first cage portion or the second cage portion, and a snap-action hook that snaps into the fork hook on the other of the first cage portion or the second cage portion, and a guide portion on the snap-action hook is held in the hook groove in a positively locking manner in the circulating direction.

2 . The snap-action cage according to claim 1 , wherein the second web portions are configured without undercuts in relation to the run-on surfaces.

3 . The snap-action cage according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or the second web portions extend in an axial direction.

4 . The snap-action cage according to claim 1 , wherein the snap-action connection is connected in a positively locking manner in the circulating direction, so that the first cage portion and the second cage portion are secured against rotation.

5 . The snap-action cage according to claim 1 , wherein the snap-action connection has the snap-action hook on the web portions of the one of the first or second cage portions and the hook receptacle on the other one of the first or the second cage portions.

6 . The snap-action cage according to claim 1 , wherein the first cage portion has a first side ring and the second cage portion has a second side ring, the first and second side rings are connected to one another via the webs, and the first and the second web portions and/or the side rings are dimensioned such that a rigidity of the web portions is similar.

7 . The snap-action cage according to claim 1 , wherein the snap-action connection is arranged in an axial direction in a central region between the cage portions.

8 . A tapered roller bearing, comprising:
a plurality of tapered rollers; and the snap-action cage according to claim 1 , wherein the tapered rollers are arranged in the windows; wherein the tapered rollers are adapted to run up against the first web portions and are arranged at least one of spaced apart in the circulating direction from or without contact with the second web portions.

9 . The tapered roller bearing according to claim 8 , further comprising an inner ring and an outer ring, the inner ring has an inner run-on rib for run-on of a small roller end face of the tapered rollers and the outer ring has an outer run-on rib for run-on of a larger roller end face of the tapered rollers, and the first cage portion is arranged on a side of the inner run-on rib and the second cage portion is arranged on a side of the outer run-on rib.

10 . A snap-action cage for a tapered roller bearing, comprising:
a first cage portion having a plurality of first web portions that in each case define run-on surfaces for the tapered rollers; a second cage portion having a plurality of second web portions that are connectable and/or are connected to the first web portions via a snap-action connection, in order to form in each case one web, and the second web portions are configured at least one of spaced apart in a circulating direction from or without contact with the run-on surfaces, the webs define a plurality of windows for receiving tapered rollers; the snap-action connection includes a hook receptacle having a fork hook with a hook groove on one of the first cage portion or the second cage portion, and a snap-action hook that snaps into the fork hook on the other of the first cage portion or the second cage portion, and a guide portion on the snap-action hook is held in the hook groove in a positively locking manner in the circulating direction.

11 . The snap-action cage according to claim 10 , wherein the second web portions are configured without undercuts in relation to the run-on surfaces.

12 . The snap-action cage according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first or the second web portions extend in an axial direction.

13 . The snap-action cage according to claim 10 , wherein the snap-action connection is connected in a positively locking manner in the circulating direction, so that the first cage portion and the second cage portion are secured against rotation.

14 . The snap-action cage according to claim 10 , wherein the snap-action connection has a respective one of the snap-action hooks on each of the web portions of the one of the first or second cage portions and a respective one of the hook receptacles on each of the other one of the first or the second cage portions.

15 . The snap-action cage according to claim 10 , wherein the first cage portion has a first side ring and the second cage portion has a second side ring, the first and second side rings are connected to one another via the webs, and the first and the second web portions and/or the side rings are dimensioned such that a rigidity of the web portions is similar.

16 . The snap-action cage according to claim 10 , wherein the snap-action connection is arranged in an axial direction in a central region between the cage portions.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Neumann Michael
• Stahl Thomas

Classifications

• F16C2226/74

  with snap-fit, e.g. by clips · CPC title

• F16C33/4676

  of the stays separating adjacent cage pockets, e.g. guide means for the bearing-surface of the rollers · CPC title

• F16C33/585

  of raceways, e.g. ribs to guide the rollers · CPC title

• F16C33/4652 Primary

  made from plastic, e.g. two injection moulded parts joined by a snap fit · CPC title

• F16C19/364 Primary

  with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone · CPC title