Bearing unit provided with a retention device having optimized lubrication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022260117-A1
Application number	US-202217665887-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 7, 2022
Priority date	Feb 15, 2021
Publication date	Aug 18, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bearing unit provided with a radially outer ring, a radially inner ring, a plurality of rolling bodies interposed between the radially outer ring and the radially inner ring, and a retention device for keeping in position the plurality of rolling bodies, having a circular base rib, a plurality of fingers circumferentially spaced and defining a plurality of cavities for holding respective rolling bodies of the plurality of rolling bodies which are in contact with the retention device by means of a contact surface, and a plurality of discontinuity elements which reduce the extent of the area of contact with the rolling bodies.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A bearing unit comprising:
a radially outer ring; a radially inner ring; a plurality of rolling bodies interposed between the radially outer ring and the radially inner ring; a retention device for keeping in position the plurality of rolling bodies, the retention device comprising:
a circular base rib;
a plurality of fingers extending from the base rib and spaced circumferentially about the base rib, the plurality of fingers together with the circular base rib defining a plurality of cavities for holding the plurality of rolling bodies,
a plurality of discontinuity elements disposed about contact surfaces of the plurality of cavities.

2 . The bearing unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discontinuity elements are raised with respect to the contact surface.

3 . The bearing unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discontinuity elements comprises a plurality of incisions recessed into the contact surface.

4 . The bearing unit of claim 1 , wherein a total area of contact between the retention device and the plurality of rolling bodies is between 40% and 70% relative to a device having the same dimensions as the retention device and is devoid of the plurality of discontinuity elements.

5 . The bearing unit of claim 2 , wherein a height of the plurality of discontinuity elements is less than 1 mm.

6 . The bearing unit of claim 3 , wherein a depth of the plurality of discontinuity elements is less than 1 mm.

7 . The bearing unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discontinuity elements comprises a plurality of straight elements.

8 . The bearing unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discontinuity elements is a plurality of circular elements.

9 . The bearing unit of claim 1 , wherein the retention device is made of polymeric material.

10 . The bearing unit of claim 1 , wherein the retention device is made of bronze.

11 . The bearing unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discontinuity elements reduce respective areas of contact with the plurality of rolling bodies and a plurality of respective contact surfaces of the plurality of cavities.

12 . The bearing unit of claim 1 , wherein the area of contact between the retention device and the plurality of rolling bodies is 40%-70% of an area of the contact surface.

13 . A retention device for retaining a plurality of rolling bodies within a bearing unity, the retention device comprising:
a plurality of partially spherical cavities configured to retain a plurality of rolling bodies; a contact surface defined by the plurality of partially spherical cavities; and a plurality of discontinuity elements disposed on the contact surfaces.

14 . The retention device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of discontinuity elements are raised with respect to the contact surface.

15 . The retention device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of discontinuity elements are inset into the contact surface.

16 . The retention device of claim 13 , wherein a height of the plurality of discontinuity elements is less than 1 mm.

17 . The retention device of claim 13 , wherein a depth of the plurality of discontinuity elements is less than 1 mm.

18 . The retention device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of discontinuity elements comprises a plurality of straight elements.

19 . The retention device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of discontinuity elements is a plurality of circular elements.

20 . The retention device of claim 13 , wherein the retention device is made of polymeric material or bronze.

Assignees

• Skf Ab
• Skf Engineering And Lubrication India Private Ltd

Inventors

• Morello Fausto
• Chidambaram Silambarasan

Classifications

• F16C33/6651

  in recesses or cavities provided in retainers, races or rolling elements · CPC title

• F16C33/418

  Details of individual pockets, e.g. shape or ball retaining means · CPC title

• F16C33/3856

  made from plastic, e.g. injection moulded window cages · CPC title

• F16C33/385

  made from metal, e.g. cast or machined window cages · CPC title

• F16C33/3887

  Details of individual pockets, e.g. shape or ball retaining means · CPC title