Radial rolling bearing assembly with connector sleeve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9670960-B2
Application number	US-201414579295-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2014
Priority date	Dec 22, 2014
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

A radial rolling bearing assembly is provided which includes first and second radial rolling bearings having respective bearing cups that include respective bearing races, respective radially extending flanges at first axial ends and respective bearing axial flanges with respective connector elements at the second axial ends. Respective cages hold rolling elements in the bearing cups that contact the races and define respective bearing support surfaces that can support, for example, a shaft or housing. A connector sleeve connects the first and second radial rolling bearings. The connector sleeve includes a first axial end with a first complementary connector that engages the first connector element, and a second axial end with a second complementary connector that engages the second connector element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A radial rolling bearing assembly, comprising:
a first radial rolling bearing including a first bearing cup having a first bearing race with a first radially extending flange at a first axial end and a first bearing axial flange with a first connector element at a second axial end, a first cage, and first rolling elements located in the cage that contact the first bearing race and define a first bearing support surface;
a second radial rolling bearing including a second bearing cup having a second bearing race with a second radially extending flange at a first axial end and a second bearing axial flange with a second connector element at a second axial end, a second cage, and second rolling elements located in the second cage that contact the second bearing race and define a second bearing support surface; and
a connector sleeve including a first axial end with a first connector that engages the first connector element, and a second axial end with a second connector that engages the second connector element,
wherein the first bearing axial flange is connected to the first bearing race by an integrally-formed first radially extending connector flange such that the first bearing axial flange, the first bearing race, and the first radially extending connector flange form an S-shape, and
wherein the second bearing axial flange is connected to the second bearing race by an integrally-formed second radially extending connector flange such that the second bearing axial flange, the second bearing race, and the second radially extending connector flange form an S-shape.

2. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second bearing races are outer bearing races, the first and second radially extending flanges are radially inwardly directed, and the first and second bearing support surfaces are inner support surfaces for contact with an outer surface of an opposite part.

3. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the connector sleeve has an outside diameter that is less than or equal to an outside diameter of the first and the second radial rolling bearings.

4. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a first bearing inner race.

5. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first bearing inner race is formed on a shaft supported by the radial rolling bearing assembly.

6. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a second bearing inner race.

7. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second bearing inner race is formed on the shaft.

8. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second bearing races are inner bearing races, the first and second radially extending flanges are radially outwardly directed, and the first and second bearing support surfaces are outer support surfaces for contact with an inner surface of an opposite part.

9. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the connector sleeve has an inside diameter that is greater than or equal to an inside diameter of the first and the second radial rolling bearings.

10. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first connector element is a first radially outwardly directed flange, and the second connector element is a second radially outwardly directed flange.

11. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first connector is formed by a first plurality of radially inwardly directed tabs circumferentially spaced apart about the connector sleeve, and the second connector is formed by a second plurality of radially inwardly directed tabs circumferentially spaced apart about the connector sleeve.

12. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first connector element is a first radially inwardly directed flange, and the second connector element is a second radially inwardly directed flange.

13. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first connector is formed by a first plurality of radially outwardly directed tabs circumferentially spaced apart about the connector sleeve, and the second connector is formed by a second plurality of radially outwardly directed tabs circumferentially spaced apart about the connector sleeve.

14. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector sleeve is a deep drawn or punched sheet metal part.

15. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft seal located within the connector sleeve.

16. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second rolling elements are cylindrical.

17. The radial rolling bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector sleeve includes a constant thickness from the first axial end to the second axial end.

18. A connector sleeve for a radial rolling bearing assembly adapted to connect first and second radial rolling bearings, comprising:
a deep drawn tubular body having a first axial end with a first connector formed by radially inwardly directed tabs, and a second axial end with a second connector formed by radially inwardly directed tabs, the radially inwardly directed tabs being formed as deformations in the tubular body,
wherein the tubular body includes a middle section having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter, and opposing end sections having a second inner diameter unequal to the first inner diameter and a second outer diameter unequal to the first outer diameter, the radially inwardly directed tabs being formed in the opposing end sections, wherein the tubular body, including the middle section and the opposing end sections, includes a constant thickness from the first axial end to the second axial end.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Gmbh & Co Kg
• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Roffe Dennis
• Schwab Charles

Classifications

• F16C19/54

  Systems consisting of a plurality of bearings with rolling friction (spindle bearings F16C35/08) · CPC title

• F16C35/061 Primary

  mounting a plurality of bearings side by side · CPC title

• F16C2361/61

  Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts · CPC title

• F16C19/46

  with one row or needles · CPC title

• F16C33/588

  Races of sheet metal · CPC title