GB1574765A - Rollinng bearing - Google Patents

Description

(54) ROLLING BEARING (71) We. NADELLA, of 133-137 Boulevard National. 92505 Rueil Malmaison. France, a French Body Corporate. do hereby declare the invention. for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us. and the method by which it Is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to rolling bearings of the needle or roller kind provided with inner rings. Such bearings are generally used as support bearings of cam followers.

Bearings of this type are already known which have outer and inner rings of massive construction. such as are obtained by grinding. turning, machining or sintering. Such bearings are generallv expensive because of the high cost of the materials used and the machining operations to which the bearing parts have to be subjected.

Furthermore. known bearings are provided with lateral retaining plates integral with the inner ring. which plates are designed to locate the outer ring axially and. sometimes. to help prevent leakage of lubricant. A bearing like this has the disadvantages of both being complicated and or requiring relatively expensive fixing and mounting operations.

According to the present invention. a needle or roller bearing has its cylindrical rolling elements arranged between an outer ring of massive construction and an inner ring formed from a single piece of metal tubing or sheeting and having at least one radially outwardly extending flange to locate the outer ring.

ln an embodiment of the present invention. the inner ring is of a substantially U-shaped cross-section with two radial flanges axially locating the outer ring there between.

In another embodiment of the present invention. the inner ring has a radial flange at one end locating the outer ring axially in one direction, and there is an annular retaining plate locating the outer ring in the opposite direction which plate is in turn located against an external shoulder on the inner ring by a ferrule struck up from the free end of the ring to overlie the plate.

The above and other features of the invention are illustrated by way of example. on the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a section of part of a rolling bearing in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a similar section of another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. I shows a rolling bearings. such as a support bearing or cam follower. comprisine a ring of needles or rollers I arranged between a massive machined or sintered outer ring 2 and an inner ring 3 stamped or expanded from metal sheeting or tubing to have at each end a radially outwardly extending flange 4. 5. The outer ring 2 is positioned between and axially located by the tuo flanges 4 and 5.

In one method. the ring 3 is at least partially formed as a pressing from a flat or an L-shaped metal sheet of which one portion of the axial part is designed to form. after folding. the second flange 5. The sheet is locallv thinned at 6 to aid folding of the flange 5 in either a hot or a cold operation.

In a preferred form the bend between the axial portion of the ring 3 and the radial flange 4 is axially outwardly dished at 8 to form a lubricant reservoir. the ends of the rolling elements 1 bearing against the annulus 9 formed by the junction between the dish 8 and the flange 4.

The inner ring 3 may be provided. in known manner. with greasing holes 21.

bloreover. lubricatien of the bearing may be improved by providing axial openings 20.

obtained for example by cutting. or interior radial grooves 7. formed by stamping or pressing. in one or both flanges. Both open- ings and grooves could be employed.

In a second method, a U-shaped ring 3 is formed from a portion od frawn tube. each end of which is expanded by known method to form the flanges X, and 5. for example by a wheel cutting the drawn tube.

The portion of ring 3 forming a bearing race and possibly the radial flanges can be treated to give them the necessary hardness.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the inner ring 3 is an assembly of an annular retaining plate ii and a combined radial flange and axial bearing race 10 that is generally L-shaped in cross-section.

The bearing race has towards its free end an external shoulder 12 against which the retaining plate 11 is retained by a ferrule 13 struck up from the free end of the race over the plate 11.

In other embodiments of the invention.

not illustrated in the drawings, the ring of needles or rollers may be caged. Also the outer ring may be provided externally with an elastomeric tvre to dampen vibrations.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A rolling bearing having cylindrical rolling elements arranged between an outer ring of massive construction and an inner ring formed from a single piece of metal tubing or sheet, and having at least one radially outwardly extending flange to locate the outer ring axially.

2. A bearing as claimed in Claim 1. in which the inner ring is of a substantially U-shaped cross-section with two radial flanges axially locating the outer ring there between.

3. A bearing as claimed in Claim 1. in which the inner ring has a radial flange at one end locating the outer ring axially in one direction. and there is an annular retaining plate locating the outer ring in the opposite direction. which plate is in turn located against an external shoulder on the inner ring by a ferrule struck up from the free end of the ring to ovcrlic the plate.

4. A bearing as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3. in " hich thc inner ring is a metal sheet pressing.

5. bearing as claimed in any of Claims l to 3. in which the inner ring is of metal tubing with at least one expanded radial flange.

6. A bearing as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5. in which the metal sheeting or tubine from which the inner ring is formed has a locally thinned portion to aid folding of a radial flange.

7. A bearing as claimed in any of the previous claims. in which the bcnd between the axial portion of the inner ring and one of the radial flanges is axially outuardlv dished to form a lubricant reservoir.

8. A bcarine as claimed in any of the previous claims. in hitch at least one of the radial flanges has axial openings.

9. A bearing as claimed in any of the previous claims in which at least one of the radial flanges has interior radial grooves.

10. A bearing as claimed in any of the previous claims, in which the outer ring is provided with an elastomeric tyre.

11. A rolling bearing substantially as described with reference to or as shown by Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ings and grooves could be employed. In a second method, a U-shaped ring 3 is formed from a portion od frawn tube. each end of which is expanded by known method to form the flanges X, and 5. for example by a wheel cutting the drawn tube. The portion of ring 3 forming a bearing race and possibly the radial flanges can be treated to give them the necessary hardness. Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the inner ring 3 is an assembly of an annular retaining plate ii and a combined radial flange and axial bearing race 10 that is generally L-shaped in cross-section. The bearing race has towards its free end an external shoulder 12 against which the retaining plate 11 is retained by a ferrule 13 struck up from the free end of the race over the plate 11. In other embodiments of the invention. not illustrated in the drawings, the ring of needles or rollers may be caged. Also the outer ring may be provided externally with an elastomeric tvre to dampen vibrations. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A rolling bearing having cylindrical rolling elements arranged between an outer ring of massive construction and an inner ring formed from a single piece of metal tubing or sheet, and having at least one radially outwardly extending flange to locate the outer ring axially.

2. A bearing as claimed in Claim 1. in which the inner ring is of a substantially U-shaped cross-section with two radial flanges axially locating the outer ring there between.

3. A bearing as claimed in Claim 1. in which the inner ring has a radial flange at one end locating the outer ring axially in one direction. and there is an annular retaining plate locating the outer ring in the opposite direction. which plate is in turn located against an external shoulder on the inner ring by a ferrule struck up from the free end of the ring to ovcrlic the plate.

4. A bearing as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3. in " hich thc inner ring is a metal sheet pressing.

5. bearing as claimed in any of Claims l to 3. in which the inner ring is of metal tubing with at least one expanded radial flange.

6. A bearing as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5. in which the metal sheeting or tubine from which the inner ring is formed has a locally thinned portion to aid folding of a radial flange.

7. A bearing as claimed in any of the previous claims. in which the bcnd between the axial portion of the inner ring and one of the radial flanges is axially outuardlv dished to form a lubricant reservoir.

8. A bcarine as claimed in any of the previous claims. in hitch at least one of the radial flanges has axial openings.

9. A bearing as claimed in any of the previous claims in which at least one of the radial flanges has interior radial grooves.

10. A bearing as claimed in any of the previous claims, in which the outer ring is provided with an elastomeric tyre.

11. A rolling bearing substantially as described with reference to or as shown by Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.