# US 11,078,956 B2 · Rolling-element bearing unit, cage, and installation method

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- Number: US 11,078,956 B2
- Document ID: US11078956B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/703,134
- Filed: 2019-12-04
- Published: 2020-07-09
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-08
- Assignees: Aktiebolaget Skf
- Applicants: Aktiebolaget Skf
- Inventors: Ludwig Edelmann; Dominic Namyslo; Matthias Schuler; Johannes Zang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078956B2

## CPC

- F16C 19/364: {with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone}
- F16C 19/543: {in O-arrangement}
- F16C 33/4605: {Details of interaction of cage and race, e.g. retention or centring}
- F16C 33/4635: {made from plastic, e.g. injection moulded window cages}
- F16C 33/467: {Details of individual pockets, e.g. shape or roller retaining means}
- F16C 33/605: {with a separate retaining member, e.g. flange, shoulder, guide ring, secured to a race ring, adjacent to the race surface, so as to abut the end of the rolling elements, e.g. rollers, or the cage}
- F16C 33/7813: {for tapered roller bearings}
- F16C 33/58: Raceways; Race rings
- F16C 33/768: {between relatively stationary parts, i.e. static seals}
- F16C 33/7876: {with sealing lips}
- F16C 2326/20: Land vehicles
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

## Abstract

A rolling-element bearing unit includes at least one outer ring, at least one inner ring, at least one cage, and a plurality of rolling elements between the outer ring and the inner ring and disposed in pockets of the cage. At least one auxiliary ring is disposed axially adjacent to the outer ring, and the cage includes connecting elements, such as radially outwardly extending lugs, for captively connecting the auxiliary ring to the cage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rolling-element bearing unit comprising:
at least one outer ring,
at least one inner ring,
at least one cage,
a plurality of rolling elements between the outer ring and the inner ring and disposed in pockets of the cage, and
at least one auxiliary ring that is disposed axially adjacent to the outer ring,
wherein the cage includes a plurality of radially outwardly projecting lugs captively connecting the auxiliary ring to the cage, wherein the at least one inner ring and the at least one outer ring are configured such that the plurality of rolling elements cannot contact the auxiliary ring.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The rolling-element bearing unit according to claim 1,
wherein the at least one auxiliary ring and the plurality of lugs are configured such that the cage is rotatable relative to the auxiliary ring.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The rolling-element bearing unit according to claim 1,
wherein the plurality of lugs engage behind at least one projection of the auxiliary ring.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The rolling-element bearing according to claim 1,
wherein the lugs are disposed at a first axial end of the cage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The rolling-element bearing according to claim 4,
wherein the auxiliary ring includes a radially inwardly projecting flange located axially between the plurality of lugs and the at least one outer ring.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The rolling-element bearing according to claim 5, wherein an axial space between the lugs and the at least one outer ring is greater than an axial thickness of the flange.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The rolling-element bearing according to claim 6, wherein the lugs are evenly circumferentially spaced.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The rolling-element bearing unit according to claim 1, including a seal element mounted on the auxiliary ring and extending radially inward toward or to the inner ring.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The rolling-element bearing unit according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary ring comprises a fiberglass-reinforced plastic.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A truck including the rolling-element bearing unit according to claim 1.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The rolling-element bearing unit according to claim 1,
wherein the cage comprises:
a first side ring having a first diameter;
a second side ring axially spaced from the first side ring and having a second diameter less than the first diameter; and
a plurality of bridges connecting the first side ring to the second side ring;
wherein the plurality of radially outwardly projecting lugs are disposed on the first side ring.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The rolling-element bearing according to claim 1, wherein the lugs are evenly circumferentially spaced.

### Claim 13

A rolling-element bearing unit comprising:
at least one outer ring,
at least one inner ring,
at least one cage,
a plurality of rolling elements between the outer ring and the inner ring and disposed in pockets of the cage,
at least one auxiliary ring that is disposed axially adjacent to the outer ring, and
a seal element having a first end in contact with the auxiliary ring and a second end in contact with the inner ring,
wherein the cage includes a plurality of radially outwardly extending lugs at a first axial end of the cage,
wherein the auxiliary ring includes a radially inwardly projecting flange located axially between the plurality of lugs and the at least one outer ring, and
wherein an axial space between the lugs and the at least one outer ring is greater than an axial thickness of the flange.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The rolling-element bearing according to claim 13, wherein the at least one inner ring and the at least one outer ring are configured such that the plurality of rolling elements cannot contact the auxiliary ring.