Method for packing rolling elements in bearing, and use thereof

A device for packing a plurality rolling elements in a bearing, the bearing having a first ring and a second ring, the first ring defining a first ring raceway and the second ring defining a second ring raceway, the first ring raceway and the second ring raceway being configured to receive a plurality of rolling elements therebetween such that the first ring is rotatable relative to the second ring when the plurality of rolling elements are located therebetween, the device comprising:

• a bearing loading platform configured to carry, during assembly of the first ring and the second ring thereon with the first ring and the second ring being positioned to lay flat on the bearing loading platform;
• a bearing ring fixing component is positioned on the bearing loading platform and is configured to positionally fix the first ring and prevent the first ring from shifting when subjected to radial compression;
• a rolling element carrying ring having an annular structure and a radial size that is substantially the same as a pitch circle diameter of the bearing and is designed to lift the rolling elements to a corresponding axial position between the first ring raceway and second ring raceway;
• and
• a bearing ring compression component that is configured to apply a compressive load to a circumferential portion of the second ring that lies in a compression zone lying within a circumferential angle, the compressive load being configured to be directed towards the first ring in a radial direction, to force a radial gap between the first ring raceway and second ring raceway in the compression zone to decrease so that a window formed in a warping zone has an opening larger than a diameter of the rolling elements, the warping zone laying outside the circumferential angle of the compression zone.

A combination device for packing rolling elements in a bearing and a plurality of components of a bearing to be manufactured, the combination comprising:

• the plurality of components of the bearing including a first ring having a first ring raceway thereon and a second ring, having a second ring raceway thereon, the first ring raceway and the second ring raceway being configured to receive a plurality of rolling elements therebetween such that the first ring is rotatable relative to the second ring when the plurality of rolling elements are located therebetween,
• the device having a bearing loading platform for carrying, during assembly, the first ring and the second ring that are positioned thereon with an axis of rotation generally aligned perpendicularly to the bearing loading platform;
• a bearing ring fixing component is positioned on the bearing loading platform and is configured to positionally fix the first ring and prevent the first ring from shifting when subjected to radial compression;
• two of the plurality of rolling elements form first packing supports disposed between the first ring raceway and second ring raceway at a predetermined circumferential angle, the two first packing supports dividing the bearing in a circumferential range into a compression zone lying within the range of the circumferential angle and a warping zone lying outside the range of the circumferential angle;
• a rolling element carrying ring having an annular structure and a radial size that is substantially the same as a pitch circle diameter of the bearing and is designed to lift the rolling elements to a corresponding axial position between the first ring raceway and second ring raceway;
• and
• a bearing ring compression component that applies a compressive load to a circumferential portion of the second ring that lies in the compression zone, the compressive load being directed towards the first ring in a radial direction, to force a radial gap between the first ring raceway and second ring raceway in the compression zone to decrease so that a window formed in the warping zone has an opening larger than a diameter of the rolling elements.