# US 11,994,167 B2 · Reinforced casing for food applications

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- Number: US 11,994,167 B2
- Document ID: US11994167B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/212,226
- Filed: 2023-06-21
- Published: 2023-10-26
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2021-02-03
- Assignees: Aktiebolaget Skf
- Applicants: Aktiebolaget Skf
- Inventors: Fausto Baracca; Alessio Nebbia Colomba; Andrea A Bertolini; Fabio Cavacece
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994167B2

## CPC

- F16C 35/045: {with a radial flange to mount the housing}
- F16C 23/084: {sliding on a complementary spherical surface}
- F16C 35/042: {Housings for rolling element bearings for rotary movement}
- F16C 19/06: with a single row or balls
- F16C 19/522: {related to load on the bearing, e.g. bearings with load sensors or means to protect the bearing against overload}
- F16C 2204/60: Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
- F16C 2208/00: Plastics; Synthetic resins, e.g. rubbers
- F16C 2220/04: by injection-moulding
- F16C 2300/40: related to environment, i.e. operating conditions
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

## Abstract

Casing of a bearing unit for food applications, made of polymeric material and provided internally with a spherical seat for housing the bearing unit, the casing having a reinforcement in the form of a metal ring co-molded inside the casing and accommodated around the spherical seat of the casing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A casing made of a polymeric material comprising:
the polymeric material defining one or more holes;
the polymeric material further defining a spherical seat comprising an axis of symmetry;
an elastomeric material disposed within at least one of the one or more holes;
a reinforcement ring disposed within the polymeric material, the reinforcement ring being substantially co-axial with the spherical seat,
wherein the elastomeric material extends radially along an outer surface of a base of the casing and also extends axially from the base of the casing to at least the reinforcing ring.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The casing of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement ring is made of metal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The casing of claim 2, wherein the reinforcement ring is made of stainless steel or galvanized steel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The casing of claim 2, wherein the reinforcement ring is co-molded inside the casing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The casing of claim 4, wherein the one or more holes are defined in the casing as a result of removing pins that supported the reinforcing ring during co-molding of the reinforcing ring.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The casing of claim 1, wherein a thickness (T) of the reinforcement ring is not less than 1 mm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The casing of claim 1, wherein the spherical seat is configured for housing a bearing unit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The casing of claim 7, wherein a width (A) in an axial direction of the reinforcement ring is not greater than 1 mm less than a height (D) of a radially outer ring of the bearing unit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The casing of claim 1, wherein a distance (C) of the reinforcement ring from a spherical surface of the spherical seat is not less than 1 mm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The casing of claim 1, wherein the distance (E) of the reinforcement ring from an external surface of the casing is not less than 1 mm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The casing of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter (B) of the reinforcement ring is obtained from the following formula:
B=(S+2T+2C)
wherein S is a maximum diameter of the spherical seat, T is a thickness of the reinforcement metal ring, and C is a distance of the reinforcement metal ring from a spherical surface of the spherical seat.