Roller bearing separator
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorEdward W. Molloy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An angular contact roller bearing has a sheet metal separator guiding rollers revolving on inclined axes in an orbital movement around the longitudinal axis of the bearing. The sheet metal separator is made from a ladder shaped strip of sheet metal with the cross bars in an angular orientation which is rolled to an annular form with axially spaced cylindrical end rings of equal diameter. The cross bars may be configured to provide roller retainment in either or both radial directions as exemplified by the three embodiments disclosed. In one embodiment one of the cylindrical end rings cooperates with one bearing race to provide a unit handled subassembly with retained rollers. As disclosed in the specification, the cylindrical end rings may also be used to center the separator from one of the races if such a feature is desired.
Claims13
An angular contact roller bearing comprising
- relatively rotatable inner and outer races having a common longitudinal axis,
- a plurality of rollers disposed between said races in rollable engagement therewith,
- said rollers having longitudinal axes angularly disposed with respect to said common longitudinal axis of said races about which said rollers respectively revolve during operation of the bearing, and
- a separator rolled to annular form from a strip of sheet metal, said separator having windows receiving said rollers and comprising cylindrical end ring portions of equal diameter disposed on opposite sides of an imaginary conical surface defined by said longitudinal axes, said end ring portions being interconnected by a plurality of cross bars having an asymmetrical configuration and major portions angularly disposed with respect to said common longitudinal axis of said bearing engaging and guiding said rollers along a majority of their lengths.
A separator for angular contact bearings which is rolled to annular form from a strip of sheet metal comprising axially spaced cylindrical end ring portions of equal diameter concentric with a longitudinal axis, said end ring portions being interconnected by a plurality of cross bars forming roller receiving windows, said cross bars being connected to said end ring portions at locations equidistant from said longitudinal axis and having an asymmetrical configuration, and said cross bars including inclined roller guiding portions angularly disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis for engaging and guiding rollers on axes disposed at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and generally radial S-shaped portions connected to the inclined portions and axially aligned therewith whereby production of the separator by rolling a ladder-shaped strip of sheet metal is possible without reducing the diameter of the end ring portions.
A method of making a sheet metal separator for an angular contact roller bearing having rollers with longitudinal axes disposed at an angle with respect ot the longitudinal axis of the bearing comprising the steps of
- forming a generally flat ladder shaped strip of stock with end bands connected by cross bars with at least one section thereof thinned in the plane of said strip defining a series of windows with confronting localized enlargements,
- bending said cross bars into an asymmetrical configuration with S-shaped, generally upright portions at said one section and with inclined portions contiguous to said S-shaped upright portions angularly related to said end bands, and
- rolling said strip into a generally annular separator having axially spaced cylindrical end ring portions formed from said end bands, said end ring portions being of equal diameter and concentric about an axis and said inclined portions on said cross bars being angularly disposed with respect to said axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.