Back to results
US 6,659,650 B2Granted
Wheel bearing with improved cage
AssigneeThe Timken Company
InventorsMark Joki, Thomas J. Rybkoski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved cage is provided for a roller bearing for use in a hub assembly, for example. The cage includes roller pockets which fully entrap the roller in the cage, to maintain the radial and axial position of the roller in the cage. Additionally, the bearing for the hub assembly is formed in part by the hub. One of the inner races is formed integrally with the hub. These constructions allow for the cage/roller assembly to be installed in the outboard position of the hub prior to the hub and hub seal being installed in the hub assembly.
Claims27
In a hub assembly for coupling a road wheel to the suspension system of an automotive vehicle, said hub assembly comprising a housing;
- a hub;
- and a bearing assembly located between the housing and the hub for enabling the hub to rotate with minimal friction relative to the housing about an axis X;
- the improvement comprising said bearing assembly;
- said bearing assembly comprising:
- an inner race, an outer race, a plurality of rollers positioned between said inner and outer races;
- and a cage for maintaining the positions of said rollers relative to each other in said bearing;
- said cage comprising a large end ring, a small end ring, and a plurality of bridges spaced about said cage;
- said bridge including a radial inner surface spaced between said radial inner and outer edges of said small end ring:
- said large and small end rings and said bridges defining a plurality of pockets which receive said rollers;
- said cage further comprising:
- a large end member at said large end ring which engages one axial end of said roller to prevent said roller from moving axially and radially in said pocket;
- and
- a bottom restraint extending radially inwardly from said bridge radial inner surface and axially from said small end ring a distance substantially less than the length of said bridge;
- said bottom restraint comprising a radial inner surface spaced radially inwardly of said small end ring radial inner surface;
- said bottom restraint and said bridge each having side walls;
- the respective side walls of said bottom restraints and bridges in combination defining a groove having a width less than the diameter of said roller at its second axial end and being sized and shaped to radially restrain said second axial end of the roller in said bearing;
- whereby said large end ring, small end ring, bridges, large end members, and said bottom restraints co-operate to fully entrap said rollers in said pockets and to prevent said rollers from escaping from said cage in a radial or axial direction.
14 more elements
A roller bearing assembly comprising:
- an inner race, an outer race, a plurality of rollers positioned between said inner and outer races;
- and a cage for maintaining the positions of said rollers relative to each other in said bearing;
- said cage comprising a large end ring, a small end ring, and a plurality of bridges spaced about said cage;
- said large and small end rings and said bridges defining a plurality of pockets which receive said rollers;
- said cage further comprising a large end member at said large end ring which engages said roller at a first axial end of said roller to radially restrain said roller at its first axial end and a bottom restraint which engages said roller at a second axial end of said roller to radially restrain said roller at its second axial end;
- said bottom restraint comprising side walls extending radially from said bridge and axially from said cage small end ring;
- said bottom restraint walls having a length substantially less than the length of said bridge;
- the side walls of adjacent bottom restraints defining a groove having a width less than the diameter of said roller at its second axial end such that said bottom restraint radially restrains said roller in said cage at said roller's second axial end;
- whereby, said roller is retained against substantial radial movement only at said roller's opposed axial ends, such that said roller cannot escape from said cage in a radial direction.
6 more elements
A cage for a roller bearing having a plurality of rollers;
- the cage comprising:
- a first end ring, a second end ring, and a plurality of bridges spaced about said cage;
- said first and second end rings and said bridges defining a plurality of pockets sized to receive rollers;
- said bridge having a radial inner surface and side walls, said end rings having radial inner surfaces and radial outer surfaces;
- a first end member at said first end ring adapted to engage said rollers at a first end of said rollers;
- and a second end member at said second end ring, said first and second end ring members being sized to retain a roller's axial position in said cage;
- and
- a bottom restraint which extends radially inwardly from said bridge radial inner surface and axially from said second end ring;
- said bottom restraint having an axial length substantially less than the length of said bridge;
- the respective side walls of said bottom restraints and bridges in combination defining a grooves which are sized and shaped to engage a roller at a second axial end of the roller;
- whereby, said first and second end members engage said rollers to prevent substantial axial movement of said rollers relative to said cage;
- and whereby said rollers are engaged only at their axial ends by said first end member and said bottom restraint to prevent substantial radial movement of said rollers relative to said cage.
9 more elements
A cage for a roller bearing having a plurality of rollers;
- the cage comprising:
- a first end ring, a second end ring, and a plurality of bridges spaced about said cage;
- said first and second end rings and said bridges defining a plurality of pockets sized to receive rollers;
- said bridge having a radial inner surface and side walls, said end rings having radial inner surfaces and radial outer surfaces
- a first end member at said first end ring adapted to engage a roller at a first axial end of the roller;
- and
- a bottom restraint which extends radially inwardly from said bridge radial inner surface and axially from said second end ring;
- said bottom restraint having an axial length substantially less than the length of said bridge;
- the respective side walls of said bottom restraints and bridges in combination defining a grooves which are sized and shaped to engage a roller at a second axial end of the roller;
- whereby, when rollers are positioned in said cage, the rollers are engaged only at their axial ends by said first end member and said bottom restraint;
- said first end member and bottom restraint preventing substantial radial movement of said rollers relative to said cage to prevent the rollers from escaping from said cage in a radial direction.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.