Retainer segment for tapered roller bearing, tapered roller bearing, and method for mounting tapered roller bearing

A retainer segment for a tapered roller bearing, having a shape given by equally dividing a conical, cage-shaped retainer by planes of division each passing through a centerline of the retainer, a plurality of the segments being connected in an annular pattern to provide a split type retainer and each having a small-diameter-side end fringe constituting a small-diameter-side circumferential edge of the split type retainer and a large-diameter-side end fringe constituting a large-diameter-side circumferential edge of the split type retainer, a predetermined number of posts being provided between the small-diameter-side end fringe and the large-diameter-side end fringe while roller holding pockets being provided between the posts, the retainer segment comprising an axially outward protruding large-diameter-side engagement piece at least on the large-diameter-side end fringe out of the small-diameter-side end fringe and the large-diameter-side end fringe;

• wherein the post has an engagement claw on a surface facing an outer-ring track, for a tapered roller in the pocket;
• wherein a small-diameter mounting portion provided on an axially outer side of a small flange of an inner ring of the bearing and a large-diameter mounting portion provided on an axially outer side of a large flange of the bearing's inner ring are fitted with a small-diameter engagement member and a large-diameter engagement member respectively, both of the small-diameter engagement member and the large-diameter engagement member having their sections resembling an inverted letter L, providing an inward facing engagement recess;
• and
• wherein each of the small-diameter engagement member and the large-diameter engagement member is provided by a ring-shaped assembly of two engagement-member halves assembled into a ring shape using screws.

A retainer segment for a tapered roller bearing, having a shape given by equally dividing a conical, cage-shaped retainer by planes of division each passing through a centerline of the retainer, a plurality of the segments being connected in an annular pattern to provide a split type retainer and each having a small-diameter-side end fringe constituting a small-diameter-side circumferential edge of the split type retainer and a large-diameter-side end fringe constituting a large-diameter-side circumferential edge of the split type retainer, a predetermined number of posts being provided between the small-diameter-side end fringe and the large-diameter-side end fringe while roller holding pockets being provided between the posts, the retainer segment comprising an axially outward protruding large-diameter-side engagement piece at least on the large-diameter-side end fringe out of the small-diameter-side end fringe and the large-diameter-side end fringe;

• wherein the small-diameter-side end fringe is provided with an axially outward protruding small-diameter-side engagement piece;
• wherein the post has an engagement claw on a surface facing an outer-ring track, for a tapered roller in the pocket;
• and
• wherein a small-diameter mounting portion provided on an axially outer side of a small flange of an inner ring of the bearing and a large-diameter mounting portion provided on an axially outer side of a large flange of the bearing's inner ring are fitted with a small-diameter engagement member and a large-diameter engagement member respectively, both of the small-diameter engagement member and the large-diameter engagement member having their sections resembling an inverted letter L, providing an inward facing engagement recess;
• and
• wherein a radial gap between the engagement recess in the small diameter sidesmall-diameter engagement member and the small-diameter-side engagement piece, and a radial gap between the engagement recess in the large-diameter engagement member and the large-diameter-side engagement piece are both greater than a radial gap between a tapered roller in the pocket and the engagement claw.

A retainer segment for a tapered roller bearing, having a shape given by equally dividing a conical, cage-shaped retainer by planes of division each passing through a centerline of the retainer, a plurality of the segments being connected in an annular pattern to provide a split type retainer and each having a small-diameter-side end fringe constituting a small-diameter-side circumferential edge of the split type retainer and a large-diameter-side end fringe constituting a large-diameter-side circumferential edge of the split type retainer, a predetermined number of posts being provided between the small-diameter-side end fringe and the large-diameter-side end fringe while roller holding pockets being provided between the posts, the retainer segment comprising an axially outward protruding large-diameter-side engagement piece at least on the large-diameter-side end fringe out of the small-diameter-side end fringe and the large-diameter-side end fringe;

• wherein the small-diameter-side end fringe is provided with an axially outward protruding small-diameter-side engagement piece;
• and
• wherein a small-diameter mounting portion provided on an axially outer side of a small flange of an inner ring of the bearing and a large-diameter mounting portion provided on an axially outer side of a large flange of the bearing's inner ring are fitted with a small-diameter engagement member and a large-diameter engagement member respectively, both of the small-diameter engagement member and the large-diameter engagement member having their sections resembling an inverted letter L, providing an inward facing engagement recess;
• and
• wherein an axial gap between the engagement recess in the small-diameter engagement member and the small-diameter-side engagement piece, and an axial gap between the engagement recess in the large-diameter engagement member and the large-diameter-side engagement piece are both greater than an axial gap of the pocket with respect to the tapered roller.

A method for mounting a tapered roller bearing into target equipment, the tapered roller bearing comprising a retainer segment having a shape given by equally dividing a conical, cage-shaped retainer by planes of division each passing through a centerline of the retainer, a plurality of the segments being connected in an annular pattern to provide a split type retainer and each having a small-diameter-side end fringe constituting a small-diameter-side circumferential edge of the split type retainer and a large-diameter-side end fringe constituting a large-diameter-side circumferential edge of the split type retainer, a predetermined number of posts being provided between the small-diameter-side end fringe and the large-diameter-side end fringe while roller holding pockets being provided between the posts, the retainer segment comprising an axially outward protruding large-diameter-side engagement piece at least on the large-diameter-side end fringe out of the small-diameter-side end fringe and the large-diameter-side end fringe, wherein a large-diameter mounting portion provided on an axially outer side of a large flange of an inner ring of the bearing is fitted with a large-diameter engagement member, the large-diameter engagement member having a section resembling an inverted letter L, providing an inward facing engagement recess;

• said method comprising steps of:
• fitting and fixing the bearing's inner ring around a shaft;
• then fitting and fixing the large-diameter engagement member to the large-diameter mounting portion of the inner ring;
• then placing the retainer segments loaded with tapered rollers around an inner ring track while engaging the segments' large-diameter-side engagement pieces with the large-diameter mounting portion;
• and after completing this placement, fitting an outer ring of the bearing around the tapered rollers.

A method for mounting a tapered roller bearing into target equipment, the tapered roller bearing comprising a retainer segment having a shape given by equally dividing a conical, cage-shaped retainer by planes of division each passing through a centerline of the retainer, a plurality of the segments being connected in an annular pattern to provide a split type retainer and each having a small-diameter-side end fringe constituting a small-diameter-side circumferential edge of the split type retainer and a large-diameter-side end fringe constituting a large-diameter-side circumferential edge of the split type retainer, a predetermined number of posts being provided between the small-diameter-side end fringe and the large-diameter-side end fringe while roller holding pockets being provided between the posts, the retainer segment comprising an axially outward protruding large-diameter-side engagement piece at least on the large-diameter-side end fringe out of the small-diameter-side end fringe and the large-diameter-side end fringe;

• wherein the small-diameter-side end fringe is provided with an axially outward protruding small-diameter-side engagement piece;
• and
• wherein a small-diameter mounting portion provided on an axially outer side of a small flange of an inner ring of the bearing and a large-diameter mounting portion provided on an axially outer side of a large flange of the bearing's inner ring are fitted with a small-diameter engagement member and a large-diameter engagement member respectively, both of the small-diameter engagement member and the large-diameter engagement member having their sections resembling an inverted letter L, providing an inward facing engagement recess;
• said method comprising steps of:
• fitting and fixing the bearing's inner ring around a shaft;
• then fitting and fixing the large-diameter engagement member to the large-diameter mounting portion of the inner ring;
• then placing the retainer segments loaded with tapered rollers around an inner ring track while engaging the segments' large-diameter-side engagement pieces with the large-diameter mounting portion;
• and after completing this arrangement, fitting and fixing the small-diameter engagement member to the small-diameter mounting portion thereby engaging the small-diameter engagement member with the small-diameter-side engagement pieces;
• and thereafter fitting an outer ring of the bearing around the tapered rollers.