Conducting rolling bearing

Details Conducting rolling bearing Conducting rolling bearing

1988-03-30

1989-08-15

Hannon, Thomas R.

Bearings

Rotary bearing

Antifriction bearing

277 961, 277236, 384476, 384484, F16C 3372

Patent

active

048569160

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to a conductive rolling bearing mounted on a steering assembly of an automobile or on a bearing assembly having a bearing near electrical devices such as an electric motor, and more specifically a conductive rolling bearing adapted for conduction between inner and outer rings through seal members.


Technological Background

With this type of bearing, an electric current may sometimes flow through rolling elements between outer and inner rings. This causes an electrical discharge to occur between the rolling elements and the inner and outer rings, locally melting the bearing (what is called electrolytic corrosion) and thus remarkably shortening the service life of the bearing.
Japanese Utility Model Non-examined Publication No. 56-143273 discloses a bearing which allows a current to flow between inner and outer rings without causing such an electrolytic corrosion. As shown in FIG. 8, the bearing of this Publication is provided with seal members 4 which are so arranged that if a current flows through the bearing, it will flow between an inner ring 1 and an outer ring 2 through the seal members 4 and not through rolling elements 3, thus protecting the inner ring 1, the outer ring 2 and the rolling elements 3 from electrolytic corrosion.
Since the seal members 4 are frictionally pressed with a light resilient pressure against the shoulder portions 5 formed near the end faces of the inner ring 1, they not only prevent electrolytic corrosion but also function as ordinary seal members to prevent the invasion of dust or mud and the leakage of bearing grease.
In the bearing, in order to reduce the torque for the bearing, the frictional surfaces, that is, the end faces of the seal members and the shoulder portions are machined flat and smooth to reduce the friction therebetween. But owing to the edged corner at the end face of the seal members, they were not satisfactory in their wear and sealing properties.
Further, after punching to form a bore, it is necessary to machine the end faces of the seal members to remove burrs and edges. This increases the cost of the bearing.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, the seal members have their free end curled so that the curled portion will resiliently contact the frictional seal contact surface on the bearing ring. This arrangement has the following effects:
(a) Even if the contact areas displace owing to axial clearance in the bearing or uneven dimensions of the parts, the contact pressure on the contact surface of each seal member is unchanged. Thus, the frictional resistance is kept constant, allowing the bearing to rotate with a low and stable torque.
(b) Even if the assembling of the bearing is inaccurate and thus the inner and outer rings are mounted in inclined positions with respect to each other, the seal members will be kept in unchanged frictional contact, allowing the bearing to rotate with a stable torque.
(c) The seal members maintain their frictional contact in such a stable manner that the bearing has a high and stable sealing property.
(d) The seal members are so smooth in frictional contact that wear is slow to progress and thus the powder produced by friction is less likely to invade into the bearing and lower the service life of the bearing.
(e) Without the necessity of incorporating any special conduction device, the bearing of the present invention allows an even, secure conduction.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a free end of a seal member used in the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the free end of the seal member.
FIG. 8 show a prior art bearing.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, the embodiments acco

REFERENCES:
patent: 2067464 (1937-01-01), Smith
patent: 4533265 (1985-08-01), Woodbridge

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