Bearings – Rotary bearing – Antifriction bearing
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-21
2001-01-30
Footland, Lenard A. (Department: 3682)
Bearings
Rotary bearing
Antifriction bearing
C384S572000, C384S578000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179474
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to roller bearings and, more particularly, to a bearing retainer for use in high load capacity roller bearings.
Previously, bearing retainers have utilized end rims connected by crossbars to form a rigid structure having roller pockets. The crossbars provide circumferential separation and axial location of the rollers and maintain alignment of the rollers to prevent roller skew. Radial retention of the rollers is provided by tabs or other surfaces on the crossbars to retain the rollers in the radially inward and/or radially outward directions. However, such bearing retainers are difficult and expensive to manufacture and reduce the load capacity and lubrication of the bearing due to the space required for the crossbars.
To increase load capacity of the bearing, rollers with trunnion ends have been used, allowing the rollers to be positioned closely together as a full complement, without being separated by bearing retainer crossbars, allowing the rollers to rub against adjacent rollers. Radial retention of the rollers may be provided by engagement of the trunnions by a rolled lip of a drawn outer cup. However, such bearings have limited space for lubricant and are not suitable for high speed applications. In addition, trunnion configurations are difficult and expensive to manufacture.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present devices and methods. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the invention, this is accomplished by providing a high capacity roller bearing comprising first and second retainer end rings spaced along an axis of the bearing, the end rings having axially inwardly extending blades forming circumferentially spaced roller pockets therebetween. No rigid connection of the end rings is provided. A plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers is aligned parallel to the bearing axis between the end rings such that ends of the rollers are received within the roller pockets. Abutment means engageable with the end rings limits axially outward movement of the end rings such that the ends of the rollers are maintained within the roller pockets. The blades of the end rings have retention surfaces extending circumferentially adjacent to the roller pockets such that the rollers are retained in at least one of the radially inward and radially outward directions and extend parallel to the bearing axis a sufficient length such that skew of the rollers is limited.
The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 603869 (1898-05-01), Bauer
patent: 681793 (1901-09-01), Hutchison
patent: 1609618 (1926-12-01), Gallagher et al.
patent: 2052292 (1936-08-01), Hartmann
patent: 2540283 (1951-02-01), Parsons
patent: 3362762 (1968-01-01), Haller
patent: 5660485 (1997-08-01), Podhajecki
Bigler John C.
Footland Lenard A.
The Torrington Company
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