CA1051076A - Roller bearing improvement - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A roller bearing cartridge and a method of making the same. The bearing cartridge is constructed with an outer race assembly constructed of two identical parts, centrally joined together, such that openings are provided for a locating pin and for the passage of lubricant re-gardless of the type of housing in which the bearing cartridge is used, which housings have lubrication fittings and cavities for locating pins in locations which differ from one another.

The locating pins restrict relative rotation between the outer race which is constructed with an arcuate outer surface and the housing which has the opening defined by an arcuate surface to receive the bearing cartridge.
The restricted relative rotation is between the bearing cartridge and the housing and is such as to provide sufficient relative rotation to permit the bearing assembly to be self-aligning to accommodate shaft misalignment relative to the housing support.

In that locating pins may be sheared off by severe shaft misalignment, there is also disclosed a con-struction limiting self-alignment relative rotation between the bearing cartridge and the housing to some predetermined amount.

Description

~,~S~76 This invention relates to roller bearings and in particular to roller bearing cartridges.
This is a division of copending Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 232,185, filed on July 24, 1975 Roller bearing cartridges are usable in various forms of housings, as for example, pillow blocks and flange blocks both of which are fixad to a support. There are ~
several types of pillow blocks in general use, one difference being in the manner of inserting and removing the actual bearing unit or, as more descriptively identified, a bearing cartridge constructed of inner and outer races with rows of rollers.
` For example, pillow blocks are made in two pieces which are bolted together; they are made with loading slots through ~ -which the bearing cartridge is inserted and removed, and they are made with an enlarged opening to receive adapter ri~gs t, to hold the bearing cartridge in proper position~ In any event, pillow blocks and flange blocks are provided with a ~! nipple or fitting and a passage through which lubricant is introduced into the housing and into the bearing cartridge to lubricate the rollers, and also with a cavity to receive ~ ;
a locating pin which extends from the bearing cartridge and which -limits relative rotation between the outer race, `
~ the bearlng cartridge and the housing. Rotation of the ; outer race with the shaft is undesirable; movement in planes ~ ~ `
passing through the major axis of the shaft is desirable, so that the bearing cartridge is self-aligning to accommodate slight shaft misalignment~ However, self-aligning move-ment control of the self-alignment movement is desirable, so that the locating pin is not sheared off by excessive ` 30 movement which could cause damage to the assembly.
Rolle~ bearing cartridges of the type being des- -cribed herein are described in UOS. Patents Numbers 3,773,397, i issued November 20, 1973 and 3,829,1a2, issued August 13, 1~74 sb/`-~

7~;
u~s. Patent No. 3,773~397 discloses a unique manner of generating the arcuate surface of the housing opening. U.S. Patent No. 3,82g,182 discloses a unique locating pin which is received in a housing cavity to limit relative movement between the bearing cartridge and the housing.
Both patents illustrate an outer race having cylin-drical portions extending outwardly from the outer arcuate surfaced outer race and both patents illustrate the housing having exterior walls joining the arcuate surface of the housing opening.
According to the present invention there is provided a roller bearing assembly including a housing adapted to be fixed to a support and a cartridge, the housing having a central opening defining an arcuate surface to receive the cartridge. The cartridge includes an inner race member having a pair of inner raceways and an opening for receiving a rotating shaft, and an outer race member having an outer ~;~
' arcuate surface. A locking pin extends radially therefrom, -~
j~ 20 and the housing has a cavity opening into the central opening to receive the locking pin, the cavity being longer in the direction of the shaft than in the width normal thereto. The -~
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pair of rows of rollers are provided with the rollers o a row contacting the adjacent inner and outer raceways. Locking pin cooperates with the cavity to limit the ability of the outer race to rotate with the shaft and to a lesser degree to limit, yet permit the pivoting of the cartridge about its geometric center with respect to the housing to accommodate shaft misalignment relative to the housing support.
The assembly is so constructed to limit the relative rotation between the bearing cartridge and the housing; rotation of the outer race with the shaft is, of ~
-Sb/Jo ~L~S~ 6 course, undesirable in that the function of the anti-friction elements, the rollers running on the raceways is defeated. Some relative rotation between the outer race ; and the housing is desirable especially in places which pass through the major, longitudinal axis of the shat, in order to accommodate shaft misalignment relative to the ~ ~ .
housing support. This self-alignment movement may be described as the ability of the bearing cartridge to pivot within the confines of the housing opening about its geometric center.
To limit the relative rotation between the bearing ;~
cartridge and the housing (which includes the pivoting of;~
the bearing cartridge within the housing opening ahout its geometric center), the bearing cartridge is provided with the locating pin and is received in a ca~ity in the housing.
According to a disclosed embodiment of the ~`
invention, the pin also locates the bearing cartridge relative ~ ! to a grease or lubricating fitting attached to the housing, -;~ so that lubrication can be suppled to the bearing cartridge ;
and the rollers. Severe misalignment of the shat can shear the locating pin creating a condition leading to potential `~
bearing damage. Thus, according to a specific embodiment of the invention, the bearing assembly may also be constructed .
so that a built-in stap is provided against undue and abnormal .. , . . ~ , self-aligning relative movement between the bearing cartridge ~.
and the housing. This built-in stop comprises a flange ' configuration of the outer race which cooperates with the ~ `
:~, . : .,,,.:, housing to so limit or stop the relative rotation or pivoting between the bearing cartridge and the housing at a pre-~ 30 determined angular value measured at the geometric center ;
I of the bearing cartridge. ~nother innovation which can be 3 used as an alternative in conj~mction with, or for, light ~ load applicationsj is to shape the cavity in the housing ,^~ , ~ .
j , ~
~` _ 3 _ . .
~ ~ sb/~

`"` ~(~510'76 for the locating pin to be elongated in the direction of the major axis of the shaft and restricted in a direction normal thereto (as for example, an oval), so that the outer race is restricted severely in one direction, especially ~;
from rotating with the shaft. The minor axis of the cavity is of such dimension to freely accept the locating pin; the major axis of the cavity is of such length to permit the self-aligning pivoting movement as desired.
THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a roller ~ ;~
bearing assembly manufactured using the invention of this application;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the bearing of Fi~
.; .
1 taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l;
Fig. 2A is an enlarged view of the ~ircled portion of Fig. 2 illustrating the movement limiting feature of this invention;

b Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the outer race 1 of the bearing of Fig. 1 with the rollers and inner race and , . .
, 20 other parts omitted and which illustrates this invention; .

s Fig. 4^is a cross-sectional view of an outer race .j member according to this invention;

~ ~Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of an alternative ,~ ~orm of a roller bearing assembly manufactured using this invention and especially another .Eorm of bearing housiny; ;

.
;, .
- ~
' ,~ :', `
. .
s sb/~, ~ 51~7~;

Fiy~ 6 is a partial cross--sectional vier,7f similar to Fig. 2, show.ing the elongated locating pin cav.ity in the housing; and ;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on l.ine 7-7 o~ Fig~ 6 showing the elongated plan configuration of the : locat.ing pin cavity in the housing.
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~ . DETAI~ED DESCRIPTION :, ~
.
Atte~-tion is directed to Figs. l and 2 of the ~, ~
. ~rawings which show a bearing assembly, generally identi-. ~
fied as.10, which comprises a pillow ~lock or housing 12, .`
. of the split variety, having a base 14.and a cover 16 , :`
, . , .: , connected by a plurality of b~lts 18. The base 14 is pro~

vided with elongated openings 20 ~or the passage of bolts ~not shown) used to mount the bearing assembly on a :~ suppor~. The housing 1~ is provided with a central , . , , ~.~ ~ .. .
! ~ - openi~g 22 de~ined by an arcuate surfàce 22A on co~er 16 j and a complementary arcuate surface 22B on base 14, said :, . . . .
opening having a circular vertical section wherever taken ~ ~
~....................................................................... . . .
and receives therein a bearinc~ cartridge, generally iden~
tified as 24. As best shown in Fig..2A, the opening 22 tenminates at a junction 23 with the exterior of the -~

~' . housing. A grease nipple 26 is connected in an opening ; ~:
I in the housing 12 for the passage of lubricant into the housing 12 and to the bearing cartridge 24, as will later ~ be explained.

: 5 - , , ~

~S~Q7~
he bearing cartridge 24, ~rhicll is insertable and replaceable in the housing as a unit and which is .
constructed with an outer arcua-te surface to engage the arcuate surEace of the housing opening so as to be mo~able în a limited manner and be sel-aligning to acco~moaate . ~,.
:~ ' shaft misalign~ent with respect to the support for the , ~
I housing, comprises an inner race member 28, an outer race 1 - ~ 0 and space~ rows f rollers 32, therebetween.

; . The inner race member 28 co~prises a generally -: ~ . , .
cylindrical member having a circular bore 34 to receive a shat 35 tshown in section in Fig. 1) and spaced, truncated conical i~ner raceways 36, on which the rollers 32 of a . . .
ow roll. The roIlers 32 of each row are spaced ~rom each other by a retainer 38 as is the usual practice in bearings of this ty~e. The inner race member 28 may be provided .~
with slotted cylindrical extensions 40 surr~unde~ by locking collars 42.to lock the inner race memb_r 28 to .. . . . . . . . .
. ~the s~af~ 3;. Other arrangements o~ shaft locking means may be provided without departing from the spirit of the inven~ion. ~or examplel the inner race member 2g ~ay be provided with one extension as compared to the t~70 i~lustrate2;

, . . i . . . ~
. locking callars dif~ring from that illustrated may be ; .
usedi or an en~irely different shaft locking sys,em, usin~
wedges may be su~stituted, .. . .
The inner race extensions may ~e drilled instead - o~ boing slotted and a lockin~collar is then provided havin~ tapped openings to receiv~ ~11ell screws ~ich e:;~en~
through the drilled openings to bite into the sh~f~

,. , ' ~ ' ' '.

; . ~ 6 -._, 1~5 lL~76 :
The ~uter race 30 comprises a pair o~ like me~bers 44 centrall~ joined, prefêrably by being welaed together. It has ~een founa that the use of the electron ,:
beam welding technique pro~ides a suitable welded structure i without substantial alstoxtion of the parts. Each of the I . nembers 44 provides an arcuate outer surface 46 which9 , . . . . . .
after ~isse~bly provides the arcuate surace, which contacts and is movabie with respec* to the arcuate surfaces 22A,-22B forming op~ning 22 in the housing ~2~ Each member 44 . :'.
,.. ... . .............. . . . . . . :::
is ponstru;cted wit~ a tr.uncatèd conical outer raoeway 48 on which the rollers 32 of a row roll~ The outer extremities of the me~bers 44 terminate în a cylindrical surface de~

~ining a c~ilindrical ledge S0, the juncture of thP surface 4`6 and the ledge 50 being definitely defined and identi~ied : ~
with t~ refèrence Slr ~:The ledge S0 is spaced rom a sUb- ``. ;
stantially parallel portion of the ir~ner race member 28. ~:
Sèaling means 5~ are positioned~:~;between the ledge 50 and t:hat portion or the inner race m~ber ~8. . .~ :

: ~ i . . , - , . ., -^ The: irmer ex~remi~y of each of the members 44 ~ .
is grooved, as at 54 ~and is also provided with sémi~
~ : -circular oponings 56, 58 and 60, which whil~ sho~ as being :' semi-circular in shape, can be otherwise shaped. It is to ~ .
. be noted that each member 44 is:the same; thus in ~he nufacturing process,~ it is-only necessaxy to produce one~

uni~Ters~l part. During assembly of the bearing oartridge ~1: 24, tw~ members 44 ar~,~ for the mos~ part, randomly .
selec~ed fron a stoc~ of such~part~, arranged with a sub~
assembly of inner race and rows of.rollers with their : cag~s, and a locatin~ pin is~positioned in one ol the .
: dia~etrically oppose~ siots., so`that the diam~trically -. . ~ .~- ~ ., o 7 ~
opposed openings in one of the parts regist~rs with the diamekrically opposed openinys in the other of the parts (and the locating pin is in proper positionl and ~he two race parts are joined together. During the welding of the members tose,her, the weld is interrupted at the openings, Because of manuLacturing techniques, the spacing of the members 44 relative to the rows of rollers is controlled for effecting proper operation and end play and ultimate :~
performance, an~ each bearing cartridge 24 will be sub-s~antially identical in manufacture except for tolerance~
.
~ncounte~ed in ~he manufacture o ~he ~arious compo~en.s, .. . . :
~or example, roller assemblies of inner race and rows of rollers are spe~ified with tolerances of about ~0.016 ~ . .
inch to -0.016 inch while the outer race parts are manu-- actured with tolerances on the order of one-half tha~ o , .. . . .
the roller zsse~blies. These can be measured and classified ~ . .
: ~in groups according to tolerance ranges and selec~ively asse~bled to proviae the ultimate in performance~ For . ~:
the ultimate us~, generally it makes no aifference t~hether .: . , , . - . . ;.
or not the parts 44 are assembled as illustrated in Fic~. 3 ; ~
or if one o the parts is rotated throu5h 180 C; the only . ~ :
consi~sration is ha~ing the diametrically opposed openin~s in registry with one anot~2r, The locating pin 62, t~hen the bearing cartridg~
is inserted in a housing, is received in a cavity 64 in the housing ~over 16. The relations~ip of the size of the , cavity 6~ to the locating pin 62 is such as to ~e~it th~
i ~earing car~ridge to be self-aligning, i.e~, have so~.e ~ovement between the arcuate surfaces 22 and 46, and thus ~! : . : .
.. . .

~ 8 . ~ . ~ . , ` ~IDS~76 . : ~
accommodate shaft misalignment relativ~ to the support for the bearing assembly. This has been described as pivoting movement about the geometric center of the bearing cartridg~. The locating pin 62 also limits rotation o~
the oute~ race with the shaft 35, which is not desir~d.

. . Under seYere conditions of misalignmen~, for example greater than a predetermined amount, such for ..
exa~ple on the order of greater than about 3, it is possible to shear ~he locating pin 62 which coul~, under ~ ; :
som~ circumstancesj cause damage to the bearing assemb~y, . . .
his condition can be avoided by using th~ teachings of . this invention i.e., the cooperation of the junctures 23 , ~ - ~ ~ , and 51 o~ ~he housing and the bearing cartridge, respectively.
- By~choosing the desired relationship between their normal , : - locations, as depicted in Fig. 2 and their meeting loca~ion, ;~
',. as in Fig. 2A, the ar.ount of relati~e movement betwee~ th~
b~aring cartridge and the housing can be prede~er~inea. - I

Th~ provlsion of an op~ning 60, spac~d ~rom . : . :
the open~'ngs 56 and ~8 is such:as to provide a pat~ for .: :
, . . . .
the passage o~ lubricant to the interior of the bearing car~ridge 24. When assembled, an opening 60 is sub~
stantially aligned with the lubrican~fitting 26 of the pil~ow ; : `, .,; bloc~ 12, and ~7ith the parts 44 joined, as illus~rated in ~ ~:
Fig. 3, the r~anner in which the bearing cartridge is ¦. positioned in the housing of~;Figs~ l and 2 is OL little ~ .
I co~cern, so long as the locating pin~62 is properly .
`! ~ posi~.ioned r~1ative-~to the cavi.ty 64..

, ~ ~ , . .

r ~C~51076 . ~ccording to one aspect of this invention, there.
universal part 44 for use in the manu~acture o~ the bearing cartrid~e 24; not onl~ is the part 44 universal . - ~ ~ ~
but also the-.finished bearing cartridge ~4 is substantia~1y universal when constructed and assembled as described. .-To further-elaborate on this, attenti~n is ~irected to . :
Pig.~S of ~e-drawings whic~ illust-rates a different type of ~ousing,-~not~ as a flange block-7~2. ~ lange block ~ ~.
is constr~c~ed~a~two paxts 7~ and 76 joined by bolts 78 with f~ar~yes-80~. ~The flanges arP-~r~Yi~e~ ~it~ openings 82 jto recei~è bol~s-~r other means -tDo~ Sho~ to fasten the:
block~to a suppor~` ~also not sho~m)Oc-~e-~lock, when ..; : :
ass~mbled~prov-ia~g an opening 84 de~ arcuate surfa~es -~
.85A, 85~ (in ~-hè same manner as is the ~1Q~k O~ ~igs, l . - -and 2~ to-rècei~e ~ bearing cartr~dge-24 identical as des- .
cxibed:with respec! -to Figs. 1 to 4 ~ncl--us~ve. The flange :
block 72 is pro~i~ed with a cavity 86i-to~-re~e~ve the locating p n~ ~the bearing car~ ge-~-4~ ~he block;72 ~ -is~pro~ided wit~ a ~:ubrica~ion nipplé 88:~ametricall~
oppo~ea to t~ë~cav~ty 86. The nipplë 08 i--s:screwed into- -an opënins in ~he~housing 74 for thë passage of lubricant nto the opening a4 and also through~an opening provided: :.
by the opening 58 of the bearing cartrid~e 24 into ~he ~ .-bearing cartridge`to lubricate the~rollers thereof. Th openin~ Si is diametrically opposed ~o`t~e~opening 5~
receiving the locating pin 62. Thus, r~gardless of the ~ ;
block used, there is always provided an opening sub~
stantially aligned ~Jith the lubricati~n fitting, so that lubricant can be introduced into t}le:b aring cartridge 24.

7~
While not illustrated in detail, the flange block 72 can ; ~ .
be constructed with a juncture of the opening 84 and the outside wall to cooperate with the juncture 51 of the bearing cartridge to limit the self-aligning movement of ~ ;
:~ the bearing cartridge relative to the housing. .
The roller bearing cartridge wherein the ~ :
.:
resultant openings in the outer race member is aligned ;~
,:~ . .
with the housing lubrication filling and provides for entry . ~
.~:
:~ of lubricant when the cartridge is inserted into the housing, . ~::
. . .
as well as the method of making the roller bearing cartridge ~:
.: are also described and are claimed in above-identified ~;:copending application Serial No. 232,185. :~
. In Figs. 6 and 7 there is illustrated another :
embodiment of the invention in which the cavity, identified ~ -~
~ here as 92, is elongated in the direction of the sha~t 35; : .
the cavity 92 is narrow in the other direction to sevarely :
restrict rotation of the outer race 46 with the shaft 35 , I ~ .
`I yet is sufficient in width to freely receive the locating ~
'.1 ~ - ,~
l pin 62. The longitudinal extent of the cavity 92 is such 'I .
.~. 20as to provide the desired pivotting movement of the bearing ` :~
cartridge 2~4 to accommodate shaft misalignment, and this `-3:: dimension can be chosen to limit such pivoting movement, as ~:
i is desired. ~

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Claims (5)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A roller bearing assembly comprising a housing adapted to be fixed to a support and a cartridge, said housing having a central opening defined by an arcuate surface to receive the cartridge, said cartridge comprising:
an inner race member having a pair of inner raceways and an opening for receiving a rotating shaft;
an outer race member having an outer arcuate surface and;
a locking pin extending radially therefrom;
said housing having a cavity opening into said central opening to receive said locking f said cavity being longer in the direction of the shaft than in width normal thereto;
a pair of rows of rollers, the rollers of a row contacting the adjacent inner and outer raceways;
the locking pin cooperating with said cavity to limit the ability of the outer race to rotate with the shaft and to a lesser degree to limit, yet permit the pivoting of the cartridge about its geometric center with respect to the housing to accommodate shaft misalignment relative to the housing support.

2. A roller bearing cartridge for a roller bearing assembly of a housing having an opening for the cartridge and a cavity communicating with the opening and adapted to.
be fixed to a support; which cartridge comprises:
an inner race having pair of inner raceways and with a central opening for a rotational shaft;

an outer race having an outer arcuate surface and a pair of outer raceways;
a pair of rows of rollers, the rollers of a row contacting the adjacent inner and outer raceways;
a locking or locating pin extending radially from said outer race and received in said cavity in said housing, said cavity being relatively long in the direction of the shaft as compared to its width in a direction normal thereto, said locating pin cooperating with said cavity to limit the ability of the outer race to rotate with the shaft and to a lesser extent to limit the ability of, yet permit, the pivoting of the cartridge about its geometric center with respect to the housing to accommodate shaft misalignment relative to the housing support.

3. A roller bearing assembly comprising a housing adapted to be fixed to a support and a cartridge, said housing having a central opening defined by an arcuate surface to receive the cartridge and a cavity having a length in the direction of said shaft greater than its width normal to said shaft, communicating with said opening, said cartridge comprising:
an inner race having a pair of inner raceways and an opening for receiving a rotating shaft;
an outer race having a pair of outer raceways and an outer arcuate surface;
said outer race being constructed of two halves joined together, each half being substantially the same and having a semi-circular slot or opening therein, such that when assembled and joined the slots or openings form a circular opening;
a pair of rows of rollers, the rollers of a row contact-ing the adjacent inner and outer raceways;
a locating or locking pin is said circular opening with a portion extending from the arcuate outer surface;
said locking pin being received in said cavity to limit relative rotation of said outer race with said shaft relative to the housing and permitting pivoting movement of said cartridge in said housing about the geometric center of said cartridge to accommodate shaft misalignment relative to the support for the housing;
a cylindrical portion extending outwardly from said outer race and forming a juncture with the arcuate outer surface;
the arcuate surface and the outside walls of said housing forming a juncture which under non-misalignment conditions is spaced from an outer race juncture, said housing juncture acting as a stop means when in contact with an outer race juncture to limit the maximum pivoting of said cartridge about its geometric center under conditions of shaft misalignment.

4, A roller bearing assembly comprising a housing adapted to be fixed to a support and a cartridge, said housing having a central opening defined by an arcuate surface to receive the cartridge and a cavity communicating with said opening, said cartridge comprising:
an inner race having a pair of inner raceways and with a central opening for a rotating shaft;
an outer race having a pair of outer raceways and an arcuate outer surface;
an opening in said outer race;
a pair of rows of rollers, the rollers of a row contacting the adjacent inner and outer raceways;
a locating or locking pin in said outer race opening with a portion extending from the arcuate outer surface thereof;
said cavity being longer in the direction of said shaft than in width normal to the direction of said shaft;
said locating pin being received in said cavity to limit relative rotation of said outer race with said shaft relative to the housing and permitting pivoting movement of said cart-ridge in said housing about the geometric center of said cart-ridge to accommodate shaft misalignment relative to the support for the housing;
cylindrical portions outwardly extending from said outer race, each forming a juncture with an arcuate outer surface;
the arcuate surface and the outside walls of said housing forming a juncture which under non-misalignment con-ditions is spaced from an outer race juncture, said housing juncture acting as a stop means when in contact with an outer race juncture to limit the maximum pivoting of said cartridge about its geometric center under conditions of shaft misalignment.

5. A roller bearing cartridge for a roller bearing assembly of a housing having an opening for the cartridge terminating in a juncture with the outer walls thereof, and a cavity communicating with the opening, which cartridge comprises:
an inner race having a pair of inner raceways and with a central opening for a rotating shaft;
an outer race having at each end a cylindrical shoulder defining a juncture with the arcuate outer surface;
said cavity longer in the direction of said shaft than in width normal to the direction of said shaft;
a locking or locating pin extending from said outer race and received in said housing cavity to limit relative rotation of said outer race in said housing with said shaft while permitting limited relative pivoting movement of said cartridge relative to said housing about its geometric center;
said juncture of said outer race cooperating with the juncture of said housing cavity and walls to function as positive stop means to further limit the pivoting movement of said cartridge.