[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 1 19(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/072, 166, filed October 29, 2014, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The invention relates generally to a ball bearing, and, more specifically, to a ball bearing with a cage and rolling element configuration on the outer race to prevent seizing of the bearing while in operation.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Ball bearings have been used for many different mechanical applications. A ball bearing is often used when a rotatable shaft must be mounted within a housing. The insertion of a ball bearing reduces the friction that would occur between the shaft and the housing if the shaft were to ride directly on the surface of the housing. This would lead to grinding and eventual failure of the shaft or housing. Since a ball in a ball bearing is free to rotate between an inner race and an outer race, little to no friction occurs between the shaft and housing.

[0004] As the shaft rotates, heat can build up within the bearing and shaft causing axial expansion of the shaft. If the bearing is fixedly mounted within the housing and cannot be axially displaced, the bearing can seize and bind to the housing causing bearing damage due to induced axial load. This seizing of the bearing can be detrimental to a machine which is operating at high speed and high heat since the shaft will no longer be rotating with little to no friction.

[0005] A solution to avoid seizing of a ball bearing is to insert a linear bearing cartridge with the ball bearing. This solution will solve the problem of a bearing seizing with the housing since the linear bearing will enable axial expansion of the rotating shaft. A problem with using a linear bearing cartridge, though, is that a linear bearing cartridge requires a large amount of space to be installed properly with a ball bearing. Additionally, a linear bearing is an expensive component since there are more required components for the arrangement to work properly. [0006] Thus, there has been a long-felt need for a ball bearing that can rotate at high speed and has integrated components within the bearing in order to enable for axial expansion of a rotating shaft to prevent seizing of the bearing with the housing.

SUMMARY

[0007] According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a bearing arranged to reduce friction between a housing and a rotating shaft, including: an inner race; an outer race arranged to rotate freely relative to the inner race and including a circumferentially disposed channel forming a portion of a first radially outermost surface of the outer race; a cage located in the channel and comprising a first plurality of apertures; and a plurality of rolling elements, each rolling element in the plurality of rolling elements disposed in a respective aperture included in the first plurality of apertures.

[0008] According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a bearing arranged to reduce friction between a housing and a rotating shaft including: an inner race; an outer race arranged to rotate freely relative to the inner race and including a circumferentially disposed channel forming a portion of a first radially outermost surface of the outer race; a cage located in the channel and including a first plurality of apertures and a second radially outermost surface; and a plurality of rolling elements. Each rolling element in the plurality of rolling elements is disposed in a respective aperture included in the first plurality of apertures and extends radially past the second radially outermost surface.

[0009] According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a method of axially displacing a ball bearing disposed in a housing and including an outer race and an inner race through which a shaft passes, including: contacting the housing with a plurality of rolling elements disposed in a plurality of apertures in a cage wrapped about an outer surface of the outer race; contacting the outer surface of the outer race with the plurality of rolling elements; axially displacing the shaft; and rolling the plurality of rolling elements within the plurality of apertures so that the ball bearing axially displaces with the shaft and with respect to the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cylindrical coordinate system demonstrating spatial terminology used in the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of bearing 20 of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of bearing 20 with cage 30 removed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of cage 30 with rolling elements 40 removed; and,

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of cage 30 with rolling elements 40 taken generally along line 5-5 in Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. It is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.

[0012] Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0013] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It should be understood that any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention. The assembly of the present invention could be driven by hydraulics, electronics, and/or pneumatics.

[0014] Figure 1 is a perspective view of cylindrical coordinate system 10 demonstrating spatial terminology used in the present invention. The present invention is at least partially described within the context of a cylindrical coordinate system. System 10 includes longitudinal axis 11, used as the reference for the directional and spatial terms that follow. Axial direction AD is parallel to axis 11. Radial direction RD is orthogonal to axis 11. Circumferential direction CD is defined by an endpoint of radius R (orthogonal to axis 11) rotated about axis 11.

[0015] To clarify the spatial terminology, objects 12, 13, and 14 are used. An axial surface, such as surface 15 of object 12, is formed by a plane co-planar with axis 11. Axis 11 passes through planar surface 15; however any planar surface co-planar with axis 11 is an axial surface. A radial surface, such as surface 16 of object 13, is formed by a plane orthogonal to axis 11 and co-planar with a radius, for example, radius 17. Radius 17 passes through planar surface 16; however any planar surface co-planar with radius 17 is a radial surface. Surface 18 of object 14 forms a circumferential, or cylindrical, surface. For example, circumference 19 is passes through surface 18. As a further example, axial movement is parallel to axis 11, radial movement is orthogonal to axis 11, and circumferential movement is parallel to circumference 19. Rotational movement is with respect to axis 11. The adverbs "axially," "radially," and "circumferentially" refer to orientations parallel to axis 11, radius 17, and circumference 19, respectively. For example, an axially disposed surface or edge extends in direction AD, a radially disposed surface or edge extends in direction R, and a circumferentially disposed surface or edge extends in direction CD.

[0016] Adverting now to the figures, Figure 2 is a perspective view of bearing 20.

Bearing 20 broadly comprises outer ring 22, seal 25, inner race 26, cage 30, and rolling elements 40. As seen in the figure, cage 30 is operatively arranged on outer ring 22 to enable axial expansion of a rotating shaft (not shown) passing through inner race 26. Additionally, rolling elements 40 are retained and secured within cage 30 after cage 30 is secured to outer race 22. It is important to note that outer race 22 can rotate independently of inner race 26 due to internal rolling elements (not shown) arranged between outer race 22 and inner race 26. Seal 25 is arranged between outer race 22 and inner race 26 to prevent contaminants from interacting with the internal rolling elements. While in operation, bearing 20 is arranged between a housing (not shown) and the rotating shaft, with rolling elements 40 engaged with the housing and surface 28 of inner race 26 engaged with the rotating shaft. Inner race 26 rotates about axis 50 while in operation. Rolling elements 40 are secured within cage 30 to enable free rotation of each individual rolling element 40 enabling bearing 20 to be axially displaced along axis 50 without inducing a preload on bearing 20. Due do the arrangement of cage 30 and rolling elements 40, a preload cannot be induced on bearing 20 since bearing 20 can be axially displaced to match the axial expansion of the rotating shaft.

[0017] Figure 3 is a perspective view of bearing 20 with cage 30 removed. As shown in the figure, circumferentially disposed channel 22a forms portion 41a of radially outermost surface 41 of the outer race. Channel 22a is axially disposed between rim 23 and rim 24 of outer race 22. When cage 30 is arranged within channel 22a and rolling elements 40 are retained within cage 30 (shown in Figure 2), rolling elements 40 engage portion 41a of outer race 22 and enable bearing 20 to be axially displaced. Cage 30 is axially secured to outer race 22 by rim 23 and rim 24. In order to ensure rolling elements 40 are the only components of bearing 20 in contact with the housing, rolling elements 40 extend radially past rims 22 and 23.

[0018] Figure 4 is a perspective view of cage 30 with rolling elements 40 removed.

Cage 30 includes apertures 42 which are tapered through-bores that enable rolling elements 40 to engage the surface of the housing and surface 41a of outer race 22 (shown in Figure 3). Since apertures 42 are tapered such that apertures 42 have a smaller diameter on radially outermost surface 32 when compared to the diameter of apertures 42 on radially inner most surface 44, rolling elements 40 are snapped into cage 30 and retained by apertures 42 and surface 22b of outer race 22 (shown in Figure 3). It should be appreciated however, that the use of different arrangements of apertures 42 is possible and considered to be within the scope of the invention as claimed. In an example embodiment, cage 30 is manufactured from a single piece of flexible material such as plastic, but other materials can be used. Gap 35 enables cage 30 to be snapped into channel 22a of outer race 22 while cage 30 remains a single component. In an example embodiment, cage 30 includes two halves which are secured together within channel 22a of outer race 22. In an example embodiment: apertures 42a extend circumferentially about the cage (two example apertures are shown) and are circumferentially aligned with each other; apertures 42b extend circumferentially about the cage (two example apertures are shown) and are circumferentially aligned with each other; and the respective apertures 42a and 42b are not aligned with each other in axial direction AD.

[0019] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of cage 30 with rolling elements 40 taken generally along line 5-5 in Figure 4. As shown in the figure, apertures 42 are tapered radially outward to ensure rolling elements 40 are retained within cage 30. Additionally, it can be seen that rolling elements 40 extend radially outward at a greater distance than surface 32 of cage 30. In order to install rolling elements 40 into cage 30, cage 30 is arranged within channel 22a of outer race 22 (shown in Figure 2). Rolling elements 40 are snapped into apertures 42 of cage 30, with cage 30 being made of a flexible material.

[0020] Advantageously, bearing 20 address the binding problem noted above. That is, as a shaft passing through bearing 20 and essentially fixed to inner race 26 axially expands, for example due to heating of the shaft, elements 40 in cage 30 enable cage 30 and bearing 20, as a whole, to slide along the housing, rather than having outer race 22 bind against the housing.

[0021] It will be appreciated that various aspects of the above-disclosed invention and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS bearing

outer race

a channel

b surface

rim

rim

seal

inner race

surface

cage

surface

gap

rolling elements

radially outermost surface

a portion of radially outermost surface

apertures

a apertures

b apertures

surface

axis