Cage segment of a segmented bearing cage
A cage segment for a segmented bearing cage for large rolling bearings includes first and second lateral sides and first and second ends that together define a pocket configured to receive a rolling body. The first and second lateral sides each include an inner surface configured to face a running surface of the rolling body, and the first and second ends each include an inner surface configured to face end surfaces of the rolling body. The inner surface of the first lateral side includes at least one contact element protruding into the pocket and configured to contact the at least one rolling body, and the inner contact element is continuously connected to the first lateral face. Furthermore, a material thickness of the inner contact element corresponds substantially to a material thickness of the first lateral side at a location spaced from the at least one inner contact element.
1 . A cage segment for a segmented bearing cage for rolling bearings, the cage segment comprising:
a first lateral side and a second lateral side and a first end and a second end that together define a pocket configured to receive a rolling body,
wherein the first and second lateral sides each include an inner surface configured to face a running surface of the rolling body, and the first and second ends each include an inner surface configured to face end surfaces of the rolling body,
wherein the inner surface of the first lateral side includes at least one inner contact element protruding into the pocket and configured to contact the at least one rolling body,
wherein the at least one inner contact element is continuously connected to the first lateral face,
wherein a material thickness of the at least one inner contact element corresponds substantially to a material thickness of a portion of the first lateral side spaced from and surrounding the at least one inner contact element,
wherein the at least one inner contact element comprises a first inner contact element having an axial length and a second inner contact element having an axial length axially spaced from the first inner contact element,
wherein a first portion of the lateral side adjacent to the first inner contact element is punched to form a first tab extending into the pocket and a first opening and a second portion of the lateral side adjacent to the second inner contact element is punched to form a second tab extending into the pocket and a second opening, and
wherein a third portion of the first lateral wall including the first and second openings is bent away from the pocket.
2 . A cage segment for a segmented bearing cage for rolling bearings, the cage segment comprising:
a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall each having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a first end wall and a second end wall each having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surfaces of the first and second lateral walls and the inner surfaces of the first and second end walls together defining a pocket configured to receive a first rolling body,
wherein the inner surfaces of the first and second lateral walls are configured to face a running surface of the first rolling body, and the inner surfaces of the first and second end walls are configured to face end surfaces of the first rolling body,
wherein the outer surface of the first lateral wall lies in a first plane and the inner surface of the first lateral wall lies in a second plane parallel to the first plane,
wherein a prismatic first portion of the first lateral wall is offset into the pocket such that the outer surface of the prismatic first portion lies in a third plane between the first plane and the second plane and the inner surface of the prismatic first portion lines in a fourth plane between the second plane and the inner surface of the second lateral wall,
wherein the inner surface of the prismatic first portion is configured to contact the at least one rolling body, and
wherein a material thickness of the prismatic first portion, in a direction perpendicular to the first plane, is at least 95% of a material thickness of the first lateral wall, in a direction perpendicular to the first plane, at a location spaced from the prismatic first portion.
3 . The cage segment according to claim 2 ,
wherein the prismatic first portion includes first and second sides extending from the second plane to the third plane,
wherein the first and second sides face in axially opposite directions, and
wherein the first and second sides are perpendicular to the second plane.
4 . The cage segment according to claim 2 ,
including an opening in the outer surface of the first lateral wall having a perimeter that corresponds in size and shape to a perimeter of the inner surface of the prismatic first portion,
wherein the opening is aligned in a circumferential direction with the prismatic first portion.
5 . The cage segment according to claim 2 ,
wherein the prismatic first portion is a rectangular prism.
6 . The cage segment according to claim 5 ,
wherein the prismatic first portion is formed by a reshaping process.
7 . The cage segment according to claim 5 ,
wherein the prismatic first portion includes first and second sides extending from the second plane to the third plane,
wherein the first and second sides face in axially opposite directions, and
wherein the first and second sides are perpendicular to the second plane.
8 . The cage segment according to claim 7 ,
including an opening in the outer surface of the first lateral wall having a perimeter that corresponds in size and shape to a perimeter of the inner surface of the prismatic first portion,
wherein the opening is aligned in a circumferential direction with the prismatic first portion.
9 . The cage segment according to claim 5 ,
wherein the first and second lateral walls and the first and second end walls are formed from at least one strip of sheet metal having at least two ends connected at a joint.
10 . The cage segment according to claim 5 ,
wherein the first and second lateral walls and the first and second end walls are formed from a continuous strip of sheet metal having two ends connected at a joint.
11 . The cage segment according to claim 10 ,
wherein a distance from the first plane to the third plane is less than 60% of the material thickness of the first lateral wall.
12 . The cage segment according to claim 10 ,
wherein a prismatic second portion of the first lateral wall is offset into the pocket, the prismatic first and second portions of the first lateral wall being spaced apart in an axial direction.
13 . The cage segment according to claim 12 ,
wherein the inner surface of the prismatic second portion lines in a fifth plane between the fourth plane and the inner surface of the second lateral wall.
14 . The cage segment according to claim 10 ,
wherein the outer surface of the first lateral wall includes at least one outer contact element, and
wherein the at least one outer contact element is configured to contact a second rolling body, the second rolling body being disposed outside the pocket.
15 . The cage segment according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one outer contact element comprises a depression in the outer surface of the first lateral wall.
16 . A rolling bearing cage comprising a plurality of cage segments according to claim 5 .
17 . A rolling bearing comprising:
a rolling bearing cage according to claim 16 .