Schaeffler Technologies Ag & Co .kg

Seth Claus

Dennis Roffe

James Brown

Charles Schwab

Guihui Zhong

John O Tate

Arjun Kailassh Magalingam Adithyan

Michael Turner

Clayton Brzezinski

Daniel Wuerdinger

Tyler Boger

A bearing cage for a bearing assembly is disclosed herein. The bearing cage includes a first ring, a second ring, and a plurality of crossbars extending between the first ring and the second ring to define a plurality of rolling element pockets. A first terminal end of each of the plurality of crossbars is connected to the first ring and a second terminal end of each of the plurality of crossbars is connected to the second ring. A medial portion of each of the plurality of crossbars is defined between the first terminal end and the second terminal end, and a pair of recesses are defined on opposing circumferential sides of the medial portion.

Bearing cage

A combination bearing is configured to support both axial loads and radial loads. The combination bearing includes a bearing housing including a radial bearing ring and an axial bearing cup. Radial rolling elements are located within the radial bearing ring, are configured to support a radial load, and collectively rotate about a central axis. Axial rolling elements are located within the axial bearing cup, are configured to support an axial load, and are axially offset from the radial rolling elements along the axis. An axial washer directly contacts the axial rolling elements. The axial washer is configured to support the axial load and transfer it toward the axial rolling elements. A sealing washer is disposed about the axis and spaced axially from the axial washer. Oil is retained within the combination bearing during free-wheeling conditions with little to no external oil supply.

Combination bearing with oil retainer feature

A sealing assembly for a cup bearing of a universal joint includes a seal sub-assembly configured to be positioned in a space between a cup of the cup bearing and a trunnion of the universal joint. The seal sub-assembly includes an elastic sealing member configured to contact an outer surface of the trunnion, and a seal insert attached to the elastic sealing member and configured to contact an inner surface of the cup. The seal insert includes an extension portion configured to contact and extend away from a rim surface of the cup. The sealing assembly further includes an external shield including an inner portion and an outer portion. The inner portion is configured to contact the outer surface of the trunnion, and the outer portion is attached to the extension portion of the seal insert.

Sealing assembly for a cup bearing of a universal joint

An axial and radial combined load rolling bearing including a separately formed radial bearing ring and an axial bearing cup that are assembled together to form the combined load bearing in a simplified manner that avoids known issues with perpendicularity between the radial and axial bearing races. A method of making such a bearing is also provided.

Method for manufacturing a radial and axial combination bearing and resulting bearing

A combined axial and radial bearing assembly is provided, having a radial bearing including an outer ring having a constant outside diameter, and radially inwardly extending flanges located at axial ends thereof. A radial bearing cage having an axially extended rim on a first side, and radial rolling elements therein is located within the outer ring. An axial bearing is provided including an axial bearing ring having a thrust race, and an axially extending flange connected to a radially inner end thereof. The axially extending flange has an ID that is less than the OD of the radial bearing outer ring. An axial bearing cage with thrust rolling elements located in at least some of the pockets is also provided. The axially extending flange of the axial bearing is press fit on the OD of the radial bearing outer ring in a region aligned with the axially extended rim.

Press-fit combination bearing

The bearing cage has a first flange, a second flange, and a plurality of cage bars extending between the first flange and the second flange so as to form and define outer boundaries for a plurality of pockets. The first flange and the second flange are each bent inward toward the pocket and then extend parallel in a vertical direction, forming a contact surfaces. The contact surfaces are in contact at each end of the rollers arranged in the pocket. The contact surfaces of the bearing cage present a large contact area between the ends of the rollers and the ends of the pockets where there is a lubricant film. Also, the surface of the contact surfaces is smooth.

Radial bearing cage with contact feature

A cage for a radial roller bearing of limited width availability, which has a first flange, a second flange spaced from the first flange, and cage bars that extend between the first flange and the second flange so as to form a plurality of roller pockets. The cage bars, together with the first flange and the second flange form an S-shaped or a Z-shaped contour. The cage aids in properly guiding roller elements in bearings of limited widths. The cage prevents rolling elements from overrunning or under running the cage bar. The cage also provides for proper contact of the rolling elements to push the cage around the radial bearing. Further, the cage allows for inner retention, outer retention, or both inner and outer retention of the rolling elements.

Growing community of inventors

Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Seth Claus