Tapered roller bearing with improved lubricating means

Abstract

To enable a single row tapered roller bearing to receive adequate lubrication at critical surface areas while operating at moderate to high speeds, the thrust rib on the cone of the bearing is fitted with a lubricating ring that in combination with the rib forms an inwardly opening trough and a plurality of channels that lead from the trough and over the thrust rib so that the ends of the channels open toward the large diameter ends of the tapered rollers. Alternatively, the lubricating ring may be the thrust rib, with the channels extending beneath it and opening toward the large diameter ends of the rollers. A lubricating oil is introduced into the trough, and the centrifugal forces that are exerted on this oil through rotation of the cone causes the oil to flow through the channels and discharge against the large end faces of the rollers. The flow of oil is sufficient to create an oil film between the end faces of the rollers and the abutment face of the thrust rib, thus facilitating proper lubrication of these critical surface areas, even when the cone revolves at high speeds. The cage, which maintains the proper spacing between the rollers, may be provided with grooves and otherwise configured to catch some of the oil discharged from the channels that extend along the lubricating ring. These grooves, direct the oil axially through the bearing and allow it to flow outwardly onto the cup raceway where it is further distributed to the roller side faces and the cone raceway.