DRAWN CUP CAM ROUUER BEARING

CUAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application number

62/696,369 filed July 11, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIEUD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to roller bearings. More particularly, the present invention relates to designs and assembly methods of cam roller bearings with cups drawn from sheet metal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Many applications for cam roller bearings require high precision and, therefore, are costly to produce. For those applications where high precision is not required, it would be desirable to reduce the costs of manufacture.

[0004] The present invention recognizes and addresses considerations of prior art constructions and methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a cam roller bearing including a shaft having a first end, a second end, a first cylindrical portion defining an inner raceway, and an annular shoulder extending radially outwardly from the first end of the shaft. A drawn cup has a first end, a second end, a cylindrical sidewall extending therebetween, an inner surface of the sidewall defining an outer raceway, and a first radially-inwardly depending flange disposed on the first end of the drawn cup. A plurality of rollers is disposed between the inner raceway and the outer raceway, and each roller is also disposed between the annular shoulder of the shaft and the first flange of the drawn cup. The first flange extends radially-inwardly beyond a radially outermost portion of each roller, and the annular shoulder extends radially-outwardly beyond an innermost portion of each roller.

[0006] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which;

[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cam roller bearing in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0009] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the cam roller bearing shown in Figure 1 ;

[0010] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cam roller bearing shown in Figure 1, taken along line 3-3; and

[0011] Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cam roller being shown in Figure

1. [0012] Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation, not limitation, of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0014] Referring now to Figure 1, a cam roller bearing 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an outer cup 20 disposed concentrically about a shaft 40, a plurality of rollers 50 disposed between outer cup 20 and shaft 40, and an annular washer 60 disposed between outer cup 20 and shaft 40 to both axially retain outer cup 20 on shaft 40 and seal an open end of outer cup 20. Preferably, outer cup 20 is formed by a drawing process, and includes a cylindrical sidewall 22 that extends from its first end 24 to its second end 26. The width of sidewall 22 can be selected dependent upon the application of the roller bearing. Cylindrical sidewall 22 includes a first inner surface portion 28 that defines an inner roller raceway, a second inner surface portion 30, and an annular ledge 36 that extends therebetween. As shown, the first and second inner surface portions 28 and 30 are concentric about the longitudinal center axis of shaft 40, whereas annular ledge 36 is transverse to the longitudinal center axis of shaft 40. Additionally, outer cup 20 includes a radially inwardly depending annular lip 38 disposed at its first end 24 and a bottom wall 32 disposed at its second end 26. Annular lip 38 is used to axially retain outer cup 20 on shaft 40, whereas bottom wall 32 preferably creates a lubrication reservoir for the bearing. Preferably, bottom wall 32 of outer cup 20 includes a convex inner surface 34 to facilitate the reduction of friction between bottom wall 32 and the end face of shaft 40.

[0015] As shown, shaft 40 includes a cylindrical outer surface 44 that defines an outer roller raceway 44 and an annular shoulder 46 that extends radially outwardly from a distal end of shaft 40. Note, although the disclosed embodiment is a full complement bearing assembly, in alternate embodiments a roller cage (not shown) may be utilized to maintain spacing between the rollers. Preferably, annular washer 60 includes an annular seal 64 and a stiffening rib 62 disposed therein. Annular washer 60 is secured adjacent annular ledge 36 of outer cup 20 by annular lip 38. Specifically, after annular washer 60 is positioned adjacent annular ledge 36, subsequently to rollers 50 being disposed between roller raceway 28 and 44, annular lip 38 is curled radially-inwardly so that annular washer 60 is axially retained between annular ledge 36 and annular lip 38. As shown in Figure 1, once assembled, a first end 52 of each roller 50 abuts annular washer 60, whereas a second end 54 of each roller 50 abuts shoulder 46 of shaft 40, thereby axially retaining outer cup 20 on shaft 40. As such, thrust loading on outer cup 20 acts on annular washer 60 by way of annular lip 38. Note, in alternate embodiments, annular seal 64 of annular washer 60 maybe omitted, depending upon the method of lubrication that is selected for cam roller bearing 10. As well, in another alternate embodiment, outer cup 20 maybe axially secured to annular washer 60 without the use of annular lip 38. For example, annular washer 60 maybe received adjacent annular ledge 36 by a press-fit, by staking, by utilizing corresponding threads formed on the outer cup and annular washer, etc.

[0016] While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention are described above, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. Additionally, the vibration isolator may be constructed of any material found to be suitable for the intended purpose. It is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their equivalents.