JP2018119652A - Rolling bearing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a foreign matter resistance and a water resistance of a hermetically closed rolling bearing, such as a bearing for a strut and a bearing for a CVJ support.SOLUTION: A rolling bearing for a strut type suspension device is constituted such that it includes flocked parts 9a, 9b of water-repellent fibers in a seal part provided in a gap 8 between a shaft side support member 6 and a body side support member 7, and the flocked parts 9a, 9b block an invasion passage of foreign matters, water, and mud water into the inside of the bearing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a rolling bearing (hereinafter referred to as a strut bearing) used for a strut suspension device, a rolling bearing (hereinafter referred to as a CVJ support bearing) used to support a constant velocity joint shaft, and the like. Rolling bearings, and more particularly, to rolling bearings with improved foreign matter resistance and water resistance by improving the performance of preventing foreign matter and muddy water from entering the interior (the bearing space between the races where the rolling elements are arranged) .

  Strut bearings, CVJ support bearings, and the like are used in an environment where foreign matters such as dust and muddy water easily enter the interior. In particular, strut bearings may also be exposed to high-pressure water due to high-pressure washing of the vehicle.

  These situations cause foreign matter to get stuck inside the rolling bearing and cause poor lubrication.Therefore, this type of rolling bearing has excellent performance in preventing muddy water and other foreign matter from entering. Required.

  Therefore, a strut bearing as shown in the following Patent Documents 1 to 3 and a CVJ support bearing as shown in the following Patent Documents 4 and 5 have been proposed.

  In the strut bearing of Patent Document 1, a flange portion extending in the radial direction is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the inner ring, and the lip of the seal member fixed to the flange portion is brought into contact with the lower surface of the ring member provided on the outer ring. One opening of the bearing space is blocked.

  Further, the strut bearing of Patent Document 2 is provided with a seal portion integrated at the lower end of the inner cylindrical portion of the upper race ring, and the seal portion is integrally rotated outside the outer cylindrical portion of the lower race ring. It is brought into sliding contact with the upper spring seat assembled as possible.

  Further, the strut bearing (thrust bearing) of Patent Document 3 is provided with a gap between the upper case and the lower case to which a pair of race rings are attached, respectively, and leads to openings on both sides of the bearing space, and a labyrinth seal is provided in the gap. A labyrinth seal is used to prevent muddy water from entering the bearing space.

  The bearing of Patent Document 4 is a sealed rolling bearing for a CVJ support in which an inner ring is a rotating raceway, an inner seal that makes a lip contact the outer ring on both sides of the bearing space, and an outer surface that is not in contact with the outer ring. A double-structured seal portion composed of a seal (slinger) is provided. The inner and outer seals are supported by the inner ring in this bearing.

  The bearing of Patent Document 5 is also a hermetic rolling bearing having a double seal structure for a CVJ support in which an inner ring is a rotating raceway. Such a bearing is characterized in that an inner seal and an outer seal (slinger) are fixed to the outer ring, and a slit is provided in the outer seal for discharging foreign matter that has entered between the inner seal and the outside of the bearing. 4 is different from the bearing.

JP 2013-151954 A JP 2008-248950 A JP 2006-322507 A JP 2013-160280 A JP 2013-167316 A

  Since both of the strut bearings of Patent Documents 1 and 2 are contact seal types, the torque becomes large, which has a problem of adversely affecting the driver's handle feeling. It is difficult to respond.

  Further, since the strut bearing of Patent Document 3 employs a labyrinth seal portion, there arises a problem that the layout is restricted with respect to the installation of the seal portion and the bearing size is also increased.

  Further, the CVJ support bearings of Patent Documents 4 and 5 can reduce the gap between the inner seal and the outer seal (slinger), and can be used as a general CVJ support bearing in which a plurality of lip seals and slinger are used in combination. There is an advantage that the width of the bearing (dimension in the axial direction) can be reduced, but both leave room for improvement in the reliability of the seal.

  That is, in the CVJ support bearing of Patent Document 4, the seal portion by the inner seal and the outer seal is both on the inner ring side, whereas in the CVJ support bearing of Patent Document 5, both the seal portions are on the outer ring side. It is difficult to prevent the intrusion of muddy water and the entry of foreign substances such as dust.

In the CVJ support bearing of Patent Document 5, water, muddy water, and foreign matter may enter from the slit provided in the outer seal for the purpose of discharging foreign matter that has entered between the inner seal and the outer seal.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above state of the art, and an object thereof is to improve the foreign matter resistance and water resistance of sealed rolling bearings such as strut bearings and CVJ support bearings.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention includes an inner ring and an outer ring, a rolling element disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, a cage that holds the rolling element in a rollable manner, and the inner ring is fixed. A strut rolling bearing comprising: a shaft side support member; a vehicle body side support member to which the outer ring is fixed; and a seal portion that blocks a gap between the shaft side support member and the vehicle body side support member;
Provided is a rolling bearing in which a flexible structure made of a water repellent fiber material, a soft foam material, or a soft resin material is provided in the seal portion.

Further, the inner ring and the outer ring, the rolling elements disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, a cage that holds the rolling elements in a rollable manner, and the entrance / exit of the bearing space between the inner ring and the outer ring are sealed. A sealed rolling bearing comprising a seal,
A rolling bearing is also provided in which the seal is provided with a flexible structure made of a water-repellent fiber material, a soft foam material, or a soft resin material.

  With respect to the former strut bearing provided with a seal portion that seals a gap between the shaft side support member and the vehicle body side support member with a mobile seal, the flexible structure is provided in at least one of the mobile seal and the inlet portion of the gap. A body should be provided.

  Moreover, about a sealing-type rolling bearing (CVJ support bearing etc.), the said flexible structure can be provided in the outer surface which turns a back with respect to the said rolling element of the said seal | sticker. Further, as the seal, two members, an inner seal and an outer seal, are provided at positions where the rolling elements are sandwiched, respectively, and either the inner seal or the outer seal is fixed to the inner ring and the other is fixed to the outer ring. The flexible structure may be provided on the inner seal and the outer seal, respectively.

  The outer seal may be constituted by a slinger fixed to the inner ring or the outer ring, and in the rolling bearing of that form, the flexible structure may be provided on the slinger.

  The water-repellent fiber material to be used itself is made of a water-repellent material such as silicon or fluorine-based resin, and a non-repellent material using a water-repellent coating agent such as silicon, resin wax, or fluorine-based compound. Either water-repellent surface of the water-based material may be used.

  The rolling bearing according to the present invention includes a water-repellent fiber-planted portion in a bearing space between the inner and outer rings and a seal portion provided between the shaft-side support member and the vehicle-body-side support member separately fixed to the inner ring and the outer ring. The flocked portion blocks the entry path of foreign matter, water, and muddy water into the bearing.

  For this reason, the labyrinth and water repellency of the seal portion are improved, and the passage of water, muddy water and foreign matter is blocked by the flocked portion, and water, mud water and foreign matter from the outside are effectively prevented from entering the bearing space. .

  In addition, due to improved labyrinth and water repellency, rolling bearings with a seal that employs multiple lip seals can reduce the number of lip seals, and depending on the usage conditions of the rolling bearing, It can also be abolished, making it possible to reduce the size by reducing the width of the bearing and to reduce the cost by reducing the number of parts.

It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the rolling bearing of this invention which provided the foreign material resistance and water resistance. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the rolling bearing of this invention which provided the foreign material resistance and water resistance. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the random flocking state to the surface of the flocked area by the electrostatic spraying flocking method. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the standing flocking state by an electrostatic flocking method.

  Embodiments of the rolling bearing according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a strut bearing. The rolling bearing (strut bearing) 20 in FIG. 1 includes a shaft-side support member 6 to which the inner ring 1 is fixed, a vehicle body-side support member 7 to which the outer ring 2 is fixed, and rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer rings. (In this example, a ball) 3, a cage 4 that accommodates the rolling element 3 in a pocket 4 a so as to be able to roll, and a mobile seal 5 installed between the shaft side support member 6 and the vehicle body side support member 7. .

  The shaft side support member 6 is a member (shaft side support member) attached to the upper end of a strut shaft (not shown) of the strut suspension device.

  The rolling bearing 20 shown in FIG. 1 has a water-repellent fiber material at the location of the muddy water inlet of the gap 8 between the shaft side support member 6 and the vehicle body side support member 7 in addition to the surface of the mobile seal 5. (Hereinafter referred to as water-repellent fibers), flexible structures 9a and 9b made of a soft foam material or a soft resin material are provided, and the flexible structures 9a and 9b provide foreign matter resistance and water resistance. ing.

  The flexible structures 9a and 9b themselves are made of a water-repellent material such as silicon or fluorine resin, or a non-water-repellent material using a water-repellent coating agent such as silicon, resin wax, or fluorine compound. Either the surface of the material subjected to water repellent finish may be used. In this embodiment, the flexible structures 9a and 9b are flocked portions in which a large number of water-repellent fibers are implanted on the surface of the mobile seal.

  Examples of fibers subjected to water repellent processing using a water repellent coating agent include synthetic resin fibers, inorganic fibers, recycled fibers, and natural fibers.

  Examples of the synthetic resin fibers include polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyamide resins such as nylon, aromatic polyamide resins, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene succinate, polybutylene terephthalate, and other polyester resins, and acrylic resins. , Vinyl chloride, vinylon and the like.

  Examples of the inorganic fiber include carbon fiber and glass fiber. Examples of the regenerated fiber include rayon and acetate. Examples of natural fibers include cotton, silk, hemp, and wool.

  The flexible structures 9a and 9b may be made of a soft foam material or a soft resin material subjected to a water repellent process. Soft foam materials include those made by foaming synthetic resins such as polyurethane, polystyrene, polyolefin, phenol, and polyvinyl chloride, and rubbers such as natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, nitrile rubber, silicon rubber, and styrene butadiene rubber. Can be mentioned. Examples of the soft resin material include cork materials, rubber plate materials, and soft sheets such as polyethylene and vinyl chloride.

  The water-repellent fibers constituting the flexible structure (flocked portion) 9a are planted in a moderately dense manner, and the tip of the water-repellent fibers lightly contacts the inner surface of the vehicle body side support member 7 to A gap (intrusion path of foreign matter, water, muddy water) generated between the inner surface of the vehicle body side support member 7 is blocked.

  Thereby, the water which tries to pass through the seal part by the mobile seal 5 is repelled by the water-repellent fiber of the flexible structure (flocked part) 9a, and the infiltration into the inner side (the side where the outer ring 1 and the outer ring 2 are present) is effective. Is prevented.

  The flexible structure (flocked portion) 9b at the location of the gap 8 serving as a muddy water inlet is respectively water-repellent on the shaft side support member 6 and the inner surfaces 6a and 7a of the vehicle body side support member 7 facing each other at the entrance of the gap 8. It is provided by flocking fibers with moderately dense fibers.

  The fibers implanted on the inner surface 6a and the water-repellent fibers implanted on the inner surface 7a are in light contact with each other. Is prevented.

  The water-repellent fibers constituting the flexible structures (planted portions) 9a and 9b are those made of a water-repellent material such as silicon or fluorine resin, or silicon, resin wax, fluorine compound, etc. A surface of a non-water-repellent fiber that has been subjected to a water-repellent treatment using a water-repellent coating agent is used (the same applies to the embodiments described later).

  As a method for planting water-repellent fibers, for example, an electrostatic spraying planting method or an electrostatic planting method can be employed. In the edge portion such as the tip of the mobile seal 5, since a large amount of fibers can be densely planted in a short time, it is preferable to employ an electrostatic spraying planting method or an electrostatic planting method.

  A known method can be adopted as the electrostatic flocking method. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the adhesive 13 is applied to the area where electrostatic flocking is performed, the fibers 14 are charged, and flocked substantially perpendicularly to the application surface of the adhesive by electrostatic force, followed by drying, finishing, etc. The method of performing is mentioned.

  In the electrostatic spraying method, as shown in FIG. 3, an adhesive 13 is applied to a flocked region of a flocked object (in this embodiment, the mobile seal 5, the shaft side support member 6, and the vehicle body side support member 7). In addition, an electrostatic field is formed by the high voltage electrode, and the length of the fiber 14 is fixed to the flocked object in an upright state by blowing air onto the fiber 14 having a length of, for example, about 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm. Is the method.

  According to this electrostatic spraying and flocking method, the fibers 14 are flocked in an inclined state with respect to the surface normal of the flocking position. Although the inclination angle of the fibers 14 can be appropriately changed depending on how the air is blown onto the flocked object, it is preferably within a range of 3 to 60 degrees.

  In the electrostatic spraying method, as shown in FIG. 3, the short fibers 14 can be inclined in a random direction as a mode of flocking.

  By inclining the fibers 14 in this manner, the surface of the planting region of the planting object can be covered with a small amount of planting compared to the case where the planting is made upright as shown in FIG. Can be planned.

  The mode of flocking by the electrostatic spraying flocking method can be determined as appropriate by comprehensively taking into consideration the arrangement and shape of the flocked object and the target area. Drying, finishing, and the like are performed after the fiber 14 is implanted into the adhesive, and a series of flocking operations by the electrostatic spraying method is completed.

  Regardless of the electrostatic spraying method or electrostatic flocking method, the length of the fiber 14 is determined so that the tip of the fiber 14 is in light contact with the mating material constituting the seal portion or not at all. It is preferable to do this. By doing in this way, it can prevent that the rotation resistance of the outer ring | wheel or an inner ring | wheel by the contact of the short fiber 14 becomes large.

  The fiber 14 used for flocking is not particularly limited as long as it can be flocked by either the electrostatic spraying flocking method or the electrostatic flocking method. Fibers as described above can be used.

  The length of the fiber 14 can be about 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm as described above, but is preferably in the range of 0.5 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less, and 0.6 mm or more and 1. More preferably, it is within the range of 0 mm or less. Moreover, it is preferable that the thickness of the fiber 14 is in the range of 0.5 to 50 dtex, and the density of the fibers 14 in the flocked portion is such that the ratio of the fibers 14 per unit area of the flocked region is 10 to 50. % Is preferable.

  Examples of the adhesive that fixes the fiber 14 to the surface of the flocked area include an adhesive mainly composed of urethane resin, epoxy resin, acrylic resin, vinyl acetate resin, polyimide resin, silicone resin, and the like.

  For example, urethane resin solvent adhesive, epoxy resin solvent adhesive, vinyl acetate resin solvent adhesive, acrylic resin emulsion adhesive, acrylate-vinyl acetate copolymer emulsion adhesive, vinyl acetate emulsion adhesive Urethane resin emulsion adhesives, epoxy resin emulsion adhesives, polyester emulsion adhesives, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer adhesives, and the like can be employed. These may be used independently and 2 or more types may be used together.

  It is to be noted that the water-repellent fiber can be implanted into the mobile seal 5 by making the mobile seal 5 to be used loosely fit in the seal groove 6b and covering the entire surface.

  Further, the mobile seal 5 may be fixedly supported by the vehicle body side support member 7 by providing the vehicle body side support member 7 with a seal groove for accommodating the mobile seal.

  FIG. 2 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a rolling bearing used as a CVJ support bearing or the like.

  The rolling bearing (sealed rolling bearing) 30 shown in FIG. 2 is also provided with a flexible structure to provide foreign matter resistance and water resistance. The rolling bearing 30 in FIG. 2 includes an inner ring 1 and an outer ring 2, a rolling element (ball) 3 disposed between the inner and outer rings, and a cage 4 that accommodates the rolling element 3 in a pocket 4a. The inner seal 11 and the outer seal 12 are disposed in the bearing space 10 between the outer ring 1 and the outer ring 2.

  The inner seal 11 of the illustrated rolling bearing 30 is fixed to the outer ring 2, and two lips 11 a and 11 b provided on the free end side are in light contact with the inner ring 1.

  On the other hand, the outer seal 12 is fixed to the inner ring 1, and two lips 12 a and 12 b provided on the free end side are in light contact with the outer ring 2.

  In addition, on the outer surfaces on the free end side of the inner seal 11 and the outer seal 12 (surfaces facing away from the rolling elements 3), flexible structures (the planted portion of water repellent fibers in the figure) are respectively provided. 9a and 9b are provided, and the fibers of the flexible structures 9a and 9b (flocked portion) are in light contact with the inner ring 1 and the outer ring 2 to enter the interface between the outer ring 2 and the lip 12a and between the inner ring 1 and the lip 11a. The entrance to the interface is blocked.

  Since the interface is a portion that can be a gap, in the present invention, the entrance of the interface is considered as the entrance of the gap.

  By installing the flexible structures 9a and 9b, the water that is about to enter between the outer diameter surface of the inner ring 1 and the lip 11a and between the inner diameter surface of the outer ring 2 and the lip 12a ) It is repelled by the water repellent fibers 9a and 9b, and the entry is effectively prevented.

  As a result, the contact pressure of the lip 11a with respect to the inner ring 1 and the contact pressure of the lip 12a with respect to the outer ring 2 can be lowered to reduce the torque of the bearing 30.

  Further, depending on the application of the bearing, the lip of the inner seal 11 and the outer seal 12 is reduced to one, either one of the inner seal 11 and the outer seal 12 is omitted, or the outer seal 12 is used as a slinger (not shown). It can also be replaced.

  The slinger to be replaced with the outer seal 12 is preferably provided with a flexible structure (flocked portion) 9b on the outer diameter side so that the fibers of the flocked portion are in light contact with the outer ring 2.

  Contrary to FIG. 2, the inner seal 11 may be fixed to the inner ring 1 and the outer seal 12 may be fixed to the outer ring 2, and in that form, a flexible structure (flocked portion) 9a to be included in the inner seal 11. Are arranged on the outer ring 2 side and a flexible structure (planted portion) 9b included in the outer seal 12 is arranged on the inner ring 11 side.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inner ring 2 Outer ring 3 Rolling body 4 Cage 4a Pocket 5 Mobile seal 6 Shaft side support member 6a Inner surface 6b Seal groove 7 Car body side support member 7a Inner surface 8 Crevice 9a, 9b Flexible structure (flocking part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Bearing space 11 Inner seals 11a and 11b Lip 12 Outer seals 12a and 12b Lip 13 Adhesive 14 Fiber 20 Rolling bearing (bearing for struts)
30 Rolling bearings (sealed rolling bearings)

Claims (6)

An inner ring (1) and an outer ring (2), a rolling element (3) disposed between the inner ring (1) and the outer ring (2), and a cage (4) that holds the rolling element (3) in a rollable manner. ), A shaft side support member (6) to which the inner ring (1) is fixed, a vehicle body side support member (7) to which the outer ring (2) is fixed, the shaft side support member (6) and the vehicle body side A rolling bearing for a strut suspension device comprising a seal portion installed in a gap (8) between support members (7),
A rolling bearing in which a flexible structure (9a, 9b) made of a water-repellent fiber material, a soft foam material, or a soft resin material is provided on the seal portion. A seal portion for sealing the gap (8) between the shaft side support member (6) and the vehicle body side support member (7) with a mobile seal (5);
The rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein the flexible structure (9a, 9b) is provided in at least one of the mobile seal (5) and the entrance of the gap (8). An inner ring (1) and an outer ring (2), a rolling element (3) disposed between the inner ring (1) and the outer ring (2), and a cage (4) that holds the rolling element (3) in a rollable manner. ) And a seal for sealing the entrance / exit of the bearing space (10) between the inner ring (1) and the outer ring (2),
A rolling bearing in which the seal is provided with a flexible structure (9a, 9b) made of water-repellent fiber material, soft foam material, or soft resin material.   The rolling bearing according to claim 3, wherein the flexible structure (9a, 9b) is provided on an outer surface of the seal that faces away from the rolling element (3).   As the seal, two members, an inner seal (11) and an outer seal (12), are provided at positions sandwiching the rolling element (3), and the inner seal (11) and the outer seal (12) One is fixed to the inner ring (1) and the other is fixed to the outer ring (2), and the flexible structure (9a, 9b) is provided on the inner seal (11) and the outer seal (12), respectively. The rolling bearing according to claim 4.   The rolling bearing according to claim 4, wherein the outer seal (12) is constituted by a slinger fixed to the inner ring (1) or the outer ring (2), and the flexible structure (9b) is provided on the slinger.

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