WO2003103785A1

WO2003103785A1 - Ball-bearing designed to equip a wheel of a roller skate or skate board or the like

Info

Publication number: WO2003103785A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/001773
Authority: WO
Inventors: José Garcia
Original assignee: Garcia Jose
Priority date: 2002-05-27
Filing date: 2002-05-27
Publication date: 2003-12-18
Also published as: AU2002314256A1; EP1513594A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a ball-bearing (1) having a length corresponding to the thickness of the wheel (50) to be equipped and comprising at least three ball raceways (17), the outer component (3) of said ball-bearing including means (29) for linking directly the body (33) directly thereto and the inner component (5) of said ball-bearing including means for mounting the wheel (50) on the object to be equipped with said wheel (50).

Description

BALL BEARING FOR FITTING A WHEEL ON A SKATE SKATE OR A SKATEBOARD, OR THE LIKE

The present invention relates to a ball bearing intended to equip a roller skate wheel or a skateboard, or similar objects. It also relates to a wheel fitted with this bearing as well as to a process for manufacturing this wheel and to the wheel obtained by this process.

An inline skate wheel or a skateboard wheel comprises a tubular axis allowing the mounting of the wheel and two ball bearings housed in lateral recesses formed by the wheel hub. The inner rings of the bearings are connected to the tubular axis and the outer rings are connected to the hub.

This structure has the disadvantages of being relatively difficult to manufacture and relatively inefficient.

The invention aims to remedy this fundamental drawback.

To this end, the bearing which it relates has a length corresponding to the thickness of the wheel to be fitted and comprises at least three rings of balls, the external part of this bearing comprising means for the direct connection to it of the body of the wheel and the inner part of this bearing comprising means for mounting the wheel on the object to be equipped with this wheel.

The wheel according to the invention comprises this bearing, a wheel body directly connected to the outer part of this bearing and means for mounting the wheel on the object to be equipped with this wheel arranged by the inner part of this bearing. .

The method according to the invention comprises the steps consisting in:

- insert the bearing in a mold cavity; and

- Molding around the connecting means that comprises the outer part of the bearing one or more synthetic materials so as to form at least partially the body of the wheel.

The bearing and the wheel according to the invention thus eliminate any assembly of bearings to a hub and to a mounting pin, since the outer part of this bearing can be directly connected to the body of the wheel and the inner part of the bearing directly forms the means for mounting this bearing on said structure to be fitted with the wheel. The three or more rings of balls make it possible to perfectly withstand the forces exerted on the wheel, in particular the forces exerted in overhang on a wheel during a skating movement. Such a bearing has certain advantages compared to the installation of several bearings comprising a single ring of balls. Indeed, the bearing comprising several crowns of balls according to the invention has better rolling properties, better lubrication capacity, as well as greater resistance and greater robustness. As a result, the life of the bearing is increased. The costs of manufacturing a bearing comprising at least three rings of balls are lower than the costs of manufacturing and assembling several bearings comprising a single ring of balls, or those of needle or roller bearings. The number of crowns of balls is determined according to the desired application and / or the stress to which the bearing is subjected.

Preferably, the ball bearing according to the invention comprises three crowns of balls, in particular two crowns of balls intended to be located at the lateral zones of the wheel and a crown of balls intended to be located at the median plane of this wheel.

The respective grooves of the outer part and the inner part which delimit the rolling spaces of the balls may have a circular profile with a radius slightly greater than the radius of the balls. Preferably, however, at least one of these grooves has an elliptical or "V" profile, in order to minimize the friction existing between the balls and said external and internal parts.

The bearing then has a much lower starting torque and a coefficient of friction than the existing bearings, allows a much greater axial backlash than an existing bearing, undergoes a lower temperature rise and has an increased service life. .

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said interior part is made up of at least two separate coaxial parts, at least two of which are consecutive together, by their adjacent axial ends, one of the grooves for rolling the balls.

This two-part structure promotes the assembly of the bearing according to the invention. In particular, this bearing can comprise two parts of the inner part, each having a groove for rolling the balls and conical bearings at their ends intended to come close to one another, these conical bearings jointly defining a groove. ball bearing, "V" profile. A bearing space for the balls can be defined by respective grooves of the same profile or by grooves of different profiles. Thus, such a rolling space can be defined externally by a groove with a circular profile and internally by a groove with an elliptical profile, or vice versa. The different bearing spaces can be of the same profiles or of different profiles on the same bearing. Thus, the bearing can comprise external rolling spaces defined internally by an elliptical groove and externally by a groove of circular profile, and at least one internal rolling space 'defined internally by a groove of circular profile and externally by a groove with profile in 'V.

Said means for the direct connection of the wheel body to the external part of the bearing may consist of projections integral with this external part, intended to be assembled to the body of the wheel, in particular to be embedded in the moldable material constituting this wheel body.

Said means for mounting the wheel on the object to be equipped with this wheel can simply consist of a bore arranged in the inner part of the bearing.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following detailed description of preferred, but nonlimiting, embodiments of the bearing and of the wheel which it concerns. In the appended schematic drawing, FIGS. 1 to 4 show, respectively in perspective with cutaway, in top view, in longitudinal section and in side view, a first embodiment of the bearing, comprising three rings of balls and an external peripheral shoulder ; FIG. 5 represents, in longitudinal section, a second embodiment of the bearing, comprising three rings of balls, and having no peripheral shoulder; FIG. 6 represents, in top view, a cage; Figures 7 to 10 show respectively in longitudinal section four variants of an outer ring, namely: cylindrical without shoulder, cylindrical with a shoulder at one end, cylindrical with a shoulder at each end, conical without shoulder Figures 1 1 and 12 respectively represent in longitudinal section two variants of an inner ring, namely cylindrical and conical; Figures 13 to 16 show, in longitudinal section, respectively four variants of bearings having a cylindrical annular space, namely: bearing with cylindrical outer ring and conical inner ring, bearing with conical outer ring and cylindrical inner ring, ring bearing outer and inner tapered ring, bearing outer ring and tapered inner ring, with reverse taper; FIGS. 17 to 20 show, in longitudinal section, respectively four variants of bearings having a conical annular space, namely: bearing with cylindrical outer and inner rings, bearing with cylindrical outer ring and conical inner ring, bearing with conical outer ring and with cylindrical inner ring, bearing with conical outer and inner rings; FIG. 21 represents another variant of bearing having diameters of balls variable from one crown to another; FIG. 22 represents a wheel for a roller skate or a skateboard equipped with a bearing having radial external fins; and FIGS. 23 to 25 respectively represent three bearings in section passing through the axis of these bearings, according to three other embodiments.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the bearing 1 comprises a cylindrical outer ring 3 having an outer face 301 and an inner face 303, and a cylindrical inner ring 5 having a face outer 501 and an inner face 503, said rings 3, 5 defining between them a cylindrical annular space 7. The outer ring 3 has at one of its ends a radial shoulder 9 intended to facilitate the insertion of the bearing 1 to the inside a mounting, for example inside a wheel. Thanks to the presence of the shoulder 9, the bearing 1 can be positioned and wedged inside said assembly.

The annular space 7 has raceways 1 1 materialized by circumferential grooves 13 of the inner face 303 of the outer ring 3 and circumferential grooves 15 of the inner face 503 of the inner ring 5, said grooves 15 being located in look of the grooves 13. The grooves 13 and 15 preferably have a profile in the form of a portion of a circle or of an ellipse. According to the preferred embodiment, the raceways 1 1 are three in number and equidistant, but one could consider the raceways 1 1 more numerous and / or not equidistant.

Balls 17 are arranged inside the raceways 1 1, forming rings 19 of balls 17 which succeed one another axially.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, each raceway 1 1 contains ten balls 17 free and contiguous.

An outer longitudinal groove 21 is formed on the inner face 303 of the outer ring 3 and an inner longitudinal groove 23 is formed opposite the previous one on the inner face 503 of the inner ring 5, the two grooves 21, 23 cooperating to form a ball loader 25 by which the balls 17 of each ring 19 of balls 17 are successively introduced. The grooves 21 and 23 preferably have a profile in the form of a portion of a circle or of an ellipse.

Referring to Figure 5, a second embodiment of the bearing 1 according to the invention is shown, comprising three rings 19 of balls 17 contiguous, and without shoulder 9 end. In FIG. 5 also appears a lubrication orifice 31 intended in particular to receive a lubricator of the ball grease type. The presence of a lubrication orifice 31 is not limited to the embodiment of FIG. 5.

Thus the bearing according to the invention has the advantage, when equipped with a lubricator, of having an extended service life compared to the bearings of the prior art. The rings can be made of metal, for example steel, or plastic, or sintered material, or synthetic materials or fibers, or ceramic. The balls can be made of metal, for example steel, or plastic, or sintered material, or synthetic materials or fibers, or glass or ceramic. All combinations of rings and balls can be envisaged, in particular metal rings and balls, plastic rings and balls, metal rings and glass balls, etc. Other materials than those which have just been mentioned can be used, whether for rings or for balls, as soon as they have the required mechanical properties.

According to another embodiment, the bearing can comprise non-contiguous balls embedded in a cage. According to the cages of the prior art, the cage can be metallic or plastic, for example polyamide or polyamide loaded with glass fibers. FIG. 6 illustrates a plastic cage 27 comprising a circular ring 271 on one face of which are housed housings 273 having walls 275 extending from said face while approaching so as to retain the balls 17. The balls 17 are forced into the housings 273. In this example, the housings 273 are seven in number.

FIGS. 7 to 10 represent four possible variants of the outer ring 3, and FIGS. 11 and 12 represent two possible variants of the inner ring 5.

FIG. 7 shows an outer cylindrical ring 3 with parallel external 301 and internal 303 faces, not having an end shoulder, comprising on its internal face 303 three circumferential grooves 13 and a longitudinal groove 21 for the introduction of balls 17 .

Figure 8 is similar to Figure 7 for an outer ring 3 having a shoulder 9 at one of its ends. Figure 9 is similar to the previous ones, for an outer ring 3 having a shoulder 9 at each end.

FIG. 10 represents an outer ring 3 having an internal cylindrical face 303 and an external conical face 301, comprising on its internal face 303 three circumferential grooves 13 and a longitudinal groove 21. Figure 1 1 shows a cylindrical inner ring 5 with external faces 501 and internal 503 parallel, comprising on its internal face 503 three circumferential grooves 1 5 and a longitudinal groove 23. Figure 1 2 shows an internal ring 5 having an external face 501 cylindrical and an internal face 503 conical, comprising on its internal face 503 three circumferential grooves 1 5 and a longitudinal groove 23.

Figures 1 3 to 20 show alternative forms of bearings according to the invention. The bearings in FIGS. 1 3 to 16 include crowns of balls 17 all having the same diameter from one crown to the other, while the bearings in FIGS. 17 to 20 include crowns of balls with an increasing diameter of a crown d end to the other end crown. FIGS. 1 3 to 20 show bearings having an external cylindrical ring 3 with parallel faces (FIG. 13), or an external ring 3 having an external conical face 301 and an internal cylindrical face 303 (FIG. 14, 15, 16), or an outer ring 3 having a cylindrical outer face 301 and an inner conical face 303 (Figure 1 7, 1 8, 19), or an outer ring 3 having two parallel conical faces (Figure 20).

These same figures show bearings having a cylindrical inner ring 5 with parallel faces (FIG. 14), or an inner ring 5 having an external conical face 501 and an internal face 503 cylindrical (FIG. 1 3, 1 5, 1 6), or an outer face 501 cylindrical and an inner face 503 conical (Figure 1 7, 1 9), or an inner ring having the two parallel conical faces (Figure 1 8, 20). We see (Figures 1 5 and 16) that the taper of a ring relative to the other can be reversed. Those skilled in the art will readily be able to extend these examples to other possible combinations of outer 3 and inner 5 rings with cylindrical or conical faces, parallel or not.

Another alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 21. The bearing 1 comprises three rings 19 of balls 17, the two end rings having balls 1 7 of a diameter greater than the diameter of the balls of the crown (crowns) 1 9 intermediate (s). The main advantage of bearing 1 in accordance with this alternative embodiment is in the fact that the bearing is capable of absorbing the prestresses to which it is subjected, said prestresses possibly being elastic or not.

The invention also relates to a wheel provided with a bearing 1 according to the invention, and in particular a roller skate wheel or a skateboard wheel.

The invention finally relates to a method of manufacturing a wheel fitted with a bearing according to the invention. The method according to the invention is a method of molding the wheel, which comprises a step of inserting the bearing into the mold, followed by one or two steps of injecting plastic material directly around the bearing. The bearing is thus made integral with the wheel at the time of molding.

According to a first variant, the bearing is inserted into the mold and a first plastic material, for example polyamide, is injected around the bearing to form a hub, and a second plastic material, for example polyurethane, to form the contact part. of the wheel.

In a second variant, the bearing is inserted into the mold and a single plastic material, for example polyurethane, is injected around the bearing to form the wheel. The invention finally relates to the wheel 22 obtained by the method according to the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 22. The bearing 1 is a bearing 1 comprising three rings of balls 17, with outer rings 3 and inner 5 cylindrical faces parallel, defining a cylindrical annular space 7. The bearing 1 is preferably provided with radial fins 29, preferably having an increasing distribution of the edges towards the center of the outer surface of the bearing 1. The fins 29 have the advantage of strengthening the bearing 1. Their presence increases the contact surface between the bearing and the injected plastic 33, and promotes the adhesion of the plastic 33 to said bearing 1. Thus, the wheel according to the invention is not only equipped with a bearing according to the invention having at least three rings of balls, but it does not include a hub. Indeed, the bearing according to the invention has qualities of robustness and rigidity such that when the bearing is integrated into the wheel during the molding operation, the presence of a hub is no longer necessary. Referring to Figures 23 and 24, it appears that the inner ring 5 may include grooves 1 5 of elliptical profile (see Figure 23) or "V" (see Figure 24), in order to minimize the friction between the balls 1 7 and the outer 3 and inner 5 rings. Figure 25 shows that the inner ring 5 can be made up of two separate coaxial parts 5a, 5b, each having a groove 1 5 with a "V" profile, rolling for the balls 1 7, and conical bearing surfaces 16 at the ends of the parts 5a, 5b intended to come close to one another These conical bearing surfaces 16 jointly define a groove 1 5 with a V-shaped profile, for rolling the balls 1 7 of the inner ball crown.

This structure of the inner ring 5 in two parts promotes the assembly of the bearing.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described.

The examples of bearings which have been described include three rings of balls, but the invention also relates to bearings having more than three rings of balls, the number of rings being a function of the desired application and the constraints applied. We can consider many bearings varying by their dimensions, the number and size of the balls they contain on each ring, the number of rings of balls, the presence or absence of a shoulder on one and / or at the other of its ends, the cylindrical and / or conical nature of the internal and / or external faces of each ring.

It is possible to provide for the presence of several ball loaders, in particular for balls having a different diameter from one crown to another.

Other materials for the rings, the balls, the cages, the materials forming the wheel can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1 - Ball bearing (1) with balls (17), intended to equip a wheel (50) with a roller skate or a skateboard, or a similar object, characterized in that it has a length corresponding to the thickness of the wheel (50) to be fitted and in that it comprises at least three crowns of balls (17), the external part (3) of this bearing comprising means (29) for the direct connection to it of the body (33) of the wheel and the inner part (5) of this bearing comprising means for mounting the wheel (50) on the object to be equipped with this wheel (50).

2 - Bearing (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises three crowns (Il 9) of balls (17).

3 - Bearing (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises two crowns (19) of balls (17) intended to be located at the lateral zones of the wheel (50) and a crown (19 ) of balls (17) intended to be located at the median plane of this wheel (50).

4 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the respective grooves (13, 15) of the outer part (3) and the inner part (5) which delimit the rolling spaces of balls (17) have a circular profile with a radius slightly greater than the radius of the balls (17).

5 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one of the respective grooves (13, 15) of the outer part (3) and the inner part (5) which delimit the ball bearing spaces (17) has an elliptical profile.

6 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one of the respective grooves (13, 15) of the outer part (3) and the inner part (5) which delimit the ball bearing spaces (17) has a "V" profile.

7 - bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said inner part (5) is constituted by at least two separate coaxial parts (5a, 5b), at least two consecutive define jointly, by their axial ends adjacent, one of the grooves (15) for rolling the balls (17). 8 - Bearing (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises two parts (5a, 5b) of inner part (5) each having a groove (1 5) for rolling the balls (1 7) and tapered surfaces (1 6) at their ends intended to come close to one another, these conical surfaces (16) jointly defining a groove (1 5) for rolling the balls (17), with a profile in ' V.

9 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that a space (1 1) for rolling the balls (17) is defined by respective grooves (13, 15) of the same profiles.

10 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that a space (1 1) for rolling the balls (17) is defined by respective grooves (1 3, 15) of different profiles.

1 1 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 4 to 1 0, characterized in that the different rolling spaces (Il 1) that it comprises are of the same profiles.

12 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 4 to 1 0, characterized in that the different rolling spaces (1 1) that it comprises are of different profiles.

13 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 1 2, characterized in that said means for the direct connection of the body (33) of the wheel (50) to the outer part (3) of the bearing are constituted by projections (29) integral with this outer part (3), intended to be assembled to the body (33) of the wheel (50).

14 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said means for mounting the wheel (50) on the object to be equipped with this wheel consist of a bore arranged in the part inner (5) of the bearing.

15 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the annular space (7) delimited by the outer part (3) and the inner part (5) is cylindrical.

16 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 1 5, characterized in that the annular space (7) delimited by the outer part (3) and the inner part (5) is conical.

17 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 1 6, characterized in that the diameters of the balls (1 7) are identical from one row (1 9) of balls (1 7) to the other. 1 8 - bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 1 6, characterized in that the diameters of the balls (1 7) are increasing from one end row of balls (17) to the other end row of balls (1 7).

1 9 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the diameters of the balls (17) are identical on the two extreme rows of balls (1 7) and in that the diameters of balls ( 1 7) are lower than the previous ones on the intermediate row (s) of balls (1 7).

20 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 1 9, characterized in that the outer ring (3) has a peripheral shoulder (9) external to at least one of its ends.

21 - Bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that it comprises at least one loader (25) of balls (1 7).

22 - bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the outer ring (3) has at least one internal longitudinal groove (21) and the inner ring (5) has at least one internal longitudinal groove (23), said grooves (21, 23) cooperating in pairs to form a loader (25) of balls (17).

23 - Bearing (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that on each ring (19) the balls (17) are free and contiguous.

24 - Bearing (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that on each ring (19) the balls (17) are free and not contiguous.

25 - bearing (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that on each crown (19) the balls (1 7) are embedded in cages (27).

26 - Wheel (50) equipped with the bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 25, comprising a wheel body (33) directly connected to the outer part (3) of this bearing and means for mounting it on the 'object to be equipped with this wheel, arranged by the inner part (5) of the bearing (1).

27 - A method of manufacturing the wheel (50) according to claim 26 characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in

- insert the bearing in a mold cavity; and - Molding around the connecting means that comprises the outer part of the bearing one or more synthetic materials so as to form at least partially the body of the wheel.

28 - Wheel (50), characterized in that it is obtained by the method according to claim 27.