US 12,006,974 B2
Sheet metal panel raceway including recesses
Hans-Juergen Friedrich, Königsberg-Römershofen (DE); Norbert Huhn, Schweinfurt (DE); Thomas Kettner, Bamberg (DE); Harald Metz, Randersacker (DE); Alfred Radina, Poppenlauer (DE); Jonas Schierling, Hassfurt (DE); Maximilian Soellner, Bundorf (DE); and Markus Volkmuth, Werneck-Zeuzleben (DE)
Assigned to AKTIEBOLAGET SKF, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed by AKTIEBOLAGET SKF, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed on Jun. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/358,267.
Claims priority of application No. 102020208272.3 (DE), filed on Jul. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0003271 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. F16C 33/58 (2006.01); F16C 19/26 (2006.01); F16C 33/64 (2006.01); F16C 33/66 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 33/585 (2013.01) [F16C 19/26 (2013.01); F16C 33/588 (2013.01); F16C 33/6614 (2013.01); F16C 33/6651 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rolling-element bearing comprising:
a first rolling-element bearing ring comprising a cylindrical raceway element formed from a sheet metal strip having a length and a width and bent into a cylinder such that a first longitudinal end of the strip meets a second longitudinal end of the strip at at least one joint, a surface of the strip forming a raceway of the first rolling-element bearing ring and the surface including at least one recess,
a second rolling-element bearing ring, and
a plurality of rolling elements between the first rolling-element bearing ring and the second rolling-element bearing ring,
wherein the at least one joint includes a first joint and a second joint axially spaced from the first joint, the first joint having a first end at a first axial end of the cylindrical raceway element, and the second joint having a first end at a second axial end of the cylindrical raceway element,
wherein the at least one recess comprises a first recess portion extending into the first end of the strip between a second end of the first joint and a second end of the second joint and a second recess portion extending into the second end of the strip between the second end of the first joint and the second end of the second joint, the first recess portion being contiguous with the second recess portion, and
wherein the at least one recess is elongated with a longest dimension extending in a circumferential direction of the raceway element.
 
7. A rolling-element bearing comprising:
a first rolling-element bearing ring comprising a cylindrical raceway element formed from a sheet metal strip having a length and a width and bent into a cylinder such that a first longitudinal end of the strip is materially bonded to a second longitudinal end of the strip at at least one joint, a surface of the strip forming a raceway of the first rolling-element bearing ring and the surface including at least one recess,
a second rolling-element bearing ring, and
a plurality of rolling elements between the first rolling-element bearing ring and the second rolling-element bearing ring,
wherein a first axial end of the cylindrical raceway element lies in a first plane and a portion of a second axial end of the cylindrical raceway element lies in a second plane parallel to the first plane,
wherein the at least one recess extends axially into the cylindrical raceway from the second plane, and
wherein the at least one joint extends from the first axial end of the raceway to the first recess.
 
13. A rolling-element bearing comprising:
a first rolling-element bearing ring comprising a cylindrical raceway element formed from an octagonal sheet metal strip having a length and a width and bent into a cylinder such that a first longitudinal end of the strip meets a second longitudinal end of the strip at at least one joint, a surface of the strip forming a raceway of the first rolling-element bearing ring and the surface including at least one recess,
a second rolling-element bearing ring, and
a plurality of rolling elements between the first rolling-element bearing ring and the second rolling-element bearing ring,
wherein the at least one recess is elongated with a longitudinal direction extending obliquely to a circumferential direction of the raceway element.