US 12,140,184 B2
Sealed bearing assembly
Pieter Martin Lugt, Vianen (NL); and Santosh Limaye, Ljungavcrk (SE)
Assigned to Aktiebolaget SKF, Gothenburg (SE); and VESTA SI SWEDEN AB, Ljungaverk (SE)
Appl. No. 17/623,905
Filed by Aktiebolaget SKF, Gothenburg (SE); and VESTA SI SWEDEN AB, Ljungaverk (SE)
PCT Filed Jul. 7, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/069077
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 30, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/008936, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 21, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 102019210520.3 (DE), filed on Jul. 17, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0364598 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. F16C 33/66 (2006.01); F16C 19/38 (2006.01); F16C 33/78 (2006.01); F16C 35/067 (2006.01); F16C 41/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 33/6625 (2013.01) [F16C 19/38 (2013.01); F16C 33/6607 (2013.01); F16C 33/7853 (2013.01); F16C 35/067 (2013.01); F16C 41/00 (2013.01); F16C 2300/42 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sealed bearing arrangement comprising:
at least a bearing with an outer ring and an inner ring that are rotatable with respect to each other and form a rolling chamber between each other, in which a set of rolling elements is arranged, wherein a lubricant is encompassed in the rolling chamber and the rolling chamber is sealed off from an environment by at least one sealing element, wherein
the inner ring, the outer ring and/or the sealing element further comprises at least one opening for providing a fluid passage through the boundary of the sealed off rolling chamber wherein the opening is fluid tightly connected to an oxygen removing element, which provides an oxygen sink for a free fluid contained within the rolling chamber, wherein the oxygen removing element comprises zeolite and/or activated carbon and/or activated graphite.
 
2. A sealed bearing arrangement comprising
at least a bearing with an outer ring and an inner ring, that are rotatable to each other and form a rolling chamber between each other, in which a set of rolling elements is arranged, wherein the bearing is arranged in a housing, which is adapted to seal off the bearing from an outside environment, and wherein a lubricant is encompassed inside the housing, wherein
the housing further comprises at least one opening for providing a fluid passage from the inside of the housing to the outside, wherein the opening is fluid tightly connected to an oxygen removing element and/or to a gas tank which provides an oxygen sink for a free fluid contained within the inside of the housing.
 
4. A sealed bearing arrangement comprising:
at least a bearing with an outer ring and an inner ring that are rotatable with respect to each other and form a rolling chamber between each other, in which a set of rolling elements is arranged, wherein a lubricant is encompassed in the rolling chamber and the rolling chamber is sealed off from an environment by at least one sealing element, wherein
the inner ring, the outer ring and/or the sealing element further comprises at least one opening for providing a fluid passage through the boundary of the sealed off rolling chamber wherein the opening is fluid tightly connected to an oxygen removing element, which provides an oxygen sink for a free fluid contained within the rolling chamber, wherein the oxygen removing element comprises a material which is adapted to absorb oxygen and releases absorbed oxygen based on a change of at least one physical parameter which impacts the oxygen removing element.
 
6. A sealed bearing arrangement comprising:
at least a bearing with an outer ring and an inner ring that are rotatable with respect to each other and form a rolling chamber between each other, in which a set of rolling elements is arranged, wherein a lubricant is encompassed in the rolling chamber and the rolling chamber is sealed off from an environment by at least one sealing element, wherein
the inner ring, the outer ring and/or the sealing element further comprises at least one opening for providing a fluid passage through the boundary of the sealed off rolling chamber wherein the opening is fluid tightly connected to an oxygen removing element, which provides an oxygen sink for a free fluid contained within the rolling chamber, wherein the oxygen removing element comprises a honeycomb structure.
 
7. A sealed bearing arrangement comprising:
at least a bearing with an outer ring and an inner ring that are rotatable with respect to each other and form a rolling chamber between each other, in which a set of rolling elements is arranged, wherein a lubricant is encompassed in the rolling chamber and the rolling chamber is sealed off from an environment by at least one sealing element, wherein
the inner ring, the outer ring and/or the sealing element further comprises at least one opening for providing a fluid passage through the boundary of the sealed off rolling chamber wherein the opening is fluid tightly connected to a gas tank, which provides an oxygen sink for a free fluid contained within the rolling chamber, wherein the gas tank comprises nitrogen.