FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of bearings. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a bearing cage of a bearing having enhanced lubricant dynamics.
DEFINITIONS
As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.
Lubricant dynamics: The term “Lubricant dynamics” hereinafter in the complete specification refers to the motion of a lubricant within a mechanical element.
Rheological properties: The study of the physics of materials with both solid and fluid characteristics, which deform when subjected to force.
BACKGROUND
Bearing cages separate and maintain symmetrical radial spacing between the rolling elements of a bearing. The bearing cages are available in a variety of configurations and materials that enhance the performance of the bearing at higher speed of operations or in extreme environmental conditions. Conventionally, the bearing cages are employed to provide lubrication for the bearings by acting as a reservoir for a lubricant. The performance of the lubricant is governed by the factors that affect the flow of the lubricant, also known as rheological factors.
During high speed operations the conventional bearing cage undergoes substantial deflection. As a result, the lubricant leaks out of the bearing cage, thereby resulting in insufficient lubricant. The insufficient lubrication increases the contact surface area between the bearing cage and the rolling elements, thereby resulting in increased frictional forces which subsequently generate heat between the bearing cage and the rolling elements. Consequently, the bearing is subjected to failure.
There is therefore, a need for a bearing cage which alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a bearing cage for enhancing lubricant dynamics.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bearing cage that enhances lubricant flow at high speed.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bearing cage that reduces contact surface between the rolling elements of a bearing and the bearing cage.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bearing cage that experiences less deflection at high speed of operation.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bearing cage that is rigid.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bearing cage that is light in weight.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY
The present invention envisages a bearing cage for enhancing lubricant dynamics. The bearing cage comprises a circular body, a plurality of pockets, a plurality of reservoirs and a groove. The plurality of pockets is configured along the circumference of the circular body. Each of the plurality of pockets is configured to house a rolling element therewithin. Each of the reservoirs is configured between two adjacent pockets of the plurality of pockets. The plurality of reservoirs is further configured to store a lubricant therein. The groove is configured on the plurality of pockets. The groove defines a lubricating path to facilitate flow of the lubricant from one reservoir to subsequent reservoir to enhance lubricant dynamics of the bearing cage. In an embodiment, the lubricant is grease.
In an embodiment, the lubricant flowing through the lubricating path (305) forms a lubricant layer, thereby reducing the contact surface area and the friction between the pocket and the rolling element.
In another embodiment, the groove is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a base of each of the plurality of pockets.
In yet another embodiment, the rolling element is selected from the group consisting of balls, needle rollers, tapered rollers, spherical rollers and cylindrical rollers.
In an embodiment, the material used for manufacturing the bearing cage is polyamide.
In an embodiment, a base of each of the plurality of reservoir is at an elevated level from the base of each of the plurality of pockets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A bearing cage, of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a conventional bearing cage;
Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of a bearing cage;
Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of the bearing cage of Figure 2 along with an enlarged isometric view of a portion of the bearing cage;
Figure 3A illustrates a top view of the bearing cage of Figure 2; and
Figure 3B illustrates an enlarged isometric view of a portion of the bearing cage of Figure 2.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 – Conventional bearing cage
102 – Circular body
105 – A plurality of reservoir
110 – A plurality of pockets
200 – Bearing cage
202 – Circular body
204 – A plurality of pockets
205 – A plurality of reservoirs
205A – Groove
206 – Pocket edges
305 – Lubricating path

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a conventional bearing cage 100. The conventional bearing cage 100 comprises a circular body 102, more specifically an annular body. A plurality of pockets 110 is configured on the circular body 102 of the conventional bearing cage 100. Each of the plurality of pockets 110 is configured to house a rolling element (not shown in figures) of a bearing (not shown in figures). Further, a plurality of reservoirs 105 is configured on the circular body 102, between two adjacent pockets of the plurality of pockets 110. The plurality of reservoirs 105 is further configured to store a lubricant therewithin. When the bearing is operated, the lubricant tends to flow out of the reservoir 105.
Moreover, as the speed of rotation of the bearing increases, the conventional bearing cage 100 starts to deflect whereas the plurality of pockets 110 slightly open. In absence of any lubricating path on the conventional bearing cage 100, the lubricant flows haphazardly along the conventional bearing cage 100 due to deflection, thereby leading into leakage of the lubricant. As a result, the lubricant maintains a weak and non-uniform layer between the surface of the plurality of pockets 110 and the rolling elements of the bearing. The non-uniform layer of the lubricant results in increased friction between the plurality of pockets 110 and the rolling elements, thereby degrading the lubricant’s rheological properties due to the generation of heat by friction.
Conventionally, in the churning phase, due to the high speed of operation, the lubricant leakage is likely to occur, since the lubricant settles in the cage pocket area with high cage deflection and higher cage pocket opening. On the contrary, the bearing cage, of the present disclosure, does not allow the lubricant to settle in the pocket area, and therefore is not prone to lubricant leakage.
Referring to Figure 2 through Figure 3B, the present disclosure envisages a bearing cage 200. The construction of the bearing cage 200 facilitates in achieving enhanced lubricant dynamics during the operation of a bearing.
The bearing cage 200 comprises a circular body 202, a plurality of pockets 204, a plurality of reservoirs 205, and a groove 205A. The plurality of pockets 204 is configured along the circumference of the circular body 202. Each of the plurality of pockets 204 is configured to house a rolling element (not shown in figures) of the bearing (not shown in figures) therewithin. Each of the plurality of reservoirs 205 is configured on the circular body 202 between two adjacent pockets 204. More specifically, a base of each of the plurality of reservoirs 205 is at an elevated level from a base of each of the plurality of pockets 204.
In an embodiment, each of the plurality of pockets 204 has an inwardly curved spherical pocket face for accommodating the rolling element of the bearing.
The plurality of reservoirs 205 is further configured to store a lubricant therein. The groove 205A is configured on the plurality of pockets. The groove 205A defines a lubricating path (305) that facilitates flow of the lubricant from one reservoir to subsequent reservoir, and also ensures that the lubricant flows without leakage along the bearing cage 200. Further, a lubricant layer (also referred as lubricant film) is formed between operative surfaces of the rolling elements of the bearing and the plurality of pockets 204. The lubricant layer reduces the contact surface area between the rolling elements of the bearing and the plurality of pockets 204, thereby reducing the friction between the rolling elements of the bearing and the plurality of pockets 204. Additionally, the reduced friction minimizes the amount of heat being generated, due to friction, in the lubricant film. Since the lubricant film is not affected by the heat, the rheological properties of the lubricant are not disturbed. The lubricant hence, faces no deterioration. Consequently, the need to continuously fill a fresh load of lubricant in the reservoirs 205 of the bearing cage 200 is eliminated.
In an embodiment, the groove 205A on the plurality of pockets 204 is configured at a predetermined angle with respect to the base of each of the plurality of pockets 204. This configuration of the groove 205A ensures uniform lubrication of the rolling elements of the bearing, when in operation.
Due to the uniform lubrication being provided by the bearing cage 200, the bearing is not subjected to wear and subsequent failure due to lack of lubrication.
In an embodiment, the pocket 204 has pocket edges 206, wherein one of the pocket edges 206 is slightly up and another pocket edge 206 is slightly down with respect to the base of the reservoir 205. In an embodiment, the pocket edges 206 are molded so as to take the shape of the rolling elements.
In another embodiment, the rolling elements of the bearing are selected from the group consisting of balls, needle rollers, tapered rollers, spherical rollers and cylindrical rollers. More specifically, the bearing cage 200 in the present invention is fashioned after design features of ball bearings.
In an exemplary embodiment, the bearing cage 200 is for a ball bearing and the rolling elements are balls of the ball bearing.
In yet another embodiment, the circular body 202 of the bearing cage 200 along with all its constituents are made of polymer material, more specifically, polyamide. The polyamide material ensures that the bearing cage 200 is used for high speed applications of the bearing.
In still another embodiment, the lubricant stored in the reservoirs 205 of the bearing cage 200 is grease.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the bearing cage 200 provides better lubricant dynamics across the contact between the bearing cage 200 and the rolling elements at high speed of operation, which is greater than 11000 rpm of the outer ring rotation. In case, if the speed reaches above 400000 speed factor, then lubricant quantity in the bearing is generally 15-20% of the rolling element free space. During an initial churning phase, the lubricant goes under the reservoir formation, as part of the lubricant flows next to the lubricating path 305, and a part of the lubricant finds its way inside the rolling element as on the pocket 204 of the bearing cage 200, or under the pocket 204 of the bearing cage 200. Typically, the churning phase is for initial time (24 hours) of continuous rotation.
Further, a test was conducted between the conventional bearing cage 100 and the bearing cage 200 of the present disclosure. Both the conventional bearing cage 100 and the bearing cage 200 were simulated in computational software to compare the aftereffects on the flow of the lubricant when subject to high speed of rotation. The speed of rotation considered was above 11000 rpm. The results are discussed in the following TABLE 1.
Parameters Conventional Bearing Cage Bearing Cage
Pocket opening 50~53 microns 19~20 microns
Overall deflection 75.8 microns 63.6 microns
TABLE 1
From TABLE 1 it is observed that the bearing cage 200 undergoes less deflection as compared to conventional bearing cage 100 at high speed of operation, i.e., around 19% reduction in deflection. Further, the pocket opening of the bearing cage 200 was around 60% less when compared to the pocket opening of the conventional bearing cage 100.
The overall weight of the bearing cage 200 is around 10% to 11% less as compared to the conventional bearing cage 100 which results is less centrifugal force.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a bearing cage that:
• enhances lubricant dynamics;
• enhances lubricant flow at high speed;
• prevents the lubricant to settle in pocket areas of the bearing cage;
• experiences less deflection at high speed of operation;
• is rigid;
• is light in weight; and
• reduces contact surface between the rolling elements of a bearing and the bearing cage.
The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.

WE CLAIM:
1. A bearing cage (200) comprising:
a circular body (202);
a plurality of pocket (204) configured along the circumference of said circular body (202), wherein each of said plurality of pockets (204) is configured to house a rolling element therewithin;
a plurality of reservoirs (205), wherein each of said reservoirs is configured between two adjacent pockets of said plurality of pockets (204), and is further configured to store a lubricant therein; and
a groove (205A) configured on said plurality of pockets, wherein said groove (205A) defines a lubricating path (305) to facilitate flow of said lubricant from one reservoir to subsequent reservoir to enhance lubricant dynamics of said bearing cage.
2. The bearing cage (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lubricant flowing through said lubricating path (305) maintains a uniform layer of lubricant, thereby reducing the contact surface area and the friction between said plurality of pockets (204) and said rolling element.
3. The bearing cage (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said groove (205A) is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a base of each of said plurality of pockets (204).
4. The bearing cage (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rolling elements are selected from the group consisting of balls, needle rollers, tapered rollers, spherical rollers and cylindrical rollers.
5. The bearing cage (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material used for manufacturing said bearing cage (200) is polyamide.
6. The bearing cage (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lubricant is grease.
7. The bearing cage (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a base of each of said plurality of reservoir (205) is at an elevated level from said base of each of said plurality of pockets (204).