FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present disclosure generally relates to a bearing and in particularly to a vehicle clutch release bearing with a sealing arrangement for preventing ingress of foreign particle and grease purge out from the bearing.
BACKGROUND
A device that confines relative motion to purely the desired parts and diminishes resistance amongst moving parts is termed as a bearing.
A typical bearing may aid in one of the following:
? reduce friction between moving parts;
? offer unrestricted undeviating movement of the moving part;
? offer unrestricted rotation around a stationary axis;
? impede a motion by regulating the normal forces vectors on the moving parts.
In a vehicle, a clutch forms a sub-component of a transmission that permits engagement and disengagement of power flow between an engine and the transmission. In operation, when a clutch pedal is pushed, a clutch release system pushes a fork against a clutch release bearing. The clutch release bearing pushes against a clutch diaphragm spring to release a pressure plate clamp load on a disc, allowing a crankshaft and flywheel to rotate at engine speed, while the disc and transmission input shaft coast and in such circumstances, the engine power cannot flow through to the transmission. When the driver selects a gear and releases the clutch pedal, the clutch release system retracts the clutch release bearing, the disc slips briefly to allow smooth engagement and the clutch clamps the disc against the flywheel. The clutch, disc and flywheel "lock" together, turning the input shaft and in such circumstances, the engine power flows to the transmission.
In all the clutch release bearing plays a vital role in permitting and/or restricting power flow from the engine to the transmission.
FIGURE 1A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional clutch release bearing 100A, consisting of:
? an inner race 101 having an anti-friction rolling surface 101a;
? an outer race 102 having an anti-friction rolling surface 102a along with a radially inwards extending flange 102b on one side 105a of the bearing 100A;
? a single row of rolling elements 103 interposed between the rolling surfaces (101a, 102a) of the inner 101 and outer race 102; and
? optionally a retaining element 107 for retaining the rolling elements 103 within a space 106 between the inner and outer races.
FIGURE 1B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a clutch release assembly 100B with a conventional clutch release bearing 100A mounted thereon. Typically, the clutch release bearing 100A is mounted on an inner bush 100C for configuring the clutch release assembly 100B. A radially inward extending flange 102b of an outer race 102 of the clutch release bearing 100A is pressed against a clutch finger (not shown in the figure) to release the clutch as the inner bush 100C that slides above a clutch assembly guide (not shown in the figure).
Further, the radially inwards extending flange 102b extends such that it conceals an inner race 101 leaving a diminutive gap ‘G’ between the flange 102b and the inner race 101 to permit frictionless relative movement between the two.
Typically, an anti-friction surfaces 101a and 102a and rolling elements 103 are micro-machined to reduce the friction between them to the lowest possible value.
Typically, a space 106 between the inner race, the outer race and the rolling elements 103 is filled with lubricating fluid (for example, oil and/or grease) so that the friction between the inner race 101, outer race 102, and the rolling elements 103 is further reduced.
In order to confine the oil and/or grease within the space 106, the clutch release bearing 100A may be equipped with a cover 104 on a side 105b that is not covered by the radially inward extending flange 102b. This cover 104 in conjunction with the flange 102b prevents the oil and/or grease from seeping out of the bearing and at the same time obviates ingress of any foreign material into the bearing.
However, oil and/or grease from inside the bearing may seep out through an gap ‘G’ between the radially inward extending flange 102b and the inner race 101 and any foreign material (such as burr) may infiltrate the space 106. The seepage of oil and/or grease may lead to reduction in lubrication of the inner race 101, outer race 102, and the rolling elements 103, which may increase friction there between and hence reduce the service life of the bearing.
Further, with the wear of the inner race 101, the outer race 102 and the rolling elements 103 of the bearing, vibrations may set-in in the bearing, which may damage the bearing and the parts of the machine/vehicle that are mounted/coupled to the bearing.
Still further, the ingress of any foreign material through the gap ‘G’ may cause vibrations and interfere with the movement of the components of the bearing and may damage the anti-friction surfaces thereof. This may again reduce the service life of the bearing.
Hence, there is a need to provide a sealing arrangement to reduce and/or eliminate the seepage of the oil and/or grease from the bearing and ingress of the foreign material from outside in to the bearing thereby increasing the life thereof.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as follows:
It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a clutch release bearing with a sealing arrangement that ensure sealing of the components thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a clutch release bearing with a sealing arrangement that prevents seepage of oil and/or grease or any other lubricating fluid from a space between an inner race and an outer race and rolling elements through a gap ‘G’;
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a clutch release bearing with a sealing arrangement that prevents an ingress of any foreign particles into the space between the inner and outer race and the rolling elements through the gap ‘G’;
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a clutch release bearing with a sealing arrangement that seals the gap ‘G’ formed between the radially inwardly extending flange and the inner race thereby preventing seepage of oil and/or grease or any other lubricating fluid from the space and ingress of foreign particles into the space between the inner race and outer race and the rolling elements through the gap ‘G’;
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a clutch release bearing with a sealing arrangement such that the vibrations set-in in the bearing that may damage the bearing and any parts that are coupled to it is prevented.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a clutch release bearing with a sealing arrangement such that the bearing exhibits an extended service life and requires lesser maintenance;
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a clutch release bearing with a sealing arrangement that exhibit high reliability;
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a clutch release bearing with a sealing arrangement that is simple in construction and easier to manufacture;
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a clutch release bearing with a sealing arrangement that is economical to manufacture and use; and Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide clutch release bearing with a sealing arrangement that is robust in construction.
Other objects and advantages of the apparatus of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

A bearing is disclosed with an embodiment of the present disclosure comprising an inner race; an outer race, the outer race is provided with a radially inwardly extending flange, at least a portion of the radially inwardly extending flange is spaced apart from at least a portion of the inner race; at least one row of rolling elements is interposed between the inner race and the outer race, characterized in that a bi-furcated sealing element is secured to either of the inner race or the outer race for sealing a gap ‘G’ between the inner race and the radially inwardly extending flange.
In accordance with another embodiment, a bearing comprising an outer race; an inner race, the inner race is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange, at least a portion of the radially outwardly extending flange is spaced apart from the outer race; at least one row of rolling elements interposed between the inner race and the outer race, characterized in that a bi-furcated sealing element is secured to either of the inner race and the outer race for sealing a gap ‘G’ between the outer race and the radially outwardly extending flange.
Further, the outer race of the bearing is provided with radially inwardly extending flange.
Furthermore, the bi-furcated sealing element of the bearing is received in an inwardly extending groove configured on either one of opposite faces of the inner race or the radially inwardly extending flange.
Alternatively, the bi-furcated sealing element of the bearing is received in the inwardly extending groove configured on either one of opposite faces of the outer race or the radially outwardly extending flange.
Typically, the bi-furcated sealing element of the bearing is received in the inwardly extending groove configured on either one of opposite faces of the radially outwardly extending flange or the radially inwardly extending flange of the inner race and the outer race.
Typically, the bi-furcated seal of the bearing comprises of at least two operative lips, a first operative lip in contact with radially outwardly extending flange averts seepage of a fluid from an inner space of the bearing to an outer space of the bearing; and a second operative lip in contact with the bearing averts the ingress of any foreign material in the inner space of the bearing.
Further, the bi-furcated seal of the bearing is made of an elastomeric resilient material.
Furthermore, a retaining element of the bearing is provided for retaining at least one rolling element that is interposed between the inner race and the outer race.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

In accordance with the present disclosure a clutch release will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional clutch release bearing;
FIGURE 1B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a clutch release assembly with conventional clutch release bearing mounted on an inner bush;
FIGURE 2A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a clutch release bearing with a deflector seal in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
FIGURE 2B illustrates an enlarge cross-sectional sectional view of FIGURE 2A, wherein FIGURE 2B is depicting a groove with a deflector seal secured therein on an inner surface of an inner race such that a gap ‘G’ is sealed by two operative lips that are in contact with the inner surface of a radially inwards extending flange of the clutch release bearing in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The clutch release bearing with a sealing arrangement that prevents ingress of foreign particle and oil and/or grease purge out of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the embodiments, which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration. The embodiment herein, 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.
A clutch release bearing 200 as depicted in FIGURE 2A consists of an inner race 201 having an anti-friction rolling surface 201a, an outer race 202 having an anti-friction rolling surface 202a along with a radially inwardly extending flange 202b on one side 205a of the bearing 200, at least a row of rolling elements 203 that is interposed between the rolling surfaces 201a, and 202a of the inner race 201 and the outer 202 race, and a retaining element 207 for retaining the rolling elements 203 within a space 206 between the inner race 201 and the outer race 202.
FIGURE 2B illustrates an enlarge cross-sectional view of FIGURE 2A, wherein FIGURE 2B is depicting a groove 208 receiving a deflector seal 209, wherein the groove 208 is provided on inner surface 210 of an inner race 201 with the deflector seal 209 secured therein. A gap ‘G’ formed between the inner race 201 and the outer race 202 is sealed by at least two operative lips 209b, and 209c that are in contact with an inner surface 212 of a radially inwardly extending flange 202b of the clutch release bearing 200. FIGURE 2B also illustrates that the clutch release bearing 200 consist of at least one row of rolling elements 203 that is interposed between the inner race 201 and the outer 202 race.

In one embodiment the groove 208 is configured on an operative end 210 of the inner race 201 that is in proximity to the radially inwardly extending flange 202b, the groove 208 adapted to receive the deflector seal 209 made of any elastomeric seal consisting of a main body 209a and at least two operative lips 209b, and 209c, wherein the lips 209b, and 209c made of any elastomeric resilient material are configured such that both operative lips 209b, and 209c are in contact with the inner surface 212 of the radially inwards extending flange 202b. At least two operating lips 209b, and 209c along with a main body 209a of the seal 200 form a Y shape. Both the operating lips 209b, and 209c continually exert a small force against the inner surface 212 of the radially inwardly extending flange 202b as they are made of elastomeric resilient material. First lip 209b which is in contact with the inner surface 212 of the radially inwardly extending flange 202b prevents the seepage of the oil and/or grease from a space 206 of the bearing 200 to outside of the bearing 200 whereas a second lip 209c which is in contact with the inner surface 212 of the radially inwardly extending flange 202b prevents the ingress of any foreign material into the bearing 200.
Further, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, FIGURE 2C depicts an alternative provision of a groove 208, wherein the groove 208 is configured on an inner surface 212 of a radially inwardly extending flange 202b. FIGURE 2C consists of an inner race 201, an outer race 202, and at least one row of rolling elements 203. A gap ‘G’ formed between the inner race 201 and the radially inwardly extending flange 202b is sealed by a deflector seal 209 which aids in sealing and is secured in the groove 208. The sealing element 209 is secured in the groove 208 consists of a main body 209a and two operative lips 209b, and 209c, wherein a first operative lip 209b is in contact with an inner surface 210 of the inner race 201 so as to avert the seepage of the oil and/or grease from a space 206 of the bearing 200 to outside of the bearing 200 whereas a second lip 209c is in contact with the inner surface 210 so as to avert the ingress of any foreign material into the bearing 200.
Alternatively, according to FIGURE 2D, a groove 308 is configured on an inner surface 312 of an outer race 302; an inner race 301 is provided with a flange 301b radially extending outwards. A gap ‘G’ formed between the outer race 302 and the radially inwardly extending flange 301b is sealed by a sealing element 309 secured in the groove 308. The sealing element 308 consists of a main body 309a and at least two operative lips 309b, and 309c, wherein a first lip 309b is in contact with an inner surface 310 of the radially outwardly extending flange 310b so as to avert the seepage of the oil and/or grease from a space 306 of the bearing 300 to outside of the bearing 300, and a second lip 309c is in contact with the inner surface 310 of the radially outwardly extending flange 301b so as to avert the ingress of any foreign material into the bearing 300.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The technical advancements of a clutch release bearing of the present disclosure are as follows:
-a clutch release bearing ensures sealing of the components thereof;
-a clutch release bearing prevents the seepage of oil and/or grease or any other lubricating fluid from a space between an inner race and an outer race and at least one row of rolling elements through a gap ‘G’;
-a clutch release bearing prevents an ingress of foreign particles into the space between the inner and outer race surface and the rolling elements through the gap ‘G’;
-a clutch release bearing seals the gap ‘G’ that is formed between a radially inwards extending flange and the inner race thereby preventing the seepage of oil and/or grease or any other lubricating fluid from the space and ingress of foreign particles into the space between the inner and outer race surface and the rolling elements through the gap ‘G’;
-a clutch release bearing reduces and/or eliminate vibrations in the bearing;
-a clutch release bearing exhibit an extended service life and requires lesser maintenance;
-a clutch release bearing exhibit high reliability;
-a clutch release bearing is simple in construction and easier to manufacture;
-a clutch release bearing is economical to manufacture and use; and
-a clutch release bearing is robust in construction.
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 mixture 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 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.
Wherever a range of values is specified, a value up to 10% below and above the lowest and highest numerical value respectively, of the specified range, is included in the scope of the disclosure.
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.

CLIAMS:

1.A bearing comprising:
-an inner race;
-an outer race, wherein said outer race is provided with a radially inwardly extending flange, wherein at least a portion of said radially inwardly extending flange is spaced apart from at least a portion of said inner race;
-at least one row of rolling elements is interposed between said inner race and said outer race,

characterized in that a bi-furcated sealing element is secured to either of said inner race or said outer race for sealing a gap between said inner race and said radially inwardly extending flange.

2.A bearing comprising:
-an outer race;
-an inner race, wherein said inner race is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange, wherein at least a portion of said radially outwardly extending flange is spaced apart from said outer race;
-at least one row of rolling elements interposed between said inner race and said outer race,

characterized in that a bi-furcated sealing element is secured to either of said inner race and said outer race for sealing a gap between said outer race and said radially outwardly extending flange.

3.The bearing as claimed in claim 2, wherein said outer race is provided with radially inwardly extending flange.

4.The bearing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bi-furcated sealing element is received in an inwardly extending groove configured on either one of opposite faces of said inner race and radially inwardly extending flange.

5.The bearing as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bi-furcated sealing element is received in an inwardly extending groove configured on either one of opposite faces of said outer race and said radially outwardly extending flange.

6.The bearing as claimed in claim 3, wherein said bi-furcated sealing element is received in an inwardly extending groove configured on either one of opposite faces of said radially outwardly extending flange and said radially inwardly extending flange of said inner race and said outer race.

7.The clutch release bearing as claimed in preceding claims, wherein said bi-furcated seal comprises of at least two operative lips, wherein,
-a first operative lip in contact with said radially outwardly extending flange averts seepage of a fluid from an inner space of said bearing to an outer space of said bearing; and
-a second operative lip in contact with said bearin averts the ingress of any foreign material in said inner space of said bearing.

8.The clutch release bearing as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said bi-furcated seal is made of an elastomeric resilient material.

9.The clutch release bearing as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a retaining element is provided for retaining said at least one rolling element interposed between said inner race and said outer race.