Ball Bearing And Ball Bearing Manufacturing Method
Abstract:
A ball bearing is provided which, during high loads, does not have sites where the surface pressure on a holding body becomes locally high, thereby suppressing cracking and thus increasing service life. This ball bearing is provided with a pair of holding bodies (12, 14) and with at least one rolling body (16) movably held between the pair of holding bodies. In each of the pair of holding bodies, the cross-section profile line (14a) of the portion contacting the rolling body has the smallest radius of curvature at a position (P) which protrudes farthest in a first direction (D1), which is the direction in which the pair of holding bodies are opposite from each other. The radius of curvature of the cross-section profile line becomes larger farther away from the position (P) in the second direction (D2), which is perpendicular to the first direction (D1) in the cross-section. The cross-section profile line consists of a single function. Setting the origin as the midpoint of the profile line in the second direction, and setting the X axis as the axis that extends in the second direction and the Y axis as the axis that extends in the first direction, and defining (R) as the radius of the rolling bodies, the profile cross-section profile line satisfies expression (1). X2/{2R(1+0.05)} < Y < X2 / {2R (1-0.05)}... (1)
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Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence
c/o NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION 6 1 Marunouchi 2 chome Chiyoda ku Tokyo
1008071
2. NEISHI Yutaka
c/o NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION 6 1 Marunouchi 2 chome Chiyoda ku Tokyo
1008071
3. NARUMIYA Hiroki
c/o NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION 6 1 Marunouchi 2 chome Chiyoda ku Tokyo
1008071
Specification
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a ball bearing
and methods of production of a ball bearing keeping
cracking from occurring and in turn realizing an extended
lifespan.
10 Background Art
[0002] The various machinery used in the ferrous
metal, papermaking, wind power generation, mining, and
other various fields, in automobiles, and in rolling
stock all use various types of ball bearings. These ball
15 bearings are used under harsh conditions under high
loads, so cracks are liable to locally form.
[0003] Ball bearings are standardized in, for example,
JIS-B1518. In this standard, in the case of a radial ball
bearing, it is recommended that a cross-sectional profile
20 line of a race at an inner race side (outer race side)
(component of ball bearing defining and forming path over
which rolling balls move) have a radius of curvature of a
groove of 52% or less (53% or less) of a diameter of the
rolling balls. On the other hand, in the case of a thrust
25 ball bearing, it is recommended that both the crosssectional
profile lines of the upper race side and lower
race side of races have a radius of curvature of the
groove of 54% or less of the diameter of the rolling
balls. However, in the ball bearings according to this
30 standard, the cross-sectional profile line of the races
are arcs-having a single radius of curvature, so the
contact area of the rolling balls and races at the time
of a load cannot be sufficiently secured. For this
reason, in particular at the time of a high load, a high
35 pressure acts on the parts of the races contacting the
rolling balls and those parts are liable to crack.
[0004] Therefore, in recent years, ball bearings
- 2 -
reducing the pressure acting on the races and suppressing
cracking (Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-174691A:
PLT 1) and rolling machine elements strikingly improving
the load capacity and suppressing cracking (Japanese
5 Patent No. 3608163: PLT 2) have been disclosed.
[0005] PLT 1 discloses a race having a cross-sectional
profile line comprised of an arc part of the same radius
as the radius of the rolling balls and tangential parts
formed as extensions of the arc part. According to PLT 1,
10 by selecting the circumferential length of the arc part
suitably for the load, it is considered possible to
suppress differential slip and sufficiently secure the
contact area of the rolling balls and arc part to
suppress the surface pressure applied to the race.
15 [0006] Further, PLT 2 discloses a race having a crosssectional
profile line comprised of a composite arc made
of a plurality of arcs with different radii of curvature
smoothly connected, in which plurality or arcs, the
radius of curvature at the center in the width direction
20 is relatively small and the radii of curvature at the two
sides in the width direction are relatively large.
According to PLT 2, by adopting this configuration, it is
possible to reduce the pressure on the race. It is
considered that this reduction of pressure can
25 advantageously act against the rolling fatigue of the
surface of the race and against overriding of the
shoulders and can reduce differential slip.
[0007] Note that, in addition to PLTs 1 and 2, the
technique of making the shape of the path of the rolling
30 balls a secondary curve etc. (Japanese Patent Publication
No. 413'"76088: PI,T 3) and the technique of changing the
radius of curvature of the curved path of the rolling
balls from the groove bottom to the shoulder parts
(Japanese Patent Publication No. 53-139047A: PLT 4) are
35 disclosed.
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
- 3 -
[0008] However, when, as shown in PLT 1 (PLT 2), the
cross-sectional profile line of a race which the rolling
elements contact is comprised of an arc and tangents
(plurality of arcs), at the time of a high load, pressure
5 excessively acts at the boundaries of the arc and
tangents (boundaries of arcs with each other) and in turn
cracking is liable to occur and the ball bearing is
liable to be unable to prolonged in lifespan. Further,
when the shape of the path of the rolling balls is
10 abstractly specified like in PLT 3 (PLT 4), it is unclear
if it is possible to reliably keep down the pressure
applied to the race.
[0009] The present invention was made in consideration
of this situation and has as its object the provision of
15 a ball bearing and methods of production of a ball
bearing keeping the pressure applied to a race from
becoming locally higher at the time of high load to keep
cracking from occurring and in turn realize an extended
lifespan.
20 Solution to Problem
[0010] To solve the above problem, the present
inventors in particular studied a ball bearing in which
the path over which rolling elements move is defined and
formed to prevent the surface pressure of the race
25 contacting the rolling elements from becoming locally
higher. As a result, they obtained the discovery that if
the cross-sectional profile line of the part of the race
contacting the rolling elements is not comprised of a
plurality of functions such as curves and curves or
30 curves and straight lines, that is, that if profile line
'i's••comprised of a specific single function,·· the suL·face
pressure will no longer become locally high at the
rolling elements and, as a result, cracking of the ball
bearing is suppressed and in turn the ball bearing can be
35 prolonged in lifespan.
[0011] Further, the present inventors also studied
methods of production of a ball bearing. As a result,
- 4 -
they obtained the discovery that a ball bearing can be
obtained by cold forging or by machining, in particular
in the case of cold forging, preferably by using a
specific arc shaped die.
5 [0012] Based on the above discovery, the present
inventors completed the invention. Its gist is as
follows:
[0013] [1] A ball bearing comprising a pair of races
and at least one rolling element movably clamped between
10 the pair of races,
characterized in that a cross-sectional profile line of a
part of each of the pair of races contacting the rolling
element takes a minimum value of curvature radius at a
position sticking out the most in a first direction over
15 which the pair of races face,
the cross-sectional profile line becomes larger in radius
of curvature the further from that position in a second
direction vertical to the first direction in the crosssection,
20 that cross-sectional profile line is comprised of a
single function, and
when a midpoint of the profile line in the second
direction is the origin, an axis extending in the second
direction is the X-axis and an axis extending in the
25 first direction is the Y-axis, and a radius of the
rolling element is R,
the cross-sectional profile line satisfies equation (1)
X'/ {2R (1+0. 05) } r ;;;> (R X d'- 307/0. 550) !/!. 28X (1 +0. 05) • • • ( 2)
X2
/ {2R (1+0. 05) ) pressure due to the
distance from the center of groove width becomes smaller,
in particular, the surface pressure becomes still smaller
if the distance from the center of the groove width is
35 less than about 1 mm.
[0078] FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship
between the maximum surface pressure and the load per
- 26 -
ball in the different cases of the two types of FEM
models shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. As clear from FIG. 11,
it was learned that when the cross-sectional profile line
of the race of a ball bearing is a secondary curve,
5 compared with when that cross-sectional profile line is a
single arc, it is effective to lower the surface
pressure. This is important in suppressing cracking.
Therefore, based on this result as well, it can be said
that with a secondary curve groove, compared with a
10 single arc groove, the maximum surface pressure is lower.
[0079] From the above results, according to the type
of shape of ball bearing prescribed in the present
application, the action of suppressing the maximum
surface pressure is verified.
15 [0080] Further, in the ball bearing prescribed in the
present application, the cross-sectional profile line of
the race is comprised of a specific single function
(secondary curve), so the cross-sectional profile line
has no point not smoothly extending, so among the points
20 on the cross-sectional profile line, there are no points
with surface pressures remarkably higher than other
points. Therefore, according to the ball bearing
prescribed in the present application, naturally there is
no location at which the surface pressure is excessively
25 applied (action preventing locations where surface
pressure is excessively applied).
[0081] Therefore, according to the ball bearing
prescribed in the present application, it can be said
that the action suppressing the maximum surface pressure
30 and the action preventing locations where surface
pressure is excessively applied,combine whereby at the
time of load of the rolling balls etc. on a race,
cracking at the race can be suppressed at a high level
and in turn the lifespan of the ball bearing can be
35 prolonged.
[0082] Hethods of Production of Ball Bearing
Next, examples relating to the methods of production of a
- 27 -
ball bearing will be explained.
[0083] Example Relating to Relationship of Groove
Depth and Radius of Curvature of Groove Bottom
From a ~90 SUJ2 rod of the composition shown in Table 1,
5 two types of test pieces for cold forging use
(corresponding to race material of ball bearing) obtained
after the heat treatment processes shown in FIG. 12
(units: mass%) were prepared.
10
[0084] Table 1
c Si Mn p s Cu Ni Cr Al 0
0.99 0.24 0.37 0.009 0.001 0.01 0.03 1. 42 0.012 0.0008
[0085] That is, as shown in FIG. 12, a steel material
of the composition shown in Table 1 was extended by
forging at 1200°C, 1 heat, from ~90 mm to ~60 mm, cut to
60~ mmx300 mm, spheroidally annealed (SA), then roughly
15 worked (outside diameter 52.5 mmxinside diameter 27.0
mmxlength 6.0 mm). Next, the roughly worked material was
used as is as the finished SA material (outside diameter
52.5 mmxinside diameter 27.2 mmxlength 5.5 mm) and was
quenched and tempered (QT) to obtain a finished QT
20 material (outside diameter 52.0 mmxinside diameter 27.2
mmxlength 5.5 mm).
[0086] Next, the finished SA material obtained in the
above-mentioned way (below, sometimes called the "SA
material") and finished QT material (below, sometimes
25 called the "QT material") were cold forged. For that cold
forging, a general cold forging machine (cold forging
test machine with load capacity of 6000 kN) was used.
Further, top dies' ·of carbidci (material: RF06) having
three types of arc cross-sections of radii of curvature
30 of 5.1 mm, 4.0 mm, and 3.0 mm and ring-shaped projecting
parts were used and flat plate bottom dies were used.
Further, the amounts of indentation were changed to form
rolling grooves in the race materials (SA materials and
QT materials) to obtain races.
- 28 -
[0087] After forming the rolling grooves in the race
materials, the shapes etc. of the rolling grooves were
measured. The shape measurement generally can be
performed by an optical type, laser type, or contact
5 probe type shape measuring device under conditions of a
measurement width of 8 mm or more, a height resolution of
1. J.1ffi or more, and a horizontal resolution of 5 J.1ffi or
more. In this measurement, a Keyence shape measuring
device (VK-X150) was used to measure the shapes of the
10 rolling grooves and depths of the rolling grooves. The
results are shown in Table 2.
- 29 -
[0088] Table 2
Sample Radius of Material Depth of Radius of
no. curvature of of race groove curvature
projecting (rum) of groove
part of top die bottom (rum)
1 5.1 SA material 0.10 9.30
2 5.1 SA material 0.29 5.98
3 5.1 SA material 0.58 5.10
4 5.1 SA material 0.86 4.94
5 5.1 QT material 0.02 14.94
6 5.1 QT material 0.12 8.04
7 5.1 QT material 0.19 7.34
8 4.0 QT material 0.02 10.77
9 4. 0 QT material 0.14 5.48
10 4.0 QT material 0.21 5.12
11 3.0 QT material 0.02 7.77
12 3.0 QT material 0.16 3.86
13 3.0 QT material 0.25 3.69
[0089] The races of Sample Nos. 1 to 13 shown in Table
2 were investigated for the shapes of the grooves when
5 viewed by a cross-section. It was learned that each could
be approximated by a secondary function. As typical
examples, the cross-sectional shapes of the grooves of
the races of Sample No. 4 and Sample No. 13 are shown in
FIGS. 13A and 13B.
10 [0090] Furthermore, FIG. 14 is a graph showing the
relationship between the radius of curvature of the
bottom of the groove and the groove depth. Note that, the
notations outside the box of FIG. 14 (for example, SA5.1)
show the grades of the race materials and the curvatures
15 of the top die (rum) .
[0091] From the results of FIG. 14, even if the
material of the races and in turn the deformation
resistance,differ, it is proved that the radius of'
curvature R' of the bottom of the groove can be expressed
20 by equation (19) using the radius of curvature "r'' of the
projecting part of the top die and groove depth ''d'':
• • • ( 1 9)
- 30 -
[0092] Due to the above, it was proved that regardless
of the material of the race, if pushing a top die with an
arc shaped cross section into the race material on a flat
plate, the cross-sectional shape of the recessed part
5 exhibits a profile shape of a secondary curve in each
case and the radius of curvature of the groove bottom and
the groove depth can be expressed by a single function.
[0093] Example Relating to Effect in Case of Forming
Recessed Part Race in Two Stages
10 Next, the relationship between the groove depth and the
amount of indentation in the case in the "Example
Relating to Relationship of Groove Depth and Radius of
Curvature of Groove Bottom" wherB the radius of curvature
"r" of the projecting part of the top die is made 5.1 mm
15 and cold forging a QT material is shown in FIG. 15.
According to FIG. 15, it is judgBd that the material
breaks when the amount of indentation is 2.3 mm.
[0094] FIG. 16 is a view showing the results at the
time of FEM stress analysis of a race shown in FIG. 15.
20 From the results of analysis shown in FIG. 16, an over
2500 MPa tensile stress is generated at the contact ends
of the race and projecting part of the top die. It is
believed that the race broke due to this stress. From the
results of FIG. 15, if making the radius of curvature of
25 the projecting part of the top die smaller, the generated
tensile stress becomes smaller, but for safety's sake,
the maximum groove depth formed in the race material
comprised of a QT material is preferably 0.2 mm or less.
[0095] For this reason, for example, when desiring to
30 make the groove depth of the recessed part a final 0.6
mm,· ·:i:t ·is pref·crable to first cold forge a race matec.•al
not treated by QT to form a recessed part of a groove
depth of a depth of 0.4 mm or so, then treat ic by QT,
then again cold forge it to further form a recessed part
35 of a groove depth of 0.2 mm or so.
[0096] Due to the above, among the methods of
production of a ball bearing of the present invention,
- 31 -
the method of production of a race by multiple stages is
advantageous on the point that by forming in advance a
recessed part of a certain extent of groove depth in a
relatively soft material, then treating it by QT, then
5 cold forging it, even if a hard race, it is possible to
precisely form a race having a desired cross-sectional
profile line and in turn possible to prolong the lifespan
of the ball bearing.
Reference Signs List
10 [0097] 10. radial ball bearing
12. inner race
14. outer race
14a. cross-sectional profile line of path
16, 26, 32. rolling balls
15 20. thrust ball bearing
22. upper race
24. lower race
34, 36. races
D. groove depth
20 Dl, D3. first direction
D2, D4. second direction
L. distance from groove bottom
Pl, P2. points
W. 1/2 groove width
CLAIMS
Claim 1. A ball bearing comprising a pair of races
and at least one rolling element movably clamped between
said pair of races, characterized in that;
a cross-sectional profile line of a part of
each of said pair of races contacting said rolling
element takes a minimum value of curvature radius at a
position sticking out the most in a first direction over
which said pair of races face,
said cross-sectional profile line becomes
larger in radius of curvature the further from said
position in a second direction vertical to said first
direction in said cross-section,
said cross-sectional profile line is comprised
15 of a single function, and
when a midpoint of said profile line in the
second direction is the origin, an axis extending in said
second direction is the X-axis and an axis extending in
said first direction is the Y-axis, and a radius of said
20 rolling element is R,
said cross-sectional profile line satisfies
equation ( 1) :
X'/ {2R (1+0. 05~ )
Documents
Application Documents
#
Name
Date
1
201717026011-IntimationOfGrant25-11-2021.pdf
2021-11-25
1
201717026011-TRANSLATIOIN OF PRIOIRTY DOCUMENTS ETC. [21-07-2017(online)].pdf
2017-07-21
2
201717026011-PatentCertificate25-11-2021.pdf
2021-11-25
2
201717026011-STATEMENT OF UNDERTAKING (FORM 3) [21-07-2017(online)].pdf
2017-07-21
3
201717026011-REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION (FORM-18) [21-07-2017(online)].pdf