Roller bearing with rolling elements having concave center parts and convex end parts

US4181375A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• SKF Kugellagerfabriken GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Horst M. Ernst · Eltingshausen, DE
• Armin Olschewski · Schweinfurt, DE
• Rainer Schurger · Schwanfeld, DE
• Lothar Walter · Schweinfurt, DE
• Manfred Brandenstein · Aschfeld, DE
• Erich Burkl

Key dates

• Filing date: May 3, 1978
• Grant date: Jan 1, 1980
• Expiry date: May 3, 1998

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16C33/3713
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In a rolling bearing for linear movement with respect to a shaft, the bearing has a sleeve, and axially extending guide rails on the inner and outer surfaces of the sleeve. Rolling elements are guided by the guide rails, and have concave spool-like central portions matched to the shaft, to provide linear contact therewith. The ends of the rolling elements are convexly curved to match the curvature of the inner surface of the sleeve, so that the inner surface of the sleeve forms a raceway for rolling elements under load. Grooves are provided in the lateral surfaces of the guide rails for guiding balls disposed between the ends of adjacent rolling elements. End caps on the bearing have turn-around guides for directing rolling elements between the inner raceways and the raceways for unloaded rolling elements along the outer surfaces of the sleeve.