Roller bearings

Claim 2

A tapered roller bearing comprising a metal cup having an inwardly presented tapered raceway, a metal cone disposed generally within the cup and having an outwardly presented tapered raceway, the cone further having a thrust rib which projects outwardly beyond the large diameter end of the cone raceway and has an abutment surface presented adjacent to that end of the cone raceway, the cone further having an insert therein which is formed from a composite material containing a dry lubricant and forms at least a portion of the abutment surface on the thrust rib, tapered metal rollers interposed between the cup and cone and having tapered side faces engaged with the tapered raceways of the cup and cone and end faces engaged with the abutment surface of the thrust rib, the cone, cup and rollers being in metal-to-metal contact along the raceways for said rollers, and the rollers at their end faces contacting the insert, whereby when the normal supply of bearing lubricant is depleted the composite material gives up the dry lubricant and prevents the bearing from failing.

Claim 3

A structure according to claim 1 wherein the rib includes a metal backing segment which extends axially beyond the composite material and resists the thrust exerted on the composite material by the rollers.

Claim 4

A structure according to claim 2 wherein the backing segment is formed integral with the main body of the cone.

Claim 5

A structure according to claim 3 wherein the abutment face on the rib is formed in part by the backing segment and in part by the composite material.

Claim 6

A structure according to claim 3 wherein the abutment face is in its entirety on the composite material.

Claim 7

A structure according to claim 3 wherein the backing segment has an annular groove formed in it and the composite material is contained within the groove.

Claim 8

A structure according to claim 6 wherein the groove is in the vicinity of the juncture of the abutment face and the cone raceway on which the rollers ride; and wherein the abuTment face is formed in part by the metal backing segment and in part by the composite insert.

Claim 9

A tapered roller bearing comprising a metal cup having an inwardly presented tapered raceway; a metal cone disposed generally within the cup and having an outwardly presented tapered raceway and a thrust rib projecting beyond the large diameter end of the cone raceway, the thrust rib having an abutment face located adjacent to the large diameter end of the cone raceway, and tapered metal rollers interposed between the cup and cone and having tapered side faces engaged with the raceways of the cup and cone and an end face engaged with the abutment face of the thrust rib, the cone, cup, and rollers being in metal-to-metal contact along the raceways for said rollers, the rollers at the large diameter ends thereof having inserts formed from a composite material containing a dry lubricant, the inserts forming at least a part of the end faces on the rollers and being positioned to pass directly opposite the abutment face on the thrust rib as the rollers roll along the raceways, whereby when the bearing loses its normal supply of bearing lubricant, the composite material of the inserts will give up the dry lubricant and prevent the bearing from failing.

Claim 10

A tapered roller bearing comprising a metal cup having an inwardly presented tapered raceway; a metal cone disposed generally within the cup and having an outwardly presented tapered raceway and a thrust rib projecting beyond the large diameter end of the cone raceway, the thrust rib having an abutment face located adjacent to the large diameter end of the cone raceway, and tapered metal rollers interposed between the cup and cone and having tapered side faces engaged with the raceways of the cup and cone and an end face engaged with the abutment face of the thrust rib, the cone, cup, and rollers being in metal-to-metal contact along the raceways for said rollers, the rollers at the large diameter ends thereof having inserts formed from a composite material containing a dry lubricant, the inserts forming at least a part of the end faces on the rollers and being positioned to pass directly opposite the abutment face on the thrust rib as the rollers roll along the raceways, whereby when the bearing loses its normal supply of bearing lubricant, the composite material of the inserts will give up the dry lubricant and prevent the bearing from failing.

Claim 11

A bearing according to claim 8 wherein the rollers have annular grooves which open axially out of the large diameter ends thereof, and the inserts of composite material are in the grooves.

Claim 12

A tapered roller bearing comprising first and second metal races having opposed tapered raceways, at least one of the races having a thrust rib at one end of its raceway, the thrust rib projecting beyond the raceway of said race and having an abutment face located adjacent to that raceway, tapered metal rollers interposed between the races and having side faces engaged with the tapered raceways, the cone, cup and rollers being in metal-to-metal contact along the raceways for said rollers, at least one of the engaged faces at the thrust rib being formed at least in part on an insert containing a dry lubricant, and the insert being carried by and rigidly positioned on the component on which it forms a surface, whereby when the bearings normal supply of lubricant is depleted, the composite material of the insert will give up its dry lubricant and prevent the bearing from failing.

Claim 13

A tapered roller bearing comprising first and second metal races having opposed tapered raceways, at least one of the races having a thrust rib at one end of its raceway, the thrust rib projecting beyond the raceway of said race and having an abutment face located adjacent to that raceway, tapered metal rollers interposed between the races and having side faces engaged with the tapered raceways, the cone, cup and rollers being in metal-to-metal contact along the raceways for said rollers, at least one of the engaged faces at the thrust rib being formed at least in part on an insert containing a dry lubricant, and the insert being carried by and rigidly positioned on the component on which it forms a surface, whereby when the bearings normal supply of lubricant is depleted, the composite material of the insert will give up its dry lubricant and prevent the bearing from failing.

Claim 14

A structure according to claim 10 wherein the composite material forms at least part of the abutment face on the rib.

Claim 15

A bearing according to claim 10 wherein the insert comprises a binder and a dry lubricant.