Bearing assembly

• Main Author: CASPALL, MARTIN JANEK
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 19.12.2007
• Subjects: BEARINGS; BLASTING; CASTING; CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POWDER METALLURGY; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; SHAFTS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS

In continuous casting, molten steel is introduced into a slot (15) leading to a path (V) between two sets of rolls (10). The rolls are supported by roller bearings generally two end bearings and a central bearing (18). The bearings are subject to harsh conditions especially when the machine is started or stopped. The process is started by introduction of a solid dummy bar into the slot, to hold back the molten steel as it is introduced. The passage of the dummy bar causes higher than normal loads on the bearings. An arrangement is desired which is capable of spreading the load more evenly between individual rollers and of increasing the maximum load for the bearing. Against this background, a roller bearing assembly (19) is disclosed including an inner race (21), an outer race (24) providing a track (23) for rollers (20) in the load zone of the bearing, and a support member (26) for the outer race, in which the track (23) has a varying radius of curvature which in the direction of static load is significantly smaller than in directions having a component transverse to the direction of static load, when there is no significant distortion of the support member. The track may be or approximate to a half an ellipse in section. The track in a conventional race is cylindrical. Significant variation in the radius causes the load to be more evenly distributed between the rollers and over a greater number of rollers. This enables a greater maximum load to be carried by the bearing and improves conditions during normal running (at less than maximum load) so increasing the fatigue life of the bearing.