Bearing Assembly

Abstract

A bearing assembly includes at least one outer ring and an inner ring unit having at least two inner rings, each having a central bore. A supporting element extends through the central bores. Roller bodies are rotatably disposed between the at least one outer ring and each of the inner rings. Radially-outer bores extend through the inner ring unit or the supporting element in the axial direction and each receives a screw or bolt for affixing the bearing assembly on a bearing carrier. The radially-outer bores are spaced from the symmetry axis of the bearing assembly. At least one lubrication conduit is defined on or in at least one of the inner rings and is configured to communicate liquid lubricant to the roller bodies.

1 . A bearing assembly comprising:
 at least one outer ring,   an inner ring unit having at least two inner rings, each inner ring having a central bore extending in an axial direction,   a supporting element extending through the central bores and supporting the inner rings in the axial direction, and   a plurality of roller bodies rotatably disposed between the at least one outer ring and each of the inner rings,   wherein a plurality of radially-outer bores also extend in the axial direction through one of the inner ring unit and the supporting element and each is configured to receive at least one attachment device, by which the bearing assembly is affixable on or to a bearing carrier, wherein the radially-outer bores are spaced from an axis of axial symmetry of the bearing assembly.   
     
     
         2 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a chamfer is defined on a radially-inward edge of at least one of the inner rings, the chamfer extending continuously in a circumferential direction of the inner ring and facing the axially-adjacent inner ring. 
     
     
         3 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one groove is defined on an outer surface of at least one of the inner rings on a side facing the axially-adjacent inner ring, the groove extends radially outward from the chamfer and is formed such that lubricant is transportable radially outwardly from the chamfer via the at least one groove between the inner rings. 
     
     
         4 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the groove is spiral-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the supporting element has an at least partially hollow interior and a radially-extending bore is defined in the supporting element such that lubricant is transportable through the radially-extending bore from the hollow interior to the at least one chamfer. 
     
     
         6 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein a circular groove is defined on or in at least one of the inner rings on an outer side surface that faces away from the other axially-adjacent inner ring and a radially-extending groove extends from the circular groove to an inner edge of the at least one inner ring, wherein lubricant is transportable via the circular groove and the radially-extending groove to the central bore or to at least one of the bores for the attachment elements. 
     
     
         7 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein an axially-extending groove is defined on or in a radially-inner surface of the central bore of at least one of the inner rings, the axially-extending groove being formed such that lubricant is transportable through it between the radially-extending grooves on opposite outer side surfaces of the at least one inner ring. 
     
     
         8 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting element is press-fit in the central bores of the inner rings. 
     
     
         9 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a securing groove is defined on an outer circumference of the at least one outer ring. 
     
     
         10 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer ring is a part of a toothed gear wheel and has teeth extending radially outward. 
     
     
         11 . A bearing assembly comprising:
 at least one outer ring,   first and second inner rings disposed axially adjacent to each other, each inner ring having a first bore extending in an axial direction along an axis of symmetry of the inner rings,   a support extending through the first bores of the inner rings and supporting the inner rings in the axial direction, and   a plurality of roller bodies rotatably disposed between the at least one outer ring and each of the inner rings,   wherein at least one lubrication conduit is defined in or on one or both axially-adjacent side surfaces of the first and second rings, the at least one lubrication conduit extending at least partially in a radial direction of the inner rings and being in fluid communication with a chamber containing the roller bodies, and   wherein a plurality of second bores extend in the axial direction in parallel with the first bore through one of the inner rings and the support, each second bore being configured to receive at least one attachment device, by which the bearing assembly is affixable on or to a bearing carrier.   
     
     
         12 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one lubrication conduit is selected from the group consisting of a groove, a recess, a channel and a bore defined in or on at least one of the inner rings. 
     
     
         13 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one attachment device is selected from a carriage bolt and a screw. 
     
     
         14 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein each second bore has a first portion and a second portion having a diameter larger than the first portion, the second portion being configured to receive a head of the attachment device in a countersunken manner. 
     
     
         15 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein each second bore has a substantially constant diameter. 
     
     
         16 . A bearing assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the support has an at least partially hollow interior configured to receive lubricant and at least one bore in fluid communication with both the hollow interior of the support and the at least one lubrication conduit. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising:
 a bearing carrier and   a bearing assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein attachment devices are disposed in each of the second bores and terminal axial ends of the attachment devices threadably engage the bearing carrier and wherein the attachment devices each have a head that is larger than a body portion disposed within the second bores, the heads at least partially overlapping the support in the radial direction on an axial end opposite of the threadable engagement of the attachment devices with the bearing carrier.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the bearing carrier is one of an engine and an engine housing of a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising gear teeth disposed on a radially-outer portion of the bearing assembly. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the support has an at least partially hollow interior configured to receive lubricant and at least one bore in fluid communication with both the hollow interior of the support and the at least one lubrication conduit.