Bearing ring

Abstract

A bearing ring for a rolling-element bearing includes a mounting surface having a first length and a running surface, configured to support a rolling element, that has a second length. The running surface has first and second axially spaced end portions, and at least one of the first and second axially spaced end portions comprises a cantilever. Also, a rolling element, such as a tapered rolling element, having cantilevered end portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bearing ring for a rolling-element bearing, the bearing ring including a running surface configured to support a rolling element and having first and second axially spaced edges, a substantially axial mounting surface configured to connect to a to-be-supported element such that they rotate together, a first substantially radial edge surface and a second substantially radial edge surface axially delimiting the bearing ring, wherein a portion of the running surface at at least one of the first and second axially spaced edges is configured to flex in response to a pressure load. 
     
     
         2 . The bearing ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the running surface is formed over at least one recess in the first and/or second edge surface and/or in the mounting surface. 
     
     
         3 . The bearing ring according to  claim 1 , wherein a flexibility of the portion of the running surface is specifiable over a thickness of the edge. 
     
     
         4 . The bearing ring according to  claim 2  wherein the recess comprises a groove. 
     
     
         5 . The bearing ring according to  claim 2 , wherein the recess is formed in the first and/or second edge surface and extends up to the mounting surface, and the running surface has a greater axial extension than the mounting surface. 
     
     
         6 . The bearing ring according to  claim 2 , wherein the mounting surface includes a first mounting-surface region and a second mounting-surface region radially offset with respect to the first mounting-surface region, and wherein the second mounting-surface region merges into the edge region, and the second mounting-surface region forms the portion of the running surface. 
     
     
         7 . The bearing ring according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and/or second edge region includes a first edge-surface region and a second edge-surface region axially offset with respect to the first edge-surface region, and wherein the first or the second edge-surface region forms the portion of the running surface. 
     
     
         8 . The bearing ring according to  claim 2  wherein the rolling element bearing comprises a tapered roller element bearing. 
     
     
         9 . A rolling element with linear contact for a tapered rolling-element bearing, wherein the rolling element includes a circumferential surface configured to contact a running surface along a line, and two radial boundary surfaces, the circumferential surface having at least one flexible axial end region. 
     
     
         10 . The bearing ring according to  claim 1  wherein the portion of the running surface comprises a cantilever. 
     
     
         11 . The bearing ring according to  claim 1  wherein a radial thickness of the bearing ring at the portion of the running surface is less than a thickness of the bearing ring at a midpoint of the running surface. 
     
     
         12 . A bearing ring for a rolling-element bearing comprising:
 a mounting surface having a first length, and   a running surface configured to support a rolling element and having a second length, the running surface having first and second axially spaced end portions,   wherein at least one of the first and second axially spaced end portions comprises a cantilever.   
     
     
         13 . The bearing ring according to  claim 12 , wherein both the first and second end portions comprise a cantilever. 
     
     
         14 . The bearing ring according to  claim 12 , wherein the running surface is not parallel to the mounting surface. 
     
     
         15 . The bearing ring according to  claim 12 , wherein the second length is greater than the first length. 
     
     
         16 . The bearing ring according to  claim 12  wherein a radial thickness of the bearing ring at the first and second end portions is less than a thickness of the bearing ring at a midpoint of the running surface.