| 摘要 |
The present invention relates to a rolling element bearing having spherical rolling contact surfaces, in which one or more of the spherical rolling contact surfaces deviates from the pure spherical in a longitudinal direction (y). The bearing comprises rolling elements (225), which have a first rolling contact surface (226), and inner an outer bearing raceways, which have a second rolling contact surface. According to the invention, at least one of the first and second rolling contact surfaces, which together form a contact interface, has a modified radius of curvature (ry,rol(y)) which varies in longitudinal direction (y), such that a reduced (composite) radius of curvature of the contact interface varies according to a predetermined relationship. Specifically, the aforementioned reduced radius of curvature of the contact interface is maximized at the centre of the contact (y = 0), and varies along the contact length according to a cosine function. The resulting contact geometry minimizes a pressure gradient across a central region of the contact interface during elastohydrodynamic lubrication conditions, such that a side flow of lubricant away from the central region is reduced. |
