Bearing apparatus of sealing type

Abstract

When an inner race 12 rotates at a speed lower than a predetermined speed, a sealing body 27 contacts the sealing face part 21 c , but when the inner race 12 rotates at a speed more than the predetermined speed, a contacting pressure to a sealing face part 21 c is reduced or the sealing body 27 is isolated so as to form a non-contacting seal, and therefore, for example, at the low speed, the sealing body 27 forms a contacting seal, thereby to compensate a low speed-low sealing ability of the non-contacting seal such as the labyrinth seal, and on the other hand, at high speed rotation, the sealing body 27 reduces the contacting pressure to the sealing face part 21 c , otherwise separates therefrom to form the non-contacting seal as the labyrinth seal, whereby it is possible to solve the problem of heating or abrasion at the contacting part. Further, a sleeve 122 is mounted on the supporting edge 12 a of the inner race 12 , thereby to secure the sealing device 120 without processing a screwing hole in the inner race 12 . Moreover, the sleeve 122 is optionally processed with a screwing hole 122 a , to thereby easily fix the sealing device 120 by the bolt 124.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bearing apparatus of sealing type, comprising: 
 an inner race dividable in an axial direction;    an outer race dividable in the axial direction;    tapered rollers in four rows rotatably disposed between the inner race and the outer race; and    a sealing device for sealing a space between the inner race and the outer race; the sealing device having a sealing body,    wherein, when the inner race rotates at low speed, the sealing body serves as a contacting seal, and    when the inner race rotates at high speed, the sealing body serves as a non-contacting seal or reduces a contacting pressure due to deformation thereof by a centrifugal force.    
     
     
         2 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing device further includes: 
 an outer race member; and    an inner race member encircled by the outer race member, and    a labyrinth seal is formed between the outer race member and the inner race member.    
     
     
         3 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing device further includes: 
 an outer race member; and    an inner race member encircled by the outer race member, and    a labyrinth seal is formed between the outer race member and the sealing body.    
     
     
         4 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing device further includes: 
 the outer race member; and    the inner race member encircled by the outer race member, and    the outer race member is furnished with a drain passage.    
     
     
         5 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing device further includes: 
 the outer race member; and    the inner race member encircled by the outer race member, and    the outer race member is defined with a circumferential groove in a bearing outside edge thereof.    
     
     
         6 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing device further includes an outer race member having a sealing face part extending in the circumferential direction, and 
 the sealing face part is formed in a cylindrical shape.    
     
     
         7 . A bearing apparatus of sealing type, comprising 
 an inner race;    an outer race;    rolling elements rotatably disposed between the inner race and the outer race; and    a sealing device for sealing a space between the inner race and the outer race, the sealing device including: 
 an outer race member;  
 an inner race member encircled by the outer race member; and  
 a sealing member furnished between the inner member and the outer member, the sealing member having: 
 a sealing body attached to the inner race member; and  
 a sealing face part disposed on the outer race member,  
 
   wherein, when the inner race member is rotated at a predetermined speed or lower, the sealing body contacts the sealing face part, and    when the inner race member is rotated at a speed more than a predetermined speed, the sealing body reduces the contacting pressure to the sealing face part, or separates from the sealing face part such as to form a non-contacting seal in conjunction with the sealing face part.    
     
     
         8 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein a labyrinth seal is formed between the outer race member and the inner race member.  
     
     
         9 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein a labyrinth seal is formed between the outer race member and the sealing body.  
     
     
         10 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the inner race member includes: a ring-shaped sleeve, a substantially disk-shaped holder and a core metal, and 
 the sealing body is adhered to the core metal and fitted into the holder with a tightening margin.    
     
     
         11 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the outer race member is formed with a drain passage.  
     
     
         12 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the outer race member is defined with a circumferential groove in a bearing outside edge thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the sealing face part is formed in a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         14 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the sealing body is positioned at a side of an interior space of the bearing with respect to the sealing face part.  
     
     
         15 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the sealing body is disposed to at least partially extend in an axial direction of the bearing such as to generate to the sealing body a centrifugal force for reducing the contacting pressure of the sealing body to the sealing face part, when the inner race member is rotated.  
     
     
         16 . A bearing apparatus of sealing type, comprising: 
 an inner race having a holding face;    an outer race;    rolling elements rotatably arranged between the inner race and the outer race;    a sealing device for sealing a space between the inner race and the outer race, the sealing device having a sealing body; and    a holding member fitted to the holding face of the inner race for detachably holding the sealing body.    
     
     
         17 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the holding member is a ring-shaped sleeve.  
     
     
         18 . The bearing apparatus as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the holding member is a substantially disk-shaped holder.