Combined radial axial bearing

Abstract

A combined radial axial roller or needle bearing with a drawn outer cup, in which the inner surface serves as a raceway for the roller bodies acting in radial direction and a part integrally formed with the cup and disposed generally normal of the cup serves as a support for the roller bodies acting in axial direction, said cup is formed pot-shaped, the inner surface of the bottom part serving as a support of the roller bodies acting in axial direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A combined radial and axial bearing comprising a drawn cup having integrally joined cylindrical and annular portions, said cylindrical portion having an inner surface defining a radial raceway, radial roller bearing bodies cooperating with said radial raceway, a radial cage aligned with said radial raceway and retaining said radial bodies in guided spaced relation, a radially inwardly directed generally annular flange on said cylindrical portion at the end thereof retaining said caged radial bodies .[.within.]. .Iadd.with .Iaddend.said cup, axial roller bearing bodies associated with said annular portion, an axial cage aligned with said annular portion, and retaining said axial bodies in guided spaced relation, said radial cage projecting into axial overlapping relation relative to said axial bodies and said axial cage, and said axial cage being in radial overlapping relation relative to said radial bodies and having a maximum diameter .Iadd.sufficiently .Iaddend.less than the maximum diameter of said radial cage with said radial bodies.Iadd., so that when the bearing is in use, the axial cage cannot contact the radial cage.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       2. The bearing of claim 1 wherein said bearing is mounted on a cylindrical end of a differential carrier and said cylindrical end is clamped within half shell portions of a differential housing with said annular portion axially engaging an annular seat of said housing. 
     
     
       3. The bearing of claim 1 wherein said annular portion has remote from said cylindrical portion an axially inwardly directed generally cylindrical flange retaining said axial cage in centered relation. 
     
     
       4. The bearing of claim 3 wherein said cylindrical flange is formed integrally with said annular portion. 
     
     
       5. The bearing of claim 4 wherein said cylindrical flange retains within said cup a hardened race forming annular insert, and said insert has an axially inwardly directed generally cylindrical flange directly retaining said axial cage in centered relation. 
     
     
       6. The bearing of claim 3 wherein said cylindrical flange is formed integrally with said annular portion as part of a hardened race forming annular insert retained by said annular portion. 
     
     
       7. The bearing of claim 3 wherein said annular flange extends radially inwardly beyond an outer portion of said radial cage for axial engagement by said radial cage. 
     
     
       8. The bearing of claim 1 wherein said annular flange extends radially inwardly beyond an outer portion of said radial cage for axial engagement by said radial cage. 
     
     
       9. The bearing of claim 1 together with an annular hardened insert disposed axially inwardly of said annular portion and forming a raceway for said axial bodies. 
     
     
       10. The bearing of claim 9 wherein said insert has at its inner diameter an axially inwardly directed flange for retaining said axial body and said axial cage. 
     
     
       11. The bearing of claim 10 wherein said annular flange steps radially outwardly of an outer portion of said radial cage for end engagement with said radial bodies. 
     
     
       12. The bearing of claim 9 wherein said annular flange steps radially outwardly of an outer portion of said radial cage for end engagement with said radial bodies. 
     
     
       13. The bearing of claim 1 wherein said annular flange steps radially outwardly of an outer portion of said radial cage for end engagement with said radial bodies.