Actuation Bearing Support Ring Vibration Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional actuating bearings for clutches experience undesired release of the support ring from the bearing inner ring during operation, leading to malfunctions and potential damage due to vibrations.

Innovation Solution

The support ring is designed with a circumferential contact surface that is spring-like supported against the bearing inner ring, featuring a spring leg angled from the support ring, which is preferably made of spring steel, to prevent detachment. This design includes a peripheral contact surface that is radially prestressed against the bearing inner ring, and can be manufactured with a connecting ring body and fastened to a magnet holding device for enhanced stability and cost-effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional support ring design is used, then the structure is simple, but the support ring detaches from the inner bearing ring during operation due to vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport ring retentionVSAvoidsupport ring structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support ring is designed with a spring element that provides dynamic elasticity, allowing it to adapt to vibrations and maintain continuous contact with the inner bearing ring. The spring constant is specifically selected to match the vibration characteristics of the actuating bearing, transforming the rigid support ring into a dynamic component that absorbs vibrational energy while preventing detachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The contact surface area between the support ring and inner bearing ring is increased through a circumferential contact design. This parameter change distributes the contact forces over a larger area, improving retention reliability during vibrations while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the contact area is increased to prevent detachment, then reliability improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport ring retentionVSAvoidsupport ring fabrication
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The support ring is segmented into a base ring and an integrated spring element. This segmentation allows the spring component to be manufactured separately using standard spring manufacturing processes, then assembled with the base ring through simple joining methods, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving the required circumferential contact area for reliable retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a spring element is added to provide preload, then retention reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport ring retentionVSAvoidsupport ring structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring element is merged with the support ring structure itself, forming an integrated component rather than a separate assembly. The spring is formed as an integral part of the support ring through processes like stamping or extrusion, combining the support function and spring function into a single manufactured part, thus improving retention reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution reliably prevents the support ring from detaching from the bearing inner ring, even under vibration, ensuring stable operation and reducing manufacturing costs through the use of plastic and metal components.

Implementation Method 1

The support ring for the preload spring has a circumferential contact surface with which the support ring is spring-like supported in a spring-like manner against the inner bearing ring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The design of the support ring allows for an advantageous increase in the contact area where the bearing surface rests against the inner bearing ring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3286448B1Actuation bearing
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG
  • EP3286448B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3286448B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3286448B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to an actuation bearing for a coupling, having a support ring for a preload spring which is attached to a bearing inner ring. The invention is characterized in that the support ring for the preload spring has a circumferential contact surface by means of which the support ring is pre-tensioned against the bearing inner ring such that the support ring having the circumferential contact surface is supported spring-like on the bearing inner ring.