Adjustable Roller Carrier for Finishing Large Annular Workpieces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing finishing devices for ring-shaped workpieces, particularly large slewing bearings, are complex and lack a simplified design that accommodates workpieces of varying sizes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A support device with a roller carrier that includes a support roller and a contact roller, both rotatable on separate axes, is mounted on a frame and adjustable along a roller carrier adjustment axis, allowing for compact and adaptable support of workpieces with different diameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional support device with separate support and contact elements is used, then the device can support large diameter workpieces, but the device complexity increases and the design becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the support roller and contact roller onto a single common carrier, integrating two previously separate functions into one unified structure. This merging reduces the number of independent components and simplifies the overall device design while maintaining the ability to support and contact large diameter workpieces effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The common carrier serving both support and contact rollers is designed to be adjustable along the adjustment axis, enabling it to adapt to workpieces of different diameters. This multi-functional design allows the same structural element to perform multiple roles: supporting the workpiece bottom side, contacting the circumferential surface, and adjusting to accommodate varying workpiece sizes.
2Device complexity
If the support roller and contact roller are positioned close together for compact design, then the device becomes more compact, but it becomes difficult to accommodate workpieces with larger diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The common carrier is designed with adjustability along the adjustment axis, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that can change its configuration. This dynamic capability allows the support roller and contact roller to be positioned close together for compactness when needed, while also enabling the carrier to extend or reposition to accommodate workpieces of larger diameters, thus resolving the contradiction between compactness and adaptability.
3Volume of moving object
If the roller carrier is made compact to reduce device size, then the overall device becomes smaller, but the adjustment range for different workpiece sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adjustment axis that provides an additional degree of freedom for the common carrier. By enabling movement along this adjustment axis, the system gains extended adjustment range without significantly increasing the base volume of the roller carrier. This dimensional addition allows the compact carrier to achieve larger effective working range through linear adjustment motion.
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
Enables a simple, compact, and precise support mechanism that can accommodate large slewing bearings with varying diameters, ensuring effective finishing without transverse forces and facilitating easy adjustment for different workpiece sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a support roller (66) which is rotatable about a support roller axis (68) and serves to support the underside (58) of an annular workpiece (50)
Implementation Method 2
a contact roller (76) which is rotatable about a contact roller axis (78) and serves to bear against a circumferential surface (54, 56) of the workpiece (50)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a finishing device (10) for finishing a ring-shaped workpiece, comprising a finishing tool (12) and an oscillation drive (16) for driving the finishing tool along an oscillation axis (18), a rotary drive for driving the workpiece about a rotation axis (52), and a support device for supporting the workpiece on a horizontal support plane (88). The support device has at least one support unit (22, 24, 26) with a roller carrier (38, 40, 42) on which a support roller rotatable about a support roller axis is arranged for supporting an underside of the workpiece, and on which a support roller rotatable about a contact roller axis is arranged for contacting a circumferential surface of the workpiece. The roller carrier (38, 40, 42) of the support unit (22, 24, 26) is mounted on a frame and is aligned along a roller carrier adjustment axis (44, 46, 48). It is movable.The invention further relates to a finishing system.