Agitator Bearing Housing With Tool Access for Faster Shaft Servicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agitator systems require labor-intensive and time-consuming processes for mounting and servicing the rotary shaft, which can lead to damage during transportation and service, necessitating a solution for simplifying these operations.
Innovation Solution
A bearing housing design with protrusions that allow access to the rotary shaft from outside the vessel, enabling secure mounting and servicing by fixing the shaft from outside, using tools that engage through radially extending passages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rotary shaft is fixed in relation to the tank during fabrication and service, then the shaft remains stable and secure, but the process becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming for mounting and servicing
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing housing is divided into a main body and separate mounting elements (protrusions with abutment surfaces), allowing the housing to be segmented for easier mounting while maintaining shaft stability when assembled
2Reliability
If the rotary shaft is fixed in relation to the tank during fabrication and service, then the shaft remains stable, but the complexity of the mounting process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing housing design allows the shaft to be fixed by the housing itself through the protrusions abutting the tank surface, eliminating the need for external complex fixing mechanisms and tools
3Reliability
If tools are used to fix the rotary shaft from outside the vessel, then the shaft can be securely fixed, but the bearing housing must accommodate these tools which complicates the design
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the bearing housing, create sealing surfaces against the tank, and form passages for tool access to the shaft, eliminating the need for separate tool accommodation features
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
Facilitates efficient and safe mounting and servicing of the rotary shaft, reducing labor and time, while ensuring the shaft remains securely fixed to the vessel.
Implementation Method 1
The bearing housing is configured to rotationally support the rotary shaft via one or more bearings
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a bearing housing (100) for receiving and rotationally supporting a rotary shaft (12) of an agitator system (10) in relation to an opening (52) in a vessel (50). The bearing housing (100) comprising: a body (102) comprising a shaft aperture (104) configured to receive the rotary shaft (12) and being at least partially defined by an internal surface (110) configured to rotationally support the rotary shaft (12) via one or more bearings. The bearing housing (100) comprises two or more protrusions (120) protruding from a first end portion (106) and being circumferentially distributed around the shaft aperture (102), each protrusion (120) comprising an abutment surface (122) facing away from the first end portion (106) and being configured to abut an outer surface portion (56) associated with the vessel (50), such that a radially extending passage (121) allowing access to the rotary shaft (12) is formed between adjacent protrusions (120) when the abutment surfaces (122) abut the outer surface portion (56) associated with the vessel (50).