Angular Contact Ball Bearing Inclined Grease Feed Duct

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing angular ball bearings for spindle devices face challenges in balancing high mechanical loads and high speeds while maintaining effective grease lubrication, particularly in ensuring even distribution of lubricant and minimizing mechanical weakening of the outer ring.

Innovation Solution

The angular contact ball bearing features an inclined lubricating grease supply channel that aligns with the pressure line, allowing for efficient lubricant distribution and even supply, with the channel's angle of inclination between 2° and 25° relative to the radial plane, and a central lubricant groove sealed by O-ring seals to minimize structural changes and mechanical weakening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a grease feed element connected to rolling elements is used for relubrication, then the bearing can be relubricated at high speeds, but the amount of grease required increases and distribution uniformity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelubrication capability at high speedsVSAvoidamount of grease required
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the grease feed element from direct connection to rolling elements and relocates it to the outer ring, where it delivers grease to the raceway instead. This extraction eliminates the need for large grease quantities while maintaining high-speed relubrication capability, as the grease is delivered more efficiently to where it is needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The raceway acts as an intermediary medium between the grease feed element and the rolling elements. Grease is delivered to the raceway, which then distributes it to the rolling elements during operation. This intermediary approach enables uniform distribution with minimal grease quantity while maintaining effectiveness at high speeds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If a vertical grease supply channel relative to the radial plane is used, then the channel can be simple in structure, but the lubricant distribution uniformity across the bearing surface is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrease supply channel structureVSAvoidlubricant distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces an asymmetric inclination angle (α) between the grease supply channel and the radial plane, deviating from the symmetric vertical arrangement. This asymmetric positioning optimizes the grease delivery trajectory to match the bearing's operational dynamics, achieving uniform lubricant distribution across the raceway and rolling elements while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Stability of the object's composition

If the grease supply channel is inclined at a large angle, then lubricant distribution improves, but the outer ring wall thickness is reduced and mechanical strength decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubricant distribution uniformityVSAvoidouter ring mechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the inclination angle parameter (α) within a specific range (0° < α ≤ 45°) to achieve the optimal balance between lubricant distribution uniformity and outer ring structural integrity. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient grease delivery effectiveness while maintaining adequate wall thickness and mechanical strength of the outer ring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This design ensures consistent lubrication across the bearing, even with minimal relubrication, maintaining mechanical integrity and reducing structural modifications, thus enhancing the bearing's performance under varying mechanical loads and high speeds.

Implementation Method 1

lubricating grease under pressure can be fed into the grease nipple

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-driven flow: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The outside opening of the lubricating grease supply channel can end in the middle of the lubricant groove, with the lubricant groove preferably being arranged in the middle or approximately in the middle between the two end faces of the outer ring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical sealing: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP2994657B1Grease-lubricated angular contact ball bearing
Publication Date: 2017.12.20 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG
  • EP2994657B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2994657B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2994657B1 patent drawingFigure 6~10

AI summary

An angular contact ball bearing comprises balls (4) disposed between an inner ring (2) and an outer ring (3), the outer ring (3) having a lubricating grease feed duct (7) of which the outer opening is disposed in the outer lateral face of the outer ring (3) and of which the inner opening is disposed in the inner periphery of the outer ring (3), offset relative to a circle described through the centre points of the balls (4) in the axial direction of the inner ring (2) and of the outer ring (3), the lubricating grease feed duct (7) being disposed inclined with respect to the radial plane of the angular contact ball bearing.