Rolling-Element Bearing Alignment Holes for Easier Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing large diameter rolling-element bearings used in aggressive environments, such as marine applications, have complex structures that complicate installation and maintenance, leading to high costs and long assembly times.
Innovation Solution
The rolling-element bearing design features an outer and inner ring with longitudinal holes and marks, allowing for easier alignment and positioning using pins, which simplifies installation and maintenance while maintaining effective sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sealing structures are used with multiple adjacent seals and sealing rings, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing functions into a single integrated seal unit. The seal comprises a seal body with multiple sealing lips that can simultaneously seal against multiple sealing rings, merging what would traditionally require multiple separate seal components into one unified structure, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The seal body is designed with multiple sealing lips that can engage with multiple sealing rings, making a single seal component capable of performing multiple sealing functions. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of components needed while ensuring reliable sealing in aggressive environments
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional bearing structures without alignment features are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but installation and maintenance become more difficult due to precise positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces alignment pins as intermediary elements that facilitate the connection between the bearing and the housing. These pins engage with corresponding alignment holes in both the bearing and housing, serving as a mediator that guides precise positioning during installation without complicating the manufacturing of the bearing itself
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment holes and pins are designed to pre-establish the correct angular and radial positioning of the bearing relative to the housing before final assembly. This preliminary alignment action ensures that the bearing is correctly positioned during installation, eliminating the need for complex post-installation adjustments and reducing installation time
3Ease of operation
If alignment pins and holes are added to the bearing structure, then installation and maintenance become easier, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is segmented from the main bearing structure and implemented as separate, simple alignment pins and holes. This segmentation allows the alignment feature to be added as a minimal modification to the bearing design, creating distinct functional elements that are easy to manufacture and install without significantly increasing overall structural complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A rolling-element bearing includes inner and outer rings each having axially spaced end faces. The outer ring has a cylindrical outer side surface having a longitudinal mark separated from a hole in one axial end face of the outer ring by a first angle. The inner ring has a cylindrical inner surface having a longitudinal mark separated from a hole in one axial end face of the inner ring by a second angle. The hole of the outer bearing ring and the hole of the inner bearing ring are separated by a third angle γ when the longitudinal mark of the outer bearing ring and the longitudinal mark of the inner bearing ring are contained in a same longitudinal plane passing through the longitudinal axis. Also a method that includes placing pins in the holes to align the inner and outer rings with adjacent structures.