Bearing Assembly Aligned Through-Bore Automated Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bearing assemblies for rotatably supporting carrier elements, such as robot arms and bases, face challenges in achieving a fully automated attachment process due to different attaching directions and uneven load distribution caused by varying part diameters.
Innovation Solution
A bearing assembly design featuring aligned through-bores in the first and second parts, allowing the second attaching means to be inserted through the first part's bore into the second part's bore for attachment from one side, eliminating the need for different diameters and enabling automated assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If both attaching bolts or screws are introduced from the same side by the two bearing elements having different diameters, then the openings for receiving the bolts can be reached from one side on both parts, but the smaller part has a lower load capacity and the larger part has a higher weight
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly is divided into two separate parts, each with its own through-bore aligned in succession. This segmentation allows each part to be attached independently from the same side without requiring different diameters, as each part has its own attachment path through the aligned bores.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment approach moves from a radial dimension (different diameters) to a longitudinal dimension (aligned through-bores in succession). By arranging the bores in sequence along the attachment direction, both parts can be accessed from the same side while maintaining equal load capacity.
2Ease of manufacture
If attaching bolts or screws are introduced from different sides, then each carrier element can be attached independently, but a completely automated attaching process is difficult to realize
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment operations for both parts are merged into a single-sided process. The aligned through-bores allow both attaching means to be introduced from the same side, combining what would traditionally require two separate operations from opposite sides into one automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The through-bores are pre-aligned in succession during manufacturing, creating a predetermined attachment path. This preliminary arrangement of the bores in alignment enables automated systems to introduce both attaching means from the same side without complex positioning requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the two bearing elements have different diameters to enable same-side attachment, then attachment from one side is possible, but this leads to uneven load distribution on the shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly is segmented into two parts with aligned through-bores, allowing each part to have the same diameter while maintaining independent attachment capability from the same side. This segmentation eliminates the need for different diameters and ensures uniform load distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The design parameter changes from using different diameters to achieve same-side attachment to using aligned through-bores in succession. This parameter change allows both parts to have equal diameters while still enabling attachment from one side, thus maintaining load distribution uniformity.
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a first carrier element on a second carrier element includes first and second parts, each having a through-bore, configured to rotate about a common axis, and a first fastener for attaching the first part to the first carrier element and a second fastener for attaching the second part to the second carrier element. The first and the second through-bores are aligned with each other, and the second fastener is configured to pass entirely through the first through-bore into the second through-bore and engage an interior of the second through-bore to fasten the second part to the second carrier element. The first fastener is too large to pass entirely through the first through-bore and is configured to engage an interior of the first through-bore to fasten the first part to the first carrier element.