Bearing Ring Assembly Tool With Sliding Retainers for Inverted Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tapered roller bearings in large turbine applications face challenges in assembly due to the need for one-piece cages, which are expensive and prone to wear, and the difficulty in rotating massive components for upside-down assembly, leading to rolling elements falling out without proper retention.
Innovation Solution
An assembly tool with slide elements distributed around the bearing ring, which can be moved to secure rolling elements, eliminating the need for a one-piece cage by acting as a bearing cage, allowing for separate assembly of inner and outer rings and enabling the use of full complement or individual cage segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If one-piece bearing cages are used to retain rolling elements during inverted assembly, then the rolling elements are securely retained, but the manufacturing cost increases and additional features on the inner bearing ring are required
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing cage is divided into multiple individual cage pocket segments instead of using a one-piece cage. Each segment can be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while still providing secure retention of rolling elements during inverted assembly operations
Solution Approach 2:
A mounting tool with a ring and sliding elements is introduced as an intermediary device to temporarily retain rolling elements during assembly. The sliding elements can be moved axially to engage and secure the rolling elements in place, eliminating the need for expensive one-piece cages while ensuring reliable retention throughout the assembly process
2Reliability
If one-piece bearing cages are used to prevent rolling elements from falling out, then secure retention is achieved, but sliding contact increases bearing wear
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is segmented into individual pocket segments that can be designed to minimize sliding contact with the rolling elements. The segmented structure allows for optimized contact surfaces and reduced friction, thereby decreasing bearing wear while maintaining secure retention of the rolling elements during assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting tool with sliding elements serves as a temporary intermediary retention mechanism during assembly only, rather than a permanent cage structure. This eliminates continuous sliding contact that would cause wear, as the sliding elements are only engaged during the assembly process and can be removed afterward, preventing long-term wear issues
3Adaptability or versatility
If massive turbine components are rotated for upside-down assembly, then the second set of tapered rollers can be mounted, but the complexity and difficulty of assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting tool with the ring and movable sliding elements is introduced as an intermediary device that enables assembly in the original upright position. The sliding elements can be moved axially to secure rolling elements without requiring inversion of the turbine components, thereby simplifying the assembly operation while maintaining the ability to assemble complete bearing sets
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting tool creates a temporary copying structure that replicates the retention function of a cage during assembly. This copying mechanism allows the bearing to be assembled in the convenient upright position rather than requiring the complex inversion process, while still providing the necessary rolling element retention
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 secure assembly and movement of bearing rings with rolling elements as a whole without a one-piece cage, reducing manufacturing costs and wear, and facilitating assembly in large turbine applications by providing a compact module for easy insertion and removal.
Implementation Method 1
The sliding elements can be moved axially with respect to the ring and/or radially relative to the ring... The sliding elements thus function as a bearing cage, securing the rolling elements between the sliding elements and the bearing ring
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A mounting tool (1) for a bearing ring (26) with rolling elements (28) is disclosed, wherein the mounting tool (1) has a ring (2) designed to be arranged on a side surface of the bearing ring (26) and sliding elements (6), wherein the ring (2) has receptacles (4) for the sliding elements (6) and wherein the sliding elements (6) are uniformly distributed around the circumference of the ring (2) and are designed to be displaced from an initial position to an end position relative to the ring (2), wherein the sliding elements (6) are further designed to be arranged in the end position between two rolling elements (28) in order to limit radial mobility of the rolling elements (28) with respect to the bearing ring (26).