Bearing Cage Clearance Layout for High-Speed Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased diameter of the bearing cage pocket to reduce contact force and heat generation at high speeds leads to abnormal wear and instability due to excessive radial movement, causing friction and lubrication issues.
Innovation Solution
A bearing cage design with specific radial clearances and a flange recess structure that guides the cage, minimizing radial movement and enhancing lubrication by optimizing the position and depth of the flange recesses to reduce friction and improve lubricant flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the diameter of the cage pocket is increased to reduce contact force and heat generation, then the contact force and heat generation between roller and cage pocket are reduced, but the radial movement of the cage is greatly increased, leading to frequent contact of rolling elements with the edge of cage pocket, abnormal wear, and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different radial clearance values for different locations of the cage. Specifically, the first circumferential radial clearance (between cage base outer surface and outer ring shoulder inner surface) is set to be smaller than the second circumferential radial clearance (between cage base inner surface and inner ring shoulder outer surface). This asymmetric clearance design locally constrains the cage at critical positions to prevent excessive radial movement and instability while maintaining larger clearances elsewhere to reduce overall contact forces and heat generation.
2Force
If the diameter of the cage pocket is increased to reduce contact force, then the contact force between roller and cage pocket is reduced, but the movement of cage in radial plane is greatly increased, causing frequent contact with cage pocket edge and lubrication failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by creating asymmetric radial clearances where the first circumferential radial clearance is smaller than the second. This localized constraint at the outer ring side prevents excessive cage movement that would otherwise cause frequent edge contact and lubrication failure, while still maintaining larger clearances on the inner ring side to keep overall contact forces reduced.
3Temperature
If the diameter of the cage pocket is increased to suppress heat generation, then the heat generation between cage pocket and roller is suppressed, but the contact force between cage and bearing shoulders is increased, causing cage deformation and vibration noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality through asymmetric radial clearance design where the first circumferential radial clearance is smaller than the second. This localized constraint reduces cage deformation by preventing excessive radial movement, thereby reducing vibration and noise generation, while maintaining larger clearances elsewhere to keep heat generation suppressed.
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing cage is used for accommodating the rolling elements of a rolling bearing; wherein, the bearing cage comprises an annular cage base; when the bearing cage is inserted and installed in the rolling bearing, there is a first circumferential radial clearance between an outer circumferential surface of the cage base and an inner circumferential surface of an outer ring shoulder of an outer ring, and a second circumferential radial clearance between an inner circumferential surface of the cage base and an outer circumferential surface of an inner ring shoulder of an inner ring; the first circumferential radial clearance is smaller or larger than the second circumferential radial clearance. A rolling bearing comprises the bearing cage as described above.