Sliding Bearing Track Cage for Rolling Element Excursion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bearings fail to effectively mitigate rolling element excursion caused by external loads and high rotational speeds, leading to contact point displacement and speed variations in rolling elements.

Innovation Solution

A bearing track cage design featuring retention elements with slidably coupled supports on both axial sides, forming rolling element pockets with curved profiles and cavities, allowing for circumferential movement and reduced stress on the bearing assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional bearing track cages are used, then the structure is simple, but rolling element excursion occurs under external loads and high speeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemitigation of rolling element excursionVSAvoidtrack cage structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The track cage is divided into multiple independent retention elements (at least three) that are distributed around the bearing assembly. Each retention element independently supports rolling elements and can move circumferentially to accommodate excursion, replacing a conventional rigid monolithic cage structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retention elements are designed to be movable relative to the rolling elements through sliding contacts. The retention elements can shift circumferentially along the rolling elements to accommodate changes in contact angle and position during operation, dynamically adapting to load conditions rather than maintaining a fixed rigid structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If retention elements are made movable to mitigate excursion, then rolling element excursion is reduced, but the mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereduction of rolling element excursionVSAvoidretention element mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rolling element pockets are formed with curved surfaces that match the geometry of the rolling elements. This curvature allows the retention elements to smoothly follow and accommodate the circular motion and position changes of the rolling elements during rotation and load variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The retention elements act as intermediary components between the rolling elements and the bearing rings. They provide a sliding contact interface that mediates the relative motion between rolling elements and bearing rings, allowing the system to accommodate excursion while maintaining proper rolling element positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the track cage is designed to handle high-speed pressures, then bearing performance improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling of high-speed pressuresVSAvoidtrack cage fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The design changes the operational parameters of the track cage by allowing movable retention elements that can shift position during operation. This parameter change enables the cage to adapt to high-speed conditions and varying load pressures without requiring a completely rigid over-engineered structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing assembly combines different materials with complementary properties: retention elements are made from plastic material providing low friction and self-lubrication, while rolling elements and supports use metal materials for strength and durability. This composite approach enables high-speed operation while maintaining manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

The design effectively reduces stress and minimizes the likelihood of cage failures by enabling retention elements to shift with rolling elements, thereby mitigating excursion and handling high-speed pressures more efficiently.

Implementation Method 1

a first support slidably coupled to each of the retention elements on the first axial side, and a second support slidably coupled to each of the retention elements on the second axial side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS11892036B1Bearing track cage for mitigating rolling element excursion

Publication Date: 2024.02.06 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG

AI summary

A bearing track cage includes a plurality of retention elements, wherein each retention element includes at least a first axial side and a second axial side, and wherein each adjacent pair of retention elements of the plurality of retention elements defines a rolling element pocket configured to retain a rolling element. A first support is slidably coupled to each of the plurality of retention elements on the first axial side thereof and a second support is slidably coupled to each of the plurality of retention elements on the second axial side thereof.