Rolling Bearing Flange Geometry Mitigates Umbrella Effect
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rolling bearings with flanges suffer from the 'umbrella effect' where the flanges tilt and risk interference with the cage or surrounding parts, especially when their geometry is not optimized, leading to potential contact with the rolling bodies or environmental contamination.
Innovation Solution
A rolling bearing design featuring a flange with a unique geometry, including a first annular band at right angles to the axis, offset second and third annular bands, and a folded-back edge, which provides sufficient rigidity for isolation while minimizing axial bulk and preventing interference or pollution ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flange has a relatively great thickness and extends laterally beyond the rings, then the rolling chamber is isolated from the outside, but the flange extends beyond the rolling bearing and risks contact with surrounding parts
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is designed with a folded-back edge that changes the spatial configuration from a simple radial extension to a multi-dimensional structure. The edge is folded back towards the rolling chamber and extends parallel to the radial surface of the second ring, effectively using the axial dimension to achieve isolation without lateral extension beyond the rings.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange is divided into multiple annular bands (first, second, and third annular bands) offset relative to each other along the axis of rotation. This segmentation creates setbacks that provide rigidity while allowing the flange to achieve isolation function without requiring excessive thickness or lateral extension.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the flange geometry is modified to prevent lateral extension, then interference with surrounding parts is reduced, but the flange may come into contact with the cage holding the rolling bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The folded-back edge configuration repositions the flange boundary in the axial direction rather than maintaining radial extension. This dimensional change allows the flange to clear the cage in the radial direction while maintaining isolation effectiveness through the folded-back configuration that extends parallel to the radial surface of the second ring.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the flange have different geometries optimized for specific functions: the annular bands provide rigidity and structural support, while the folded-back edge provides pollution prevention without interfering with the cage. This local optimization allows the flange to prevent cage contact while maintaining isolation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the flange has sufficient thickness to prevent umbrella effect, then stability is improved, but the axial bulk increases and may interfere with the rolling chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is segmented into multiple annular bands offset along the axis of rotation, creating setbacks that provide structural rigidity. This segmentation allows the flange to resist the umbrella effect and maintain stability without requiring uniform thickness throughout, thereby reducing overall axial bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange employs a composite geometric structure combining multiple annular bands with different radial positions and axial offsets. This composite configuration provides enhanced rigidity and resistance to deformation compared to a simple single-layer flange, while the offset arrangement minimizes the axial space occupied.
Data Source
AI summary
A rolling bearing with rolling bodies includes an outer ring, an inner ring and rolling bodies arranged in a rolling chamber. The rolling bearing includes at least one flange mounted on a first ring and extending to a second ring and fastened onto the first ring and a first annular band at right angles to an axis of rotation of the rings and offset, along the axis, relative to the fastened portion. The flange provides a second annular band and a third annular band arranged respectively radially inside and radially outside the first band and offset axially in the direction of the rolling bodies, using a first setback and a second setback. An edge of the flange, opposite to the portion fastened onto the first ring, is folded back towards the rolling chamber and extends in a direction parallel to a radial surface of the second ring.