Ball Bearing Grease Sealing With Retainer-Sensed Discharge Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grease sealing methods for ball bearings face issues such as threading of grease, variation in grease discharging amount, responsiveness problems, and the need for dedicated grease nozzles for each bearing type, leading to increased production costs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A grease sealing method and device that uses a dispenser with a mono pump and laser displacement sensor to accurately discharge grease into the annular space between the outer and inner rings of a ball bearing, rotating the retainer to detect convex and concave areas and adjust grease discharge accordingly, ensuring consistent grease distribution and preventing threading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a grease nozzle with multiple nozzle holes is used to discharge grease pneumatically transported by a pump, then grease can be supplied into the annular space of the ball bearing, but threading occurs upon separation of the grease nozzle from the ball bearing when the grease has high viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the grease supply function from a traditional multi-hole grease nozzle and implements it through a single discharge hole in the retainer. This eliminates the threading problem associated with conventional nozzles while maintaining effective grease distribution to all balls through the rotation-driven mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer itself is designed to serve dual functions: it both rotates to distribute grease and contains the discharge hole for grease supply. The rotation of the retainer automatically distributes grease to all balls without requiring external nozzle positioning or multiple discharge points, making the system self-sufficient.
2Productivity
If a grease nozzle with multiple nozzle holes is used, then grease can be discharged to multiple points, but variation in grease discharging amount occurs due to hole diameter error of each nozzle hole
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple nozzle holes that each discharge grease independently, the patent segments the grease distribution process into sequential deliveries. A single discharge hole supplies grease that is then distributed to multiple balls through the rotation of the retainer, ensuring consistent grease amounts while achieving comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by introducing retainer rotation speed and position control. This allows precise management of grease discharge timing and distribution, ensuring consistent grease amounts to each ball while maintaining comprehensive coverage across all balls in the annular space.
3Productivity
If conventional grease sealing method is used, then grease can be supplied into the annular space, but responsiveness of grease discharging is poor due to piping length and elasticity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the long piping system from the grease supply mechanism. By integrating the discharge hole directly into the retainer structure, the system eliminates the responsiveness delays caused by piping length and elasticity, enabling immediate and precise grease delivery when needed.
4Productivity
If a grease nozzle is used for grease sealing, then grease can be discharged pneumatically transported, but a grease nozzle dedicated to each bearing number is required, increasing production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed with universal functionality, serving both as the structural component that holds the balls and as the grease distribution mechanism. The single discharge hole in the retainer can supply grease to any bearing configuration through rotation, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated nozzles for different bearing numbers and reducing device complexity.
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
This approach ensures accurate and consistent grease distribution to all balls, reduces production costs by eliminating the need for multiple nozzles, improves responsiveness, and prevents post-processing cleaning, resulting in high-grade ball bearings with reduced variation in grease sealing.
Implementation Method 1
a laser displacement sensor that detects a convex area and a concave area of the retainer
Implementation Method 2
a grease sealing method and device that uses a dispenser with a mono pump to accurately discharge grease
Data Source
AI summary
A retainer is rotationally driven about a axis of a ball bearing, and convex areas having pockets provided therein along a ball pitch circle of the retainer and concave areas between adjacent pockets is detected by a sensor. Grease is discharged according to phases of the convex areas and concave areas in the rotationally driven retainer from a dispenser having grease discharge ports arranged to face an annular space.