Rolling Bearing Inner Ring Seal Arrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rolling bearings with multipart inner rings and outer rings suffer from inadequate sealing at the end-side parting joint, leading to lubricant leakage and infiltration of foreign substances, and current solutions are costly due to the use of multiple components.

Innovation Solution

A rolling bearing design featuring a common annular groove with specific geometry at the end sides of the inner rings, where a self-securing and self-sealing ring seal is integrated, eliminating the need for additional metal components and ensuring a hermetic seal by utilizing a rubbery resilient material that nests into undercuts, with a clasp-like sheet metal ring for axial security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional sealing means (O-rings with metal rings or sheet metal rings) are used to seal the parting joint between inner rings, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sealing function and the retention function into a single integrated ring seal component. The ring seal includes a retention portion with hooks that engage with grooves in the inner rings, eliminating the need for separate metal retention rings while maintaining both sealing effectiveness and component retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The ring seal serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the sealing barrier against lubricant leakage and foreign substance infiltration, and its retention portion with hooks provides the mechanical retention to prevent the seal from detaching. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of components required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If conventional sealing means (O-rings with metal rings) are used to seal the parting joint, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The ring seal is made entirely of elastomeric material without expensive metal components. While the seal may have limited service life compared to metal components, the significant reduction in manufacturing cost and complexity makes this an economically favorable solution, especially when the seal can be easily replaced.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If the annular groove has uniform cross-sectional geometry, then manufacturing is simplified, but the ring seal cannot be securely retained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegroove manufacturingVSAvoidseal retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The annular groove has different cross-sectional geometries at different locations. The groove is wider at the bottom and narrower at the top, creating an undercut configuration. This local variation in geometry provides mechanical retention for the ring seal while remaining manufacturable using standard machining processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 provides a reliable, cost-effective hermetic seal that prevents foreign substances and lubricant migration, enhancing the service life of the rolling bearing while reducing manufacturing costs and complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a ring seal is arranged in a common annular groove of the inner rings... which is formed by indentations in the region of the end sides, which point toward each other, of the inner rings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8186884B2Rolling bearing having two inner rings and a seal arrangement for sealing the parting joint between the inner rings

Publication Date: 2012.05.29 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG

AI summary

The seat adjustment mechanism has a housing with an outer ring and an inner ring. The rings are arranged concentrically. Clamping bodies interact with double clamping ramps on the rings and are arranged in an annular space between the rings. Spring supports pivot in relation to each other, interact with a stop on the housing, are arranged concentrically with the rings, and engage in each case both in the annular space and in an inner space arranged radially within the inner ring. The spring supports are braced in relation to each other by a spring, which is arranged in the inner space to secure the clamping bodies in the center of the double clamping ramps. Stop surfaces of the spring supports are acted upon by a force in the direction in which they are minimally spaced apart.