Double-Row Tapered Roller Bearing Jig for Preload Gap Elimination

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Solution Overview

Problem

During the assembly of double-row tapered roller bearings, gaps can form between the large end surface of the tapered rollers and the large flange of the inner ring, leading to a reduction in preload, which compromises the durability and reliability of the bearing.

Innovation Solution

A double-row tapered roller bearing assembling jig that brings and holds either the cage near to the large end side of the inner ring or the large flange of the inner ring to eliminate or reduce the gap, using a combination of a main body, claws, and a plate spring to apply an urging force, thereby maintaining preload.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a double-row tapered roller bearing is assembled without a specialized jig, then the assembly process is simpler and faster, but gaps form between the tapered rollers and the inner ring flange, reducing preload and compromising bearing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebearing reliabilityVSAvoidassembly jig complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The assembling jig acts as an intermediary tool that temporarily holds the cage in the correct position during assembly. The jig includes a body that attaches to the cage and a pressing member that applies force to eliminate gaps between the tapered rollers and inner ring flange, ensuring proper preload is established during the assembly process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The jig performs preliminary positioning of the cage and tapered rollers before the final pressing operation. By pre-positioning the cage at the appropriate location and maintaining it there during assembly, the jig ensures that the tapered rollers are correctly aligned with the inner ring flange before the pressing member eliminates any gaps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the cage is not held near the large end side of the inner ring during assembly, then the assembly process is simpler, but gaps form between the tapered rollers and the inner ring flange, reducing preload

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreload consistencyVSAvoidjig structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The jig body attached to the cage serves as an intermediary that maintains the cage in the precise position near the large end side of the inner ring. This intermediary structure ensures consistent positioning throughout the assembly process, eliminating variability in preload application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The jig replaces manual positioning and holding operations with a mechanical system that automatically maintains the cage in the correct position. The pressing member provides controlled mechanical force to eliminate gaps, replacing imprecise manual operations with a standardized mechanical process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If a pressing member is used to eliminate gaps between tapered rollers and inner ring flange, then preload is maintained, but the assembly jig becomes more complex with additional components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreload maintenanceVSAvoidjig component quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing member applies force locally at the critical interface between the tapered rollers and inner ring flange, rather than applying force throughout the entire bearing assembly. This localized application of force efficiently eliminates gaps and maintains preload with minimal additional components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of trying to prevent gap formation through complex positioning mechanisms, the design inverts the approach by using the pressing member to actively eliminate any gaps that do form during assembly. This reverse approach simplifies the overall jig design while achieving the same reliability outcome.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

Prevents the formation of gaps between the tapered rollers and the inner ring flange, ensuring consistent preload and enhancing the durability and reliability of the bearing.

Implementation Method 1

a plate spring configured, when the double-row tapered roller bearing assembling jig is attached, to apply, to the one of the cages, an urging force in a direction toward the large end surface of the one of the inner rings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12504044B2Double-row tapered roller bearing assembling jig, and assembling method for double-row tapered roller bearing

Publication Date: 2025.12.23 SUBARU CORP

AI summary

Double-row tapered roller bearing assembling jig used when assembling, to a rotating member, a double-row tapered roller bearing including a pair of tapered roller bearings disposed facing each other. Each of the pair of tapered roller bearings includes an inner ring, an outer ring, a plurality of tapered rollers rollably disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and a cage that holds the plurality of tapered rollers. The cage constitutes cages of the pair of tapered roller bearings. When the double-row tapered roller bearing is assembled to the rotating member, the assembling jig brings and holds one of the cages near to a large end side of one of the inner rings or brings and holds a large flange of the one of the inner rings near to a large end side of the tapered rollers, with a gap reduction.