Bearing Locking Mechanism Using Fixing Member Overhang

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bearing locking mechanisms for rotating bodies pivotally supported on transmission cases require a circlip and notch portions, leading to increased size and potential durability issues in the transmission case.

Innovation Solution

A bearing locking mechanism that uses a fixing member with an overhanging portion to engage with the bearing's side surface, eliminating the need for a circlip and notch portions, thereby preventing bearing drop without enlarging the transmission case and maintaining durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a circlip is used to prevent bearing drop, then the bearing can be secured to the transmission case, but the transmission case must be made thicker and larger to accommodate the circlip and notch portion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebearing retentionVSAvoidtransmission case size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing member integrates multiple functions: it acts as both the bearing retention mechanism (replacing the circlip) and provides the notch portion function (with its recess engaging the transmission case). The overhanging portion of the fixing member simultaneously secures the bearing and reinforces the transmission case structure, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a circlip is used to lock the bearing, then the bearing can be prevented from dropping, but the transmission case durability decreases due to the notch portion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebearing retentionVSAvoidtransmission case durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of cutting a notch into the transmission case to accommodate a circlip, the invention inverts the approach by providing the recess in the fixing member itself. The fixing member's recess engages with the transmission case surface without requiring the case to be cut or weakened, thereby maintaining case durability while achieving the same bearing retention function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the transmission case is made thicker to accommodate the circlip structure, then the bearing can be securely retained, but the overall transmission size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebearing retentionVSAvoidtransmission case thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing member utilizes the radial dimension with its overhanging portion that extends outward to engage the bearing's side surface. This radial engagement provides strong bearing retention without requiring increased axial thickness of the transmission case. The overhanging portion effectively uses the available radial space to achieve the retention function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS8893582B2Bearing locking mechanism

Publication Date: 2014.11.25 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A bearing locking mechanism capable of surely preventing dropping of a bearing, without increasing size of a transmission, is provided. In a bearing locking mechanism in which a bearing G3c of a rotating body G3b axially supported by a transmission case 7 rotationally is prevented from dropping from the transmission case 7, a transmission 1 is equipped with a brake B1 provided so as to be adjacent to the bearing G3c, the brake B1 is equipped with a fixing member B1a to be fixed to the transmission case 7, and the bearing G3c is prevented from dropping from the transmission case 7 by the fixing member B1a engaging with a side surface in an axial direction of the bearing G3c.