Bearing Mount with Centering Recesses for Shield Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bearing mounts fail to provide a stable and precise fixation of bearings within end shields without requiring additional post-processing steps, as they lack a centering surface due to the form-fitting design, which compromises the structural integrity and assembly precision.

Innovation Solution

A bearing mount design featuring a ring protruding from the end shield plane with strategically placed cutouts that serve as centering surfaces, allowing for a form-fitting connection between the bearing's outer contour and the end shield, while maintaining structural integrity and enabling precise positioning of add-on parts without additional production steps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the bearing is completely surrounded by end shield material in a form-fitting mount, then the bearing is stably fixed, but the outer contour cannot serve as a centering surface for add-on parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing fixation stabilityVSAvoidpositioning precision of add-on parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing mount is segmented into two functional zones: a form-fitting area that completely surrounds the bearing for stable fixation, and a recess area with cutouts that exposes the outer contour to serve as a centering surface for add-on parts. This segmentation allows both stabilization and precise positioning functions to coexist.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the bearing mount are given different qualities: the main body provides form-fitting stabilization, while the recess area with cutouts provides a flat centering surface. This local differentiation of functional properties resolves the contradiction between complete surrounding and centering capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the bearing mount protrudes significantly to provide a centering surface, then add-on parts can be positioned, but the torsional rigidity of the structure is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precision of add-on partsVSAvoidtorsional rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of creating a large protruding centering surface that would compromise structural strength, the invention uses a recess that is just deep enough to provide the necessary centering function. The cutouts are minimized to only the extent required to expose the bearing outer contour for centering, avoiding excessive material removal that would weaken the structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If additional production steps are added to create centering surfaces and fixation features, then positioning precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precision of add-on partsVSAvoidproduction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The centering surface and bearing fixation features are merged into a single integrated bearing mount structure that is produced in one primary shaping process. The recess and cutouts are formed simultaneously with the main body, eliminating the need for separate post-processing steps to create centering surfaces or fixation features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The centering surface and fixation features are created during the primary shaping process itself, before any assembly operations. This preliminary formation of all necessary geometric features ensures precise positioning capability is built into the structure from the outset, without requiring additional manufacturing steps later.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2177778B1Bearing holder in a bearing shield
Publication Date: 2011.08.31 BUHLER MOTOR GMBH
  • EP2177778B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b
  • EP2177778B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The support (2) has a shaft supported in a cylindrical outer contour of a bearing (5a). A form closure is formed on a side of a bearing shield (1) by a support region (3) of the support, where the side turns towards an attachment part. A front side region of the bearing lies at the support region. An area of the outer contour of the bearing serves as a support- and center unit for the attachment part. The form closure is formed on another side anticipating the attachment part in an axial direction by a fastening unit or by forming heat in a material of the bearing shield.