Bearing Ring Assembly Tool With Sliding Roller Retainers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tapered roller bearings in large turbine applications face challenges in assembly due to the size constraint, where single-piece cages are expensive and prone to wear, and traditional cages cannot prevent roller members from falling during assembly.
Innovation Solution
An assembly tool with sliding elements distributed around a bearing ring, which can be displaced to secure roller members between the ring and the sliding elements, eliminating the need for a single-piece cage by acting as a bearing cage, allowing for full-type roller bearings or individual cage segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If single-piece cages are used to retain roller members during assembly, then the self-retention function is ensured, but the production cost increases and wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single-piece cage is divided into multiple individual cage pocket segments that can be separately manufactured and assembled. Each segment retains one or more roller members, allowing for easier manufacturing and replacement while maintaining the self-retention function during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage structure is extracted from the bearing assembly process by using the assembly tool with retaining elements that temporarily hold roller members in place during assembly, eliminating the need for permanent single-piece cages in certain application scenarios.
2Reliability
If single-piece cages are used to retain roller members during assembly, then the self-retention function is ensured, but additional elements on the bearing inner ring are required
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining function is extracted from the bearing inner ring by implementing it in the assembly tool itself. The assembly tool includes retaining elements that temporarily hold roller members during assembly, eliminating the need for additional elements on the bearing inner ring.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly tool acts as an intermediary device that provides the retaining function during assembly without requiring permanent modifications to the bearing structure. The retaining elements on the assembly tool temporarily perform the cage function only when needed during the assembly process.
3Reliability
If traditional cages are used, then roller members are retained, but sliding contact increases wear of the bearing
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous cage structure is segmented into individual pocket segments with spacing between them. This segmentation reduces the contact area and sliding friction between the cage and roller members, thereby reducing wear while still providing effective retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage segments are designed with specific local properties where retention surfaces are provided only where needed for holding roller members, while other areas are spaced to minimize sliding contact and wear. The retaining elements on the assembly tool similarly provide localized retention only during the assembly process.
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
Enables secure assembly and disassembly of tapered roller bearings without a single-piece cage, reducing production costs and wear, and facilitating the use of full-type roller bearings or cage segments in large turbine applications.
Implementation Method 1
The sliding elements can be displaced from a starting position, in which the assembly tool can be moved and the sliding elements are not displaced relative to the ring, into an end position, wherein the sliding elements in the end position are displaced completely relative to the ring
Implementation Method 2
The guiding of a cage on the inner ring or the tapered rollers may be subjected to a sliding contact which can increase the wear of the bearing
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly tool for a bearing ring having roller members, the tool including a ring configured to be arranged on a side face of the bearing ring and including sliding elements received in receiving members on the ring. The sliding elements are distributed peripherally in a uniform manner around the ring and are configured to be displaced from a starting position into an end position relative to the ring. When the tool is mounted on the ring, the sliding elements, positioned in their end positions, extend between adjacent roller members and limit a radial movability of the roller members relative to the bearing ring.