Bearing Spacer With Concave Pockets For Cyclic Load Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bearing assemblies with ball bearings experience high operating friction and reduced lifespan due to cyclic loading, which causes ball bunching and increased friction, leading to performance degradation and premature wear in applications like variable pitch propellers.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating spacers made of low-friction materials, such as 85% polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and 15% graphite, between ball bearings to prevent ball-to-ball contact, featuring concave pockets with distinct radii to minimize frictional interference and structural deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ball bearings are used in bearing assemblies under cyclic loading, then the bearing assembly can support centrifugal and thrust loads, but high operating friction occurs due to ball bunching, reducing assembly lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
A spacer is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent ball bearings to prevent direct ball-to-ball contact. The spacer includes a body with first and second concave pockets that interface with the balls, creating a low-friction interface that eliminates the harmful ball bunching effect while maintaining the bearing assembly's load-supporting function
Solution Approach 2:
The concave pockets are designed with specific geometric parameters including a first radius of curvature in a central region and a second radius of curvature in an outer region, with the centers spaced from one another. This parameter optimization minimizes frictional interference between the spacer and balls while preventing ball migration and bunching under cyclic loading
2Reliability
If spacers are added between ball bearings to prevent ball bunching, then friction is reduced and lifespan is extended, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly is segmented into discrete functional units by introducing spacers between individual ball bearings. Each spacer is a simple, standalone component with a compact body and two concave pockets, making the overall assembly modular and easier to manufacture and maintain despite the increased number of parts
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 spacers effectively reduce friction and prevent ball bunching, thereby extending the lifespan of bearing assemblies and minimizing damage, while allowing for smooth operation under cyclic loading conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating spacers made of low-friction materials, such as 85% polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and 15% graphite, between ball bearings to prevent ball-to-ball contact
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing assembly includes first and second races, a plurality of ball bearings positioned between the first and second races, and a spacer positioned between each of the ball bearings. The spacers each include a body defining opposite first and second sides, a first substantially concave pocket located at the first side of the body, and a second substantially concave pocket located at the second side of the body. The first and second substantially concave pockets each define a central region having a first radius of curvature about a first center point and an outer region adjacent to the central region that has a second radius of curvature about a second center point. The first and second center points are spaced from one another, and the body includes a portion extending in between at least the respective central regions of the first and second substantially concave pockets.