Large Rolling Bearing Spacer Guidance to Prevent Edge Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rolling bearings face issues with edge loading and friction losses due to the shortening of raceways caused by rolling element cages, which can lead to reduced bearing capacity and uneven distribution of rolling elements, especially in high-load applications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of spacers that provide mutual guidance and support between adjacent rolling elements through groove-shaped longitudinal cutouts in the raceways, allowing support arms to engage around the rolling elements and maintain even distribution without occupying space in the joint between the raceways, thereby avoiding edge loading and friction losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rolling element cages are used to hold rolling elements spaced apart, then the rolling elements are evenly distributed in the direction of running, but the raceways are shortened at their margins causing edge loading and reduced bearing capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the single annular rolling element cage into multiple separate spacers, each positioned between adjacent rolling elements. This segmentation allows each spacer to be independently positioned without requiring space in the joint between raceways, thus avoiding edge loading while maintaining uniform distribution of rolling elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the spacers from the joint region between the two raceways and positions them in the center section of the raceways instead. This relocation eliminates the conflict between spacer placement and raceway length, preventing edge loading while preserving the spacing function.
2Strength
If separate sleeve-like spacers are used instead of annular rolling element cages, then raceway marginal shortening is avoided, but higher friction losses and concertina effects occur impairing uniform distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces groove-shaped longitudinal cutouts in the raceways as intermediary structures that guide the spacers. These cutouts provide precise guidance for the spacers, preventing concertina effects and ensuring uniform distribution of rolling elements while maintaining the benefit of avoided raceway shortening.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacers are designed to run within the groove-shaped longitudinal cutouts, where they are automatically guided by the geometry of the cutouts. This self-guiding mechanism eliminates the need for additional guiding structures and reduces friction losses while maintaining uniform distribution.
3Length of moving object
If spacers are positioned in the joint between raceways, then rolling elements are held spaced apart, but the required gap reduces the effective length of raceways at margins
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the spatial dimension where spacers are positioned from the radial direction (in the joint between raceways) to the axial direction (in the center section of raceways). This dimensional shift allows spacers to maintain their spacing function without encroaching on the effective length of the raceways at their margins.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a rolling bearing, in particular in the form of an open-center large rolling bearing, comprising a large number of rolling elements, which are held between at least two raceways, on which the rolling elements roll, wherein spacers are provided between the rolling elements, which spacers keep the rolling elements spaced apart from each other. According to the invention, at least one of the raceways has, in a center portion, an approximately groove-shaped longitudinal recess, in which support arms provided between the spacers run, which support arms reach around the rolling element between two adjacent spacers and support the adjacent spacers against each other in the running direction of the rolling elements.