Food-Grade Bearing Support Assembly With Dynamic Misalignment Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current support assemblies for movable shafts in the food and beverage industry fail to provide an effective seal against water and contaminants during washing processes and are prone to damage due to misalignment issues, as they rely on static seals and closed covers that do not allow for efficient cleaning and are not impervious to angular misalignments.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly with a dynamic seal created by a coupling portion on the cover engaging with the radially outer ring of the bearing unit, and anchoring via teeth on the cover engaging with annular seats on the radially inner ring, allowing for a fluid-tight seal without the need for a second elastomeric shield and enabling an open cover design that accommodates shaft passage and misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a static seal is used between the cover and casing, then the structure is simple, but the seal is not efficient against water and contaminants during washing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static seal between cover and casing to a dynamic seal where the cover rotates with the shaft while maintaining sealing contact with the bearing unit. The coupling portion on the cover engages with the radially outer ring of the bearing unit, creating a rotating seal that remains effective during washing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the coupling portion as an intermediary element between the cover and the bearing unit. This coupling portion acts as a mediator that transfers rotational motion while maintaining the seal, allowing the cover to rotate without compromising the sealing effectiveness against water and contaminants.
2Reliability
If a closed cover is used to seal the bearing unit, then protection against contaminants is improved, but the shaft cannot pass through and cleaning access is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cover into an open design with a bottom opening that allows shaft passage while maintaining protective coverage over the bearing unit. The coupling portion and teeth provide sealing and anchoring functions without requiring a fully enclosed structure, enabling both protection and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses elastomeric shields as flexible sealing elements that can accommodate the open cover design. These flexible shields maintain the seal against contaminants while allowing the cover to remain open for shaft passage and cleaning access.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the cover is firmly attached to the casing, then structural stability is improved, but misalignment causes the shaft to touch the cover and damage it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the cover dynamic by allowing it to rotate with the shaft rather than being statically attached to the casing. This rotational capability accommodates angular misalignments between the shaft and bearing unit, preventing damage while maintaining structural stability through the coupling portion and teeth engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the attachment mechanism from a rigid static connection to a dynamic connection that can accommodate parameter variations such as angular misalignment. The coupling portion and teeth engagement provide a flexible connection that maintains stability while allowing for misalignment compensation.
4Reliability
If a dynamic seal is created by coupling the cover to the bearing unit, then sealing efficiency against water and contaminants is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function and the rotational connection function into a single integrated coupling mechanism. The coupling portion on the cover engages directly with the radially outer ring of the bearing unit, combining seal creation and rotational attachment in one element, thereby reducing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling portion serves multiple functions simultaneously: it creates the dynamic seal against water and contaminants, provides the rotational connection between cover and bearing unit, and accommodates the open cover design for shaft passage. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
Data Source
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AI summary
Support assembly (10) for movable, rotating or sliding, shafts (50), comprising a bearing unit (30) adapted to receive the movable shaft and a cover (60) for sealing the bearing unit in a fluid-tight manner (30) in which - the bearing unit has a radially outer ring (31), stationary, and a radially inner ring (33), rotating, - the cover (60) has a bottom wall (61) and a side wall (63) shaped but substantially cylindrical and integrally connected to the bottom wall (61), - the cover (60) is firmly anchored to the radially inner ring (33) of the bearing unit (30), and - a distal end of the side wall (63) is a coupling portion (64) which engages, axially on the outside, with an annular surface (31a), axially external, of the radially outer ring (31) of the bearing unit (30), providing a dynamic fluid seal.