Bearing Target Ring Alignment Using a Coupling Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high manufacturing costs associated with achieving accurate coaxial alignment between bearing and target rings for monitoring movement, which requires precise machining of multiple surfaces, are a challenge in bearing and shaft housing applications.
Innovation Solution
A bearing arrangement with a coupling element that pre-assembles the bearing and target rings, utilizing an alignment surface to align the target ring with the housing or shaft during mounting, reducing the need for precise machining on the target ring and outer/inner ring surfaces, and allowing for relative movement between the coupling element and bearing ring for alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If accurate machining operations are performed on bearing ring surfaces after heat treatment to achieve good coaxial accuracy between bearing and target rings, then alignment precision is improved, but manufacturing costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element is pre-assembled between the bearing ring and target ring before mounting into the housing or onto the shaft. This preliminary assembly establishes the correct relative position and alignment, eliminating the need for post-heat-treatment machining operations on the bearing ring surfaces. The alignment is achieved through the coupling element's geometry rather than through expensive precision machining of the bearing components themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element acts as an intermediary component that mediates the alignment relationship between the bearing ring and target ring. Instead of requiring direct precision machining between these two components, the coupling element provides a geometric reference that establishes the correct coaxial alignment, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the required alignment precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple surfaces are precisely machined to ensure accurate alignment between bearing ring and target ring, then alignment precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element is pre-assembled between the bearing ring and target ring before mounting into the housing or onto the shaft. This preliminary assembly establishes the correct relative position and alignment, eliminating the need for post-heat-treatment machining operations on the bearing ring surfaces. The alignment is achieved through the coupling element's geometry rather than through expensive precision machining of the bearing components themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element acts as an intermediary component that mediates the alignment relationship between the bearing ring and target ring. Instead of requiring direct precision machining between these two components, the coupling element provides a geometric reference that establishes the correct coaxial alignment, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the required alignment precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing includes at least one bearing ring, a target ring and a coupling element. The coupling element is provided for maintaining the relative position of the bearing ring to the target ring. The coupling element includes an alignment surface that is adapted to align the target ring with one of a housing or a shaft into/onto which the bearing ring is to be mounted.