C-Spacer Design for Bearing Stability in X-Ray Tubes

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing bearing device for rotational shafts, particularly in X-ray tubes, experiences clearance reduction at high temperatures, leading to tilting of the C-spacer and potential ball ejection during assembly or installation due to lack of preload and positional instability.

Innovation Solution

The bearing device incorporates a C-spacer with a specific thickness and design, ensuring it remains orthogonal to the center axis, and a spacer configuration that maintains axial clearance, preventing tilting and ball ejection by adjusting the dimensions and materials of the C-spacer and outer ring spacer to maintain stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the bearing device is designed with positive clearance at room temperature, then the clearance is sufficient for assembly, but the C-spacer becomes unstable and may tilt at high temperatures due to clearance reduction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing support stabilityVSAvoidC-spacer positional stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing the C-spacer with a specific thickness (0.5mm to 2.0mm) that proactively prevents tilting before it occurs. The C-spacer is positioned between the outer ring and outer ring spacer to preemptively counteract the thermal expansion effects that would cause clearance reduction and potential tilting at high temperatures, thereby maintaining bearing support stability without requiring preload adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Stability of the object's composition

If the C-spacer thickness is increased to prevent tilting, then the C-spacer stability improves, but the axial clearance between outer rings increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveC-spacer stabilityVSAvoidaxial clearance between outer rings
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the C-spacer thickness within a specific range (0.5mm to 2.0mm). This parameter optimization balances two competing requirements: providing sufficient thickness to prevent C-spacer tilting and maintaining acceptable axial clearance between outer rings. The specific thickness range ensures that the C-spacer is stable enough to prevent tilting while not excessively increasing the axial clearance, thereby maintaining bearing performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If the outer ring spacer and C-spacer are in strong contact, then the C-spacer position is fixed, but the assembly complexity increases and balls may fall out during assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveC-spacer positional fixationVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by implementing a moderate contact condition between the C-spacer and outer ring spacer, rather than strong contact. The C-spacer thickness is designed to provide sufficient contact to maintain positional stability and prevent tilting, but not excessive contact that would complicate assembly or risk ball ejection. This balanced contact condition achieves the necessary positional fixation while keeping the assembly process simple and safe.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11592057B2Bearing device and rotary device using bearing device
Publication Date: 2023.02.28 JTEKT CORP
  • US11592057B2 patent drawing
  • US11592057B2 patent drawing
  • US11592057B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A bearing device includes a rotational shaft; a first outer ring; a second outer ring; first balls; second balls disposed; and a C-spacer and a second spacer. α>δd is satisfied, where δd represents a difference between an inside diameter of the second spacer at an end portion on a second side and an outside diameter of a shaft outer circumferential face, and α represents a half of a difference between a diameter of a cylindrical face of the C-spacer on an outer circumferential side and a diameter of the cylindrical face of the C-spacer on an inner circumferential side.