Clamping Ring Weight Balance to Prevent Bearing Whirling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fixing structures for bearings using set collars often result in misalignment of the center of gravity, leading to whirling issues due to the radial shift of the center of gravity towards the bolt holes, which compromises the rotation performance.
Innovation Solution
A clamping ring design that includes a ring main body with a cut in the circumferential direction and bolt holes at opposite ends, along with a misalignment preventing mechanism to align the center of gravity with the inner peripheral surface, either through thickness distribution adjustments or additional holes or setback portions, ensuring proper weight balance and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a C-ring shape with bolt holes at end portions is used for the set collar, then the fixing structure can be simplified with fewer mounting steps, but the center of gravity shifts radially toward the side opposite to the bolt holes, causing misalignment and whirling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the cut and bolt holes at a specific asymmetric location on the ring main body. The cut is formed at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction, and bolt holes are formed at end portions across the cut, creating an asymmetric weight distribution that prevents the center of gravity from shifting to the opposite side, thereby maintaining alignment with the inner peripheral surface center line.
2Strength
If the set collar is reduced in diameter by tightening the bolt, then the inner ring can be pressed against the shaft to fix it, but the center of gravity misalignment causes whirling that prevents required rotation performance
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric positioning of the cut and bolt holes creates a weight distribution that keeps the center of gravity aligned with the inner peripheral surface center line. This prevents radial shift of the center of gravity during diameter reduction, eliminating the cause of whirling and ensuring reliable rotation performance while maintaining the necessary fixing force.
3Reliability
If the center of gravity is aligned with the inner peripheral surface center line, then whirling is suppressed and rotation performance is enhanced, but the ring main body requires asymmetric thickness distribution or additional features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves center of gravity alignment through asymmetric design of the ring main body, specifically by positioning the cut and bolt holes at predetermined asymmetric locations. This asymmetric structure naturally balances the weight distribution without requiring additional counterweights or complex modifications, thus enhancing rotation performance while maintaining structural simplicity.
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 clamping ring effectively prevents misalignment and whirling by aligning the center of gravity with the inner ring's center line, enhancing rotation performance and maintaining production efficiency by minimizing additional production steps.
Implementation Method 1
a bolt is inserted into bolt holes and is then tightened. The bolt holes are formed in two circumferential-direction end portions of the set collar, which are opposed to each other across a cut. As a result of the tightening, the set collar is reduced in diameter. Thus, the axial-direction extending part of the inner ring, which is located on an inner periphery of the set collar, is pressed against the shaft to thereby fix the inner ring onto the shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A clamping ring (6) includes: a ring main body (10) including a cut (13) formed in a part in a circumferential direction and a pair of circumferential-direction end portions (14a and 14b) opposed to each other across the cut (13); and bolt holes (11a and 11b) passing through the pair of circumferential-direction end portions (14a and 14b). The clamping ring (6) further includes a misalignment preventing part (16) configured to prevent misalignment of a center of gravity (CG) of the ring main body (10) from a center line (C1) of an inner peripheral surface (10a) of the ring main body (10).