Composite Tapered Roller Bearing Outer Ring for Load Support and Preload

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tapered roller bearing outer rings made from sheet metal lack sufficient support for high loads and contact pressure, often resulting in waviness, noise, and vibration due to thin thickness, and lack adjustability for proper preload without separable backing rings or thick cross-sections.

Innovation Solution

A composite outer ring design comprising a separately formed annular backing member and race member, press-fitted together to create a unitized structure, allowing for axial adjustment and eliminating waviness, without requiring a separable backing ring or thick sheet metal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If sheet metal outer rings are used to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the outer ring cannot support high loads and high contact pressure due to thin thickness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidload support capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining sheet metal outer rings with a backing ring structure. The thin sheet metal outer ring is reinforced with a thicker backing ring, creating a composite structure that maintains the cost benefits of sheet metal while gaining the load support capacity of thicker material. This resolves the contradiction by using material composition rather than relying on single-material thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The outer ring structure is segmented into two functional parts: the thin sheet metal outer ring that provides cost efficiency and the separate backing ring that provides structural support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to solve the load support problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If thin sheet metal outer rings are stamped to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but waviness occurs that prevents consistent contact and causes noise and vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidnoise and vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The backing ring serves as a cushioning element that compensates for the waviness inherent in stamped thin sheet metal outer rings. By providing a rigid backing structure, it prevents the wavy raceway from causing noise and vibration, effectively cushioning against the harmful effects before they can manifest during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of manufacture

If backing rings are fixed in the housing to reduce costs, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the outer rings cannot be adjusted axially to provide correct preload

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidaxial adjustability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The design enables axial adjustment of the outer ring relative to the fixed backing ring through controlled relative movement during assembly or maintenance. This dynamic capability allows preload adjustment while maintaining the cost benefits of a fixed backing ring structure, resolving the contradiction between fixed structure and adjustability requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution provides sufficient support for high loads and contact pressures, reduces noise and vibration, and allows for adjustable preload, enhancing the bearing's performance and service life while being cost-effective.

Implementation Method 1

The annular race member is in press-fit engagement with the annular backing member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInterference fit:

Data Source

PatentUS11708855B2Two-piece composite tapered roller bearing outer ring with interference fit

Publication Date: 2023.07.25 THE TIMKEN CO(US)

AI summary

An outer ring (26) for a bearing assembly includes an annular backing member (54) having a body, and an annular race member (50). The body has a first portion defining a radial inner surface (98) and a radial outer surface, and a second portion defining an axially-facing base surface (110) and a radially-facing end surface (118). The annular race member has a radial outer face (58) and a radial inner face, and a first axial end face and a second axial end face (70) that both extend between the radial outer face and the radial inner face. The annular backing member is in press-fit engagement with the annular race member such that the radial outer face of the annular race member engages the radial inner surface of the annular backing member and the second axial end face of the annular race member engages the axially-facing base surface of the annular backing member such that the members are unitized.