Resilient Cooling Ring Bracket to Prevent Cold Welds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling ring bracket systems for large bearings are ineffective due to vibrations, thermal expansion, and the formation of cold welds, leading to loose fasteners and potential damage to cooling hoses, as they rely on high friction and clamping forces that can cause the thermal paste to be displaced and result in uneven heat transfer.
Innovation Solution
A cooling ring bracket made of an elastic and resilient material, such as polyoxymethylene, with a low coefficient of friction that allows micro-movements of the cooling rings, distributing clamping force effectively over multiple rings and preventing cold welds, ensuring the bracket retains its shape under thermal expansion and contraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a metal bracket is used to clamp cooling rings to the bearing, then the clamping force is sufficient to press the cooling rings against the bearing surface, but cold welds form between the bracket and cooling rings causing creeping motion and hose connection failure
Solution Approach 1:
A resilient bracket material acts as an intermediary between the metal cooling ring and the metal fastener system. This intermediate material prevents direct metal-to-metal contact that causes cold welding, while still providing sufficient clamping force through its elastic properties. The bracket material mediates the interaction between components to eliminate the harmful cold weld effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket material properties are specifically chosen to have a low coefficient of friction (μs < 0.45, preferably μs < 0.3) compared to metal-on-metal contact (μs > 1.5). This parameter change in friction coefficient allows the cooling ring to move freely during thermal expansion and contraction without generating the stick-slip motion that leads to cold welds and creeping motion.
2Force
If high clamping force is applied to secure cooling rings, then the cooling effectiveness is improved, but the thermal paste is forced out from underneath the cooling rings resulting in uneven heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient bracket material changes the force application characteristics by providing elastic compliance. Instead of rigid high-force clamping that extrudes thermal paste, the resilient material distributes the clamping force more uniformly and maintains optimal pressure without exceeding the threshold that would force paste outward, thereby preserving heat transfer uniformity.
3Strength
If rigid fasteners are used to secure cooling rings, then the mounting is strong, but the fasteners become loose due to vibrations and thermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket system transitions from a rigid static mounting to a dynamic resilient mounting. The resilient bracket material can dynamically adapt to thermal expansion and contraction of the bearing and cooling rings, maintaining continuous contact and clamping force. This dynamic compliance prevents the loosening that occurs with rigid fasteners under cyclic thermal and vibrational loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient bracket material provides beforehand cushioning against the adverse effects of thermal expansion and vibration. By incorporating elastic compliance in advance, the system is prepared to absorb and accommodate dimensional changes and vibrations, preventing fastener loosening before it can occur.
4Reliability
If a low friction material is used for the bracket, then micro-movements of cooling rings are permitted preventing cold welds, but the bracket may deform under compression forces
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket material is selected with specific parameter ranges: a low friction coefficient (μs < 0.45, preferably μs < 0.3) to prevent cold welds, combined with high elastic modulus and resilience to maintain shape stability. The material parameters are optimized to simultaneously achieve low friction for micro-movement permission and high structural stability to resist deformation under compression forces during thermal expansion.
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 ensures that cooling rings remain securely attached to the bearing, reducing the likelihood of hose damage and maintaining effective heat transfer by allowing micro-movements and distributing clamping force evenly, thus preventing fastener loosening and cold weld formation.
Implementation Method 1
The material of the inventive bracket permits some degree of compression and assumes its original shape when the cooling rings once again undergo thermal contraction. The static friction μs between the cooling ring surface(s) and the bracket is less than 0.45, or less than 0.3
Implementation Method 2
the bracket is made of an elastic and resilient material, so that the bracket will advantageously retain its shape even after being subject to compression forces exerted on it by the fastener. Such compression forces may arise when the cooling ring(s) undergo thermal expansion. The material of the inventive bracket permits some degree of compression and assumes its original shape when the cooling rings once again undergo thermal contraction.
Implementation Method 3
thermal expansion and contraction of the cooling rings, brackets and fasteners
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a bracket for securing a number of cooling rings arranged on a bearing ring, which bracket includes an upper surface, a lower surface shaped to lie on the cooling rings, and a through-opening extending between the upper surface and the lower surface to accommodate a fastener for mounting the bracket to the bearing ring; wherein the material properties of the bracket are chosen to permit movement of the cooling rings relative to the bracket when the bracket is mounted to the bearing ring; and/or wherein the bracket is made of a resilient elastic material. Further provided is a cooling arrangement for a bearing, including a number of cooling rings arranged in parallel on a mounting surface of a bearing ring of the bearing; and a number of such brackets to secure the cooling rings to the bearing body.