Elastic Cooling Ring Bracket to Prevent Fastener Loosening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling arrangements for large bearings, such as those in large electrical machines, face issues with fasteners becoming loose due to vibrations, thermal expansion, and cold welds, leading to ineffective heat transfer and potential damage to cooling hoses.
Innovation Solution
A cooling ring bracket made of an elastic and resilient material, such as polyoxymethylene (POM-C), allows for micro-movements of cooling rings relative to the bracket, distributing clamping force evenly and preventing cold welds, using a single fastener to secure multiple cooling rings to the bearing.
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 maintain heat transfer, but cold welds form between the bracket and cooling rings causing micro-movements and fastener loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is made from a composite material comprising a metal matrix and a polymer matrix, combining the high strength and clamping force capability of metal with the low friction and cold weld resistance of polymer. This composite structure maintains sufficient clamping force while preventing cold weld formation between the bracket and cooling rings, thereby preventing fastener loosening.
2Reliability
If fasteners are tightened to maximum tension to prevent loosening, then the clamping effect is maintained, but thermal paste is forced out from underneath the cooling rings
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material's unique friction characteristics allow the fastener to be tightened to maximum tension without forcing thermal paste out from underneath the cooling rings. The material properties provide sufficient grip to maintain clamping force while accommodating the thermal paste layer, ensuring continuous thermal contact between the cooling rings and bearing.
3Force
If the coefficient of friction between the bracket and cooling ring is high, then the bracket holds the cooling ring firmly, but cold welds form and micro-movements occur
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material comprising metal and polymer matrices provides an optimal balance of friction characteristics. The polymer component reduces the coefficient of friction between the bracket and cooling ring, preventing cold weld formation and micro-movements, while the metal component ensures sufficient holding force to maintain the cooling arrangement in place.
4Reliability
If multiple fasteners are used to secure the bracket, then the clamping force is distributed and maintained, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material's superior friction and load-distributing properties allow a single fastener to achieve the same clamping force distribution and reliability as multiple fasteners. The material characteristics enable the single fastener to effectively engage with the cooling rings and bearing, maintaining uniform clamping force without requiring multiple fasteners or additional threaded bushings.
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 bracket effectively maintains contact with the cooling rings despite thermal expansion and vibrations, reducing the risk of fastener loosening and hose damage, ensuring consistent heat transfer and prolonged system integrity.
Implementation Method 1
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.
Implementation Method 2
thermal expansion and contraction of the cooling rings, brackets and fasteners
Implementation Method 3
the under surface of the bracket will exhibit a low coefficient of friction when the system is at rest (static friction) and also when the system is in motion (kinetic friction)
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention describes a bracket (1) for securing a number of cooling rings (R1, R2, R3) arranged on a bearing ring (30), which bracket (1) comprises an upper surface (11), a lower surface (10) shaped to lie on the cooling rings (R1, R2, R3), and a through-opening (14) extending between the upper surface (11) and the lower surface (10) to accommodate a fastener (4) for mounting the bracket (1) to the bearing ring (30); wherein the material properties of the bracket (1) are chosen to permit movement of the cooling rings (R1, R2, R3) relative to the bracket (1) when the bracket (1) is mounted to the bearing ring (30); and/or wherein the bracket (1) is made of a resilient elastic material. The invention further describes a cooling arrangement (2) for a bearing (3), comprising a number of cooling rings (R1, R2, R3) arranged in parallel on a mounting surface (30S) of a bearing ring (30) of the bearing (3); and a number of such brackets (1) to secure the cooling rings to the bearing body (30).