Elastomeric Ring Bearing for Screw Conveyor Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Screw conveyor shafts in harsh environments with high dust formation suffer from rapid wear of spherical roller bearings due to dust penetration, leading to frequent replacements and system downtimes, as existing solutions fail to compensate for axis misalignments and provide dust-tight protection.
Innovation Solution
A bearing device with an elastomeric ring element that compensates for axis misalignments and provides a sealed environment using deep groove ball bearings and shaft sealing rings, where the elastomeric ring is formed from a polyurethane casting compound to absorb forces and maintain alignment, and a labyrinth seal design prevents dust entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If spherical roller bearings are used to compensate for axis misalignments, then the bearing device can accommodate misalignments and oscillating movements, but dust quickly penetrates the bearing causing rapid wear and short service life
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the bearing compensation function into two separate components: deep groove ball bearings for supporting radial loads and an elastomeric ring element for compensating axis misalignments. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while protecting the bearings from dust exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric ring element acts as an intermediary between the stationary outer housing and the rotating inner housing, absorbing misalignments and oscillating movements. This mediator protects the deep groove ball bearings from experiencing axial forces and bending moments, enabling them to operate in a cleaner, more stable environment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the shaft bearing unit is enclosed to protect from dust, then dust penetration is prevented, but the gap width between the housing opening and connecting shaft changes constantly due to misalignments and pendulum movements
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric ring element functions as a flexible component that can deform and adapt to changing gap widths caused by misalignments and pendulum movements. This flexible element maintains the dust-tight seal while accommodating the dynamic positional changes of the connecting shaft relative to the housing.
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 extends the service life of the bearing device by effectively compensating for misalignments and maintaining dust-tightness, reducing wear and downtime in harsh environments, with the elastomeric ring and sealing mechanisms ensuring alignment and protection from dust and abrasive particles.
Implementation Method 1
the elastomeric ring element (13) firmly connected, in particular cast, to the outer housing (11) of the base unit (10) via an elastomeric ring element (13). Compared to the stationary parts of the storage device, the elastomeric intermediate layer provides compensation and also builds up restoring forces
Implementation Method 2
can be completely sealed off from the rotating connecting shaft by means of shaft sealing rings known per se
Implementation Method 3
The connecting shaft can be mounted within the shaft bearing unit using two simple deep groove ball bearings, since no axial forces and no bending moments are exerted on the bearings
Data Source
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AI summary
A bearing device (100) for screw conveyor shafts (200) comprises at least one shaft bearing unit (20) and a connecting shaft (50), guided in the shaft bearing unit (20), for connecting to at least one screw conveyor shaft (200). There is provided a stationary external housing (11) in which at least one shaft bearing unit (20) is arranged in a pivotable manner, wherein at least one elastomeric ring element (13) is arranged between an inner ring of the external housing (11) and a lateral surface of the shaft bearing unit (20).