Escalator Shaft Adjusting Ring With Labyrinth Bearing Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Roller bearings in escalators and moving walkways are prone to rust and dirt ingress due to their exposure to environmental conditions, leading to maintenance challenges and potential bearing failure.
Innovation Solution
An adjusting ring with a hollow cylindrical annular body and threaded holes is used to secure the roller bearing, featuring an annular groove that acts as a labyrinth seal to prevent dirt and moisture ingress, and a lubrication hole for supplying lubricant to prevent corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If roller bearings are used in escalators exposed to dirt and moisture, then the bearing supports the load effectively, but the bearing is prone to rust and dirt ingress leading to maintenance challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The adjusting ring functions as a protective shell covering the roller bearing, creating a physical barrier against dirt and moisture. The ring's cylindrical structure with closed ends encapsulates the bearing, preventing harmful environmental factors from reaching the rolling elements while allowing the bearing to perform its support function.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjusting ring is designed as a simple, inexpensive protective component that can be easily replaced during maintenance. Rather than attempting to make the bearing itself resistant to all environmental factors, the solution uses a disposable protective barrier that safeguards the bearing until routine maintenance occurs.
2Ease of operation
If the roller bearing is secured by adjusting rings, then the bearing is protected from axial displacement, but extensive disassembly is required to replace the bearing due to limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The adjusting ring is designed as a separate, removable component that segments the bearing retention function from the bearing itself. This allows the bearing to be secured during operation while enabling easy removal during maintenance by simply taking off the adjusting ring without extensive disassembly of the entire shaft assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjusting ring extracts the axial retention function from the bearing assembly, providing a dedicated component that secures the bearing axially while being easily removable. This separation allows maintenance personnel to access and replace the bearing by removing only the adjusting ring rather than disassembling the entire drive shaft or hollow shaft structure.
3Weight of moving object
If the main drive shaft is designed as a hollow shaft structure, then the shaft is weight-optimized and dimensionally stable, but the roller bearing must be pressed into the hollow shaft requiring extensive disassembly for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The adjusting ring segments the bearing retention function from the hollow shaft structure, allowing the bearing to be secured axially without being pressed into the hollow shaft. This maintains the weight-optimized hollow shaft design while enabling easy bearing replacement by removing only the adjusting ring rather than disassembling the entire hollow shaft assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjusting ring acts as an intermediary component between the hollow shaft and the roller bearing, providing axial retention without requiring the bearing to be press-fitted into the hollow shaft. This mediator enables the hollow shaft design to be maintained for weight optimization while simplifying bearing maintenance operations.
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 adjusting ring effectively protects the roller bearing from environmental influences, simplifies maintenance by allowing easy assembly and disassembly, and extends the bearing's service life by preventing rust and corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
at least one annular groove arranged concentrically to the inside diameter is arranged in a lateral ring face of the annular body which is directed against the roller bearing in the assembled state. The annular groove is arranged in a zone in which a relative movement between the surfaces of the annular groove and the directly adjacent surfaces of the roller bearing and/or the hollow shaft takes place during a rotation of the main drive shaft.
Implementation Method 2
a lubrication hole for supplying lubricant to prevent corrosion
Data Source
AI summary
An adjusting ring for a moving walkway or an escalator can include a hollow cylindrical annular body and at least one adjusting screw. An outside diameter of the annular body is greater than an inner outside ring diameter of an outer ring of a roller bearing arranged adjacently in the assembled state. Furthermore, the adjusting ring can include at least one annular groove arranged concentrically to the inside diameter in a lateral ring face of the annular body which is directed against the roller bearing in the assembled state.