Vehicle Hub Bearing Ball Cage Assembly with Gravity Ball Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ball cage assembly for vehicle hub bearings requires multiple tools and consumes significant energy due to individual ball loading, and the process is cumbersome with orientation and tool change times lengthy.
Innovation Solution
A ball cage assembly device that allows all balls to be seated on pockets using their own weight, guided through inclined long through holes, without orientation or separate tools, utilizing a ball filling unit, shutter table unit, and assembly conveying unit to streamline the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If individual ball loading is used in conventional assembly, then precise ball placement is achieved, but energy consumption increases and assembly time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ball loading operations into a single simultaneous operation. The ball filling unit loads multiple balls into the cage pockets at the same time, merging what were previously sequential individual loading operations into one parallel operation, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining placement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The cage is pre-positioned on the worktable with pockets properly oriented before ball loading begins. The ball filling unit is also pre-configured with balls ready for distribution. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for orientation adjustments and tool changes during the actual assembly process
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple tools are used for sequential ball loading, then assembly precision is maintained, but tool change time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate loading tools into a single integrated ball filling unit that can handle multiple balls simultaneously. This eliminates the need to switch between different tools for each ball, reducing tool change time while maintaining the precision required for proper ball placement in each pocket
Solution Approach 2:
The ball filling unit is designed as a multi-functional device that can load multiple balls of different sizes and configurations through a single operation. This universal tool replaces what were previously multiple specialized tools, eliminating tool change time while maintaining assembly precision across different ball types
3Ease of manufacture
If balls are dropped vertically onto pockets, then loading is simple, but balls bounce off and seating becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the ball loading approach from purely vertical dropping to an angled trajectory. The ball filling unit directs balls at an angle toward the pockets, allowing them to roll into position rather than drop straight down. This dimensional change in the loading approach prevents bouncing and ensures stable seating while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary guiding mechanism within the ball filling unit that directs balls along a controlled path into the pockets. This intermediary structure mediates between the simple dropping action and the stable seating requirement, guiding balls to enter pockets without bouncing while maintaining the simplicity of the overall loading process
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
Improves energy efficiency by allowing simultaneous ball seating, reduces tool change time, and ensures stable seating without bouncing, all while eliminating the need for separate tools.
Implementation Method 1
ball filling unit that supplies a plurality of balls onto the plurality of supplied pockets using their own weight
Implementation Method 2
guide balls through inclined long through holes so that the balls may be stably seated on pockets without bouncing off the pockets
Data Source
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AI summary
A ball cage assembly device (100) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a work table (110) including a seating base (111); a cage supply unit (120) that supplies a cage with a plurality of pockets formed in a groove shape on the seating base; a ball filling unit (130) that supplies a plurality of balls onto the plurality of supplied pockets using their own weight; a ball press-fitting unit (140) that moves up and down and press-fits the plurality of supplied balls into the plurality of pockets to create a ball cage assembly; and an assembly conveying unit (150) that conveys the ball cage assembly.