Integrated Third Bearing for Drive Unit Vibration Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive unit designs require high manufacturing and assembly efforts due to the need for additional components, such as springs or sealing rings, to achieve flexible arrangements and efficient bearing support for the armature shaft.
Innovation Solution
A drive unit with a third bearing having three functional areas: a sleeve-shaped first area for the drive shaft, a sleeve-shaped second area for housing integration, and an elastic third area connecting the two, allowing relative movement and minimizing parts and assembly complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spring is added to enable flexible arrangement of the third bearing in the receptacle, then the bearing can accommodate axial and radial movements, but the manufacturing and assembly effort increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the spring function with the third bearing body itself by creating an integrated elastic structure. The bearing body includes a receiving opening with an elastic portion that directly provides the flexible arrangement capability without requiring a separate spring component. This merging of functions reduces the total number of parts while maintaining the adaptive movement accommodation.
Solution Approach 2:
The third bearing body is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the drive shaft end portion, accommodates axial and radial movements through its elastic portion, and integrates the spring function within its own structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate spring and bearing components, reducing assembly complexity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If an additional element is used to axially fix the third bearing in the transmission housing, then the bearing can be positioned correctly, but the assembly complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the axial fixation function into the third bearing body itself through the elastic portion that is received in the receptacle. The bearing body and its elastic portion work together to provide both positioning and fixation without requiring separate additional elements, thereby reducing component count while maintaining stable axial positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a sealing ring is added to enable axial movement of the third bearing, then the bearing can move axially in the receiving opening, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing function with the elastic portion of the third bearing body. The elastic portion itself serves as the sealing element that enables axial movement while maintaining the receptacle seal. This integration eliminates the need for a separate sealing ring component, reducing manufacturing steps and assembly complexity.
4Device complexity
If the third bearing is designed as a one-piece body with integrated elastic portion, then the number of components is reduced, but achieving the required flexibility and movement capability becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The third bearing body is segmented into distinct functional portions: a rigid support portion for bearing loads and an elastic portion for providing flexibility and movement capability. This segmentation within a one-piece structure allows the bearing to maintain structural integrity while achieving the required adaptive movements through the elastic portion's deformation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in the elastic portion's physical parameters (such as material elasticity, cross-sectional area, and geometry) to achieve the required flexibility. By carefully designing these parameters, the one-piece bearing body can accommodate axial and radial movements without requiring multiple separate components, thus maintaining movement flexibility while reducing component count.
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
This design reduces manufacturing costs, minimizes wear, and achieves low-noise operation with high locking torque transmission, while optimizing installation space and damping properties for improved vibration decoupling.
Implementation Method 1
the third functional area (28) connects the first functional area (26) to the second functional area (27). The third functional area (28) is elastic and allows relative movement between the first and the second functional area (26, 27).
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a bearing device (10) for a drive unit (1), wherein the drive unit (1) has a drive motor (11) which interacts with a transmission element (15) via a drive shaft (12) with multiple bearings, having a first bearing (18) which is arranged on the opposite side of the drive motor (11) with respect to the transmission element (15), a second bearing (19) which is arranged between the drive motor (11) and the transmission element (15), and a third bearing (20; 20a; 20b; 20c) which is arranged on the side of the transmission element (15) which faces away from the drive motor (11), wherein the third bearing (20; 20a; 20b; 20c) is arranged so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft (12). According to the invention there is provision that the third bearing (20; 20a; 20b; 20c) is embodied as a single-piece component which both accommodates the drive shaft (12) at its end region (30) and is accommodated in a receptacle (24) of a positionally fixed element, in particular a housing element.