Labyrinth-Seal Bearing Rings for Precise Damper Actuator Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing damper drives in buildings face challenges in being robust and precisely controllable, especially in small and inaccessible installation spaces, where stringent functional and durability requirements are needed due to the complexity of non-central ventilation systems and individually regulatable ventilation units.
Innovation Solution
A damper drive system featuring a main body with a receiving aperture, a slotted bearing ring, and a hub that allows for rotational support, enabling precise adjustment of dampers through an electric motor, with a flexible bearing ring design that compensates for thermal expansion and manufacturing tolerances, reducing bearing play and thermal tensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional bearing ring design is used, then the structure is simple, but thermal tensions and bearing play increase due to expansion and manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing ring is segmented into two separate bearing ring segments that can move relative to each other along the circumference. This segmentation allows each segment to expand independently with thermal changes while maintaining the overall circular shape, thereby compensating for thermal expansion and reducing bearing play without requiring a completely different bearing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing ring segments are designed to be dynamically adjustable along the circumferential direction, allowing them to shift positions to accommodate thermal expansion and manufacturing tolerances. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the bearing ring to self-compensate for dimensional changes while maintaining reliable operation of the damper drive.
2Manufacturing precision
If the bearing ring is made rigid to maintain precision, then manufacturing precision is improved, but thermal tensions increase due to expansion constraints
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the bearing ring into two independent segments, the patent allows each segment to expand freely without constraining the other, thereby eliminating thermal tensions while maintaining the precision required for proper damper adjustment through the controlled relative movement of the segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the bearing ring from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamically adjustable segmented structure. The segments can change their relative positions along the circumference in response to thermal parameters, allowing the bearing ring to adapt its dimensions while maintaining manufacturing precision for the damper adjustment function.
3Temperature
If the bearing ring is made flexible to compensate for thermal expansion, then thermal tensions are reduced, but bearing play increases
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented design provides controlled flexibility where the segments can move relative to each other to accommodate thermal expansion, while the segments themselves maintain their structural rigidity to prevent excessive bearing play. This segmented flexibility allows thermal compensation without sacrificing bearing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the bearing ring segments to move only to the extent necessary for thermal compensation, with controlled limits that prevent excessive movement. This dynamic control ensures that flexibility for thermal expansion does not translate into harmful bearing play that would compromise reliability.
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 provides a robust and precisely controllable damper drive that compensates for thermal changes and manufacturing tolerances, ensuring efficient and precise adjustment of dampers while maintaining a robust and durable structure, reducing thermal tensions and bearing play.
Implementation Method 1
The bearing ring is flexible so that the first end and the second end can move away from and toward one another, so that for example the diameter of the bearing ring in particular can be changed by elastic deformation of the bearing ring
Implementation Method 2
a friction-type bearing is provided between the axial and radial contact surfaces of the hub and the bearing ring
Data Source
AI summary
A drive for adjusting the damper of a building air vent has a main body formed with a receiving aperture. A bearing ring is arranged in the receiving aperture and secured to the main body. The bearing ring has a circumferential direction, wherein the bearing ring has a first end and a second end in circumferential direction. The first end and the second end can be spaced apart in the circumferential direction such that there is a gap between the first end and the second end. A hub for actuating the drive shaft of the damper is fixed to the bearing ring such that the hub is rotatably mounted on the main body relative to the bearing ring.