Nested Double-Row Angular Contact Bearing for Compact Axle Drives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transmission systems, particularly in axle drives and transfer cases, face challenges in achieving high axial and radial load-bearing capacity with reduced material consumption and constructional space, while maintaining structural stiffness and efficient assembly.
Innovation Solution
A double-row angular contact ball bearing design with a bearing seat that surrounds the outer bearing ring axially undivided, allowing for reduced material consumption and constructional space, featuring a novel cage design and shoulder configurations to enhance load distribution and assembly efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a double-row angular contact ball bearing is used to increase axial and radial load-bearing capacity, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the constructional space and material consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing one ball-cage assembly inside the other, with the smaller-diameter ball-cage assembly positioned within the larger-diameter ball-cage assembly. This nested configuration allows both ball rows to occupy overlapping radial spaces, significantly reducing the overall axial width of the bearing while maintaining the load-bearing capacity of both rows. The inner ball-cage assembly is retained by the outer cage, creating a compact integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional side-by-side arrangement of ball rows to a nested configuration where ball rows are arranged in a radial dimension hierarchy. By utilizing the radial dimension more effectively and allowing ball-cage assemblies to overlap radially, the design reduces axial dimension while maintaining load-bearing capacity in both axial and radial directions.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional bearing designs with intermediate spaces between ball-cage assemblies are used, then assembly is simplified, but the bearing width and constructional space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates intermediate spaces by nesting the smaller ball-cage assembly within the larger one, allowing the ball rows to be axially adjacent without gaps. The outer cage retains the inner ball-cage assembly, creating a compact integrated structure that reduces bearing width while maintaining assembly feasibility through the retained nested configuration.
3Strength
If more material is used to ensure structural stiffness and load-bearing capacity, then the strength is improved, but the material consumption and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The nested configuration allows both ball rows to share overlapping radial spaces, reducing the total volume of bearing material required. By eliminating intermediate spaces and allowing ball-cage assemblies to overlap radially, the design achieves the same structural stiffness and load-bearing capacity with less material, reducing both material consumption and weight.
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission unit includes a transmission housing, a transmission element rotatably accommodated in the transmission housing, a bearing seat, and an angular contact ball bearing accommodated in the bearing seat, for mounting the transmission element, as well as a double-row angular contact ball bearing having: an inner bearing ring; an outer bearing ring; a first ball-cage assembly with first balls which are accommodated in a first track space extending between a first inner rolling element raceway of the inner bearing ring and a first outer rolling element raceway of the outer bearing ring; and a second ball-cage assembly with second balls which are accommodated in a second track space extending between a second inner rolling element track of the inner bearing ring and a second outer rolling element track of the outer bearing ring.