Nested Constant Cross-Section Bearing for Thermal Expansion Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Constant cross-section bearings experience temperature gradients and thermal expansion discrepancies between inner and outer rings, leading to increased noise and friction torque due to varying thermal expansion coefficients or materials, which existing adjustments like play adjustment and rubber dampers fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The bearing is designed with a nested structure where the outer or inner ring is divided into multiple portions, with dampers placed between these portions to adjust stiffness and absorb expansion, deformation, and vibration, improving rotational torque and noise levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the inner and outer rings are made of the same material, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the temperature gradient causes different thermal expansion and changes the play between rings, increasing noise or friction torque
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different materials to different parts (inner ring and outer ring) based on their specific functional requirements and thermal characteristics. The inner ring and outer ring are made from materials with different thermal expansion coefficients to compensate for thermal expansion differences under temperature gradients, while the dampers are made from specific viscoelastic materials to provide optimal damping performance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing cost-effective manufacturing while preventing noise and friction torque through material optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures where the bearing consists of inner and outer rings made from different materials with complementary properties. Additionally, dampers made from viscoelastic materials are integrated into the structure. This composite approach allows the system to simultaneously achieve cost-effectiveness and reduced harmful effects by selecting materials that specifically address thermal expansion mismatches and vibration damping requirements.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If play adjustment and rubber dampers are added to reduce noise and friction torque, then the harmful effects are reduced, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates dampers within the nested structure of the inner and outer rings, placing them in the radial direction between the rings. This nesting approach allows the dampers to be incorporated into the existing bearing structure without significantly increasing overall complexity. The dampers are positioned to directly address the play between rings, reducing noise and friction torque while maintaining a compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dampers made from viscoelastic materials that exhibit flexible, damping characteristics. These dampers are designed as thin-walled structures that can deform to absorb vibrations and reduce the harmful effects of play between rings. The flexible nature of these dampers allows them to effectively reduce noise and friction torque without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bearing operates under temperature gradients, then the bearing can function in real-world conditions, but the thermal expansion differences cause play changes leading to increased noise and friction torque
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses thermal expansion issues by selecting materials with different thermal expansion coefficients for the inner and outer rings. This parameter change in material selection allows the bearing to adapt to temperature gradients while compensating for differential thermal expansion. Additionally, the viscoelastic dampers change their damping parameters with temperature, maintaining effective vibration reduction across different operating temperatures, thus reducing noise and friction torque under thermal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent explicitly utilizes the principle of thermal expansion by selecting materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion for the inner and outer rings. This allows the structure to accommodate temperature gradients without developing excessive stress or play. The dampers are also designed to accommodate thermal expansion while maintaining their damping function, effectively reducing noise and friction torque that would otherwise result from thermal effects.
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 nested structure with dampers effectively reduces sensitivity to temperature gradients and material expansion, significantly decreasing friction torque and noise by enhancing flexibility and stiffness, achieving improved operational performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first damper is disposed between the first ring portion and the third ring portion, and a second damper is disposed between the second ring portion and the fourth ring portion
Implementation Method 2
the stiffness level of the whole bearing is adjusted to a suitable level to absorb expansion, deformation, vibration, etc.
Implementation Method 3
the temperature of the inner ring is higher than that of the outer ring. This temperature inconsistency will cause a temperature gradient in the bearing. When the inner and outer rings are made of the same material, the temperature gradient will cause different thermal expansion of the inner and outer rings
Data Source
AI summary
A constant cross-section bearing has an outer race and an inner race, one of which is a target ring including first and second ring portions disposed axially opposite each other and third and fourth ring portions disposed axially opposite each other. The third ring portion is disposed outside and surrounds the first ring portion and the fourth ring portion is disposed outside and surrounds the second ring portion. A first damper is disposed between the first and third ring portions and a second damper is disposed between the second and fourth ring portions. The target ring is formed as a nested structure with a damper so that the stiffness level of the bearing is adjusted to a suitable level to absorb expansion, deformation, vibration, etc., so as to effectively improve the rotational torque and noise level of the bearing.