Offset Raceway Angular Ball Bearing for Low-Wear Load Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Angular contact cylindrical roller bearings experience high wear and energy loss due to sliding between rollers and raceway surfaces, and edge stress under complex load conditions, while angular contact ball bearings suffer from high contact pressure and dynamic sliding with changing load directions.
Innovation Solution
An angular contact ball bearing arrangement with offset raceways and four contact points per ball, distributing contact pressure evenly across the ball surface to absorb radial and axial loads with reduced friction and wear, allowing for stable operation under varied load conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If angular contact cylindrical roller bearings are used to absorb both radial and axial loads, then load capacity is improved, but sliding between rollers and raceway surfaces increases causing high wear and energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces cylindrical rollers with spherical balls as the rolling elements. This spheroidal shape enables pure rolling motion without sliding, eliminating the sliding wear and energy loss that occurs with cylindrical rollers under angular contact conditions. The balls roll along curved raceways that are offset from each other, maintaining continuous contact while achieving slip-free rolling kinematics.
2Force
If angular contact ball bearings with two contact points are used, then load absorption is improved, but contact pressure increases causing high stress concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the load distribution into multiple contact zones by creating offset raceways that generate four distinct contact points on each ball. This segmentation of the contact area distributes the concentrated load that would otherwise occur at only two contact points, reducing peak contact pressure and stress concentration while maintaining full load absorption capability.
3Stress or pressure
If offset raceways with four contact points per ball are implemented, then contact pressure distribution is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional requirements into a single integrated bearing structure. The offset raceways are formed as integral parts of the inner and outer rings, with the ball cage geometry simultaneously providing ball retention and defining the offset raceway positions. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate manufacturing steps and complex assembly operations, making the design practical despite the sophisticated contact geometry.
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 stable bearing with low energy loss, reduced wear, and improved load distribution, enabling efficient absorption of both radial and axial loads with minimal friction and surface damage.
Implementation Method 1
The balls (6) roll along raceways (8), which are arranged on the raceway elements (2, 4)
Implementation Method 2
In order to achieve low sliding and friction losses, as well as high bending rigidity and a low maximum contact pressure with the raceways, the balls (6) each have four contact points with the raceways (8)
Data Source
AI summary
An angular contact ball bearing arrangement has first and second raceway elements having raceways and a plurality of balls therebetween. When viewed in cross section through one of the balls the arrangement is divided into first, second, third and fourth quadrants by an axis of rotation of one of the balls and a perpendicular axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the ball. Each ball has two contact points on each raceway that are offset from the perpendicular axis by #10 degrees, and the contacts points are each located in a different quadrant. Also the centre point of the radius curvature of the first raceway on one side of the perpendicular axis and the centre point of the radius of curvature of the first raceway on the other side of the perpendicular axis are in located in different quadrants.