Offset Separator Cage Layout for Dense Rolling Bearings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rolling bearings face challenges in accommodating a high number of rolling elements while maintaining ease of assembly and cage rigidity, particularly in large-diameter bearings used in applications like wind turbines, where high loads and bending moments can cause twisting and lifting of rolling elements.
Innovation Solution
The separators in the cage are arranged eccentrically offset relative to the raceways, allowing for a densely packed arrangement of rolling elements while ensuring the separators have sufficient space and stability, facilitating easy assembly by forming a pre-assembled mounting assembly with the bearing ring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the rolling elements are densely packed with small distances between them to accommodate a high number of rolling elements, then the load distribution is improved, but the cage stability and rigidity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The separators are positioned offset from the center axis of the bearing clearance towards one of the raceways, utilizing the radial dimension to create additional space. This dimensional shift allows the separators to be located in the widening area between rolling elements, enabling sufficient separator dimensions even with closely packed rolling elements, thus maintaining cage stability while accommodating high rolling element counts.
2Quantity of substance
If the rolling elements are densely packed with small distances between them to accommodate a high number of rolling elements, then the load distribution is improved, but the ease of assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning separators offset from the center axis in the radial dimension, the invention creates sufficient space for separators without increasing the overall bearing dimensions. This allows rolling elements to be held securely during assembly, forming a stable pre-assembled mounting assembly that improves ease of assembly while maintaining dense packing for high load capacity.
3Device complexity
If the separators are positioned at the center axis of the bearing clearance, then the arrangement is symmetric and simple, but the space between rolling elements is insufficient for separator dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The separators are positioned asymmetrically offset from the center axis towards one of the raceways. This asymmetric arrangement exploits the natural widening of space between rolling elements in that region, providing sufficient volume for adequately dimensioned separators while maintaining a relatively simple overall cage structure.
4Quantity of substance
If the separators are made thin-walled to allow small distances between rolling elements, then the dense packing is enabled, but the cage rigidity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The offset positioning of separators in the radial dimension creates additional space that allows separators to be adequately dimensioned with sufficient wall thickness. This enables the cage to maintain high rigidity and strength while still accommodating densely packed rolling elements for high load capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a rolling bearing, preferably a centreless large roller bearing, comprising two concentric bearing rings which can rotate relative to one another, at least one row of rolling elements which support the bearing rings against one another and roll on raceways of the bearing rings, and a cage with separators between the rolling elements for separating and guiding the rolling elements, the separators being positioned eccentrically offset relative to one of the raceways with respect to a bearing clearance central axis along which the rolling elements are arranged in such a way that their axes of rotation are distributed relative to one another.