Outboard Guide Bearing Assembly for Shorter Can Bodymaker Rams
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing can bodymaker systems face issues with ram droop and misalignment due to the long length of the ram body, leading to increased wear and tear, and contamination of cooling fluid with hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing assembly fluid.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an outboard guide bearing assembly and a tension assembly to reduce the length of the ram body, allowing it to operate without passing through a hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing assembly, thereby minimizing fluid contamination and reducing ram droop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the ram body length is increased to pass through hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing assembly, then the ram can be supported during operation, but the ram droop and misalignment increase leading to increased wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing assembly from the system entirely. The ram body is redesigned to be shorter and does not pass through any bearing assembly, eliminating the source of fluid contamination and reducing ram droop while maintaining operational support through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of supporting the ram by having it pass through a bearing assembly (traditional approach), the invention inverts the approach by making the ram self-supported through its own structural design with reduced length, eliminating the need for the bearing assembly that caused the problems.
2Strength
If the ram body passes through hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing assembly, then the ram is supported, but the cooling fluid becomes contaminated with bearing assembly fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing assembly from the system. The ram body is redesigned to operate without passing through any bearing assembly, thereby eliminating the source of fluid contamination while maintaining necessary support through alternative structural design.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the ram body length is reduced to minimize fluid contamination, then fluid contamination is reduced, but the ram may lack sufficient support during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional approach by making the ram self-supported through reduced length design rather than relying on external bearing assembly support. This eliminates fluid contamination while maintaining operational support through the ram's own structural integrity.
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
This configuration results in a shorter ram body with reduced ram droop and wear, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing maintenance costs by minimizing fluid contamination and extending the lifespan of components.
Implementation Method 1
the carriage assembly includes a hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing assembly
Implementation Method 2
the carriage assembly includes a hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly for a can bodymaker is provided. The hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly is separate from the ram body. The outboard guide bearing assembly includes a carriage assembly and a number of elongated journals. The carriage assembly includes a ram coupling, a crank coupling, and body defining a number of journal passages. The ram body is coupled to a ram coupling. The crank coupling is structured to be coupled to a crank arm. Each journal extends through a carriage assembly body journal passage. In this configuration, the ram body may form a can body in a traditional manner, but fluid bearing assembly fluid is not applied to the ram body. Instead, the fluid bearing assembly fluid is applied to the journals.