Plastic-Mounted One-Way Bearing for Lightweight Torque Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing one-way bearings are heavy, difficult to machine, and prone to fracture due to structural design, affecting their lifespan and machinability.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight one-way bearing design using a plastic mounting base with radially-penetrating recesses and a metallic transmission base with transmission slopes, allowing one-way driving and enhanced resistance without increasing weight, and featuring easy machining and cost reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the thickness of the transmission ring is increased to enhance strength for bearing resistance, then the strength is improved, but the overall weight increases and machining difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission ring is divided into multiple segments that can be assembled together, allowing the structure to achieve required strength through geometric interlocking and distribution of loads across multiple pieces rather than requiring a single thick ring
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing assembly uses composite construction combining the transmission ring with rollers, elastic elements, and retaining structures to achieve strength through material composition and structural arrangement rather than increasing the thickness of a single component
2Reliability
If the thickness of the transmission ring is increased to prevent fracturing and breaking, then the reliability is improved, but the machining difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the transmission ring into segments allows each segment to be machined independently at thinner, more manageable thicknesses, reducing machining difficulty while maintaining overall structural reliability through the assembled configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission ring segments are designed with pre-formed features such as recesses and engagement surfaces that are created during manufacturing, allowing for easier machining of thinner sections while ensuring proper assembly and load distribution for reliability
3Device complexity
If small diameter positioning pins are used to constrain the output member, then the device complexity is reduced, but the bearing force capacity decreases and fracture risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning pins are strategically placed at specific locations where they can most effectively constrain the output member, and their diameter is optimized locally at these critical positions to provide sufficient bearing force capacity while maintaining overall simplicity of the constraint mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning pins feature rounded or curved surfaces that distribute contact forces more evenly, increasing their effective bearing force capacity without requiring an increase in pin diameter, thus maintaining device simplicity while improving strength
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 design achieves reduced weight, increased resistance, and extended lifespan while maintaining power transmission strength, with improved machinability and lower manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the receptacle 12 is provided with an elastic element 16 therein between the roller 15 and the deep trough portion 122 corresponding thereto, so as to bring the rollers 15 in the quickest way toward the shallow trough portion 121 for clamping and inducing one-way driving
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A one-way bearing (50) is arranged between an input member (80) and an output member (90) and includes a plastic mounting base (60), a plurality of rollers (65), and a metallic transmission base (70). The plastic mounting base (60) is molded to form a plurality of equidistant and radially-penetrating mounting recesses (61), and the rollers (65) are respectively received in the mounting recesses (61). A circumferential surface of the metallic transmission base (70) that corresponds to the plastic mounting base (60) is formed with a plurality of transmission slopes (71) respectively corresponding to the mounting recesses (61), so that the rollers (65) arranged in the plastic mounting base (60) may selectively clamp the metallic transmission base (70) by means of the transmission slope (71) to induce an effect of one-way driving. In this way, the molded plastic mounting base (60) may help reduce the weight of the one-way bearing (50) without affecting the strength for power transmission, achieving advantages of light weight, cost reduction, and easy machinability.