Pocket Cage Groove Geometry for High-Speed Bearing Punching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rolling bearing designs face challenges in cost-effective and efficient mass production, particularly in high-speed punching processes where shear forces can lead to plastic deformation of pocket cage axial separators.

Innovation Solution

A rolling bearing arrangement featuring a pocket cage with axial separators designed to withstand high shear forces during punching, incorporating central contact surfaces and grooves optimized for even stress distribution and lubricant guidance, allowing for reliable and economical manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high-speed punching process is used to produce pocket cage, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to plastic deformation of pocket cage axial separators

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidpocket cage axial separator deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pocket cage axial separators are designed with a specific geometric configuration featuring a central contact surface and two grooves. This local structural quality optimization allows the separators to withstand high shear forces during punching without plastic deformation, enabling high-speed production while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If pocket cage axial separators have internal grooves for lubricant guidance, then functional performance is improved, but structural strength deteriorates under high shear forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubricant guidanceVSAvoidresistance to shear forces
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The grooves are positioned in specific locations on the pocket cage axial separators, creating local functional zones for lubricant guidance that do not compromise the overall structural integrity. The central contact surface design provides structural reinforcement while the grooves deliver lubrication where needed, resolving the contradiction between functional performance and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional pocket cage design is used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but reliability deteriorates due to plastic deformation under shear forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidconsistency of cage structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the geometric parameters of the pocket cage axial separators, specifically the configuration of the central contact surface and grooves. These parameter changes enable the structure to withstand high shear forces during punching without plastic deformation, improving reliability while remaining compatible with conventional high-speed punching manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4285035B1Rolling bearing arrangement and method for producing a pocket cage
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG
  • EP4285035B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4285035B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4285035B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a rolling bearing arrangement, comprising a rolling bearing having an inner ring, an outer ring, rolling elements and a cage (10), wherein the inner ring has an inner ring raceway and the outer ring has an outer ring raceway, wherein the rolling elements are spaced apart from one another between the inner ring and the outer ring so as to be rotatable in the cage, wherein the rolling elements roll on the inner ring raceway and the outer ring raceway, wherein the rolling elements are designed as rolling element rollers and the cage is designed as a pocket cage which has two coaxial pocket cage rings (11) which are connected to a plurality of pocket cage axial separating strips (12) to form pocket openings for receiving the rolling elements, wherein the pocket cage axial separating strips have a substantially flat contact surface (14) on the side facing radially inwards, the contact surface having, in each case, at least two grooves (15) which extend in the circumferential direction of the pocket cage, wherein the central contact surface (16), which is formed between the two grooves, has an axial extension which corresponds to between 3% and 40% of the axial extension of one of the pocket cage axial separating strips.