Bearing Arrangement Spacer for Pump Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bearing arrangements for positive displacement pumps require precise fitting and individual customization, leading to increased production costs and reduced interchangeability, making it difficult for consumers to replace worn or damaged bearings without incurring high costs or complicating assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A bearing arrangement using a first axial bearing and a second radial bearing, with a spacer defining the difference between their distances, allowing for standard-sized bearings to be used and simplifying assembly and maintenance by adjusting the spacer to achieve the required tolerance, enabling easier replacement of individual bearings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional bearing arrangements are used with precise fitting, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A spacer element is introduced as an intermediary component between the first and second bearings. This spacer precisely defines the axial distance relationship between the bearings, allowing standard bearings to be used without requiring complex individual adjustments. The spacer acts as a mediator that establishes the required geometric relationship, thereby achieving manufacturing precision while reducing device complexity and production costs.
2Manufacturing precision
If individually adapted bearings are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing arrangement is designed so that both the first and second bearings can be replaced by standard, interchangeable components. The spacer ensures that even though the bearings are positioned at specific distances from each other, they remain universally replaceable without requiring individual adaptation. This universality principle allows consumers to replace worn or damaged bearings easily, improving ease of repair while maintaining the precision required for proper function.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard-sized bearings are used with spacer adjustment, then ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer serves as a precision intermediary that compensates for variations in standard bearing dimensions. By precisely controlling the spacer's thickness and positioning, the required axial distance between bearings is achieved regardless of minor variations in the standard bearings themselves. This approach maintains manufacturing precision while significantly improving ease of manufacture, as standard bearings can be used without requiring complex individual adjustments.
Data Source
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AI summary
A positive displacement pump comprising a housing (130), a displacer (132), and a bearing arrangement (100-1; 100-2; 100-3) for supporting the displacer (132) of the positive displacement pump relative to the housing (130). The bearing arrangement (100-1; 100-2; 100-3) includes a first bearing (110) for transmitting a force in an axial direction and a second bearing (120) arranged axially between the first bearing (110) and the housing (130) for transmitting a force in a radial direction. A first bearing ring of the first bearing (112) is connected to a shaft (134) connected to the displacer (132). This defines a maximum axial distance (136) between the first bearing ring of the first bearing (112) and the displacer (132). A second bearing ring of the first bearing (114) is also axially supported against a first bearing ring of the second bearing (122), and the first bearing ring of the second bearing (122) is axially supported against the housing (130).This establishes a second axial distance (138) between the first bearing ring of the first bearing (112) and the housing (130). A difference (140) between the first distance (136) and the second distance (138) is defined by a spacer (142-1; 142-2; 142-3) between the first (110) and the second bearing (120). A radius (206) of a running surface of the second bearing ring of the second bearing (124-2) is at least as large as an outer radius (204) of the spacer (142-2) facing the running surface, and the outer radius (204) of the spacer (142-2) facing the running surface is larger than an outer radius (208) of the spacer (142-2) facing away from the running surface.