Retaining Element With Deformable Tabs For Compact Bearing Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bearing retention methods are bulky, consuming excessive space and requiring costly and time-consuming precision in placement, which is problematic in applications like aircraft engines where space is limited and accuracy is critical.
Innovation Solution
A retaining element with a neck portion and head portions that include deformable or rotatable retaining tabs, which can be moved between receiving and retaining positions to securely hold components within a receiving part, allowing for precise alignment and easy assembly/disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cylindrical holders with outward radial flanges are used to retain bearings, then the bearing is securely retained, but the holder becomes bulky and consumes excessive space
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional monolithic holder is segmented into a retaining element with a neck portion and head portions. The neck portion fits into a notch in the receiving part, while the head portions extend outward to provide retention surfaces. This segmentation allows the holder to be compact where it interfaces with the receiving part while maintaining retention functionality, thereby reducing overall space requirements while securing the bearing reliably
Solution Approach 2:
The neck portion of the retaining element is designed to be received within a notch formed in the receiving part, creating a nested configuration. This nesting allows the retaining element to be integrated into the existing structure without adding significant external dimensions, reducing the bulkiness associated with traditional outward flanges while maintaining secure retention
2Manufacturing precision
If precision drilling and tapping holes in the plate and holder is performed to ensure accurate bearing placement, then bearing placement accuracy is improved, but the process becomes expensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining element is pre-configured with head portions and retaining surfaces that are designed to automatically align with and contact the bearing and receiving part at precise locations. This preliminary configuration of the retaining element itself eliminates the need for precision drilling and tapping operations during assembly, as the alignment is built into the geometry of the retaining element, thereby improving assembly speed and reducing costs while maintaining accurate bearing placement
Solution Approach 2:
The geometry of the retaining element, particularly the neck portion fitting into the notch and the head portions with retaining surfaces, is designed to self-align and self-position during assembly. The component's own structure provides the alignment features, eliminating the need for external alignment operations like precision drilling and tapping, thereby improving productivity while ensuring accurate bearing placement
Data Source
AI summary
A retaining element for retaining a component within a receiving part, the retaining element including: a neck portion to be received within a notch formed in the receiving part; a first head portion coupled to the neck portion end and defining a first shoulder; a second head portion coupled to another neck portion end and defining a second shoulder, wherein the first and second shoulders oppose one another and are to abut first and second surfaces of the receiving part so as to engage the retaining element with the receiving part; wherein the first and/or second head portions include a retaining tab having a retaining surface, wherein the retaining tab has a receiving position for receiving the component and retaining position for retaining the component; wherein, in the retaining position, the retaining tab extends beyond the neck portion so the retaining surface abuts the component surface to retain the component.