Roller Bearing Assembly With Stiff Intermediate Blocks for Overloads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rolling bearings designed for low-speed, extreme loads suffer from deformation and damage due to concentrated contact forces, leading to hard spots and play, necessitating oversized, heavy, bulky, and expensive solutions.
Innovation Solution
A bearing assembly with intermediate blocks made of stiffer material than the rolling elements, having complementary bearing faces and varying curvature to distribute load, combining rolling and plain bearing advantages, allowing deformation without damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bearings are oversized to withstand extreme loads, then resistance to occasional overloads is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing is segmented into two functional systems: rolling elements for normal operation and intermediate blocks for extreme loads. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the bearing to handle extreme loads without requiring all components to be oversized, thus reducing overall weight while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the stiffness parameter of different bearing components. Rolling elements are made with lower stiffness to allow elastic deformation and absorb energy during extreme loading, while intermediate blocks have higher stiffness to provide structural support. This parameter differentiation enables the bearing to withstand extreme loads without being uniformly oversized, reducing weight.
2Reliability
If bearings are oversized to withstand extreme loads, then resistance to occasional overloads is improved, but volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing is segmented into two functional systems: rolling elements for normal operation and intermediate blocks for extreme loads. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the bearing to handle extreme loads without requiring all components to be oversized, thus reducing overall volume while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the stiffness parameter of different bearing components. Rolling elements are made with lower stiffness to allow elastic deformation and absorb energy during extreme loading, while intermediate blocks have higher stiffness to provide structural support. This parameter differentiation enables the bearing to withstand extreme loads without being uniformly oversized, reducing volume.
3Productivity
If contact forces are concentrated on small surfaces, then rolling bearing performance is improved, but deformation and damage occur under heavy loads
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by giving different stiffness characteristics to different parts of the bearing. Rolling elements have lower stiffness for normal rolling operation, while intermediate blocks have higher stiffness for extreme load support. This local differentiation allows concentrated contact forces during normal operation while providing distributed support during extreme loads, preventing deformation and damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the stiffness parameter of different bearing components. Rolling elements are made with lower stiffness to allow elastic deformation and absorb energy during extreme loading, while intermediate blocks have higher stiffness to provide structural support. This parameter differentiation enables the bearing to withstand extreme loads without being uniformly oversized, reducing volume.
4Reliability
If bearings are designed for extreme loads, then resistance to occasional overloads is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling elements are designed as sacrificial components that can deform elastically during extreme loading events. They are made of less expensive materials with lower stiffness, allowing them to absorb energy through deformation. This approach is more economical than making all bearing components expensive and highly durable, as only the rolling elements need to be replaceable after extreme damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the stiffness parameter of different bearing components. Rolling elements are made with lower stiffness to allow elastic deformation and absorb energy during extreme loading, while intermediate blocks have higher stiffness to provide structural support. This parameter differentiation enables the bearing to withstand extreme loads without being uniformly oversized, reducing volume.
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 assembly provides resistance to occasional overloads without hard spots or play, maintaining flexibility and reducing bulk and cost while supporting significant loads.
Implementation Method 1
the rolling elements being made of a defined material... when the bearing is subjected to a load less than a threshold load, the intermediate blocks have a dimension smaller than the rolling elements in directions normal to the raceways, the rings having a stiffness greater than the rolling elements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a mechanical roller bearing (2) comprising: - two rings (10, 12), each having a raceway (26), - roller elements (22) arranged between the rings, the roller elements being able to roll against a portion of the raceways, the roller elements being made from a defined material, the mechanical roller comprising a plurality of intermediate blocks (24) arranged between the rings, the intermediate blocks being made from a material having greater rigidity than the rigidity of the material of the roller elements in directions perpendicular to the raceways, and, when the bearing is subjected to loading below a threshold load, the intermediate blocks having dimensions smaller than the roller elements in directions perpendicular to the raceways, the rings (10, 12) having greater rigidity than the roller elements.