Roller Cage Bearing With Integral Fingers for Dense Roller Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roller cage assemblies in rotating bearings are limited by the thickness of the cage wall, which restricts the number of rollers and load capacity, and they suffer from lubricant loss and uneven lubrication due to conventional design flaws.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a bearing design with three roller cage assemblies, each featuring a cage with circumferentially distributed fingers that are integral with the ring or ring segment, allowing for a more compact and efficient arrangement of rollers and improved lubrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cage wall thickness is increased to maintain structural resistance between rollers, then the reliability of the cage is improved, but the number of rollers is limited and the load capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is designed with thin wall segments between rollers instead of thick walls, allowing the cage to maintain structural integrity while enabling closer roller spacing. The thin film structure reduces the space required between rollers while still providing sufficient resistance and guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage is divided into multiple thin wall segments, each providing localized guidance and resistance between adjacent rollers. This segmentation allows the cage to achieve the required mechanical properties with reduced overall material thickness, enabling higher roller density.
2Ease of manufacture
If standard external guidance from roller outside diameter is used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the lubricant is removed from the outside diameter and the lubrication at contact surfaces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of guiding rollers from the outside diameter, the cage guides rollers from the inside by engaging their axial ends. This inverted guidance approach maintains lubricant film integrity at the contact surfaces while providing effective roller positioning and spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance function is extracted from the roller outside diameter and relocated to the axial ends of the rollers. This separation allows the outside diameter to remain dedicated to load-bearing contact with lubricant film preservation, while the axial ends provide guidance engagement.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional cage design with large volume is used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but contact between cages and raceways limits lubricant circulation and prevents uniform lubrication
Solution Approach 1:
The cage employs thin wall segments that minimize contact area with the raceways, allowing lubricant to circulate freely through the bearing interior. The thin film structure reduces mechanical interference while maintaining cage functionality for roller guidance and spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage design allows for dynamic lubricant circulation by minimizing static contact points. The thin-walled structure enables lubricant flow paths to remain open and unobstructed, ensuring uniform distribution throughout the bearing during operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a roller cage assembly (200S) for guiding in rotation a first bearing ring relative to a second bearing ring and comprising a series of rollers (RS) each having an individual axis of rotation (AS) and a cage (10S) for guiding and positioning the rollers (RS), in which the cage (10S) comprises at least one ring or ring segment (12SA, 12SB) which comprises a series of fingers (14SA, 14SB) distributed circumferentially, each of which is received inside an axial hole of an associated roller (RS), characterized in that the ring or ring segment (12SA, 12SB) and the series of fingers (14SA, 14SB) are made in a single piece. The invention also provides a bearing integrating at least one roller cage assembly.