Segmented Tapered Roller Bearing Holder for Secure Roller Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing segment holder in tapered roller bearings for large rotating shafts, such as those in wind power generators, faces issues with segment breakage and roller dislodgment when the inner ring assembly is turned upside down, and the connecting member can come off during operation, leading to assembly difficulties and potential failure.
Innovation Solution
A tapered roller bearing design featuring a segment holder with opposing arc-shaped portions and columnar portions forming pockets for the rollers, where guide claws prevent roller dislodgment and a connecting member is used to secure the segments with a removable fastening system, ensuring stability and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If segments are connected by a wire to prevent breakage when turned upside down, then segment stability is improved, but assembly complexity increases due to additional connecting members
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting member integration portions are directly formed as integral structures on the segment outer surfaces, merging the connection function into the segment structure itself rather than using separate wire connectors. This reduces assembly complexity while maintaining segment stability when inverted.
Solution Approach 2:
The segments possess self-connecting capabilities through the integration portions that automatically engage with corresponding structures on adjacent segments. The segments serve their own connection needs without requiring external wire connectors, simplifying the overall assembly process.
2Reliability
If guide claws are positioned on the inner-diameter side to prevent roller fall-off, then roller retention is improved, but rollers inserted from the outer-diameter side may fall off
Solution Approach 1:
The guide claws are positioned asymmetrically on the outer-diameter side of the pockets rather than the inner-diameter side. This asymmetric positioning allows rollers to be inserted from the outer-diameter side while the guide claws prevent them from falling off during inversion, simultaneously improving retention and assembly ease.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing guide claws on the inner-diameter side as in conventional designs, the guide claws are positioned on the outer-diameter side. This inverted approach allows rollers to be inserted from the outer-diameter side while still preventing fall-off, resolving the contradiction between retention and assembly ease.
3Reliability
If a connecting member is used to secure segments, then segment connection reliability is improved, but the connecting member may come off during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting member integration portions are formed as integral structures on the segments themselves, merging the connection function into the segment design. This eliminates separate connecting members that could detach, while maintaining reliable segment connection through the built-in integration structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The segments have self-connecting integration portions that automatically engage with adjacent segments. The segments serve their own connection needs without requiring external connecting members, eliminating the risk of connecting member detachment during operation.
4Strength
If steel sheet holder is used for large tapered roller bearing, then holder strength is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases due to pressing process constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is divided into multiple segments that can be manufactured separately using conventional pressing processes for large bearings. Each segment is small enough to be manufactured with available facilities, yet when assembled into a ring shape, they form a holder with sufficient strength to support large tapered rollers without deformation.
Data Source
AI summary
In a tapered roller bearing in which a segment holder divided into a plurality of segments in a circumference direction is used in an inner ring assembly, which is incorporated into an outer ring, guide claws are provided on an outer-diameter side of adjacent columnar portions of each pocket of a holder to allow the tapered rollers to be inserted into the pockets from an inner-diameter side of the segments. An engaging portion is provided on a large-diameter-side lateral-surface of a large-diameter-side arc-shaped portion of the segment. A connecting member, which is to be wound around on a large-diameter side of the segments arranged in a ring shape, is made to pass through the engaging portion, and ends of the connecting member are removably connected together by a fastening member, so that adjacent segments are butted together and fixed.