Segmented Bearing Ring Assembly With Self-Aligning Joints

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of split-ring segments in large diameter rolling bearings is laborious due to misalignment issues, leading to interrupted processes and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

The use of protrusions and recesses of complementary shape on adjacent ring segments, along with fixing plates and alignment members, facilitates easy radial alignment during assembly, reducing the need for disassembly and realignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If ring segments are delivered as split rings for transport and assembly, then transportability and assembly flexibility are improved, but alignment precision deteriorates causing laborious adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Alignment features (protrusions and recesses) are pre-formed on the ring segments during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when segments are assembled, they automatically align radially without requiring manual adjustment, thus maintaining both assembly flexibility and alignment precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Protrusions and recesses act as intermediary alignment elements between adjacent ring segments. These features mediate the connection by providing predetermined alignment geometry that guides the segments into correct radial alignment during assembly, eliminating the need for laborious adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual alignment adjustment is performed during assembly, then alignment precision can be improved, but assembly time and productivity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidassembly speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The ring segments are designed with self-aligning features (protrusions and recesses) that automatically ensure radial alignment when the segments are brought together. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual alignment adjustment, thereby maintaining high alignment precision while maximizing assembly speed and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If alignment adjustment procedures are implemented, then alignment precision is improved, but process complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidassembly process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Alignment features are incorporated into the ring segment design during manufacturing. This preliminary action embeds the alignment function directly into the components, eliminating the need for separate alignment adjustment procedures and reducing overall process complexity while maintaining high alignment precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12385527B2Bearing with at least one segmented ring

Publication Date: 2025.08.12 AB SKF SKF PATENT DEPARTMENT

AI summary

A bearing provides an outer ring and an inner ring capable of rotating concentrically relative to one another, at least one of the inner and outer rings being split into a plurality of successive circumferential ring segments. For each pair of facing ends of adjacent successive ring segments of the split-ring, one of the facing ends includes at least one protrusion made in one part with the associated ring segment and protruding into a recess of complementary shape formed onto the other facing end to align the pair of facing ends in radial direction.