Segmented Roller Bearing Preload for HDD Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bearing devices for information recording and reproducing devices, such as hard disk drives, face limitations in reducing thickness due to the need for paired roller bearings to increase rigidity, which restricts miniaturization efforts.
Innovation Solution
A bearing device design featuring a roller bearing with one half section of the inner or outer ring in contact with rolling elements from one side and the other half section in contact from the opposite side, allowing for preload application to eliminate gaps and increase rigidity, thereby reducing thickness without the need for paired bearings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a pair of roller bearings is disposed side by side in the axial direction to increase rigidity, then the rigidity of the bearing device is improved, but the thickness of the bearing device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner ring is divided into a first half section and a second half section in the axial direction. Each half section contacts the rolling elements from opposite sides, allowing preload application within a single bearing structure. This segmentation enables one roller bearing to achieve the rigidity function of two paired bearings while reducing axial thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the function of two paired roller bearings into a single roller bearing by configuring the inner ring with two half sections that both contact the rolling elements. This combination achieves the rigidity enhancement of paired bearings while eliminating the need for two separate bearing units, thereby reducing overall thickness.
2Strength
If preloads are applied to eliminate inner gaps and increase rigidity, then the rigidity of the roller bearing is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for precise assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The inner ring is pre-configured with the first and second half sections positioned to contact the rolling elements from opposite sides. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that preloads are automatically applied when the bearing is assembled, eliminating the need for complex post-assembly adjustment procedures and reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing structure is designed to self-apply preloads through its inherent geometry. The first and second half sections of the inner ring automatically contact the rolling elements from opposite sides, creating self-aligning preload application that eliminates the need for external adjustment mechanisms or complex assembly procedures.
3Length of moving object
If a single roller bearing is used instead of a pair, then the thickness of the bearing device is reduced, but the rigidity of the bearing device decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner ring is segmented into two half sections that both actively engage the rolling elements. This segmentation allows a single bearing to utilize the full contact area of multiple rolling elements for rigidity enhancement, compensating for the reduction from using only one bearing instead of a pair.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from the conventional single-dimension preload application (one direction) to two-dimensioned preload application by having the first and second half sections contact rolling elements from opposite sides. This dimensional change allows a single bearing to achieve the rigidity effect of two paired bearings while maintaining reduced thickness.
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
This design enhances the rigidity of the roller bearing, reduces the thickness of the bearing device, and minimizes torque loss, while also simplifying assembly and reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for additional components and complex assembly processes.
Implementation Method 1
Preloads are applied to the one half section and the other half section in directions in which the one half section and the other half section come close to each other
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing device includes a shaft and a roller bearing externally inserted over the shaft. The roller bearing includes an inner ring disposed coaxially with a center axis of the shaft, an outer ring surrounding the inner ring from an outer side in a radial direction, and a plurality of rolling elements held between the inner ring and the outer ring to be capable of rolling. The inner ring is divided into one half section and the other half section. The one half section contacts the rolling elements from the one side toward the other side in the axial direction, and the other half section contacts the rolling elements from the other side toward the one side in the axial direction. Preloads are applied to the two half sections in directions in which the one half section and the other half section are brought close to each other.