Segmented Snap Cage for Rolling Bearing Grease Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rolling bearings experience grease leakage due to centrifugal force causing grease imbalance and agitation, leading to insufficient lubrication, seizure, and reduced grease life, especially during high-speed rotation.
Innovation Solution
The rolling bearing design includes a snap cage with an annular body on one axial side and cage prongs extending to the other side, featuring labyrinth seals with varying labyrinth clearance lengths to prevent grease agitation and leakage, and a counterbored outer and inner ring configuration to manage grease distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If grease lubrication is used for high-speed rotation, then lubricating performance is improved, but grease leakage occurs due to centrifugal force causing grease imbalance and agitation
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is divided into a first annular portion and a second annular portion positioned on opposite axial sides of the rolling elements. This segmentation prevents the cage from agitating grease on both sides, thereby suppressing grease leakage while maintaining lubrication performance
Solution Approach 2:
Different axial positions are assigned different cage structures: the first annular portion on one axial side and the second annular portion on the other axial side. This local differentiation allows the cage to prevent grease agitation and leakage at each specific location
2Adaptability or versatility
If the inner ring has different shoulder diameters on both axial sides, then the bearing can accommodate angular contact, but centrifugal force forces grease from one axial side to the other, causing grease concentration and imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is segmented into two annular portions on opposite axial sides to counterbalance the grease migration caused by the asymmetric shoulder diameters, preventing grease concentration on one side
Solution Approach 2:
The second annular portion of the cage acts as a counterbalance to the first annular portion, preventing the centrifugal force from forcing grease from one axial side to the other, thereby maintaining grease distribution stability
3Stability of the object's composition
If the cage has an annular body on both axial sides, then rotational stability is improved, but the cage agitates grease on both axial sides, causing grease to pass through labyrinth clearance and leak
Solution Approach 1:
The cage structure is segmented with the first annular portion and second annular portion positioned on opposite axial sides, allowing each portion to independently prevent grease agitation and leakage at its respective location
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful function of the cage (agitating grease) is eliminated by positioning the annular portions on opposite axial sides, where they prevent rather than cause grease agitation and leakage
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 effectively suppresses grease leakage and agitation, maintaining consistent lubrication and extending grease life, even under high-speed and high-temperature conditions, while allowing for stable operation without increased bearing dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
when the angular contact ball bearing 90 (inner ring 91) rotates, a centrifugal force causes an action that forces the grease in the annular space 94 from one axial side to the other axial side
Data Source
AI summary
A rolling bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, a plurality of balls, a cage, and sealing devices. An action that forces grease from one axial side to the other axial side occurs in an annular space. The cage includes an annular body provided on one axial side, and a plurality of cage prongs provided so as to extend from the annular body to the other axial side. Cage pockets that house the balls are each formed on the other axial side of the annular body and between the cage prongs adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction. The cage pockets are open to the other axial side.