Self-Aligning Angular Contact Roller Bearing for Combined Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radial rolling bearings lack the ability to effectively withstand combined axial and radial loads and adapt to misalignment between shafts and mounting holes, leading to inadequate load capacity and premature failure under heavy loads.
Innovation Solution
An angular contact self-aligning roller bearing design featuring a single row of rollers with a specific contact angle and raceway geometry, allowing for self-alignment and improved load distribution through integral structure rotation and line contact under heavy loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If deep groove ball bearings or angular contact ball bearings are used, then the bearing can operate at high speed, but the load capacity in radial and axial directions is small and load density is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the rolling element from spherical (ball) to cylindrical (roller), and modifies the contact geometry by creating curved raceways with specific radius ratios. This transforms the contact from point contact to line contact, dramatically increasing load density while maintaining high-speed capability through proper curvature design
2Force
If cylindrical roller bearings or tapered roller bearings are used, then the bearing load capacity is large, but the raceways and rollers are in straight-line contact making them sensitive to misalignment and requiring high precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the raceways by making them spherical surfaces with different radii (inner raceway radius R1, outer raceway radius R2). This curved contact geometry allows the bearing to accommodate misalignment between shaft and housing while maintaining line contact for high load capacity, eliminating the sensitivity to misalignment inherent in straight-line contact bearings
3Adaptability or versatility
If double-row self-aligning roller bearing with contact angle within 20° is used, then the bearing has good self-aligning function, but it can only withstand small axial loads and roller sliding is easily caused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the contact angle parameter to be within 10°-45°, which is larger than conventional double-row self-aligning roller bearings (≤20°). This increased contact angle allows the bearing to withstand larger axial loads while maintaining self-aligning capability through the curved raceway geometry, preventing roller sliding under axial loads
4Force
If the bearing is designed for light-weight, then the bearing can withstand larger load under same boundary dimension, but the precision requirements for bearing seat holes and shafts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The curved spherical raceways with optimized radius ratios create a self-aligning effect that compensates for mounting inaccuracies. This allows the bearing to maintain high load capacity while reducing sensitivity to misalignment between the shaft and housing, effectively lowering the required manufacturing precision for mounting surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
An angular contact self-aligning roller bearing, including rollers, an inner ring, a cage, an outer ring, an outer raceway and an inner raceway. The outer raceway is an inner spherical surface. A spherical center of the inner spherical surface is located on an axis of the outer ring and deviates from a central point of the outer ring. The rollers are in a single row. A working surface of each roller is an externally convex surface, which is formed by rotation of a first circular arc as a generatrix around an axis of each roller as a rotation axis. The inner raceway is an internally concave surface, which is formed by rotation of a second circular arc as a generatrix around an axis of the inner ring as a rotation axis. The bearing can withstand separate loads or combined loads in axial and radial directions, and adapt to misalignment.