Sensor Mounting Cover Sealing for Rolling-Contact Bearings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rolling-contact bearings, such as wheel hub bearings, face issues with liquid infiltration through the sensor hole due to inadequate sealing, despite the presence of a sealing ring, under adverse environmental conditions.

Innovation Solution

A sensor mounting cover with a transverse wall and axial projection featuring a through-seat for the sensor, where the axial projection includes a closure element around the inner edge to create a window that faces the bearing, effectively sealing the sensor's position and preventing liquid ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealing ring is compressed between the sensor and the axial projection against an inlet edge of the through-seat, then the sensor is sealed, but liquid can still infiltrate into the bearing through the sensor hole under adverse environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidliquid infiltration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is divided into two separate components: the sealing ring (first sealing means) compressed against the inlet edge, and the closure element (second sealing means) closing the window. This segmentation allows each sealing component to address specific leakage paths, with the closure element specifically preventing liquid infiltration through the sensor hole that the sealing ring alone could not prevent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The closure element acts as an intermediary component between the sensor and the bearing environment. It closes the window formed by the inner edge of the through-seat, creating an additional protective barrier that prevents liquid infiltration while allowing the sensor to maintain its monitoring function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a closure element is added to close the window around the inner edge, then liquid infiltration is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid infiltration preventionVSAvoidsealing structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closure element is designed to perform multiple functions: it closes the window to prevent liquid infiltration, provides structural support to the axial projection, and maintains the positional relationship between the sensor and the bearing. By combining multiple functions into a single component, the overall device complexity is minimized while achieving effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The closure element is positioned within the axial projection structure, nesting the sealing function within the existing mounting geometry. The closure element fits into the window space defined by the inner edge of the through-seat, utilizing the existing structural void rather than adding external complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS8534126B2Sensor mounting cover for a rolling-contact bearing

Publication Date: 2013.09.17 AB SKF SKF PATENT DEPARTMENT

AI summary

A sensor mounting cover is for a rolling-contact bearing and includes a transverse wall and an axial projection joined to the transverse wall and provided with a through-seat for housing a sensor. The sensor faces the bearing from a window defined by an inner edge of the seat and a closure element is associated with the axial projection and is arranged at least around the inner edge so as to close the window.