Self-Aligning Roller Bearing Shielded Cage Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-aligning roller bearings face challenges in providing enhanced sealing performance and compactness while accommodating demanding applications without extending the bearing's perimeter, especially when replacing open standard dimension bearings.
Innovation Solution
A self-aligning roller bearing design featuring a ring-formed shield element with male and female connection elements that securely attach to the cage, providing a robust and compact configuration with radial and circumferential gaps for friction-free rotation and improved sealing, without the need for re-designing applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal unit with a freely rotatable main element and seal lip is used, then sealing performance is improved, but friction is increased and rotation is not friction-free
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from a rotating seal unit and implements it through a stationary ring-formed shield element. The shield is fixed to the cage structure and provides sealing without rotation, thereby eliminating the friction associated with rotating seal lips while maintaining effective separation between the bearing interior and exterior environments.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a rotating seal lip that contacts the bearing rings to provide sealing, the patent inverts the approach by using a stationary shield element that creates sealing through its fixed position and geometric configuration. The sealing action is achieved by the shield's presence rather than by friction-based contact during rotation.
2Reliability
If a shield element is integrated into the bearing, then sealing performance is improved, but the bearing perimeter is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The ring-formed shield element is nested within the existing bearing structure, specifically integrated with the cage assembly. The shield is positioned within the bearing's overall envelope dimensions, utilizing the existing space between the inner and outer rings rather than extending the bearing's external perimeter. This nesting approach allows the shield to provide sealing functionality while maintaining the original bearing footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the shield element in the radial dimension within the bearing's internal space rather than extending it axially or radially outward. By utilizing the radial clearance already present in the bearing design, the shield provides sealing functionality without increasing the bearing's external dimensions in any direction.
3Reliability
If multiple connection elements are used to attach the shield to the cage, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the shield and cage is achieved through multiple discrete connection elements distributed around the shield's circumference. These segmented connection points provide reliable attachment while allowing each individual connection element to be simple in design. The segmentation distributes mechanical loads across multiple points rather than concentrating them at a single location.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection elements serve multiple functions simultaneously: they attach the shield to the cage, provide structural support, and maintain the shield's positional stability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby maintaining connection reliability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-aligning roller bearing having an inner and an outer bearing ring, at least one row of roller elements disposed between the inner and outer bearing ring, a cage for guiding the roller elements, a shield element comprising a ring-formed shield provided at a first axial side of the self-aligning roller bearing, the ring-formed shield being configured for preventing foreign matter from entering an interior space between the inner ring and the outer ring, the shield element further comprising a plurality of male connection elements protruding out from the ring-formed shield. The cage having a cage side portion provided at the first axial side. The cage side portion includes a plurality of female connection elements. Each male connection element is inserted into a respective female connection element of the plurality of female connection elements forming mating pairs of connection elements hereby connecting the shield element to the cage side portion.