Slew Bearing Segmented Ring for Maintenance Without Downtime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large slew bearings require frequent dismantling for inspection and maintenance, leading to significant downtime as they cannot function during this period, disrupting the operation of supported structures like hoisting cranes and vessels.
Innovation Solution
A slew bearing design featuring a stationary and moveable bearing ring with an upper main axial bearing and an auxiliary axial bearing, allowing the moveable bearing ring to shift between operational and maintenance positions, enabling axial load transfer via low-friction pads when the main rollers are disengaged, thus maintaining functionality during maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the slew bearing is dismantled for inspection and maintenance, then the bearing can be inspected and maintained properly, but the slew bearing cannot perform its function and the large structure becomes non-operational
Solution Approach 1:
The moveable bearing ring is divided into main portions and auxiliary portions that can be independently positioned. The auxiliary portions remain engaged with the stationary bearing ring during maintenance, while main portions are disengaged for inspection, allowing partial operational capacity to be maintained during maintenance activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The slew bearing design allows dynamic repositioning between operational and maintenance configurations. The moveable bearing ring can shift between fully engaged (operational) and partially disengaged (maintenance) states, enabling flexible transition between full functionality and maintenance modes without complete dismantling.
2Ease of repair
If the top roller raceway is disengaged from axial load rollers for maintenance, then inspection and maintenance can be performed, but the transferability of axial loads is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary portions act as intermediary load-bearing elements. When main portions are disengaged for maintenance, the auxiliary portions engage with the stationary bearing ring to temporarily carry axial loads, serving as a mediator that maintains force transmission capability during maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing system transitions between different operational parameters: during normal operation, main portions carry axial loads through roller engagement; during maintenance, the system switches to auxiliary portions carrying loads through direct engagement, changing the load transfer mechanism to maintain functionality.
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 minimizes downtime by allowing inspection and maintenance while maintaining operational capacity, with the auxiliary bearing compensating for the loss of transferability of axial loads, enabling maintenance during favorable conditions without full capacity loss.
Implementation Method 1
an upper main axial bearing having a row of axial load rollers, which rollers are arranged between a top roller raceway and a bottom roller raceway
Implementation Method 2
an upper auxiliary axial bearing having upper low-friction pads arranged on the moveable bearing ring and corresponding lower low-friction pads arranged on the stationary bearing ring to engage with the upper low-friction pads
Data Source
AI summary
A slew bearing includes a stationary bearing ring to be fixed to a base, a moveable bearing ring to be fixed to a moveable object, wherein the stationary bearing ring and the moveable bearing ring are configured to enable rotation of the moveable bearing ring relative to the stationary bearing ring about a rotation axis. A main axial bearing and an auxiliary bearing are provided between the stationary bearing ring and the moveable bearing ring, wherein the moveable bearing ring includes one or more main portions and one or more auxiliary portions, which one or more main portions are moveable relative to the one or more auxiliary portions between an operational position, in which the main axial bearing transfers the axial loads between moveable bearing ring and stationary bearing ring, and a maintenance position, in which the auxiliary axial bearing transfers the axial loads between moveable bearing ring and stationary bearing ring and the main bearing is allowed to be inspected and/or maintained so that the slew bearing during inspection and/or maintenance is still operational.