Slewing Ring Grease Assembly Vibration Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing slewing ring grease assemblies fail due to unthreading of internal tubes and pipe fittings under vibration and rotation, leading to grease delivery issues and increased wear, requiring significant downtime for replacement.

Innovation Solution

An improved slewing ring grease assembly featuring a wall fitting with a flange and shaft, and a bulkhead fitting with a tapped passage, where a connecting tube directs grease from a grease gun to the gear teeth, securing components with threaded connectors to prevent unthreading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a bent steel or copper tube with a pipe fitting is threaded into a tapped hole to deliver grease to internal gear teeth, then grease delivery is achieved, but the internal tube and pipe fitting unthread due to vibration and rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrease deliveryVSAvoidthreaded connection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A bulkhead fitting serves as an intermediary component between the bulkhead and the connecting tube. The bulkhead fitting is threaded into the bulkhead, and the connecting tube is threaded into the bulkhead fitting, creating a stable intermediate connection point that prevents unthreading under vibration and rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The grease delivery system is segmented into multiple components: a bulkhead fitting threaded into the bulkhead, a connecting tube with a 90-degree bend, and a grease fitting. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and makes the overall system more reliable by distributing mechanical stresses across multiple connection points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If the internal tube unthreads and falls inside the slewing ring, then the tube gets crushed between gear teeth, but this causes damage and increased wear to the gear teeth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetube structural integrityVSAvoidgear tooth damage and wear

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bulkhead fitting is pre-installed and securely threaded into the bulkhead before the connecting tube is attached. This preliminary action creates a stable anchor point that prevents the connecting tube from unthreading and falling into the sleving ring during operation, thereby preventing gear tooth damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The bulkhead fitting acts as an intermediary that secures the connecting tube outside the slewing ring assembly. This intermediary connection prevents the tube from entering the gear tooth engagement area where it could be crushed and cause damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the internal tube is not in place to direct grease, then grease cannot be properly delivered to gear teeth, but this results in increased wear and decreased life of the slewing ring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrease delivery functionVSAvoidslewing ring life

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting tube is designed with a 90-degree bend at a specific location to direct grease flow precisely onto the gear teeth. This local geometric feature ensures that grease is delivered exactly where needed on the gear tooth surfaces, maximizing lubrication effectiveness and extending slewing ring life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of repair

If the slewing ring must be removed from the swivel house to replace the internal tube, then the tube can be replaced, but this results in considerable downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetube replacement accessibilityVSAvoiddowntime

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The grease delivery system is segmented into externally accessible components. The bulkhead fitting remains installed in the bulkhead, while the connecting tube and grease fitting can be independently accessed and replaced from outside the sleving ring assembly, eliminating the need for complete disassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bulkhead fitting serves as a permanent intermediary connection point that remains installed in the bulkhead. This allows the connecting tube to be replaced by simply detaching it from the bulkhead fitting, without needing to remove the sleving ring from the swivel house.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9964200B2Slewing ring grease assembly

Publication Date: 2018.05.08 GENESIS ATTACHMENTS LLC

AI summary

A slewing ring grease assembly for providing grease to internal gear teeth of a slewing ring. The slewing ring grease assembly includes a bulkhead fitting having a flange and a shaft, the shaft extends through a hole in the bulkhead attached to the slewing ring such that the shaft extends over the internal gear teeth of the slewing ring. The bulkhead fitting flange is secured to the bulkhead on a side opposite the internal gear teeth of the slewing ring. A passage through the bulkhead fitting is provided which is capable of delivering grease through the bulkhead fitting and onto the internal gear teeth of the slewing ring. The grease assembly may include a wall fitting extending through a wall of housing supporting the bulkhead and a connecting tube capable of delivering grease from the wall fitting to the passage of the bulkhead fitting.