Slide Bearing Bushing Internal Structure Drawing Process

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for internally structuring turned slide bearing bushings are complex and inefficient, particularly in incorporating lubrication structures during the manufacturing process, as they often require multiple tools and steps to achieve uniform lubricant distribution and retention.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a series of drawing process steps using external and internal tools to shape the internal surface of a hollow cylindrical slide bearing bushing, where an external tool with a conical opening and an internal tool with a structured surface are used to stamp the internal structure, allowing for the creation of recesses and raised portions for improved lubrication and reduced porosity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple tools and steps are used to incorporate internal structures in turned bearing bushings, then the lubrication structures can be created, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubrication structure qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple manufacturing operations into a single integrated drawing process. The internal structures (lubrication grooves, pockets, and channels) are formed simultaneously with the bearing bushing body in one drawing operation, eliminating the need for separate post-processing steps to create lubrication features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drawing process is designed to pre-form the internal lubrication structures during the primary manufacturing operation. The die cavity is configured with the desired internal structure geometry, so that when the bearing material is drawn through the die, the lubrication features are already formed and integrated into the final product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If internal structures are stamped into the bearing surface, then lubricant distribution is improved, but the manufacturing time and process steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubricant distributionVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the structural forming operation with the lubrication feature creation. The same drawing process that shapes the bearing bushing also simultaneously creates the internal lubrication grooves and pockets, eliminating sequential operations and improving manufacturing throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lubrication structures are preliminarily formed during the drawing process itself, before the bearing completes its primary manufacturing cycle. This eliminates the need for subsequent separate operations to create lubrication features, thereby maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If blind grooves are formed in conical bearing elements, then lubricant retention is improved, but the manufacturing process requires multiple shaping steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubricant retentionVSAvoidshaping process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the conical shaping operation with the blind groove formation into a single drawing process. The die cavity geometry simultaneously creates both the conical bearing element shape and the internal blind grooves for lubricant retention, eliminating multiple separate shaping operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The blind grooves for lubricant retention are preliminarily formed during the conical shaping operation itself. The die cavity is designed to create both the external conical shape and the internal lubrication features in one operation, before any subsequent cylindrical shaping is performed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If the bearing bushing is radially widened to remove the internal tool, then the internal tool can be extracted, but the structural integrity may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool removalVSAvoidbushing structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic, two-stage drawing process where the bearing bushing is first drawn through the die with the internal tool in place to form the internal structures, then radially widened in a second stage to release and remove the internal tool. This dynamic sequence allows tool removal while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drawing process is segmented into distinct stages: first drawing through the structured die to form internal features, then radial widening to remove the tool. This segmentation allows the internal tool to be removed without compromising the already-formed structural integrity of the bearing bushing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 method enables the production of slide bearing bushings with enhanced run-in behavior and service life, providing a cost-effective solution for internal structuring that improves lubricant distribution and retention without requiring post-treatment, and allows for the creation of various internal channel configurations for optimal lubrication and dirt management.

Implementation Method 1

pressing the slide bearing bushing by means of the internal tool into the through-opening of the external tool, reducing the external and internal diameters of the bearing region of the slide bearing bushing, so that the internal surface of the bearing region is pressed onto the external surface of the internal tool and an internal structure is stamped into the internal surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Implementation Method 2

the through-opening on at least one side has a conical widened portion, the maximum internal diameter thereof being larger than the external diameter of the bearing region of the slide bearing bushing provided

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConical geometry constraint: Geometry

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS10533605B2Method for producing an internally structured slide bearing bushing

Publication Date: 2020.01.14 WIELAND WERKE AG

AI summary

A method for producing an internally structured slide bearing bushing involves the following steps:a) providing a slide bearing bushing with at least one bearing region which is formed as a hollow cylinder with an internal surface and which has an external diameter and an internal diameter,b) providing an external tool with a through-opening,c) providing an internal tool which has an integral cylindrical operating region with an external surface with a structure,d) inserting the internal tool into the bearing region of the slide bearing bushing,e) introducing the slide bearing bushing and the internal tool into the conical widened portion of the through-opening of the external tool,f) pressing the slide bearing bushing into the through-opening of the external tool,g) removing the slide bearing bushing from the through-opening of the external tool, andh) radially widening the slide bearing bushing.