Slim Bearing Seal Structure for Standard Bearings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard bearings with limited boundary dimensions are unable to accommodate complex seals with better sealing performance due to size constraints, leading to inadequate protection in heavily contaminated environments.
Innovation Solution
A bearing seal with a lean, slim structure that allows for axial space release within the bearing, enabling the use of previously complex seals in standard bearings without increasing boundary dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex seal structure is used to improve sealing performance, then sealing performance is improved, but the axial size increases making it incompatible with standard bearing dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is nested within the existing bearing components by forming sealing bodies on the flingers that engage with surfaces of adjacent components. The first sealing body on the first flinger engages with the second flinger and/or second bearing ring, while the second sealing body on the second flinger engages with the first flinger and/or first bearing ring, creating a nested sealing arrangement that provides complex sealing functionality within limited axial space
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from conventional axial sealing arrangements to a multi-dimensional sealing approach where sealing engagement occurs across multiple surfaces and directions. The sealing bodies engage with corresponding surfaces of adjacent components in a way that utilizes radial and axial dimensions simultaneously, effectively providing complex seal performance without increasing overall axial size beyond standard bearing dimensions
2Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional dust shield is used in standard bearings, then the bearing maintains standard dimensions, but sealing performance is insufficient for heavily contaminated environments
Solution Approach 1:
The flingers are designed with localized sealing features where sealing bodies are formed on specific portions of the flinger structure. These local sealing elements engage with corresponding surfaces of adjacent components to provide enhanced sealing performance at critical locations without requiring a complete redesign of the entire bearing structure, thus maintaining compatibility with standard bearing dimensions while improving protection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the sealing parameters by creating contact-based sealing engagement between sealing bodies and corresponding surfaces, as opposed to the non-contact gap seals used in conventional dust shields. This parameter change from non-contact to contact sealing provides significantly improved protection capability while maintaining the same overall bearing dimensions and compatibility with standard bearing configurations
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing seal for a rolling bearing with standard boundary dimensions that comprises a first flinger fitted into a first bearing ring and a second flinger fitted into a second bearing ring. Each flinger further comprises a correspondingly numbered sealing body. A first sealing body engages the second flinger and/or the second bearing ring, and a second sealing body engages the first flinger and/or the first bearing ring. The axial width of the bearing seal varies along the radial direction of the bearing. Starting at the first bearing ring, with a narrow width W, defined relative to the total radial size of the bearing seal L, wherein the ratio W/L is less than or equal to 0.5, the bearing seal widens toward the second bearing ring, thereby providing extra space between the rolling elements and/or cage and the bearing seal adjacent to the first bearing ring.