Anti-Rotation Snap Ring Assembly for Bearing Creep Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bearing creep in radial bearings leads to undesirable rotation of the outer race relative to the housing, causing wear, contamination, loss of system stiffness, and potential application failure.

Innovation Solution

An anti-rotation assembly is provided, featuring a snap ring with protrusions that are received within a recess in the housing, preventing rotation of the snap ring and thus the outer race of the radial bearing with respect to the housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional snap ring is used to axially position the radial bearing, then the bearing is axially secured within the bore, but the outer race can still rotate with respect to the housing, leading to bearing creep

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaxial positioning capabilityVSAvoidprevention of bearing creep

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The snap ring is segmented with gaps that allow it to be flexed for installation and removal, while the protrusions extend from the segmented body to engage with the housing bore, providing both axial positioning and rotational prevention capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The snap ring incorporates protrusions that extend radially outwardly from specific locations on the ring body, creating an asymmetric geometry that prevents rotation by engaging with corresponding features in the housing bore, while maintaining axial positioning functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of manufacture

If the outer race is allowed to rotate freely within the bore, then installation and removal is simple, but wear occurs on the housing bore leading to contamination and system failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidhousing bore wear and contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusions on the snap ring are designed to engage with the housing bore before any rotational motion can occur, creating a preliminary mechanical constraint that prevents the harmful rotation and subsequent wear and contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusions act as intermediary elements between the snap ring and the housing bore, transferring the load and preventing direct contact and rotation between the outer race and housing, thereby eliminating wear and contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12209615B2Anti-rotation snap ring to prevent bearing creep

Publication Date: 2025.01.28 JTEKT BEARINGS NORTH AMERICA LLC

AI summary

An anti-rotation assembly for use in preventing rotation of an outer race of a radial bearing with regard to a housing in which the radial bearing is mounted, the assembly including a housing with a cylindrical bore defined by an inner surface and a side wall, a recess extending radially-outwardly from the inner surface of the cylindrical bore, and a snap ring including a pair of protrusions extending radially-outwardly therefrom, wherein the pair of projections are selectively received within the recess, thereby preventing rotation of the snap ring with respect to the housing.