Solenoid Rolling Bearing With Offset Spherical Pockets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electromagnetic solenoid systems face challenges with high friction and limited tolerance to contamination, which affect their performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A rolling-element bearing with a cage featuring spherical pockets around two circumferences, where the pockets are angularly offset, captures spherical rolling elements for free rotation, reducing friction and enhancing contamination resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bushing is used to support the armature pin, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but friction is high and tolerance to contamination is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional sliding bushing mechanism with a rolling-element bearing system. The spherical rolling elements rotate within spherical pockets, converting sliding friction into rolling friction. This substitution dramatically reduces friction and improves contamination tolerance while maintaining acceptable structural complexity through the use of a standardized bearing design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs spherical geometry throughout the bearing design: spherical rolling elements, spherical pockets in the cage, and a spherical support surface in the pole piece. This spheroidality allows for smooth rolling motion, accommodates misalignment, and enables the bearing to tolerate contamination effectively. The spherical configuration is fundamental to achieving both reduced friction and improved reliability.
2Force
If a bushing is used to support the armature pin, then the device is simple, but friction is high affecting performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the sliding friction mechanism of a bushing with a rolling friction mechanism using spherical rolling elements. The rolling elements rotate within spherical pockets, converting high-friction sliding contact into low-friction rolling contact. This substitution directly addresses the friction problem while the modular bearing design keeps structural complexity manageable.
3Reliability
If spherical rolling elements are used in spherical pockets, then friction is reduced and contamination tolerance improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of the spherical pockets within the cage structure. The pockets are arranged to accommodate the rolling elements in a configuration that tolerates manufacturing variations. This asymmetric design allows the bearing to function effectively even with moderate manufacturing precision, balancing performance requirements with manufacturability.
4Productivity
If a rolling-element bearing is implemented, then friction is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing is segmented into distinct functional components: spherical rolling elements, a cage with spherical pockets, and a spherical support surface. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled into a complete bearing unit. The modular structure reduces overall complexity by breaking down the bearing into manageable parts that can be manufactured and assembled using standard processes.
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
The solution effectively reduces friction and improves the solenoid's robustness against contamination, ensuring smooth operation and reliability by allowing free movement of the rolling elements within the bearing.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of spherical rolling elements is provided, one of the plurality captured for free rotation in each of the plurality of spherical first pockets and in each of the plurality of spherical second pockets
Data Source
AI summary
A rolling-element bearing for an electromagnetic solenoid includes a hollow cylindrical cage with a plurality of spherical pockets formed around a first circumference and a second circumference of the cage. The pockets around the first circumference are offset from the pockets around the second circumference. Spherical rolling elements are provided in the spherical pockets and are captured for free rotation in the first pockets and second pockets.