Spherical Plain Bearing Assembly for Bypass Flap Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing adjusting systems for bypass flaps in conveyor belt systems, such as stone-crushing machines, face high complexity and cost due to high tolerances in machine housing and require time-consuming reprocessing when diameter of through-bores is insufficient to compensate for axial tolerances, leading to inefficient installation and adjustment processes.
Innovation Solution
A spherical plain bearing assembly with a clamping sleeve is used to support the shaft of the bypass flap, allowing axial positioning and compensation for radial and angular misalignments, featuring a frustoconical interface for secure attachment and a split outer ring for preload, along with seals and lubrication to prevent wear and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a cylindrical fitting with two half-shells is used to compensate axial tolerances, then axial positioning is achieved, but the device complexity increases and radial clearance cannot be eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spherical surfaces to both the inner ring outer surface and outer ring inner surface, creating a spherical plain bearing. This spherical geometry enables automatic self-alignment and compensation for both axial and radial tolerances simultaneously, eliminating the need for complex cylindrical fitting adjustments and half-shell clamping mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical plain bearing combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides axial positioning, radial clearance elimination, self-alignment, and tolerance compensation all through the spherical sliding interface, replacing the previous multi-component adjusting system.
2Ease of operation
If through-bores are enlarged to allow radial adjusting, then assembly flexibility is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical sliding interface between inner and outer rings provides inherent radial adjusting capability through the curved surface geometry, eliminating the need for enlarged through-bores and associated precision manufacturing requirements while maintaining assembly flexibility.
3Reliability
If the adjusting system is clamped to withstand vibrations, then reliability under vibration is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical plain bearing creates a clearance-free clamped condition through its spherical sliding interface, which naturally withstands vibrations without requiring additional clamping mechanisms. The spherical geometry ensures continuous contact and stability under vibrational loads.
4Ease of operation
If a spherical plain bearing is used to compensate misalignments, then ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements for spherical surfaces increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements spherical surfaces on both the inner ring outer surface and outer ring inner surface that slide against each other. This spherical geometry provides misalignment compensation through the inherent ability of spherical surfaces to accommodate angular deviations while maintaining contact, reducing the stringency of alignment requirements during installation.
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 solution simplifies the attachment and adjustment of bypass flaps by compensating for large misalignment values without limiting rotational function, reducing installation time and cost by eliminating clearance and absorbing vibrations without wear.
Implementation Method 1
The inner ring (2) has an outer surface (8) with a spherical shape which is configured to slide on an inner surface (12) with a spherical shape of the outer ring (4)
Implementation Method 2
The clamping sleeve (18) has a frustoconical shape having a cylindrical inner surface (20) and an inclined outer surface (22)
Implementation Method 3
A lubricant can be disposed between the spherical surfaces
Implementation Method 4
The sliding space (14) is sealed, for example, by means of one or more seals (26, 28-1, 28-2)
Data Source
AI summary
A spherical bearing assembly includes a shaft extending through an opening of an inner ring, the inner ring having a spherically curved outer surface, a clamping sleeve on the shaft, the clamping sleeve extending through the opening of the inner ring, and an outer ring having an inner surface complementary to the outer surface of the inner ring. The inner ring is mounted in the outer ring with the outer surface of the inner ring slidably supported by the inner surface of the outer ring.