Split Bearing Cage Design for Noise Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional split rolling bearings in automotive and marine engines generate noise and vibration due to radial offsets and level differences in joint surfaces, which existing solutions fail to adequately address, particularly concerning contact between outer ring halves and cage end surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The bearing apparatus features split outer ring halves with rounded inner edge portions and a cage design where the outside diameter in the normal direction is larger than in the direction parallel to the joint surface, or an elliptic cage shape, or small diameter portions near the joint surface, to prevent contact with level differences, and radially inner side edge portions are machined into round surfaces to reduce impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If split outer ring halves are assembled in the housing, then the rolling bearing can be installed in the engine, but radial offset and level difference in joint surfaces are produced due to assembling error or machining conditions, leading to noise and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by forming a rounded surface on the radially inner side edge portion of the outer ring half's circumferential end surface. This rounded surface replaces the sharp edge that would otherwise collide with the roller, transforming the harmful angular contact into a smooth curved contact that eliminates impact and noise while maintaining the split bearing assembly ease.
2Device complexity
If conventional configurations of split outer ring halves are used, then the bearing structure is simple, but vibration and noise cannot be sufficiently suppressed when rollers pass through level differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by modifying only the specific region where the problem occurs - the radially inner side edge portion of the outer ring half's circumferential end surface - while leaving the rest of the bearing structure unchanged. This localized rounding approach suppresses noise and vibration at the critical contact point without complicating the overall simple bearing structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing apparatus includes: two split outer ring halves which are mounted to the housing; a plurality of rolling elements which are provided so as to roll on the two split outer ring halves; and a cage which holds the rolling elements such that the rolling elements are disposed at substantially equal intervals in a circumferential direction of the cage and which is split at a position of the cage to form joint surfaces, an outside diameter of the cage being guided by inner circumferential surfaces of the split outer ring halves. An outside diametrical dimension in a normal direction to the joint surfaces is made larger than an outside diametrical dimension of the cage in a direction parallel to the joint surface, and vicinity of an outside diametrical position of the cage lying in the normal direction is made to be guided by the outer ring halves.