Split Bearing Housing for Heavy Duty Towing Eye
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heavy-duty towing eyes face challenges in designing a shaft that can be easily inserted and replaced, as the securing element must absorb high tensile loads and is difficult to dimension correctly, making it hard to adapt the shape to specific loads and requiring more material and space.
Innovation Solution
A heavy-duty towing eye with a divided bearing housing allows for a freely selectable shaft shape, where the diameter can be optimized at points of highest bending moments, and the shaft can be inserted from the side, simplifying replacement and reducing material usage by eliminating the need for a screw-based securing element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a screw-based securing element is used to fasten the shaft, then the shaft can be securely fastened to absorb high tensile loads, but the shaft becomes difficult to replace and requires more space for installation
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing housing is divided into two separable parts that can be opened like a clamshell, allowing the shaft to be accessed and replaced without removing securing elements. The shaft itself is segmented into a shank portion and a coupling element portion, enabling modular replacement where only the shank needs to be exchanged while retaining the coupling element.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing function is extracted from a screw-based system to a form-fit retention system. The shaft is retained in the bearing housing through geometric interlocking features rather than threaded fasteners, eliminating the need for screws and making the shaft easily removable by simply opening the bearing housing parts.
2Ease of operation
If the shaft diameter is uniformly reduced to fit through the bearing housing, then the shaft can be easily inserted, but the shaft cannot be optimized for bending moments and requires more material overall
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is divided into a shank (insertion portion) and a coupling element (functional portion). The shank has a reduced diameter for easy insertion through the bearing housing, while the coupling element can have a larger, optimized diameter and cross-section to withstand bending moments and tensile loads. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the shaft have different diameters and cross-sectional properties optimized for their local requirements. The shank has a smaller diameter for insertion purposes, while the coupling element has a larger, strength-optimized cross-section. The bearing housing also has localized features such as anti-rotation extensions and specific receptacle geometries that provide retention without requiring uniform shaft diameter reduction.
3Reliability
If the shaft must be inserted from the front through the bearing housing, then the shaft can be securely positioned, but more space is required for installation and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of inserting the shaft from the front through the bearing housing, the bearing housing is opened from the sides and the shaft is inserted from the sides into the open receptacles. This inverts the traditional insertion direction and allows installation in confined spaces where front access is not available. The coupling element protrudes from the bearing housing, providing secure positioning without requiring deep insertion.
4Ease of manufacture
If the shaft shape is constrained by the bearing housing bore geometry, then the shaft can be easily manufactured, but the shaft cannot be optimized for specific load requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is segmented into a shank with a simple cylindrical geometry for easy manufacturing and insertion, and a coupling element with complex, load-optimized geometry. The coupling element can be manufactured as a separate component or as an integrated part of the shank, allowing customization for specific load requirements such as ball socket coupling, ring eyelet coupling, or other coupling types without complicating the basic shank geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing housing receptacles have localized geometric features such as anti-rotation extensions, chamfered edges, and specific opening geometries that accommodate different shaft designs. These localized features allow the shaft to have optimized cross-sections and shapes for specific loads while maintaining simple insertion characteristics. The receptacle geometry adapts to the shaft design rather than constraining it.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 6~7
AI summary
In a high-load towing eye (1) for a vehicle trailer, wherein a straight shaft (3) having a coupling element (2) is arranged in a bearing housing (4), and a locking element (5) of the shaft (3) is supported on the bearing housing (4) on the side of the shaft (3) facing away from the coupling element (2), it is proposed that the bearing housing (4) be split.