Split Roller Bearing Raceway Recesses for Connector Load Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Split roller bearings, particularly self-aligning roller bearings, face challenges with the connecting means between ring portions becoming loose or tearing off due to high loads, leading to bearing damage and reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of arcuate ground recesses on the outer ring, which extend transversely to the abutment region and are designed to create a threading-out or threading-in track for rolling bodies, reduces the load on the connecting means and allows for elastic deformation of the ring portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the outer ring is split radially to form at least two ring portions, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the connecting means between ring portions become heavily stressed and may become loose or tear off
Solution Approach 1:
The outer ring is divided into at least two ring portions that can be assembled separately, improving ease of assembly. The segmentation allows the bearing to be installed without complete disassembly of the drive train, while the connecting means join the segments to form a complete ring structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing the connecting means with load-distributing features and pre-stress mechanisms that cushion the high loads occurring during operation. The connecting means are pre-engineered to handle the anticipated stress concentrations at the abutment points between ring portions.
2Reliability
If ground recesses are provided in the abutment region, then the service life is improved by reducing load on connecting means, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground recesses are provided locally in the abutment regions where the ring portions meet, rather than throughout the entire ring. This local modification reduces the load on connecting means and improves service life while minimizing the additional manufacturing complexity to specific critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground recesses are prepared in advance during manufacturing to pre-condition the abutment regions. This preliminary action ensures that when the bearing is assembled and loaded, the stress is already optimized to protect the connecting means, extending service life without requiring complex operational adjustments.
3Force
If the ground recess extends over a specific circumferential distance, then the load distribution is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies particular parameter ranges for the ground recesses, including circumferential length between 0.5 to 2 times the rolling body diameter, and radial depth between 0.05 to 0.5 mm. These parameter changes optimize load distribution while establishing manufacturable tolerances that balance precision requirements with manufacturing capability.
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 configuration enhances the service life of the bearing by minimizing the load on the connecting means during operation, preventing damage and ensuring consistent performance.
Implementation Method 1
which, in its function as a threading-out track, gradually reduces the pressure of the rolling bodies in the raceways until the direct abutment region is reached and which, in its function as a threading-in track, gradually increases the pressure on the rolling elements after the direct abutment region has rolled over into the raceways. The gradual transition in particular ensures that the connecting means are hardly or not at all loaded when rolling over the abutment regions in the circumferential direction, but that such forces alone lead to an elastic deformation of the ring portions.
Data Source
AI summary
A roller bearing includes inner and outer rings, and a plurality of rolling bodies configured to roll in two rows on corresponding raceways on the inner and outer rings. At least one of the inner ring and outer ring is split radially to form at least two ring portions. The raceway in an abutment region between the at least two ring portions has a ground recess locally deepening the raceway. Each ground recess on the outer ring has an arcuate course extending transversely to the abutment region, the greatest radial depth of the ground recess lies in the abutment region, and each ground recess extends in the circumferential direction of the raceway of the outer ring over a length which is at most the circumferential distance between the contact point of a first rolling body and the contact point of a second rolling body.