Split Bearing Ring Sealing for Railway Wheel Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bearing units for train wheels often suffer damage or lubricant loss during maintenance, leading to frequent replacement and increased costs due to contamination and structural issues during dismantling.
Innovation Solution
A two-part bearing ring design with connecting elements and seals to prevent contaminants and lubricant loss, featuring a clamping ring and different materials for sealing and stabilization, ensuring a secure and sealed rolling space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the bearing unit is designed as a single integrated bearing ring, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but contaminants can easily penetrate into the rolling space and lubricant can escape during dismantling
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing ring is divided into two separate parts (first bearing ring part and second bearing ring part) that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows the incorporation of a connecting element with sealing functionality between the two parts, preventing contaminant ingress and lubricant egress while maintaining ease of assembly and disassembly during maintenance operations.
2Reliability
If the bearing unit is designed as a two-part bearing ring with connecting elements, then sealing performance is improved and lubricant loss is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element combines multiple functions into a single component: it mechanically connects the two bearing ring parts together, provides sealing to prevent contaminant ingress and lubricant egress, and stabilizes the assembly. This merging of functions reduces the overall number of separate components needed while achieving the desired sealing performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If the bearing unit uses a single-material connecting element, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but it cannot simultaneously provide both sealing and stabilization functions effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is constructed from at least two different materials, each selected for its specific properties. One material provides sealing functionality (such as an elastomer or polymer), while another material provides structural stabilization and mechanical strength. This composite construction allows both sealing and stabilization functions to be performed effectively within a single integrated component.
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 extends the service life of bearing units by preventing contamination and lubricant loss, reducing the need for frequent replacement and lowering maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
the first element is designed to seal the rolling space
Implementation Method 2
the second element is designed to stabilize the first element
Implementation Method 3
with appropriate processing of the adjacent surfaces of the two bearing ring parts, in that the two adjacent surfaces are as smooth as possible according to the invention, a suction effect is achieved so that the two bearing ring parts adhere to one another to a certain extent
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A bearing unit (1), in particular for a wheel of a railway vehicle, is disclosed, comprising a first bearing ring (2) and a second bearing ring (4), wherein the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring are rotatable relative to each other and define a rolling space (6) between them in which several rolling elements (8) are arranged, enabling a relative rotation of the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring relative to each other, wherein the first and/or the second bearing ring is designed in two parts and has a first bearing ring part (2-1; 4-1) and a second bearing ring part (2-2; 4-2), wherein the first bearing ring part and the second bearing ring part are connected by a connecting element (18), wherein the first and the second bearing ring part bear at least partially against each other in the axial direction.