Split Tapered Roller Bearing With Indexed Seal Wear Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind turbine drive train configurations require disconnection of the mainshaft for maintenance and bearing replacement, which is inefficient and time-consuming, especially when using split bearings to replace spherical roller bearings with split tapered roller bearings.
Innovation Solution
A split bearing assembly with a two-row configuration, featuring a split inner and outer race ring design, a split clamping band, and a split seal wear ring, allowing for secure installation and maintenance without disconnecting the mainshaft, along with a method for aligning and locking the seal wear ring onto the clamping band, ensuring effective sealing and preload adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional spherical roller bearings are used in wind turbine drive trains, then the bearings can support radial and axial loads, but the mainshaft must be disconnected for maintenance and bearing replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly is divided into separable components: a split inner race ring with first and second components that can be independently removed from the shaft, allowing bearing replacement without mainshaft disconnection. The outer race ring remains mounted on the shaft while the inner components are accessed and replaced through the split design.
2Ease of manufacture
If split tapered roller bearings are installed on the shaft, then the inner race ring can be separated for maintenance, but the components must be securely connected together
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second components of the inner race ring are nested together with precision-machined mating surfaces that include ribs and grooves. These nested components are secured using fasteners that engage through aligned holes, creating a compact assembled unit that functions as a single bearing inner race while maintaining ease of disassembly for maintenance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a clamping band is used to secure the split inner race ring on the shaft, then the bearing components remain fixed during operation, but additional sealing and positioning features are required
Solution Approach 1:
The seal wear ring is integrated with the clamping band assembly, where the seal wear ring includes an inner diameter surface that contacts the shaft and an outer diameter surface that interfaces with the clamping band. This merged design combines the functions of securing the bearing components and providing sealing in a single integrated assembly, reducing the need for separate sealing mechanisms.
4Reliability
If the seal wear ring is secured to the clamping band, then effective sealing is maintained, but precise alignment and positioning features are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The seal wear ring and clamping band include asymmetric positioning features such as a rib on the seal wear ring that engages with a corresponding groove on the clamping band. This asymmetric design provides automatic self-alignment during assembly and ensures precise relative positioning of the components, maintaining sealing effectiveness without requiring high-precision machining tolerances.
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing assembly includes a split inner race ring configured to be installed on a shaft and defines two raceways for supporting rolling elements. A split clamping band is configured to be installed over the split inner race ring to secure the split inner race ring on the shaft. A split seal wear ring is configured to be installed on an outer diameter surface of the split clamping band. An engagement interface between the split clamping band and the split seal wear ring includes a boss on one of the split clamping band and the split seal wear ring, and an aperture on the other one of the split clamping band and the split seal wear ring. The aperture is sized and configured to receive the boss for positioning the split seal wear ring on the split clamping band.