Split-Ring Bearing Assembly with Self-Aligning Segment Joints

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of large diameter rolling bearings with split rings is laborious and costly due to misalignment of ring segments during assembly, requiring disassembly and realignment, which interrupts the process and increases overall costs.

Innovation Solution

The use of protrusions and recesses with lateral flat trapezoidal leg faces on adjacent ring segments for radial alignment, along with fixing plates and alignment members, facilitates easy and precise assembly and reassembly without increasing the bearing's dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If ring segments are joined together during assembly, then the split-ring is assembled, but misalignment in radial direction requires disassembly and realignment which interrupts the process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Alignment features (protrusions and recesses) are pre-formed on the ring segments during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when segments are assembled, they automatically align in the radial direction without requiring adjustment or realignment, thus preventing assembly interruptions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Protrusions and recesses act as intermediary alignment features between adjacent ring segments. These features mediate the connection by providing geometric constraints that guide the segments into proper radial alignment during assembly, eliminating the need for disassembly and realignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If ring segments are disassembled and realigned, then alignment is corrected, but the assembly process is interrupted and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidassembly process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Precise alignment features are incorporated into the ring segment design during manufacturing. The protrusions and recesses are machined with high precision to ensure perfect radial alignment, eliminating the need for subsequent adjustment operations and reducing assembly process complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The alignment features are designed to self-align the ring segments during assembly. The geometric constraints of the protrusions and recesses automatically guide the segments into correct radial alignment without requiring external intervention, adjustment tools, or complex alignment procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If fixing plates are used to secure ring segments, then the split-ring is secured, but the overall dimension of the bearing may increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidbearing dimension

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing plates are designed to be received within grooves formed on the ring segments. This nesting arrangement allows the fixing plates to secure the segments together while remaining contained within the bearing's overall envelope, preventing any increase in the bearing's external dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11905996B2Bearing with at least one segmented ring

Publication Date: 2024.02.20 AB SKF SKF PATENT DEPARTMENT

AI summary

A bearing provides an outer ring and an inner ring capable of rotating concentrically relative to one another, at least one of the inner and outer rings being split into a plurality of successive circumferential ring segments. For each pair of facing ends of adjacent successive ring segments of the split-ring, one of the facing ends includes at least one protrusion made in one part with the associated ring segment and protruding into a recess of complementary shape formed onto the other facing end to align the pair of facing ends in radial direction.