Strain Wave Drive Bearing Assembly With Full-Complement Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional strain wave gearing systems face issues with large size, high weight, and limited load and torque capacity due to complex one-piece machined cages, which affect performance, design flexibility, and increase manufacturing and maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A bearing assembly with a full complement of closely packed rollers and idler rollers arranged around the wave generator, eliminating the need for additional securing means and enhancing load capacity, friction reduction, and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional one-piece machined cages are used in strain wave drives, then the bearing assembly can be manufactured with traditional methods, but the load capacity and torque capacity are limited and manufacturing and maintenance costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly is divided into multiple independent roller elements arranged in a full complement configuration, replacing the conventional one-piece machined cage structure. This segmentation allows each roller to independently carry load, significantly increasing overall load capacity and torque capacity while simplifying manufacturing and maintenance.
2Weight of moving object
If conventional bearing assemblies with cages are used, then the structure is simpler to manufacture, but the size and weight of the actuator system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conventional cage structure is completely removed from the bearing assembly. Instead of using a cage to hold and secure the rollers, the invention employs a full complement of closely packed rollers that are retained only by the bearing outer race and wave generator surface, eliminating unnecessary weight and complexity.
3Strength
If closely packed bearing components are used around the wave generator, then load capacity increases, but the bearing components may require additional securing means
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing components are designed to be self-securing through their own geometry and arrangement. The full complement of rollers is retained solely by the bearing outer race and wave generator surface, with no additional securing means required. The rollers themselves maintain their position through the natural constraints of the bearing assembly geometry.
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 new bearing design improves load capacity, reduces friction, enhances positional accuracy, and lowers manufacturing and maintenance costs while maintaining compactness and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of rollers which rotate about their own axis and a plurality of idler rollers located adjacent ones of said rollers, the idler rollers configured rotate in a direction opposite to the direction in which the rollers rotate about their own axis
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing assembly for a strain wave drive includes a full complement of bearing components arranged to be mounted closely adjacent each other around the peripheral extent of a wave generator. The number of bearing components is the maximum number of said bearing components that can be accommodated in the peripheral extent. The assembly can be includes in a strain wave drive that includes a wave generator arranged to rotate about an axis and having an elliptical cross-section and a flex spline mounted around the wave generator. The bearing assembly can be located around the wave generator between the wave generator and the flex spline.