Swivel Lifting Point With Conical Rollers Under Axial Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing attachment points with rolling elements face assembly challenges and require precise manufacturing to maintain rotational mobility under axial pulling loads, and their load-bearing capacity is limited due to the risk of bearing surfaces tilting and impeding rotation.
Innovation Solution
An attachment point design featuring non-spherical roller bearing bodies with conical bearing surfaces and a closure body that allows for assembly without precise alignment, enabling rotational mobility and axial cohesion, and adjustable bearing play for improved handling safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rolling elements are used to enable rotational mobility of the upper part relative to the lower part, then rotational mobility is improved, but the bearing surfaces may tilt under axial pulling loads, impeding rotation and limiting load-bearing capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs conically curved bearing surfaces instead of flat surfaces, and uses roller bearing bodies with cylindrical curvature. The conical shape of the bearing surfaces guides the rollers and prevents tilting under axial loads, while the cylindrical rollers provide smooth rotational movement. This combination of curved surfaces resolves the contradiction by maintaining both rotational mobility and bearing surface stability under various loading conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the bearing surfaces by introducing conical angles and specific curvature radii. The conical bearing surfaces have defined half-angles that optimize the distribution of axial loads across the roller bearing bodies. By carefully selecting these geometric parameters, the design achieves both rotational freedom and prevention of surface tilting under axial pulling loads.
2Ease of operation
If precise manufacturing is required to maintain rotational mobility under axial pulling loads, then rotational mobility is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conical and cylindrical curved surfaces are more tolerant to manufacturing variations compared to flat precision surfaces. The curvature provides self-aligning characteristics that compensate for minor manufacturing deviations, reducing the need for extremely precise manufacturing while maintaining rotational mobility under axial loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The conical bearing surfaces and roller arrangement create a self-aligning mechanism that automatically compensates for manufacturing tolerances. The geometry itself provides the alignment function, eliminating the need for high-precision manufacturing and complex adjustment procedures during assembly and operation.
3Reliability
If the upper part is manually aligned before applying pulling force to prevent tilting, then bearing surface stability is improved, but ease of operation and efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The conical bearing surfaces provide automatic alignment through their geometric shape. When the upper part rotates, the conical surfaces guide the roller bearing bodies, automatically maintaining proper alignment without requiring manual intervention. This eliminates the need for manual alignment operations while preserving bearing surface stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows the bearing surfaces and roller arrangement to dynamically self-adjust during rotation and loading. The conical geometry enables automatic realignment as forces are applied, transforming the static manual alignment requirement into a dynamic self-aligning system that adapts to loading conditions in real-time.
4Device complexity
If conventional attachment points are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but rotational mobility under axial pulling loads is limited or impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The introduction of conical bearing surfaces and cylindrical roller bearing bodies adds geometric complexity that enables rotational mobility under axial loads. The curved surfaces create a mechanism that allows rotation while maintaining structural coherence, achieving enhanced functionality without excessive overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the geometric parameters of the connection between upper and lower parts—specifically introducing conical angles and roller dimensions—the design achieves rotational mobility under axial loads. These parameter changes create a new operational regime that conventional flat-surface attachments cannot achieve, while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.
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 design simplifies assembly, maintains rotational mobility under both axial and radial pulling loads, and allows for easy replacement of worn parts, enhancing handling safety and load-bearing capacity without the need for precise manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
roller bearing bodies (18, 18.1) which are arranged between the bearing surface (8, 12)
Implementation Method 2
The bearing surfaces (8, 12) taper conically in the axial direction
Data Source
AI summary
An attachment point with a lower part having connection means for connecting the attachment point to an object to be handled, and with an upper part which is rotatable relative to the lower part and connected thereto. The upper part has a connection element for connecting a lifting, attachment or lashing means. The upper part has a bearing surface that tapers conically in the axial direction, and the lower part has a bearing surface that tapers conically in the same direction. Roller bearing bodies are arranged between the two bearing surfaces. Each roller bearing body has a form defined by an axis of rotation thereof and a rotationally symmetrical lateral surface. The axes of rotation of the roller bearing bodies are aligned in the direction of the conical taper of the bearing surfaces and angled relative to the axis of rotation of the upper part relative to the lower part.