T-Shaped Thrust Rail for Mining Swing Gear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mining shovel swing gear assemblies experience wear and efficiency reduction due to radial thrust loads on rollers and thrust rails, leading to potential fastener failure and increased maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A support rail design with a T-shaped configuration, featuring a horizontal and vertical surface engagement with the swing gear, inhibits rotation and radial movement of the support rail relative to the swing gear, thereby counteracting thrust loads and reducing bending moments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the thrust rail extends above the inner surface of the swing gear to retain rollers, then the rollers are retained in position, but a bending moment is created on the top portion of the inner surface causing wear
Solution Approach 1:
The support rail is designed with a T-shaped cross-section that engages the swing gear at two different dimensions: a first surface engaging the top face (horizontal dimension) and a second surface engaging the inner surface (vertical dimension). This two-dimensional engagement eliminates the bending moment while maintaining roller retention.
2Reliability
If fasteners are used to couple the thrust rail to the swing gear, then the components are retained together, but the fasteners are stretched or broken under radial thrust loads
Solution Approach 1:
The design extracts the load-bearing function from the fasteners by having the T-shaped support rail engage directly with the swing gear surfaces. The fasteners are removed entirely, and the structural engagement between the support rail and swing gear carries the radial thrust loads without fastener intervention.
3Device complexity
If a traditional thrust rail design is used, then the structure is simple, but wear occurs on the rollers, thrust rail, and inner surface reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The T-shaped support rail engages the swing gear at two perpendicular surfaces simultaneously, creating a more complex geometric configuration that eliminates bending moments and distributes loads more effectively, thereby reducing wear on all contacting surfaces despite the increased geometric complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A support rail for a swing gear includes a first flange having a first surface configured to engage a substantially horizontal top face of the swing gear, a second flange positioned opposite the first flange, and a column portion intersecting the first flange and the second flange such that the column portion is approximately perpendicular to the first and second flanges. The column portion includes a second surface configured to engage a substantially vertical inner surface of the swing gear. The first surface and the second surface are configured to substantially inhibit a rotation of the support rail relative to the swing gear by engaging the top face and the inner surface simultaneously.