Thrust Bearing Structure With Assembly Restriction and Lubrication Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thrust bearing structures face issues with erroneous assembly, leading to excessive force application and wear due to incorrect contact between the first and second races during rotation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a restricting member and a bearing side protruding portion in the thrust bearing design, where the restricting member is positioned radially outward and facing the first race or rolling body on the second race side, preventing erroneous assembly by collision and ensuring lubricating fluid is discharged radially outward, preventing unintended spread and ensuring stable lubrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the first race and the second race are assembled without a restricting member, then the assembly process is simple and fast, but erroneous assembly occurs leading to excessive force application and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The restricting member is designed with an asymmetric structure where it protrudes radially inward from the second race at a specific angular position. This asymmetric feature creates a geometric constraint that allows correct assembly in one orientation while preventing assembly in incorrect orientations, thereby ensuring assembly correctness without complicating the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The restricting member acts as an intermediary element between the first race and the second race. It mediates the assembly process by providing a physical barrier that guides the first race into the correct position relative to the second race, preventing erroneous assembly while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
2Reliability
If the restricting member is positioned to prevent erroneous assembly, then assembly correctness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than modifying the entire bearing structure, the restricting member is implemented as a localized feature on a specific portion of the second race. This local modification approach adds minimal complexity to the overall bearing structure while effectively preventing erroneous assembly through the geometric constraint provided by the restricting member
3Device complexity
If lubricating fluid is discharged without direction control, then the lubrication system is simple, but lubrication efficiency decreases due to unintended spread
Solution Approach 1:
A lubricating fluid discharge directing member is provided at the specific discharge location of the lubricating fluid from the thrust bearing. This localized intervention directs the lubricating fluid along the intended path without requiring a complete redesign of the lubrication system, thereby maintaining relative simplicity while improving lubrication efficiency
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
Prevents erroneous assembly and ensures stable lubrication by directing lubricating fluid radially outward, preventing spread and ensuring sufficient lubrication to the intended member, thus reducing wear and maintaining bearing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a rolling body (30c) disposed between the first race (30a) and the second race (30b)
Implementation Method 2
a supply mechanism (for example, an input shaft 11 in the embodiment, the same below) configured to supply a lubricating fluid to an inside of the thrust bearing
Data Source
AI summary
An annular first thrust bearing (30) includes a first race (30a) which is in contact with a sun gear (Sb), a second race (30b) which is in contact with a ring gear side member (20a), and a rolling body (30c) disposed therebetween, and the second race has a flange portion protruding radially outward. A second connection member (21) is disposed on a radially outer side of the first thrust bearing (30) to face the second race (30b), and a restricting portion (21a) is disposed at a position facing the first race (30a) or the rolling body (30c) on the rolling element (30c) side of the second race (30b). A distal end of the restricting portion (21a) is located radially inward of a distal end of the flange portion (30d).