Thrust Bearing Etched Radial Surfaces for Rotation Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thrust bearings with anti-rotation tabs face issues such as tab cracks releasing metal particles and increased production complexity and cost, while existing solutions fail to effectively prevent rotation between components without additional retention features.
Innovation Solution
The use of etched regions with peaks and valleys on the radial surfaces of thrust bearing washers, formed through laser etching, to increase interference and prevent rotation by enhancing surface roughness and friction, eliminating the need for anti-rotation tabs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anti-rotation tabs are added to thrust bearings, then rotation prevention is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the anti-rotation tabs from the bearing structure entirely. Instead of adding retention features, the solution uses laser-etched regions on the radial surface that create interference fits and mechanical interlocking through peaks and valleys, thereby preventing rotation without requiring additional tabs or complex structural modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical anti-rotation tab system with a laser-etched surface treatment. The etched regions create peaks and valleys that generate mechanical interlocking and friction forces sufficient to prevent rotation, substituting a simple surface treatment process for complex mechanical retention features.
2Reliability
If anti-rotation tabs are added to thrust bearings, then rotation prevention is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the need for expensive anti-rotation tabs and their associated manufacturing processes. The laser etching process creates the necessary retention features directly on the bearing surface, eliminating material costs and assembly operations related to traditional retention tabs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces costly mechanical retention features with a laser surface treatment process. The laser etching creates peaks and valleys that provide mechanical interlocking, substituting an additive manufacturing approach with a subtractive surface treatment that reduces overall manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Reliability
If anti-rotation tabs are added to thrust bearings, then rotation prevention is improved, but metal particle contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the source of metal particle contamination - the anti-rotation tabs. By removing these tabs entirely and replacing them with laser-etched regions, the invention prevents tab cracks from releasing metal particles into the surrounding environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical tab structure prone to cracking and particle generation with a laser-etched surface pattern. The peaks and valleys created by laser etching provide rotation prevention without the structural weaknesses that cause metal particle contamination in traditional tab designs.
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 etched regions effectively prevent rotation between components, reduce contamination from metal particles, and simplify the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for additional retention features, thereby enhancing the reliability and cost-effectiveness of thrust bearings.
Implementation Method 1
The radial surface may include a plurality of etched regions, each etched region including a valley that extends below a non-etched portion of the radial surface and a peak that extends around the valley and extends above the non-etched portion of the radial surface
Implementation Method 2
The peaks of the etched regions may be configured to contact the component and increase an interference between the radial surface and the component
Data Source
AI summary
Thrust bearings and etched surfaces thereof are disclosed. The thrust bearing may include a first washer, a second washer, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the first and second washers. A radial surface of at least one of the first or second washer may be configured to be press fit onto or into a component. The radial surface may include a plurality of etched regions, each etched region including a valley that extends below a non-etched portion of the radial surface and a peak that extends around the valley and extends above the non-etched portion of the radial surface. The peaks of the etched regions may be configured to contact the component and increase an interference between the radial surface and the component.