Thrust Roller Bearing Retainer Ironing for Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thrust roller bearings used in severe environments like high-speed rotation and thin lubrication conditions suffer from drilling wear and strength issues due to low surface roughness and coarse iron plate surfaces, leading to reduced lifespan.
Innovation Solution
The thrust roller bearing features a disk-shaped retainer with an outer flange part bent in the rotation axis direction, where the outer wall surface is processed by ironing to increase surface roughness and area, reducing drilling wear and maintaining strength, with the roller end face designed to abut on the ironed surface for improved contact and wear resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the outer wall surface of the pocket is made from a coarse iron plate surface or punched surface, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the surface roughness is low causing drilling wear between the roller end face and pocket wall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies ironing processing to change the surface parameters of the outer wall surface of the pocket. This process increases the surface roughness from the original coarse iron plate or punched surface to a fine, smooth surface with high degree of surface roughness, thereby preventing drilling wear between the roller end face and pocket wall while maintaining the same base material and manufacturing approach
2Ease of manufacture
If the outer wall surface of the pocket is made from a coarse iron plate surface, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the surface area is small resulting in high contact surface pressure and increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The ironing processing changes the geometric parameters of the outer wall surface by increasing its area through the formation of a flange part that extends in the radial direction. This increased surface area reduces the contact surface pressure between the roller end face and pocket wall, thereby reducing wear while the manufacturing process remains relatively simple
3Ease of manufacture
If the outer wall surface of the pocket has low strength, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the surface could be damaged under centrifugal force during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The ironing processing strengthens the outer wall surface of the pocket through plastic deformation that increases material density and structural integrity. The flange part formed by ironing extends in the radial direction, providing enhanced strength to resist centrifugal forces during operation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The ironing process creates a curved, flared flange structure that distributes stresses more effectively compared to a flat surface. This geometric transformation provides both increased strength and wear resistance while maintaining ease of manufacture
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
This design significantly reduces drilling wear and enhances the lifespan of the thrust roller bearing by ensuring a smooth, high-surface roughness contact area and maintaining the strength of the pocket surface, even under high centrifugal forces.
Implementation Method 1
the outer wall surface of the pocket is processed by the ironing
Implementation Method 2
an outer flange part bent in the rotation axis direction
Implementation Method 3
when the end face of the roller, the outer end face thereof, especially is pressed to the outer wall surface of the pocket due to centrifugal force
Data Source
AI summary
A thrust roller bearing comprises a plurality of rollers and a disk-shaped retainer having a plurality of pockets for holding the plurality of rollers and having an outer flange part bent in a rotation axis direction. The inner surface of the outer flange part forms the outer wall surface of the pocket and the outer wall surface of the pocket is processed by the ironing.