Thrust Race Locking via Radial Protrusions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional thrust roller bearings face challenges in maintaining durability while reducing manufacturing costs, particularly due to low rigidity in race-supporting portions and increased material costs from large metal plate thickness requirements, which affects lubrication performance and assembly complexity.

Innovation Solution

The design features race-retaining locking portions formed by protrusions that extend radially from the cylindrical portion, closer to the race portion, allowing for enhanced rigidity without increasing manufacturing operations, and axially recessed cutout portions to facilitate lubrication and compact configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the thickness of metal plate for race formation is increased to improve rigidity and durability, then manufacturing cost increases and material consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverigidity of race-supporting portionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cylindrical portion is segmented by providing cutout portions that divide it into multiple sections along the axial direction. This segmentation allows the race-retaining locking portions to be formed at strategic locations without requiring increased metal plate thickness, thereby maintaining rigidity while reducing material consumption and manufacturing cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of uniformly increasing the thickness of the entire metal plate, the invention applies local reinforcement by forming race-retaining locking portions at specific locations where rigidity is most needed. The cutout portions are strategically positioned to provide structural support exactly where required, rather than throughout the entire component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the thickness of metal plate for race formation is increased to improve durability, then lubrication performance deteriorates due to reduced lubricant access

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability of thrust raceVSAvoidlubrication performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cutout portions segment the cylindrical portion, creating channels and openings that allow lubricant to reach the race-retaining locking portions and internal structures. This segmentation ensures continuous lubrication access without compromising the overall durability provided by the sufficient metal plate thickness in critical load-bearing areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If conventional locking portions are formed in axially intermediate portions of cylindrical portion, then manufacturing complexity increases due to additional operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly complexityVSAvoidmanufacturing operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The formation of race-retaining locking portions is merged with the existing press forming operation for creating the cylindrical portion. By positioning the locking portions at the distal ends of the cylindrical portion, the same press forming process that creates the cylindrical shape also forms the locking portions, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing operations and reducing assembly complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution ensures durability and reduces manufacturing costs by enabling the use of thicker metal plates for race formation, improving rigidity and lubrication while maintaining a compact structure without additional manufacturing steps.

Implementation Method 1

bending an annular metal plate by press working

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Implementation Method 2

the plurality of protrusions respectively protrude in a radial direction of the inside cylindrical portion away from the race portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2423524B1Thrust roller bearing and method of manufacturing thrust race thereof

Publication Date: 2018.04.18 NSK LTD

Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

At a plurality of locations along a circumferential direction on a cylindrical portion 77c, cutout portions 90 are formed such that each of the cutout portions is recessed in an axial direction from a distal edge of the cylindrical portion 77c toward a race portion 76a. A protrusion is provided at a portion closer to the race portion 76a from a bottom edge of each of the cutout portions 90 such that the protrusion protrudes in a radial direction from the cylindrical portion 77b toward a side away from the race portion 76a. The protrusion serves as a race-retaining locking portion 91 to prevent a race 74a from moving out from a mating member on which the race 74a is mounted. In this way, there is provided a structure by which durability can be ensured even when rigidity of a portion backing up the race 74c is low, and manufacturing cost can be reduced.