Tiltable Sleeve Bearing Arrangement Angular Misalignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bearing arrangements, such as roller and ball bearings, experience increased wear due to angular misalignment between the shaft and mounting device, leading to reduced durability and higher friction, which is economically unfavorable and often requires increased installation space or precision machining.

Innovation Solution

A bearing arrangement incorporating a tiltable sleeve member between the shaft and bearing means, allowing for angular misalignment compensation through tilting, pivoting, or twisting, thereby maintaining low contact load and using standard, cost-effective components like metals or resilient plastics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If roller bearings are used to support high loads, then load capacity is improved, but wear increases significantly when angular misalignment occurs between shaft and mounting device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload capacityVSAvoiddurability

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A tiltable intermediary element is introduced between the shaft and the roller bearing. This intermediary element can tilt to accommodate angular misalignment, thereby protecting the roller bearing from direct contact under angled conditions while maintaining load capacity through the intermediary's support surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediary element is designed to be dynamically tiltable rather than fixed. This dynamic capability allows the element to automatically adjust its orientation to compensate for angular misalignment between the shaft and mounting device, ensuring the roller bearing operates under optimal alignment conditions regardless of external misalignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If ball bearings are used to accommodate angular misalignment, then durability is improved, but load capacity decreases compared to roller bearings of the same size

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidload capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing system is segmented into two functional components: a tiltable intermediary element that handles angular misalignment compensation, and a roller bearing that handles high load capacity. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, combining the advantages of both ball/roller bearings and angular accommodation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If shaft diameter is increased to reduce angular offset effects, then durability is improved, but installation space and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing shaft diameter, a tiltable intermediary element is introduced that actively compensates for angular misalignment. This intermediary absorbs the misalignment effects through tilting, allowing the use of smaller diameter shafts and bearings while maintaining durability, thereby reducing installation space and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If precision machining is performed to achieve perfect alignment, then wear is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The tiltable intermediary element provides self-alignment functionality, automatically compensating for angular misalignment without requiring precision machining of the shaft or mounting device. The intermediary's tilting capability serves the alignment function that would otherwise require expensive precision manufacturing, making the system more economical to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 tiltable sleeve member effectively minimizes wear and maintains low friction, even with angular offsets, using standard bearing components and reducing installation space, while maintaining high load-bearing capacity and durability.

Implementation Method 1

at least one tiltable sleeve member is arranged between at least one of said supporting surfaces and said bearing means... some, majority or even (essentially) all of the angular misalignment can be balanced by a tilting (and/or inclination, pivoting, rocking, (inner) flexing, (inner) bending, and/or (inner) twisting) of the sleeve member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTilting/Pivoting/Twisting:

Implementation Method 2

in particular roller bearings and ball bearings are employed... the latter ones particularly, if higher demands for low friction and/or low wear are present

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling contact: Roller

Data Source

PatentUS10066671B2Bearing arrangement

Publication Date: 2018.09.04 DANFOSS POWER SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A bearing arrangement includes a shaft with an outer circumferential supporting surface, and a mounting device with an inner circumferential supporting surface. The mounting device supports the shaft in a rotatable manner using a bearing structure. At least one tiltable sleeve member is arranged between at least one of the supporting surfaces and the bearing structure.