Upper Roller Axle Center Piece Design for Drafting Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing top rollers for drafting systems are not standardized, making their manufacture and assembly complex and not adaptable to various types, requiring individual seal designs and frequent changes in bearing pins for different pitches and saddle shapes.
Innovation Solution
A top roller design featuring adjustable axle center pieces with uniform bores and standardized bearing bolts, allowing for flexible use across different drafting systems without needing to exchange the bearing pin, with a focus on minimizing the seal area and using identical parts for multiple variants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If individual sealing designs and different bearing pins are used for different pitches and saddle shapes, then the top roller can be adapted to various drafting unit types, but the device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal bearing pin design that can be used across all top roller variants regardless of pitch or saddle shape. The bearing pin features standardized spherical rolling element raceways and uniform press-fit dimensions, allowing it to function universally with different axle center sections. This eliminates the need for multiple specialized bearing pin designs, reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability to various drafting unit types through the modular axle center section design.
2Ease of manufacture
If standardized bearing pins with uniform press-fit dimensions are used for all top roller variants, then the ease of manufacture and assembly improves, but the adaptability to different pitches and saddle shapes may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the top roller into distinct functional modules: a standardized bearing pin assembly and a variable axle center section. The axle center section is designed as a separate component that accommodates different pitches and saddle shapes through its geometric variations, while the bearing pin remains standardized. This segmentation allows the standardized bearing pin to be manufactured and assembled uniformly across all variants, while the axle center section provides the necessary adaptability through its design variations.
3Strength
If the diameter of the axle center section is increased to accommodate larger bearing outer diameters, then the sealing requirements increase, but the radial installation space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the largest diameter of the axle center section specifically in the overlap area with the outer ring, where it is most structurally effective for bearing stabilization. The axle center section features a stepped design with varying diameters along its length, optimizing the distribution of material where it is most needed for strength while minimizing the overall seal surface area. This localized diameter optimization allows adequate bearing load capacity without excessive radial installation space consumption.
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 simplifies production and assembly, reduces retooling effort, and enables versatile use across various drafting systems with reduced setup and processing costs, while maintaining a stable connection and efficient sealing.
Implementation Method 1
each journal bearing having at least one rolling bearing at its free end for supporting an outer ring
Implementation Method 2
bores are arranged on both sides in the axle center pieces to accommodate the bearing pins, wherein all bearing devices required for the bearing are arranged on the bearing pin
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
the present invention relates to an upper roller (1, 1') for a drawer, comprising an axle middle piece (2, 2') as well as two journal bearings (4), which are disposed on opposite sides in the axle middle piece (2, 2') and on the free ends of which in each case at least one roller bearing is disposed for mounting an outer ring (7, 1'), wherein, for each upper roller, different axle middle pieces (2) are available, which are matched to the respective, different sections and/or saddle shapes of upper roller supporting arms and loading arms, that, for accommodating the journal bearing (4), boreholes are disposed in the axle middle pieces (2, 2'). All bearing devices, required for the mounting, are disposed on the journal bearing (4,) so that, when the upper roller (1) is assembled, the axle middle piece (2, 2') can be exchanged independently of the journal bearings (4) with roller bearing and outer ring (7, 7') used, for matching to the different sections and/or saddle shapes.