Variable Width Radial Bearing Seat Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radial bearings with rotationally symmetric bearing seats are overdimensioned outside the load zone, leading to unnecessary weight, processing costs, and inefficiencies due to constant width design, which is not optimized for point loads.
Innovation Solution
The bearing seat is designed with a variable width that narrows significantly outside the load zone, reducing mass and processing expenses without compromising functional properties, and can be applied in various load cases including unbalanced weights in internal combustion engines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bearing seat is designed with constant width (rotationally symmetric shape), then the bearing seat can withstand radial loads reliably, but the bearing seat becomes overdimensioned outside the load zone, increasing mass and processing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing seat is designed with variable width, being wider in the load zone to withstand radial loads and narrower outside the load zone to reduce mass. This local differentiation of dimensions optimizes the structure by providing strength where needed and reducing weight where not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing seat is divided into two functional zones: a load zone with greater width for mechanical strength and an non-load zone with reduced width for weight savings. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the bearing seat is designed with constant width, then the bearing seat maintains structural stability, but processing costs increase due to machining the entire width with fine precision
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing seat features different width dimensions in different zones: the load zone maintains sufficient width for structural stability, while the non-load zone has reduced width that requires less precise machining, thereby lowering processing costs.
3Weight of stationary object
If the bearing seat width is reduced outside the load zone, then mass and processing costs decrease, but the fatigue strength may be compromised below a critical width
Solution Approach 1:
The width parameter of the bearing seat is varied along its length, transitioning from a larger width in the load zone to a smaller width in the non-load zone. This parameter change optimizes the balance between mass reduction and maintaining sufficient fatigue strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A radial bearing (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d), especially a roller bearing (9) comprising an outer part (3) opposite an inner part (6), which rotate relative to each other about a common longitudinal axis (5) is provided, wherein the radial bearing (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) includes a bearing seat (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d), which is formed in the outer part (3) or on the inner part (6) and which is generally stationary relative to a radial load (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) acting on the bearing seat (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) in a load zone (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d). The bearing seat (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) features a variable width over its extent in a direction of the longitudinal axis (5), such that, starting from the load zone (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), the bearing seat (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) is significantly narrowed outside of the load zone (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d).