Wheel Bearing Cage Structure for Higher Ball Count Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing bearing devices for vehicle wheels face challenges in increasing the number of balls while maintaining sufficient incorporation property and preventing deformation of the cage's pillar portions during ball insertion.
Innovation Solution
The bearing device features a resin cage with a base portion and pillar portions that form pockets with curved surfaces along the ball's outer circumference, including claw portions and cutout portions, which allow for increased ball capacity and reduced deformation by limiting the overlap range with the ball, thereby improving incorporation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the circumferential thickness of the pillar portion is reduced to increase the number of balls, then the number of balls increases, but the incorporation property of balls into the cage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pillar portion is segmented into an inner side pillar and an outer side pillar by forming a cutout portion. This segmentation allows the cage structure to accommodate more balls while the inner side pillar maintains sufficient thickness to guide ball incorporation properly, thus resolving the contradiction between increasing ball number and maintaining incorporation property.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the pillar portion have different thickness characteristics. The inner side pillar maintains sufficient thickness for proper ball guidance, while the outer side pillar can be thinner to allow more balls to fit. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region's thickness for its specific function.
2Quantity of substance
If the circumferential thickness of the pillar portion is reduced to increase the number of balls, then the number of balls increases, but the strength of the cage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the pillar portion into inner and outer pillars, the cage can achieve higher ball capacity while the inner side pillar maintains sufficient structural strength. The segmentation allows optimization of strength distribution throughout the cage structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage is made of resin material that provides adequate strength while allowing for the optimized pillar thickness distribution. The material properties enable the cage to maintain strength with the segmented pillar structure that accommodates more balls.
3Quantity of substance
If the circumferential thickness of the pillar portion is reduced to increase the number of balls, then the number of balls increases, but the deformation of pillar portions during ball insertion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutout portion segments the pillar into inner and outer pillars, where the inner side pillar maintains sufficient thickness to resist deformation during ball insertion. This segmentation prevents excessive deformation while still allowing increased ball capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner side pillar has sufficient thickness locally to prevent deformation during ball incorporation, while the overall cage can accommodate more balls. This local quality optimization resolves the contradiction between ball number and deformation resistance.
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing device for a vehicle wheel, which has an increased number of balls and in which the ease of mounting the balls is increased. The bearing device is configured such that each of the columns (7b) of the retainer (7) is provided with latch sections (7e) protruding toward adjacent columns (7b) and with cutouts. The front ends of the latches (7e) are located within an annular range having a radial width R1 defined between the outer peripheral circle of a ball (8) and a reference imaginary circle C1 having a diameter D1 centered on the center of the ball (8).