BACKGROUND

Bearings are used to reduce friction and to maintain clearance between two elements of which one is stationary while the other is rotating. Power-dense bearings are designed to provide enhanced load rating to the bearing. Generally, each of conventional bearings includes conventional inner ring, conventional outer ring that surrounds the conventional inner ring and at least one row of rotating elements such as rollers or balls. According to various applications, in some cases, conventional inner ring is rotating and conventional outer ring is stationary and in other cases conventional outer ring is rotating and conventional inner ring is stationary.

In an exemplary application, a rotating shaft is supported by conventional bearing. Conventional bearing enables free rotation of the rotating shaft about an axis of rotation. During rotation of the rotating shaft, radial load act on the bearing. The radial load acts on conventional bearing in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotating shaft. Typically, in case where the shaft is horizontally mounted, then the radial load on conventional bearing will act vertically i.e. on the bottom portion of conventional bearing and hence the bottom portion will experience more stress than the distal end portion i.e. the top portion. Thus, the bottom portion of conventional bearing which experiences maximum stress is termed as a load bearing zone and the top portion of conventional bearing which experiences minimal stress is termed as a non-load bearing zone.

Conventional inner ring and conventional outer ring are of uniform cross-sectional area. More specifically, the portion of conventional bearing in the non-load bearing zone which experiences minimum radial load has the same cross sectional area as the portion of conventional bearing in the load bearing zone which experiences maximum radial load. Hence, there is considerable wastage of material used in the non-load bearing zone which increases the overall weight and cost.

Further, for a particular size of conventional inner ring and conventional outer ring both of which are of uniform cross-sectional area, the space between conventional inner ring and conventional outer ring enables accommodation of the rotating elements which are small in size. As the load rating of the bearing is dependent on the size of the rotating elements, smaller size of rotating elements provides less load rating and hence has less life.

Hence, there is felt a need for an bearing which will overcome the above mentioned problems.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the system of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a power-dense bearing that utilizes appropriate material based on loading and thereby eliminates wastage of material.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a power-dense bearing that has comparatively better load rating capacity and thereby has comparatively better life.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a power-dense bearing that has comparatively less overall weight.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a power-dense bearing that is cost effective.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure discloses a power-dense bearing. The power-dense bearing comprises an inner ring, an outer ring and at least one row of rotating elements. The outer ring surrounds the inner ring. At least one row of rotating elements is disposed in a space formed between a radial inner circumferential surface of the outer ring and a radial outer circumferential surface of the inner ring, wherein one of the outer ring and the inner ring is rotates to form a rotating ring and the corresponding one of inner ring and the outer ring is stationary to form a stationary ring,

wherein the rotating ring has a uniform cross-section area and the corresponding stationary ring has a variable cross-section area such that the variable cross section area gradually decreases from a load bearing zone of the stationary ring to a non-load bearing zone of the stationary ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

A power-dense bearing of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1a illustrates a sectional front view of a power-dense bearing, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 1b illustrates a sectional side view along section X-X of the power-dense bearing of Figure 1a;

Figure 2a illustrates a sectional front view of a power-dense bearing, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Figure 2b illustrates a sectional side view of the power-dense bearing of Figure 2a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Various embodiment of a power-dense bearing of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying embodiments. The embodiments do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The following description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

The present disclosure discloses a power-dense bearing. The power-dense bearing utilizes appropriate material based on loading and thereby eliminates wastage of material and hence it is cost effective. The power-dense bearing has comparatively enhanced load rating capacity and thereby has comparatively better life.
The power-dense bearing comprises an inner ring, an outer ring and at least one row of rotating elements. The outer ring surrounds the inner ring. At least one row of rotating elements is disposed in a space formed between a radial inner circumferential surface of the outer ring and a radial outer circumferential surface of the inner ring. Typically, the rotating elements may be rollers or balls.
Depending upon various applications, either the outer ring or the inner ring is adapted to rotate which is termed as a rotating ring and the corresponding inner ring or the outer ring is stationary which is termed as a stationary ring.
The rotating ring (i.e. the outer or the inner ring) has uniform cross-section area and the corresponding stationary ring (i.e. the inner ring or the outer ring) has variable cross-section area. The variable cross section area of the stationary ring gradually decreases from a load bearing zone of the stationary ring to a non-load bearing zone of the stationary ring. In an operative configuration of the power-dense bearing, the load bearing zone is the zone or the portion of the power-dense bearing that experiences maximum radial load and the non-load bearing zone is the zone or the portion of the power-dense bearing that experiences minimum radial load.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure and as illustrated in Figure 1a, a front view of the power-dense bearing 100 is disclosed. Figure 1b illustrates a sectional side view about the section X-X illustrated in Figure 1a. The power-dense bearing 100 comprises a segmented inner ring such as inner rings 10a and 10b, an outer ring 20 and a row of rotating elements 30. The inner rings 10a and 10b are rotating rings. The outer ring 20 surrounds the inner rings 10a and 10b. The outer ring is stationary. At least one row of rotating elements 30 is disposed in a space ‘S’ formed between a radial inner circumferential surface 20a of the outer ring 20 and a radial outer circumferential surface 10c of the inner rings 10a and 10b. The rotating elements 30 are one row of balls.
The power-dense bearing 100 is disposed on a shaft 40 which rotates about the axis ‘A’ (illustrated in Figure 1a). In an operative configuration of the shaft 40, radial load ‘P’ (illustrated in Figure 1b) acts on the power-dense bearing 100. The radial load ‘P’ is perpendicular to the rotational axis ‘A’ of the shaft 40.
As the radial load ‘P’ acts in perpendicular downward direction, the operative bottom portion 20b of the outer ring 20, being the stationary ring, of the power-dense bearing 100 experiences maximum load and hence it is termed as a load bearing zone ‘L1’ and the operative top portion 20c of the outer ring 20 of the power-dense bearing 100 experiences minimum load and hence it is termed as a non-load bearing zone ‘L2’.
As the maximum radial load ‘P’ acts on the operative bottom portion 20b which is the load bearing zone ‘L1’, the operative bottom portion 20b has maximum thickness ‘T1’ and the minimum radial load ‘P’ acts on the operative top portion 20c which is the non-load bearing zone ‘L2’, the operative top portion 20c has minimum thickness ‘T2’. Hence, the thickness of the outer ring 20 is made of variable cross sectional area in which the cross sectional area is comparatively more in the load bearing zone ‘L1’ than that of the cross sectional area in the non-load bearing zone ‘L2’. The cross sectional area is gradually reducing from the load bearing zone ‘L1’ to the non-load bearing zone ‘L2’.
Thus, it is seen that the power-dense bearing 100 utilizes appropriate material by having variable cross sectional area obtained by gradual removal of material of the outer ring 20 (which is the stationary ring) from the load bearing zone ‘L1’ to the non-load bearing zone ‘L2’. As in conventional bearing (not illustrated in Figures) wherein the outer ring which is a stationary ring (not illustrated in Figures) has uniform cross section area from the load bearing zone to the non-load bearing zone, there is additional material in the non-load bearing zone and hence there is wastage of material. However, as the power-dense bearing 100 of the present disclosure has variable cross sectional area there is no wastage of material and hence makes the power-dense bearing cost-effective.
As the material is removed from the load bearing zone ‘L1’ to the non load bearing zone ‘L2’ of the outer ring 20 of the power-dense bearing 100, there is more space availability to accommodate bigger sizes of rotating elements 30 as compared to the rotating elements of conventional bearing of the same size. Owing to bigger sizes of the rotating elements 30, the power-dense bearing 100 has better load rating capacity which enables to increase the life. Also, as the material is removed from the load bearing zone ‘L1’ to the non load bearing zone ‘L2’ of the outer ring 20 of the power-dense bearing 100, the power-dense bearing 100 has comparatively less overall weight than conventional bearings.
Although, the power-dense bearing 100 is described by having the two inner rings 10a and 10b, the present disclosure is not limed to the use of two inner rings 10a and 10b and any number of inner ring(s) may be used depending upon various applications. Further, the present disclosure is not limited to the use of one row of the rotating elements 30 and any number of rows may be used depending upon various applications.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure as illustrated in Figure 2a and Figure 2b, the power-dense bearing 200 comprises a segmented inner ring such as inner rings 110a and 110b, an outer ring 120 and a row of rotating elements 130. The inner rings 110a and 110b are stationary rings. The outer ring 120 surrounds the inner rings 110a and 110b. The outer ring 120 is rotating. At least one row of rotating elements 130 is disposed in a space ‘S’ formed between a radial inner circumferential surface 120a of the outer ring 120 and a radial outer circumferential surface 110c of the inner rings 110a and 110b. The rotating elements 130 are one row of balls.
The power-dense bearing 200 is disposed on a shaft 140 which rotates about the axis ‘A’ (illustrated in Figure 2a). In an operative configuration of the shaft 140, radial load ‘P’ (illustrated in Figure 2b) acts on the power-dense bearing 200. The radial load ‘P’ is perpendicular to the rotational axis ‘A’ of the shaft 140.
As the radial load ‘P’ acts in perpendicular downward direction, the operative bottom portion 110d of the inner rings 110a and 110b, being the stationary ring, of the power-dense bearing 200 experiences maximum load and hence it is termed as a load bearing zone ‘L1’ and the operative top portion 110e of the inner rings 110a and 110b of the power-dense bearing 200 experiences minimum load and hence it is termed as a non-load bearing zone ‘L2’.
As the maximum radial load ‘P’ acts on the operative bottom portion 110d which is the load bearing zone ‘L1’, the operative bottom portion 110d has maximum thickness ‘T1’ and the minimum radial load ‘P’ acts on the operative top portion 120c which is the non-load bearing zone ‘L2’, the operative top portion 120c has minimum thickness ‘T2’. Hence, the thickness of the inner rings 110a and 110b are made of variable cross sectional area in which the cross sectional area is comparatively more in the load bearing zone ‘L1’ than that of the cross sectional area in the non-load bearing zone ‘L2’. The cross sectional area is gradually reducing from the load bearing zone ‘L1’ to the non-load bearing zone ‘L2’.
Thus, it is seen that the power-dense bearing 200 utilizes appropriate material by having variable cross sectional area obtained by gradual removal of material of the inner rings 110a and 110b (which is the stationary ring) from the load bearing zone ‘L1’ to the non-load bearing zone ‘L2’. As in conventional bearing (not illustrated in Figures) wherein the outer ring which is a stationary ring (not illustrated in Figures) has uniform cross section area from the load bearing zone to the non-load bearing zone, there is additional material in the non-load bearing zone and hence there is wastage of material. However, as the power-dense bearing 200 of the present disclosure has variable cross sectional area there is no wastage of material and hence makes the power-dense bearing 200 cost-effective.
As the material is removed from the load bearing zone ‘L1’ to the non load bearing zone ‘L2’ of the inner rings 110a and 110b of the power-dense bearing 200, there is more space availability to accommodate bigger sizes of rotating elements 130 as compared to the rotating elements of conventional bearing of the same size. Owing to bigger sizes of the rotating elements 130, the power-dense bearing 200 has better load rating capacity which enables to increase the life. Also, as the material is removed from the load bearing zone ‘L1’ to the non load bearing zone ‘L2’ of the inner rings 110a and 110b of the power-dense bearing 200, the power-dense bearing 200 has comparatively less overall weight than conventional bearings.
Although, the power-dense bearing 200 is described by having the two inner rings 110a and 110b, the present disclosure is not limed to the use of two inner rings 110a and 110b and any number of inner ring(s) may be used depending upon various applications. Further, the present disclosure is not limited to the use of one row of the rotating elements 130 and any number of rows may be used depending upon various applications.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS

The technical advancements offered by the present disclosure include the realization of:
• a power-dense bearing that utilizes appropriate material based on loading and thereby eliminates wastage of material;
• a power-dense bearing that has comparatively better load rating capacity and thereby has comparatively better life
• a power-dense bearing that has comparatively less overall weight; and
• a power-dense bearing that is cost effective.

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

CLIAMS:1) A power-dense bearing comprising:
• an inner ring;
• an outer ring surrounding said inner ring; and
• at least one row of rotating elements disposed in a space formed between a radial inner circumferential surface of said outer ring and a radial outer circumferential surface of said inner ring,
wherein one of said outer ring and said inner ring is adapted to rotate forming a rotating ring and corresponding one of said inner ring and said outer ring is stationary forming a stationary ring,
wherein said rotating ring having uniform cross-section area and corresponding said stationary ring having variable cross-section area such that the variable cross section area gradually decreases from a load bearing zone of said stationary ring to a non-load bearing zone of said stationary ring.
2) The bearing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotating elements are rollers.
3) The bearing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotating elements are balls.