WO2018198109A1

WO2018198109A1 - A bearing assembly and uses thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2018198109A1
Application number: PCT/IL2018/050345
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sagiv AHARON
Original assignee: Duke Airborne Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-25
Filing date: 2018-03-26
Publication date: 2018-11-01
Also published as: IL251923A0

Abstract

A bearing assembly adapted to enable movement around three vertical axes and about one spatial point, comprises: a) A ring-like element; b) A rod connected to an axial bearing and provided with an anchoring portion suitable to be housed in said ring-like element; c) A holding element connected at its two extremities to said ring-like element, having an inner shape such that allows it to rotate around said ring-like element; and d) Connecting elements provided in said ring-like and in said holding elements, suitable to connect them to additional structures.

Description

A BEARING ASSEMBLY AND USES THEREOF

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of mechanical bearings. More particularly, the invention relates to a bearing assembly specially adapted for rotation movement about a central point, with a large range of movement.

Background of the Invention

Bearings are machine elements that constrain relative motion to only the desired motion, and reduce friction between moving parts. Many types of bearings exist, each designed to handle a specific type of load and allow movement in specific directions. Countless applications require the use of bearings, and the specific type of bearing is chosen in accordance to those parameters.

In some applications, there is a need for rotational movement, simultaneously, around three perpendicular axes and about one spatial central point. The type of bearing that can be used for this purpose is the spherical bearing which consists of an outer ring or socket (hereinafter referred to as "socket") and an inner ring or a ball (hereinafter referred to as "ball"), usually connect to a pole, and a locking feature that makes the ball trapped within the socket in the axial direction only. Due to this structure of the spherical bearing, in order to withstand strong forces the socket must accommodate more than half of the ball in order to hold the ball in it, which limits the movement range of the pole.

Since spherical bearings allow a limited range of movement, it might be unsuitable for some applications which require more freedom of movement. The art has so far failed to provide an efficient mechanical solution that not only allows movement around three perpendicular axes, but also allows a large range of movement resulting in better ability for an assembly to reach . - the desired form. It is therefore clear that it would be highly desirable to provide such an assembly, which enables movement around three vertical axes about a spatial point, with a large movement range.

It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a novel bearing assembly which allows movement around three vertical axes with a large range.

It is another purpose of the present invention to provide mechanical elements with improved utility, which are connected to one or two said bearing assemblies at their ends.

Further purposes and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bearing assembly adapted to enable movement around three vertical axes and about one spatial point, comprising:

A) A ring-like element;

B) A rod connected to an axial bearing and provided with an anchoring portion suitable to be housed in said ring-like element;

C) A holding element connected at its two extremities to said ring-like element, having an inner shape such that allows it to rotate around said ring-like element; and

D) Connecting elements provided in said ring-like and in said holding elements, suitable to connect them to additional structures.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the ring-like element is rounded at its internal wall and designed with two straight edges to facilitate connection by the holding element. . .

According to another embodiment of the invention, the ring-like element is perforated with two holes designed to connect to the anchoring portion of a rod element by fastener elements.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, the ring-like element is perforated at two locations for connecting it to the holding element by fastening means.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, the anchoring portion of the rod is ball shaped.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the anchoring portion of the rod is perforated to permit connection to the ring-like element. According to still another embodiment of the invention, the holding element is C-shaped or U-shaped. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the holding element is provided with an integral connecting element located at its center. According to still another embodiment of the invention, the holding element is perforated at each of its extremities for connection to the ring-like element.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a bearing device adapted to enable movement around two vertical axes, comprising:

A) A ring-like element;

B) A rod suitable to be connected to an axial bearing and provided with an anchoring portion suitable to be housed in said ring-like element;

D) Connecting elements provided in said ring-like and in said holding elements, suitable to connect them to additional structures. . .

According to an embodiment of the invention, the ring-like element is rounded at its internal wall and designed with two straight edges to facilitate connection by the holding element. According to another embodiment of the invention, the ring-like element is perforated with two holes designed to connect to the anchoring portion of a rod element by fastener elements. According to still another embodiment of the invention, the ring-like element is perforated at two locations for connecting it to the holding element by fastening means.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, the anchoring portion of the rod is ball shaped. According to still another embodiment of the invention, the anchoring portion of the rod is perforated to permit connection to the ring-like element. According to still another embodiment of the invention, the holding element is C-shaped or U-shaped. According to still another embodiment of the invention, the holding element is provided with an integral connecting element located at its center. According to still another embodiment of the invention, the holding element is perforated at each of its extremities for connection to the ring-like element.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a positionable assembly, comprising:

A) A bearing assembly; and

B) A rod element.

By "positionable" it is meant to indicate that the assembly of the invention can be caused to assume a desired position.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the bearing assembly is connected to the pole by fastening means. According to another embodiment of the invention, the rod is bent. According to still another embodiment of the invention, the rod is straight. . .

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the positionable assembly further comprises a second bearing assembly located at an opposed extremity to the first bearing assembly.

AH the above and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be further understood through the following illustrative and non-limitative description of embodiments thereof, with reference to the appended drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings :

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a bearing assembly, comprising a bearing device and an axial bearing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a bearing assembly comprising the bearing device of Fig. 1 and a different axial bearing, according to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of an example of use of the invention, consisting of an arm assembly comprising two bearing assemblies, one according to Fig. 1 and one according to Fig. 2, and a connecting rod;

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a bearing assembly according to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a bearing assembly according to yet another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of an arm assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

Reference will now be made to an embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the . . following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed, mutatis mutandis, without departing from the principles of the claimed invention.

Generally speaking, the bearing assembly of the invention is designed to enable movement around three vertical axes and about one spatial point.

As opposed to the spherical bearings known in the art, which also enable movement around three vertical axes, but due to their structure, are only capable of a limited range of movement, the bearing assembly of the invention is designed with a unique structure, resulting in a significantly greater range of movement.

Referring to Fig. 1, an isometric view of a bearing assembly 101 is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Bearing assembly 101 consists of a bearing device 113 and of an axial bearing 110. Assembly 101 is capable of moving along three axes: axis X, corresponding to pin 104, axis Y, corresponding to pin 106 and axis Z, corresponding to ball connecting rod 109, designed to be vertical to one another and intersect at the same point - the origin located on line 112 (the origin itself cannot be shown). For each of the three axes there is a component designated to turn around it. The superposition of said rotations results in the full spatial rotational movement of element 111, which is connected to external ring extremity 102, relative to the origin 112 at a great range. In bearing assembly 101 external ring 102, which is connected to internal ring 103 by pin 106 and two bolts 107 from each side, is designed to turn around axis Y of pin 106. Internal ring 103 accommodates ball 108 and is connected to it by pin 104 and by two bolts 105 from each side. The connections are not limited to bolts and can be of any suitable type known to the skilled person, such as screws or other fasteners. Ball 108 which is connected integrally to rod 109, turns around axis X. Axial bearing 110, located at the extremity of rod 109, allows rotation around axis Z. Fig. 2 illustrates a bearing assembly 201, according to another embodiment of the invention, comprising bearing device 113 as described with reference to Fig. 1, and an axial bearing 210 that is different from axial bearing 110, and is chosen as per the type and intensity of load that bearing assembly 201 is required to handle.

It is clear that the bearing assembly 101 (and 201) is not limited to the components shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and can be of varied shape and size and may employ different components, such as rods, pins, bearings and the like, to allow to handle different types and intensity of load, and to meet specific requirement needed for any given application.

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of an arm assembly 301 comprising two bearing assemblies 101 and 201, and a connecting rod 302. Rod 302 is a hard element that can be straight or bent to any required shape. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, rod 302 is connected to bearing assembly 101 at one end, and to bearing assembly 201 at the other, by pins 303. The connection of rod 302 to bearing devices 101 and 201 grants arm assembly 301 the ability to move in wide range with many degrees of freedom, to allow reaching a desired unique form required by an application.

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a bearing assembly 401 according to another embodiment of the invention that is similar to bearing assemblies 101 and 201 shown in Figs. 1-3, with the difference that instead of pin 104 (e.g. in Fig. l) that is removed, assembly 401 comprises a fastening element 404 configured to keep and lock bolt 105 in place. The other parts, the rotation and the inter-relations between the parts of bearing assembly 401, as well as its form of use (e.g. arm assembly 301 shown in Fig. 3), are all similar to those of bearing assemblies 101 and 201. This embodiment affords additional freedom around the Z axis due to the removal of pin 104. . .

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a bearing assembly 501 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, comprising a rod 507 with an anchoring ball 503 at its edge. Ball 503 is connected by a screw 505 to a ring 502 that is configured to rotate around the Y axis of the ball 503. Screw 505 is fastened by fastening nut 506. Axial bearing 504 allows rotation of assembly 501 along the X axis of ball 503. Fig. 6 is an isometric view of an arm assembly 601 according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprising two bearing assemblies 501 and a rod 602. Each edge of rod 602 comprises a holding portion 603 suitable to be connected a bearing assembly 501 in a manner that grants rotation along the Z axis of ball 503.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be understood that the invention may be carried out with many variations, modifications, and adaptations, without exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims

WO 2018/198109 . g . PCT/IL2018/050345 Claims

1. A bearing assembly adapted to enable movement around three vertical axes and about one spatial point, comprising:

a) A ring-like element;

2. A bearing assembly according to claim 1, in which the ring-like element is rounded at its internal wall and designed with two straight edges to facilitate connection by the holding element.

3. A bearing assembly according to claim 1, in which the ring-like element is perforated with two holes designed to connect to the anchoring portion of a rod element by fastener elements.

4. A bearing assembly according to claim 1, in which the ring-like element is perforated at two locations for connecting it to the holding element by fastening means.

5. A bearing assembly according to claim 1, in which the anchoring portion of the rod is ball shaped.

6. A bearing assembly according to claim 1, in which the anchoring portion of the rod is perforated to permit connection to the ring-like element.

7. A bearing assembly according to claim 1, in which the holding element is C-shaped or U-shaped.

8. A bearing assembly according to claim 1, in which the holding element is provided with an integral connecting element located at its center.

9. A bearing assembly according to claim 1, in which the holding element is perforated at each of its extremities for connection to the ring-like element.

10. A bearing assembly adapted to enable movement around two vertical axes, comprising:

A) A ring-like element;

11. A bearing assembly according to claim 10, in which the ring-like element is rounded at its internal wall and designed with two straight edges to facilitate connection by the holding element.

12. A bearing assembly according to claim 10, in which the ring-like element is perforated with two holes designed to connect to the anchoring portion of a rod element by fastener elements.

13. A bearing assembly according to claim 10, in which the ring-like element is perforated at two locations for connecting it to the holding element by fastening means. WO 2018/198109 - \ \ - PCT/IL2018/050345

14. A bearing assembly according to claim 10, in which the anchoring portion of the rod is ball shaped.

15. A bearing assembly according to claim 10, in which the anchoring portion of the rod is perforated to permit connection to the ring-like element.

16. A bearing assembly according to claim 10, in which the holding element is C-shaped or U-shaped.

17. A bearing assembly according to claim 10, in which the holding element is provided with an integral connecting element located at its center.

18. A bearing assembly according to claim 10, in which the holding element is perforated at each of its extremities for connection to the ring-like element.

19. A bearing assembly adapted to enable movement around two vertical axes and about one spatial point, comprising:

i. A ring-like element;

ii. A rod connected to an axial bearing with an anchoring portion housed in said ring-like element; and

iii. Connecting elements provided on said ring-like element and said rod, suitable to connect it to additional structures.

20. A positionable assembly, comprising:

a) A bearing assembly selected from claim 1, 10 or 19; and

b) A rod element.

21. An assembly according to claim 19, in which the bearing assembly is connected to the pole by fastening means.

22. An assembly according to claim 19, in which the rod is bent.

23. An assembly according to claim 19, in which the rod is straight.

24. An assembly according to claim 19, wherein the rod comprises a holding portion suitable to be connected to the ring-like element and rotate therearound.

25. An assembly according to claim 19, further comprising a second bearing assembly located at an opposed extremity to the first bearing assembly.