Load distribution and friction torque in four-point contact slewing bearings considering manufacturing errors and ring flexibility

Abstract This work introduces a methodology for the calculation of the load distribution in four-point contact slewing bearings considering ball preload, manufacturing errors and ring flexibility. The model is built by the formulation and minimization of the potential energy of the bearing. Comparing with the rigid rings assumption, the results show that ring deformations involve lower interferences in idling conditions, and have a great effect in the load distribution, but not under external loads. Additionally, a new approach has been proposed for the calculation of the friction torque, which has lower computational cost in comparison to a previous approach by the authors, so more accurate results can be obtained due to refined calculations with no significant cost increase.

[1]  Josu Aguirrebeitia,et al.  A new finite element approach for the analysis of slewing bearings in wind turbine generators using superelement techniques , 2015 .

[2]  Andreas Reuter,et al.  Friction torque of wind-turbine pitch bearings – comparison of experimental results with available models , 2017 .

[3]  Daniel Nelias,et al.  Running Torque of Slow Speed Two-Point and Four-Point Contact Bearings , 2015 .

[4]  Iker Heras,et al.  Friction torque in four-point contact slewing bearings: Applicability and limitations of current analytical formulations , 2017 .

[5]  Alberto Serna,et al.  Design of Four Contact-Point Slewing Bearing With a New Load Distribution Procedure to Account for Structural Stiffness , 2010 .

[6]  Luc Houpert,et al.  An Engineering Approach to Hertzian Contact Elasticity—Part I , 2001 .

[7]  Alexandre Leblanc,et al.  Analysis of Ball Bearings with 2, 3 or 4 Contact Points , 2008 .

[8]  Jorge Damian,et al.  Load distribution in a four contact-point slewing bearing , 2003 .

[9]  S StarvinM,et al.  The effect of manufacturing tolerances on the load carrying capacity of large diameter bearings , 2015 .

[10]  Iker Heras,et al.  Friction torque in four contact point slewing bearings: Effect of manufacturing errors and ring stiffness , 2017 .

[11]  Eugeniusz Rusiński,et al.  Superelement-based modeling of load distribution in large-size slewing bearings , 2007 .

[12]  A. B. Jones.  Ball Motion and Sliding Friction in Ball Bearings , 1959 .

[13]  Josu Aguirrebeitia,et al.  General static load-carrying capacity for the design and selection of four contact point slewing bearings: Finite element calculations and theoretical model validation , 2012 .

[14]  Sriramachandra Aithal,et al.  Effect of manufacturing errors on load distribution in large diameter slewing bearings of fast breeder reactor rotatable plugs , 2016 .

[15]  S. Zupan,et al.  Carrying angle and carrying capacity of a large single row ball bearing as a function of geometry parameters of the rolling contact and the supporting structure stiffness , 2001 .

[16]  Alain Daidié,et al.  3D Simplified Finite Elements Analysis of Load and Contact Angle in a Slewing Ball Bearing , 2008 .

[17]  Josu Aguirrebeitia,et al.  General static load‐carrying capacity of four‐contact‐point slewing bearings for wind turbine generator actuation systems , 2013 .

[18]  Josu Aguirrebeitia,et al.  Effect of the preload in the general static load‐carrying capacity of four‐contact‐point slewing bearings for wind turbine generators: theoretical model and finite element calculations , 2014 .

[19]  Daniel Nelias,et al.  Ball Motion and Sliding Friction in a Four-Contact-Point Ball Bearing , 2007 .

[20]  Iker Heras,et al.  FEM Model for Friction Moment Calculations in Ball-Raceway Contacts for Applications in Four Contact Point Slewing Bearings , 2015 .

[21]  Iker Heras,et al.  Calculation of the Ball Raceway Interferences Due to Manufacturing Errors and Their Influence on the Friction Moment in Four-Contact-Point Slewing Bearings , 2017 .