Daniel Christiansen's Anti-Friction Roller Bearing

The Meticulously Illustrated Bearing Poster from "The Box of Crazy"

With so many critics, it's no wonder why we haven't seen this bearing made before.

Parts List & Diagram (FIG. A)

(*Not shown: Corrugated rings which lie within the external housing (G), mounted between outer bearing member (M) and felt washer (A)

A: Felt Washer(s)
B: Load Bearing Roller(s)
C: Spacer Roller(s)
D: Shaft
E: Mount
F: Rubber Belt
G: External Housing 
H: Concenter Collar(s)
I: Containment Flange(s)
J: Inner Screw
K: Main Screw  
L: Inner Bearing Member "Rabbit" (x2 Pieces)
M: Outer Bearing Member (x2 Pieces)

 

Bearing Test (Video)

 

Although a 5 second video, the bearing is very capable of running with a load for as long as needed without sign of heat buildup. The resistance of the bearing appears to be stable and appears to out perform virtually any other roller bearing which has been 3D printed in recent time. (0.3 Maximum change in Voltage)  

I also have my first video that I made to initially begin explaining the bearing. At the time I wasn't confident enough in understanding the oil filtration system and didn't describe it yet. 

Another Youtube Video

Why it Matters: 

     Daniel Christiansen's anti-friction roller bearing makes several improvements to traditional roller bearings. 

 

     Typically, in normal bearings, the rollers are separated by a governing cage in which the rollers are prevented from rubbing against one another by rubbing up against the cage instead. Although this is generally accepted, a considerable amount of friction is created by this rubbing. This becomes apparent to industrial mechanics who remove and repair bearing systems. Naturally, the bearing cage becomes worn, and adds metal shavings or irregularity to the bearing members. This causes the life of the bearing to exponentially decrease as more and more wear occurs due to the increased stresses. 

     D.C.'s roller bearing removes the cage concept, and in doing so, removes all rubbing friction entirely, reducing all friction to that experienced by pure rolling contact. The result is an incredible smooth and low friction bearing. This technology makes it possible to create bearings from less than ideal material, such as that from a 3D printer, or even stone. 

     Furthermore, the oil filtration system is quite advanced and multi-faceted. It was designed to prevent dangerous grit particles from entering and also to regulate the amount of oil residing within the bearing members, as to prevent heat generating excessive oil. Moreover, the parts involved are highly integrated and synergistic, and thus the system also creates a spring which yields to excessive axial impacts, protecting the bearing.

"To insure a constant feed of a clean and grit free lubricating oil for the bearing, and also a means for displacing heat generating excessive oil from the rolling members of the bearing, a certain automatic system of filtration and oil evacuation has been incorporated, where by the oil is expelled from between the rolling members during high rotative speed, and can only re enter by way of a filter placed around the middle of outer bearing member. The oil is evacuated centrifugally, by means of felt extensions of the concenter collars. the felt extensions reaching into, and sliding in annular grooves, formed by two corrugated rings. Hence the angular velocity of the oil in said annular grooves, set up by rotation of said felt extensions of concenter collars, will prevent the oil from re enter by the way it came, and further will force the oil to pass through valves or holes at the bottom of the grooves leading it to the reservoir through an underpass in the lower part of the housing. The reservoir being an annular cavity about the middle of the housings inside.
    As for the corrugated rings, they also serve as springs, that yield to excess axial load or impact, thereby transferring excess load from the knuckular flanges, to an outer frictional flange, which in turn gets instant lubrication by its light squeeze against an oil soaked comb. felt and cotton washer, embedded on the outer ends of the housing. This washer in turn serves as a grit and water proof packing between the housing and the rotating external flange.
    The angular velocity of the oil particles, on the washers surface, as set up by the rotating external flanges, will be checked by that part of the washer which is extending beyond and about the rotating external flange.
    Also the absorbency of the cotton behind the felt surface of the washer, will retain the oil and check leakage from same.
    For a constant supply of oil for external packing a cotton wick connecting washer and oil reservoir may serve as a medium. A light spring when placed behind washer, will insure a lasting snug fit between washer & flange.  "

According to his writing, I'm envisioning not only a bearing that will have less friction due to the removal of the cage, but also something that will replenish itself with the perfect amount of clean oil. That makes a huge difference, and I think because of that, these bearings will last a long time.

Despite them requiring less maintenance, they are still much easier to take apart than normal bearings which are pressed together permanently. These bearings can be taken apart and serviced by hand tools.

If everything that spins requires less energy to do so, we would need to produce less energy.

If energy production was more efficient by simply replacing a bearing with one with less friction, we would produce more energy using the same devices already in place. A superior roller bearing would be a net positive on all sides of the power generation and use equation. Our world would instantly be better, more efficient for everyone.