Method for adjusting a machine bearing

Abstract

Method for adjusting a bearing of a machine (5), wherein a bearing arrangement (3) with at least one elastic bearing element (7) having a nonlinear force-displacement characteristic and a preloading device (9) is used, wherein the preload of the at least one bearing element (7) is changed by means of the preloading device (9), thereby changing the stiffness of the bearing arrangement (3), wherein the bearing arrangement (3) is a bearing arrangement (3) having two elastic bearing elements (7) as the at least one elastic bearing element (7), wherein the elastic bearing elements (7) are arranged one behind the other in the force application direction, and wherein the bearing arrangement (3) has a rigid intermediate element (23) located between a first bearing element (7.1) of the two bearing elements (7) and a second bearing element (7.2) of the two bearing elements (7) is arranged, characterized in that a bearing device (3) is used as the bearing device (3) whose rigid intermediate element (23) is designed as a foundation or base element.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bearing device, a bearing arrangement with such a bearing device and a method for adjusting a bearing of a machine using such a bearing device.

[0002] For the mounting of machinery, particularly internal combustion engines or fuel cells, bearing devices are used, which may also include or be designed as connecting elements. These devices are primarily used to dampen vibrations occurring during machine operation. To prevent resonance, it is crucial that the stiffness of such a bearing device is matched to the specific machine being mounted and its operating characteristics. If the dynamic and / or vibration behavior of the machine changes in the mounted state, or if this change can only be identified in the mounted state, it can either be addressed or compensated for by an active, controlled bearing device, which is a complex and expensive solution, or the bearing device may need to be replaced.Since it often only becomes apparent in practice during application or a test run of the already assembled machine that the stiffness of a used passive bearing element is unsuitable, this results in a significantly increased workload and correspondingly high costs, especially labor costs. Readjustments in the field of application are also difficult or only feasible with considerable personnel and expense.

[0003] The invention is therefore based on the objective of creating a storage device, a storage arrangement with such a storage device and a method for adjusting a storage of a machine using such a storage device, wherein the aforementioned disadvantages are at least reduced, preferably eliminated.

[0004] The problem is solved by providing the present technical teaching, in particular the teaching of the independent claims as well as the embodiments disclosed in the dependent claims and the description.

[0005] The problem is solved, in particular, by providing a bearing arrangement for supporting a machine, especially an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell, which includes at least one elastic bearing element and a preloading device. The preloading device is configured to preload the at least one bearing element, which has a nonlinear force-displacement characteristic. Because the at least one bearing element has a nonlinear force-displacement characteristic, it is possible to adjust, and in particular predetermine, the stiffness of the bearing arrangement at the operating point by appropriately adjusting the preload using the preloading device.In particular, the stiffness at the operating point can also be subsequently changed – in the assembled state of a mounted machine – by changing the preload using the preloading device, in particular readjusted, so that the bearing device can also be adapted to changed boundary conditions and / or a changed operating behavior of the machine mounted by means of the bearing device.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the bearing assembly itself is designed as a passive bearing assembly, meaning it is not controllable. Specifically, the bearing assembly does not include an actuator element by which it could be adjusted, particularly in response to an external, especially electronic, signal; advantageously, this is not necessary. In particular, the stiffness of the at least one bearing element, and thus the stiffness of the entire bearing assembly, is passively adjustable. Although the bearing assembly is passively designed, if the operating conditions change and / or the machine's behavior changes, it does not require replacement with a different, better-suited bearing assembly, as the bearing assembly can be adjusted to the changed conditions and / or operating behavior by varying the preload using the preloading device.Thus, the storage system proposed here significantly reduces personnel and / or costs associated with adapting it to specific, especially changing, storage conditions. Furthermore, the passive adjustability of the stiffness results in a particularly robust design, while simultaneously eliminating the need for control systems or regulation, as well as the need for an external energy supply. This also contributes to the cost-effective design of the storage system.

[0007] Stiffness, particularly in the case of a nonlinear force-displacement characteristic, is the first derivative of the displacement-dependent force with respect to displacement. Due to the nonlinearity of the force-displacement characteristic, the stiffness—unlike in the linear case—varies depending on the displacement, especially the travel distance, and thus depending on the preload of the bearing element. The preload determines, in particular, the displacement or deformation of the bearing element already present in the unloaded state, and therefore also the travel distance present in the unloaded state, and consequently the stiffness in both the unloaded and loaded bearing states. In particular, the load occurring in addition to the preload in the bearing state is known in advance, so that at least the static displacement or deformation of the bearing element in the bearing state can be predicted.This makes it possible to predefine the stiffness in the static bearing state by adjusting the preload.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the bearing device is designed as a support. Preferably, the bearing device is designed as a fixed bearing, a floating bearing, or as a clamping fixture.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the bearing element can be designed as a spring element or as a combination of a spring and a damping element. It is also possible that the bearing element or the entire bearing assembly is additionally or alternatively designed as an elastic connecting element.

[0010] In a particularly simple and cost-effective embodiment, the bearing element has at least one elastic element or is designed as at least one elastic element, wherein the elastic element is selected from a group consisting of an elastomer element, in particular a rubber element, a steel spring, and a wire spring.

[0011] According to a further development of the invention, the preloading device comprises a first screw element and a second screw element mechanically connected to the first screw element. The at least one bearing element is arranged between the first screw element and the second screw element. With this design of the preloading device, it is possible to adjust the preload for the bearing element in a particularly simple manner, especially by clamping it between the two screw elements in a defined way.

[0012] Preferably, the at least one bearing element has a through-hole through which at least one of the two screw elements passes.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the first and second screw elements are directly mechanically connected. In particular, the first screw element meshes with the second screw element. Preferably, one of the screw elements has an external thread and the other has an internal thread that meshes with the external thread.

[0014] However, in another preferred embodiment, it is also possible for the first screwing element to be indirectly mechanically connected to the second screwing element. In particular, the two screwing elements are then coupled to each other by a third element, for example via a threaded stud or the like.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the first fastening element is designed as a screw with a screw head. Preferably, the screw head rests against the bearing element – ​​either indirectly, for example via a washer or the like, or directly. The second fastening element is preferably designed as a nut. The second fastening element also preferably rests against the bearing element – ​​either indirectly, for example via a washer or the like, or directly.

[0016] In another preferred embodiment, the first fastening element is designed as a nut. Preferably, the first fastening element then bears against the bearing element—either indirectly, for example via a washer or the like, or directly. The second fastening element is also preferably designed as a nut. The second fastening element also preferably bears against the bearing element—either indirectly, for example via a washer or the like, or directly. The two fastening elements designed as nuts are preferably mechanically connected to each other via a threaded stud, a threaded bolt, or a threaded rod.

[0017] According to a further development of the invention, the bearing assembly comprises two elastic bearing elements as the at least one elastic bearing element, wherein the elastic bearing elements are arranged one behind the other in the force application direction. This enables a precise yet flexible adjustment of the stiffness of the bearing assembly. In particular, the two bearing elements are preferably arranged between the first screw element and the second screw element.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the two elastic bearing elements have identical force-displacement characteristics. According to another preferred embodiment, the two elastic bearing elements have different force-displacement characteristics.

[0019] In this context, a force application direction refers specifically to a support force direction, that is, the direction of action of a force that is introduced into the support structure by a machine supported by the support structure, in particular a machine resting on the support structure. The support elements are therefore arranged mechanically in series with one another.

[0020] According to a further development of the invention, the bearing assembly includes a rigid intermediate element arranged between a first bearing element of the two bearing elements and a second bearing element of the two bearing elements. This enables particularly precise adjustment of the preload for the two bearing elements and simultaneously ensures secure and stable mounting of the supported machine.

[0021] The intermediate element preferably has a through-hole through which the preloading device passes. In a preferred embodiment, the through-hole can be penetrated by a screw shank, a threaded pin, a threaded rod, a threaded bolt, or the like, of the preloading device. This, in turn, enables a compact and mechanically stable arrangement of the preloading device, as well as a symmetrical and defined force transmission into the bearing elements.

[0022] According to a further development of the invention, the rigid intermediate element is designed as a foundation or floor element, in particular a hall floor. This enables a particularly compact and stable arrangement of the bearing device and thus also of the supported machine. In particular, one of the two bearing elements can be arranged above the intermediate element, while the other can be arranged below the intermediate element, in particular recessed. This results in a low overall height of the bearing device and also of the supported machine – measured from the intermediate element.

[0023] The problem is also solved by creating a bearing arrangement comprising a machine mounted on a plurality of bearing devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of bearing devices is designed as a bearing device according to the invention or as a bearing device according to one or more of the embodiments described above. The advantages that have already been explained in connection with the bearing device arise particularly in connection with the bearing arrangement.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, all bearing devices of the bearing arrangement are designed as bearing devices according to the invention or as bearing devices according to one or more of the embodiments described above. In this case, the aforementioned advantages are realized in a particularly effective manner.

[0025] According to a further development of the invention, the machine is designed as an internal combustion engine or as a fuel cell. The advantages already mentioned are realized in a particularly significant way in this configuration. This applies especially to an internal combustion engine that is operated at variable speed – particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, during startup or shutdown.

[0026] The problem is also solved by providing a method for adjusting the bearing of a machine, in particular an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell, wherein a bearing device according to the invention or a bearing device according to one or more of the previously described embodiments is used, wherein the preload of the at least one bearing element is changed by means of the preloading device, thereby changing the stiffness of the bearing device. The advantages of this method are particularly evident in the advantages already explained in connection with the bearing device and the bearing arrangement.

[0027] According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that a predetermined preload is set for the at least one bearing element by means of the preloading device.

[0028] According to a further development of the invention, the preload for the at least one bearing element is selected by means of the preloading device such that a predetermined stiffness for the bearing assembly is set. Thus, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, a predetermined stiffness can be specified and achieved by appropriately adjusting the preload with or for the bearing assembly. In particular, even after the bearing assembly and a machine supported by the bearing assembly have been installed, the stiffness can be readjusted or adjusted to a desired value by appropriately changing the preload.

[0029] According to a further development of the invention, the stiffness of the bearing assembly is adjusted to a specific operating point of a machine supported by the bearing assembly. This embodiment, in particular, realizes the advantages already mentioned. Specifically, it is possible to approach a desired, suitable, or predetermined operating point after mounting the supported machine and then adjust the desired stiffness at that operating point by appropriately adjusting the preload. Despite the preferably passive design of the bearing assembly, this can be achieved simply and cost-effectively by varying the preload, without replacing at least one bearing element or the entire bearing assembly. In particular, the desired stiffness at the operating point can be precisely adjusted.

[0030] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a bearing arrangement with an exemplary embodiment of a storage device, and Fig. 2 a diagrammatic representation of the functioning of the storage facility according to Fig. 1.

[0031] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a bearing arrangement 1 with an embodiment of a bearing device 3. A machine 5 supported by means of the bearing arrangement 1 is also shown schematically; this machine can be designed, for example, as an internal combustion engine or as a fuel cell.

[0032] The storage arrangement 1 preferably comprises a plurality of storage devices 3. In a preferred embodiment, the storage devices 3 of the storage arrangement 1 are identical.

[0033] The bearing arrangement 3 comprises at least one elastic bearing element 7, here in particular exactly two bearing elements 7, in particular a first elastic bearing element 7.1 and a second elastic bearing element 7.2, as well as a preloading device 9, which is configured to preload the bearing elements 7. The bearing elements 7 preferably each have a nonlinear force-displacement characteristic. In the embodiment shown here, the bearing elements 7 have - see below Fig. 2 - different force-displacement characteristics. However, an embodiment is also possible in which the bearing elements 7 have identical force-displacement characteristics.

[0034] Due to the non-linear force-displacement characteristic of the bearing elements 7, it is possible to define and selectively adjust the stiffness of the bearing assembly 3 to a desired value by selecting the preload of the bearing elements 7 using the preloading device 9.

[0035] The preloading device 9 preferably comprises a first screw element 11 and a second screw element 13 mechanically connected to the first screw element 11. The bearing elements 7 are arranged, and in particular clamped, between the first screw element 11 and the second screw element 13. The first screw element 7 is designed here as a screw 15 with a screw head 17 and a screw shank 19; the second screw element 13 is designed as a nut 21. An internal thread of the nut 21 meshes with an external thread of the screw shank 19. Thus, the screw elements 7 are in particular directly mechanically connected to one another. However, an embodiment is also possible in which the screw elements 7 are indirectly mechanically connected to one another, for example via a threaded stud or the like.For example, both screw elements 7 can be designed as nuts.

[0036] The bearing elements 7 are preferably arranged one behind the other, especially one above the other, in the direction of force application, in particular in the geodetic vertical direction.

[0037] The bearing assembly 3 preferably has a rigid intermediate element 23 arranged between the first bearing element 7.1 and the second bearing element 7.2. The intermediate element 23 particularly has a through-hole 25 through which the preloading device 9, in particular the screw shank 19, passes. Preferably, the bearing elements 7 also each have such a through-hole, which are aligned with each other and with the through-hole 25 of the intermediate element 23, the preloading device 9 passing through the through-holes of the bearing elements 7 and through the through-hole 25 of the intermediate element 23.

[0038] The rigid intermediate element 23 is preferably designed as a foundation or floor element, in particular as a hall floor.

[0039] Fig. Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic representation of the operation of the storage device 3 according to Fig. 1.

[0040] The diagram shows a stiffness K plotted against a displacement x. A first curve, K1, represents the stiffness-displacement characteristic of the first bearing element 7.1. A second curve, K2, represents the stiffness-displacement characteristic of the second bearing element 7.2. ν0 denotes a specific displacement that results from a particular preload of the preloading device 9 in the unloaded state of the bearing device 3.

[0041] In particular, the adjustment range ν0 can be set using the preload device. s0 denotes a deflection of the bearing elements 7.1, 7.2, which results from the weight of the supported machine 5 in the loaded bearing state. Specifically, the first bearing element 7.1 is loaded, and the second bearing element 7.2 is unloaded. The stiffness of the bearing elements 7.1, 7.2 is then determined as a function value of the curves K1, K2 at the point marked by the deflection s0 starting from the defined adjustment range ν0, for the first curve K1 at ν0 + s0, and for the second curve K2 accordingly at ν0 - s0. The overall stiffness of the bearing assembly 3 is the combination of the stiffnesses of the individual bearing elements 7.1, 7.2. Thus, it becomes clear that by appropriately selecting the preload and therefore the adjustment path ν0, the stiffness of the bearing device 3 can be specifically adjusted.

[0042] As part of a method for adjusting a bearing of the machine 5, the preload of the bearing elements 7 is preferably changed by means of the preloading device 9, thereby changing the stiffness of the bearing device 3.

[0043] In particular, a predetermined preload for the bearing elements 7 is set by means of the preloading device 9.

[0044] In particular, the preload for the bearing elements 7 is selected by means of the preloading device 9 such that a predetermined stiffness is set for the bearing device 3.

[0045] In particular, the stiffness of the bearing device 3 is adjusted to an operating point of the machine 5 supported by means of the bearing device 3.

Claims

[1] Bearing device (3) for the mounting of a machine (5), in particular an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell, with at least one elastic bearing element (7) and a prestressing device (9) which is designed to prestress the at least one bearing element (7), wherein the at least one bearing element (7) has a non-linear force-displacement characteristic. [2] Bearing device (3) according to claim 1, wherein the pretensioning device (9) has a first screwing element (11) and a second screwing element (13) mechanically operatively connected to the first screwing element (11), wherein the at least one bearing element (7) is arranged between the first screwing element (11) and the second screwing element (13). [3] Bearing device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing device (3) has two elastic bearing elements (7) as the at least one elastic bearing element (7), wherein the elastic bearing elements (7) are arranged one behind the other in the force introduction direction. [4] Bearing device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing device (3) has a rigid intermediate element (23) which is arranged between a first bearing element (7.1) of the two bearing elements (7) and a second bearing element (7.2) of the two bearing elements (7). [5] Storage facility (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rigid intermediate element (23) is designed as a foundation or floor element, in particular as a hall floor. [6] Bearing arrangement (1) comprising a machine (5) which is mounted on a plurality of bearing devices (3), wherein at least one bearing device (3) of the plurality of bearing devices (3) is designed as a bearing device (3) according to one of the preceding claims. [7] Bearing arrangement (1) according to claim 6, wherein the machine (5) is designed as an internal combustion engine or as a fuel cell. [8] Method for adjusting a bearing of a machine (5), in particular an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell, wherein a bearing device (3) according to one of claims 1 to 5 is used, wherein the preload of the at least one bearing element (7) is changed by means of the preload device (9), whereby a rigidity of the bearing device (3) is changed. [9] Method according to claim 8, wherein a predetermined preload for the at least one bearing element (7) is set by means of the preloading device (9). [10] Method according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the preload for the at least one bearing element (7) is selected by means of the preload device (9) such that a predetermined stiffness is set for the bearing device (3). [11] Method according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the stiffness of the bearing device (3) is adjusted to an operating point of a machine (5) mounted by means of the bearing device (3).

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