Auto-centering Structural Bearing with Roller Beds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing structural bearings fail to transfer large vertical loads without transferring significant lateral loads to the supporting structure, and they often require lateral displacement at the contact interface, which can induce undesirable stresses and moments in the supporting structure.
Innovation Solution
A structural bearing apparatus with a lower and upper bearing plate, load-bearing lateral displacement means, and centering means that allows vertical loads to be transferred without lateral displacement at the contact interface, automatically returning to a neutral position when lateral loads are removed, using roller beds or ball bearings for displacement and helical springs for centering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If rollers or slide bearings are used to facilitate lateral movement, then lateral load transfer to the supporting structure is prevented, but the bearing requires lateral displacement at the contact interface which induces undesirable stresses and moments in the supporting structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism consisting of rollers positioned between the bearing and supporting structure. These rollers act as a mediator that allows lateral movement to occur without direct contact and force transfer between the bearing and supporting structure, thereby preventing lateral load transfer while eliminating the need for lateral displacement at the contact interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing system is segmented into distinct components: the bearing body, the roller elements, and the supporting structure. This segmentation allows the rollers to independently handle lateral movement functions while the bearing body remains fixed relative to the supporting structure, preventing unwanted stress and moment transfer.
2Force
If the bearing is designed to support large vertical loads, then vertical load capacity is improved, but frictional resistance increases making lateral movement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct sliding friction mechanics with rolling friction mechanics by introducing roller elements. This substitution dramatically reduces the frictional resistance between the bearing and supporting structure, allowing lateral movement to occur easily even when large vertical loads are being supported.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively transfers large vertical loads without transferring lateral loads to the supporting structure, reducing torsional and bending stresses, and automatically returning to a centered position upon removal of lateral loads, thus minimizing structural damage and operational disruptions.
Implementation Method 1
using roller beds or ball bearings for displacement
Implementation Method 2
using roller beds or ball bearings for displacement
Implementation Method 3
These large vertical loads create high frictional resistance across the contact interface
Implementation Method 4
using roller beds or ball bearings for displacement and helical springs for centering
Data Source
AI summary
An auto-centering structural bearing transfers vertical loads to a supporting structure while preventing transfer of lateral loads. In one embodiment, the structural bearing includes: parallel lower, middle, and upper bearing plates; a lower roller bed sandwiched between the lower and middle bearing plates and laterally displaceable in a first direction; an upper roller bed sandwiched between the middle and upper bearing plates and laterally displaceable in a second direction; lower centering means including springs compressible by lateral displacement of the middle bearing plate and the lower roller bed in the first direction; and upper centering means comprising springs compressible by lateral displacement of the upper bearing plate and the upper roller bed in the second direction. Upon removal of loads causing such lateral displacements, the springs will rebound to their unstressed states, thereby returning the displaced bearing plates and roller beds to their centered positions.