Bearing Apparatus With Recessed Stiffness Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bearing devices face challenges in efficiently distributing and managing stress loads due to the concentration of contact forces at specific zones, which complicates dimensioning and can lead to inadequate stress smoothing and structural support.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a bearing device design featuring a block of homogeneous material with recesses aligned with the contact zone, allowing for controlled stiffness and stress distribution, which can be calculated based on specific mechanical parameters to relax dimensioning requirements and prevent force concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If support plates are made massive and very stiff to ensure proper force distribution and contact control, then the bearing device can maintain structural stability and control friction coefficient, but the contact forces become concentrated at specific zones making dimensioning complex and stress smoothing inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a recess in the support plate at the contact zone between the convex surface and concavity. This recess locally modifies the stiffness of the support plate, making it more compliant at the contact area while maintaining overall structural stability. The recess allows the support plate to deform and distribute contact forces more evenly, preventing stress concentration without compromising the global structural integrity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the radius of curvature difference between convex surface and concavity is increased to accommodate machining tolerances, then manufacturing becomes easier, but the contact zone becomes narrower concentrating contact forces
Solution Approach 1:
The recess creates a local compliance zone that compensates for variations in contact zone width. Whether the contact zone is narrow or wide due to radius of curvature differences, the recess ensures adequate stress distribution by allowing localized deformation at the contact area, making the bearing less sensitive to geometric variations from machining tolerances.
3Strength
If support plates are dimensioned to handle concentrated contact forces, then structural support is adequate, but the dimensioning requirements become complex and restrictive
Solution Approach 1:
The recess changes the mechanical parameters of the support plate by introducing a compliance element. This modifies the stress distribution pattern and force transmission characteristics, allowing for simplified dimensioning. The recess acts as a stress-relieving feature that reduces peak contact stresses, enabling the use of standard dimensioning approaches rather than complex restrictive requirements.
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
This design enables more even distribution of forces and reduces the stiffness variation, allowing for better load management and relaxed sizing constraints, thereby enhancing the structural performance and durability of the bearing device.
Implementation Method 1
The sliding material defines, through its tribological properties, the characteristic coefficient of friction of the bearing 100
Implementation Method 2
the sliding material 3 preferably has a higher coefficient of friction in order to dissipate the maximum force and thus to limit the displacement of the supported structure
Implementation Method 3
an appropriate dimensioning and positioning of the recess(es) in a force transmission part makes it possible to control the stiffness of this part to better smooth the stresses
Data Source
Figure 1~2c
Figure 3a~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention concerns the field of support devices for equipping various types of structures. More particularly, the invention concerns a support device (100) comprising a plurality of force transmission parts (1, 2a, 2b) in mutual contact so as to transmit forces directed substantially in a predefined direction (D). One of the parts has a convex surface (1a, 1b), another having a concave surface (20a, 20b) with a larger radius of curvature. The convex surface is in contact with the concave surface in a contact area. At least one of the force transmission parts comprises a block of homogeneous material having at least one recess (4) in a portion substantially aligned with the contact area along said predefined direction.