Elastically Compliant Bearing Shell Lubricant Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional articulated units for motor vehicles experience lubricant depletion during high-frequency movements and extended idle times, leading to dry friction and increased breakaway torque due to the lack of a lubricant return path, resulting in premature wear and potential destruction.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a bearing shell with through-bore openings that form a lubricant channel system, allowing lubricant circulation between the inner and outer surfaces, and utilizing existing or additional cavities as lubricant reservoirs, with elastically deformable sections acting as seals or valves to ensure continuous lubrication and venting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If lubricant is pressed out during high-frequency movements, then venting function is achieved, but lubricant becomes unavailable for lubrication due to lack of return path
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant distribution system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The through-bore flow channels enable lubricant to move dynamically from inner surface storage recesses through the bearing shell wall to outer surface regions, and vice versa. This dynamic flow system adapts to varying operating conditions, allowing lubricant to be pressed out during high-frequency movements while maintaining availability through the return path provided by the flow channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows lubricant to be temporarily discarded (pressed out) during high-frequency movements through the through-bore flow channels, but simultaneously provides a recovery path. The flow channels enable lubricant to return from the outer surface regions back to the bearing contact zones, ensuring continuous availability and preventing permanent loss of lubrication.
2Device complexity
If bearing shell is stationary during extended idle time, then structural simplicity is maintained, but high initial breakaway torque forms due to lubricant depletion
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing shell inner surface is equipped with lubricant storage recesses that pre-load lubricant into the bearing contact regions before operation begins. This preliminary action ensures that even during extended idle times when the bearing shell remains stationary, sufficient lubricant is available at the contact surfaces to prevent dry friction and reduce initial breakaway torque when movement resumes.
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 solution ensures optimal lubrication under all operating conditions, prevents lubricant film tearing, prolongs the service life of the articulated joint, and effectively removes air inclusions to prevent micro-explosions, thereby reducing wear and extending the joint's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
the bearing shell has recesses for a lubricant on the inner surface facing the bearing section of the link pin... optimize the sliding friction between the bearing section of the link pin and the bearing shell
Implementation Method 2
the bearing shell which is elastically deformable or is compliantly supported produces during the relative movement of the link pin a pumping action, which enables distribution of the lubricant via the lubricant channel system
Implementation Method 3
the bearing shell which is elastically deformable or is compliantly supported
Data Source
AI summary
An articulated unit for a motor vehicle with a housing (1) and a link pin (2) supported in the housing (1), and a bearing shell (4) disposed between the housing (1) and a bearing section (3) of the link pin (2), with the bearing shell (4) supported with its outer surface (5) at least in sections in the housing (1) and having on its inner surface (6) facing the bearing section (3) of the link pin (2) recesses (7) for a lubricant. The bearing shell (4) has at least one opening (8) which extends through the bearing shell (4) from the inner surface (6) to the outer surface (5) and forms a flow channel. A method for lubricating an articulated unit is presented, wherein the bearing shell (4) having elastic compliance produces during the relative movement of the link pin (2) in the housing (1) a pumping action, which enables distribution of the lubricant via the lubricant channel system.