Compact Thrust Bearing With Segmented Rigid Plates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compact thrust bearing assemblies face limitations in service life and require significant length to manage elastomer torsional strain, while conventional rubber bushings used in rotor assemblies are inefficient in allowing limited rotational motion and generate restoring forces that complicate actuation.

Innovation Solution

A compact thrust bearing assembly featuring a layered stack of rigid load-bearing structures with rotation-limiting structures that restrict relative rotation between adjacent pairs to a threshold angle, allowing greater overall stack rotation while minimizing friction and wear through interface structures, and eliminating the need for actuator-driven deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If rubber bushings are used to support thrust loads and permit rotational motion, then rotational freedom is provided, but service life is limited and significant bearing length is required to manage elastomer torsional strain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice lifeVSAvoidbearing length

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing is segmented into multiple rigid plates (first plate, second plate, third plate, etc.) connected by spherical joints. This segmentation allows the bearing to achieve greater rotational capacity through cumulative rotation of multiple segments rather than requiring a single long elastomer element, thereby extending service life while reducing the overall bearing length required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the elastomer mechanical system with a rigid mechanical system consisting of plates and spherical joints. This substitution eliminates the limitations of elastomer torsional strain and service life while providing controlled rotational motion through the mechanical geometry of the spherical joints and plate connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If rubber bushings are used to permit rotational motion, then rotational freedom is provided, but restoring forces are generated that complicate actuation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational freedomVSAvoidactuation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elastomer-based mechanical system is replaced with a rigid plate and spherical joint mechanism. This substitution eliminates the elastic restoring forces inherent in rubber bushings, allowing rotational actuation to proceed without complex counteracting forces. The rigid mechanical system provides predictable motion control through its geometric constraints rather than elastic properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Length of stationary object

If compact thrust bearing assemblies are designed to reduce length, then space efficiency is improved, but friction and wear increase reducing service life

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebearing lengthVSAvoidservice life

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Spherical joints serve as intermediaries between the rigid plates, providing low-friction rotation points. These spherical joints reduce direct friction and wear between plates while maintaining the compact structure, thereby extending service life without requiring increased bearing length. The spherical joints act as bearing surfaces that facilitate smooth relative motion between rigid components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing incorporates dynamic rotational capability through spherical joints that allow controlled angular movement between plates. This dynamic design enables the compact structure to accommodate rotational motion without increasing length, while the spherical joint geometry ensures smooth motion with reduced friction and wear compared to rigid fixed connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3252327B1Compact thrust bearing assemblies, mechanical assemblies including compact thrust bearing assemblies, and methods of providing limited rotational motion in a compact thrust bearing assembly

Publication Date: 2019.08.14 THE BOEING CO

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AI summary

Compact thrust bearing assemblies, mechanical assemblies including the compact thrust bearing assemblies, and methods of providing limited rotational motion in a compact thrust bearing assembly are disclosed herein. The thrust bearing assemblies (100) include a plurality of rigid load-bearing structures (110) arranged in a layered stack (120) that defines a first end (130) and an opposed second end (140). The thrust bearing assemblies further include a plurality of rotation-limiting structures (170) configured to restrict relative rotation between adjacent pairs of rigid load-bearing structures. The thrust bearing assemblies also include a first load-receiving surface (132) configured to receive a first thrust load (32) and a second load-receiving surface (142) configured to receive a second thrust load (42). The methods include methods of providing limited rotational motion in a thrust bearing assembly.