Crowned Sliding Segment for Hydrodynamic Bearing Edge Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding bearing designs for wind turbines and main rotor bearings fail to effectively compensate for deformations caused by hydrodynamic pressure between the sliding surface of the shaft and the bearing segments, leading to edge loading and premature wear.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a sliding segment with a sliding surface featuring a crowning, which is a uniaxially convexly curved surface in the direction of the shaft axis, made of fibre-reinforced polymer materials such as fibre-reinforced polyether-ether-ketone. This design is intended to reduce, compensate for, or prevent deformations due to hydrodynamic pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional flat sliding surface is used in the sliding segment, then the bearing can be manufactured with simple geometry, but hydrodynamic pressure causes deformation in the contact surface leading to edge loading and premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding surface of the sliding segment is given a crowning, which is a convex curvature in the axial direction. This curved surface profile compensates for the deformation caused by hydrodynamic pressure, distributing the contact pressure more evenly across the sliding surface and preventing edge loading. The curvature radius is specifically designed to match the expected deformation characteristics under operating conditions.
2Ease of manufacture
If the sliding surface is made flat and rigid, then manufacturing is easier, but it cannot compensate for deformations caused by hydrodynamic pressure between the shaft and bearing segments
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a flat surface, a crowned (convex curved) surface is implemented. This geometric modification allows the sliding surface to adapt to deformations under hydrodynamic pressure while remaining manufacturable using standard machining processes. The curvature provides built-in compensation for elastic deformation without requiring complex active control systems or flexible materials.
3Device complexity
If bearing segments are designed to compensate for global deformations only, then the support structure can be simplified, but local deformations at the sliding interface due to hydrodynamic pressure remain unaddressed
Solution Approach 1:
The crowning is applied specifically to the sliding surface of each bearing segment, providing localized deformation compensation at the critical sliding interface. This local geometric modification addresses the specific problem of hydrodynamic pressure-induced deformation without requiring changes to the overall support structure or bearing configuration.
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
The crowned sliding surface leads to a more balanced pressure distribution, eliminating minimum gap widths at bearing edges and smoothing out the gap width over the bearing width, thereby reducing deformations and preventing premature wear.
Implementation Method 1
the hydrodynamic pressure also causes a deformation in the contact surface of the shaft and the sliding surface of the segment
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an improved sliding segment having a crowning on the sliding surface and a corresponding radial sliding bearing and their applications in main rotor bearings and wind turbines.