Flexible Thrust Bearing Shoe for Thermal Distortion Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Thrust bearings with rigid shoes are prone to distortion due to thermal gradients, leading to uneven hydrodynamic pressure distribution and potential contact between the collar and the bearing edges, which increases friction and wear.

Innovation Solution

A flexible shoe assembly for hydrodynamic thrust bearings, designed with a bearing surface, a first flexible portion along the transverse axis, and lateral portions, allowing the shoe to conform to varying pressure distributions and maintain a consistent bearing surface profile across temperature gradients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If rigid shoes are used in thrust bearings, then structural strength and resistance to bending are improved, but thermal gradients cause distortion leading to non-planar bearing surfaces and uneven pressure distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to bendingVSAvoidbearing surface planarity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe incorporates a flexible membrane or thin wall structure that allows the bearing surface to conform and adapt to thermal gradients and pressure distributions. This flexible portion can bend and deform elastically to maintain contact with the rotating member while accommodating temperature-induced expansions, thereby preventing non-planar distortion and ensuring uniform pressure distribution across the bearing surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The shoe is constructed as a composite structure combining rigid portions (for structural strength and load-bearing capability) with flexible portions (for thermal adaptation and surface conformability). This composite design allows different regions of the shoe to perform different functions: the rigid sections provide overall structural integrity while the flexible sections accommodate thermal gradients and maintain bearing surface planarity under varying operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Force

If rigid shoes are used in thrust bearings, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but friction and wear increase due to contact between the collar and bearing edges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaxial load supportVSAvoidfriction and wear

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible membrane or thin wall structure enables the bearing surface to dynamically adapt to the rotating member, ensuring continuous full-surface contact rather than edge contact. This eliminates concentrated stress points and prevents direct metal-to-metal contact between the collar and bearing edges, thereby reducing friction and wear while maintaining full axial load-bearing capacity through distributed pressure across the entire bearing surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of manufacture

If rigid shoes are used in thrust bearings, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to varying pressure distributions and temperature gradients deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidconformability to pressure and temperature variations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible membrane or thin wall structure provides inherent adaptability to varying pressure distributions and temperature gradients without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms. The material's elastic properties allow it to automatically conform to thermal expansions and pressure variations, maintaining optimal bearing surface contact under diverse operating conditions while keeping the overall structure relatively simple and manufacturable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The composite construction combines easily manufactured rigid components with flexible adaptive sections. The rigid portions can be fabricated using conventional methods, while the flexible portions are integrated to provide thermal and pressure adaptability. This composite approach achieves both manufacturing simplicity and operational versatility by assigning different functional requirements to different material sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 flexible shoe assembly minimizes distortion and maintains a consistent bearing surface profile, ensuring well-distributed hydrodynamic pressure and reduced friction, even under varying temperature conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The first flexible portion is more flexible about the transverse axis than the first and second lateral portions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

changing environmental temperatures can generate thermal gradients across the body of each shoe 20, inducing heavy distortion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS20250146526A1Flexible shoe for a thrust bearing

Publication Date: 2025.05.08 CURTISS WRIGHT ELECTRO MECHANICAL CORP

AI summary

A shoe for a hydrodynamic thrust bearing is arranged relative to a transverse axis, a lateral axis, and a normal axis that intersect with and are perpendicular to each other. The shoe includes a bearing surface for supporting an axial load along the normal axis; a first flexible portion extending along the transverse axis; and first and second lateral portions extending laterally from opposite sides of the first flexible portion. The first flexible portion is more flexible about the transverse axis than the first and second lateral portions.