Floating-Sleeve Hybrid Fluid Bearing for Dynamic Gap Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid bearing technologies face challenges in maintaining dynamic stability under extreme operating conditions such as high load, high vibration, high temperature, extremely low temperature, and bearing-shaft misalignment, with external pressure fluid bearings being prone to damage and foil bearings lacking adequate load-bearing capacity and having complex design and assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A floating-sleeve hybrid fluid bearing system that includes a bearing housing and a floating sleeve with a gap between the rotary shaft and housing, featuring a guide groove and protrusion for constrained rotation, a squeeze film damper for fluid lubrication, and a compliant spring damper for enhanced damping, allowing for adjustable bearing characteristics and operation as both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic bearings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If external pressure fluid bearing is used to secure high load-bearing capacity and high rigidity, then friction and wear between shafts and bearings are minimized, but the bearing is easily damaged under extreme operating conditions such as high load, high vibration, high temperature, and bearing-shaft misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible floating sleeve with a thin-walled structure that can elastically deform under extreme operating conditions. The sleeve includes a circumferential opening that allows it to expand and contract, accommodating thermal expansion, vibration, and misalignment while maintaining the bearing gap and preventing damage to the rigid bearing housing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If foil bearing is used to improve rigidity and damping coefficient, then the bearing is suitable for small high-speed rotating machines, but load-bearing capacity is inadequate when rotary shaft is driven initially and stopped, and continuous wear occurs on bearing surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rigid bearing housing structure with a flexible floating sleeve to create a hybrid structure. The rigid housing provides structural stability and damping, while the flexible sleeve maintains the bearing gap and accommodates thermal and vibrational effects, achieving both rigidity and adaptability simultaneously.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If bearing gap is fixed to maintain lubrication, then friction is reduced, but pneumatic hammer instability occurs under extreme operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic bearing gap through the flexible floating sleeve that can elastically deform to maintain optimal clearance between the rotary shaft and bearing housing under varying operating conditions. The circumferential opening in the sleeve allows it to expand and contract dynamically, preventing pneumatic hammer instability while maintaining adequate lubrication.
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 system actively adjusts the bearing gap to prevent pneumatic hammer instability, ensuring dynamic stability and expanding the operational range, while simplifying processing and assembly, and allowing for tunable characteristics to meet user needs.
Implementation Method 1
a squeeze film damper for fluid lubrication
Implementation Method 2
a compliant spring damper for enhanced damping
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a floating-sleeve hybrid fluid bearing. The floating-sleeve hybrid fluid bearing may comprise: a bearing housing which is mounted by ring-coupling to the outer circumferential surface of a rotary shaft; and a floating sleeve which is mounted between the rotary shaft and the bearing housing so that there is a gap between the floating sleeve and the rotary shaft, and between the floating sleeve and the bearing housing, wherein the rotation of the floating sleeve is constrained by the bearing housing during the rotation of the rotary shaft, and one side of the floating sleeve in the circumferential direction is open in the radial direction.