Fluid Bearing With Adjustable Surface Area To Reduce Viscous Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid bearings are often overdesigned for maximum load conditions, resulting in higher viscous drag when operating at lower loads due to a fixed wetted-load carrying area, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The method involves adjusting the effective bearing surface area by altering the size of the rotatable bearing surface in contact with the lubricating fluid, either by reducing the length of the bearing surface, laterally displacing it, or controlling the flow of lubricating fluid through inlet and outlet ports to match the instantaneous load, thereby reducing the effective bearing surface area and drag force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the bearing is designed with a fixed wetted-load carrying area for maximum load conditions, then the load-carrying capacity is sufficient for peak loads, but the viscous drag increases at lower operating loads
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing surface area is made dynamically adjustable through a telescoping mechanism that allows the inner bearing surface to extend or retract relative to the outer bearing surface. This enables the wetted area to be increased for high-load conditions and decreased for low-load conditions, optimizing the balance between load-carrying capacity and viscous drag across varying operating conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The effective bearing surface area parameter is changed dynamically based on operating conditions. By adjusting the telescoping bearing surfaces, the system modifies the contact area between bearing surfaces to match the instantaneous load requirements, thereby reducing energy losses when full load capacity is not required
2Area of stationary object
If the bearing surface area is increased to accommodate maximum load conditions, then the bearing can handle peak loads, but the carrying area and viscous drag are higher than necessary for actual operating loads
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing transitions from a static fixed surface area design to a dynamic adjustable surface area design. The telescoping mechanism allows the bearing to present only the necessary surface area to the lubricating fluid based on instantaneous load conditions, eliminating the excess surface area that would otherwise generate unnecessary viscous drag
Solution Approach 2:
The excess bearing surface area is effectively removed or retracted from the active load-carrying zone when not needed. The telescoping inner bearing surface can be withdrawn from the outer bearing surface, reducing the wetted area to match actual operational requirements and eliminating the harmful viscous drag associated with oversized bearing surfaces
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 approach reduces viscous drag and optimizes load-carrying capacity by dynamically adjusting the bearing surface area to match the instantaneous load, enhancing efficiency and reducing energy losses.
Implementation Method 1
the carrying area and, therefore, viscous drag of the bearing may be higher than that which would occur for a bearing designed to accommodate the actual load
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fluid bearing and a method of adjusting the load carrying capacity of a fluid bearing. The fluid bearing may include a bore defined in the fluid bearing and a rotatable bearing including a rotatable bearing surface. Lubricating fluid in the bore may be contacted with at least a portion of the rotatable bearing surface, wherein an effective bearing surface area is provided where the lubricating fluid contacts the rotatable bearing surface. The effective bearing surface area may be altered by either increasing or reducing the area of the rotatable bearing surface which is contacted by the lubricating fluid.