Hydrostatic Slide Bearing Sealing With Bingham Fluid Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrostatic plain bearing arrangements face inefficiencies due to high energy requirements and increased leakage volume flow, especially under high loads, leading to a worse energy balance compared to conventional bearings.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a separating body that divides the bearing pocket into two areas, with one area filled with pressurized fluid exhibiting Bingham behavior, and utilizing a ring-shaped or frame-shaped sealing arrangement to reduce leakage by providing additional flow resistance and pressure equalization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a hydrostatic sliding bearing arrangement is used to reduce friction and breakaway torque, then the drive power is reduced, but the energy balance deteriorates due to high pump power requirements to compensate for leakage losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rheological parameters of the bearing fluid by using a Bingham fluid instead of a conventional Newtonian fluid. The Bingham fluid exhibits yield stress behavior, remaining stationary when the bearing gap is small and only flowing when the gap exceeds a critical threshold, thereby reducing leakage losses and improving energy balance while maintaining low drive power requirements
2Reliability
If the bearing gap is increased to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and deformations, then reliability is improved, but fluid leakage increases and pump power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the yield stress parameter of Bingham fluid to create a threshold effect. When the bearing gap is within acceptable ranges (compensating for tolerances and deformations), the fluid remains stationary due to yield stress, preventing leakage. Only when the gap exceeds the critical threshold does the fluid begin to flow, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing fluid loss
3Loss of substance
If a ring-shaped or frame-shaped sealing arrangement is added to reduce leakage, then fluid leakage is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a diaphragm as a flexible sealing element that divides the bearing pocket into two regions. This thin film structure provides effective sealing to reduce fluid leakage while maintaining relatively simple device architecture, avoiding the need for complex ring-shaped or frame-shaped sealing arrangements
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 design significantly reduces fluid leakage and improves the energy balance of hydrostatic plain bearing arrangements by minimizing the need for high pump capacity and compensating for manufacturing tolerances and load-induced deformations.
Implementation Method 1
The region facing the opposite bearing element is filled with a Bingham fluid, i.e., a fluid which, up to a certain shear stress (yield point), essentially does not flow at all
Implementation Method 2
When pressurized, the sliding bearing surfaces of the bearing elements are at least partially, preferably completely, relieved of the force acting on them. This reduces the friction between the opposing sliding bearing surfaces.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~3b
AI summary
Hydrostatic plain bearing arrangement comprising a first, in particular lower bearing element (1) and a second, in particular upper bearing element (2), wherein at least one recess (3) is arranged in at least one of the bearing elements (1), in particular in the first bearing element (1), which recess (3) is open in the direction of the other bearing element (2) which preferably lies opposite, and which recess (3) forms at least one bearing pocket (3) which is filled with a fluid (FL1) which can be pressurized/is pressurized, wherein the at least one bearing pocket (3) is surrounded by at least one annular or frame-shaped sealing arrangement (5, 7/8, 6/FL2). The invention also relates to a plain bearing arrangement of this type, in which the fluid (FL1) in the at least one bearing pocket (3) has the rheological behaviour of a Bingham body.