Self-Adjusting Hydrostatic Bearing Segments for Misalignment Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bearing arrangements face challenges in maintaining low-friction, wear-free movement under misalignments and radial deformations, as they require high pump capacity to maintain pressure with large gap widths, leading to potential mechanical contact and friction.
Innovation Solution
A bearing arrangement with a two-part plain bearing segment design, featuring three hydrostatic pressure chambers, allows for flexible adaptation to misalignments and deformations by enabling relative movement between partial elements, ensuring force transmission without mechanical contact through hydrostatic pressure, and includes features like curved surfaces and hydrostatic pockets for optimal lubricant distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the gap width between sliding surfaces is increased to accommodate misalignments and deformations, then the bearing can tolerate positional changes, but the pump capacity required to maintain pressure increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing is divided into multiple plain bearing segments that can independently adjust their position. Each segment can tilt and shift to accommodate misalignments locally, allowing the overall bearing to handle positional changes without requiring a uniformly large gap width across the entire bearing surface, thus reducing the pump capacity needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The plain bearing segments are designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. They can tilt and shift their positions in response to local misalignments and deformations, enabling the bearing to adapt to positional changes while maintaining small gap widths in most areas, thereby reducing the energy required for pressure maintenance.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If the gap width between sliding surfaces is decreased to reduce pump capacity, then energy consumption is reduced, but mechanical contact and friction occur under misalignments
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the bearing into multiple independent plain bearing segments, each segment can maintain a small gap width for low energy consumption while having the freedom to tilt and shift independently. This ensures that even under misalignments, the segments can adjust to prevent mechanical contact, maintaining wear-free operation without requiring a large uniform gap.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic capability of each plain bearing segment to tilt and shift allows the system to maintain small gap widths during normal operation for energy efficiency, while automatically adjusting to prevent contact under misalignment conditions, thus ensuring both low energy consumption and reliable wear-free operation.
3Device complexity
If a single rigid bearing element is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot compensate for misalignments and deformations
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing is segmented into multiple independent plain bearing segments rather than using a single rigid element. Each segment can independently tilt and shift to compensate for local misalignments and deformations. While this increases structural complexity compared to a single element, it provides the necessary adaptability to handle positional changes effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
Replacing a rigid bearing element with multiple dynamically adjustable plain bearing segments enables the system to compensate for misalignments and deformations. Each segment's ability to tilt and shift provides the adaptability needed, accepting the trade-off of increased structural complexity for improved performance under varying conditions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple plain bearing segments are used to compensate for misalignments, then adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing is divided into multiple plain bearing segments that can independently adjust, providing adaptability to compensate for misalignments. The segmentation allows each segment to handle local variations, improving overall adaptability while distributing the complexity across manageable modular units rather than a single complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of multiple dynamically adjustable plain bearing segments provides the adaptability needed to compensate for misalignments. Each segment's independent movement capability improves adaptability, while the modular nature of the segments helps manage the overall device complexity through standardized reusable components.
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 achieves low-friction, wear-free operation by maintaining small gap widths and efficient force transmission, even under misalignments and deformations, with the ability to compensate for eccentricities and tilts, enhancing the longevity and availability of the bearing system.
Implementation Method 1
In order to separate the contact partners under load, the medium must have a sufficiently large hydrostatic pressure. For this purpose, the liquid or the gas is pumped under pressure between the sliding surfaces.
Implementation Method 2
The space between the two sliding surfaces is filled with a fluid medium that transfers the force between the contact partners. The fluid medium is usually a liquid lubricant.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention proposes a bearing arrangement having a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring, which is mounted for rotation in relation to the first bearing ring, wherein a plurality of hydrostatically supported sliding-bearing segments are arranged on the first bearing ring, wherein each sliding-bearing segment interacts with a first sliding surface arranged on the second bearing ring, wherein each sliding-bearing segment has a first sub-element and a second sub-element, wherein the first sub-element is accommodated in an accommodating pocket of the first bearing ring such that a first pressure space is formed between the first bearing ring and the first sub-element, wherein the first sub-element and the second sub-element are designed such that a second pressure space is formed between the first sub-element and the second sub-element, wherein the second sub-element and the second bearing ring are designed such that a third pressure space is formed between the second sub-element and the second bearing ring, wherein a first surface of the first sub-element interacts with a second surface of the second sub-element, wherein the first surface is curved convexly or concavely and the second surface is formed in a manner which complements the first surface.