Leveling Plate End Protrusions for Uniform Thrust Bearing Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thrust bearing devices experience non-uniform load distribution due to inclination and thickness differences in thrust pads, leading to local contact and wear between thrust pads, as the lever ratio changes when leveling plates come into radial contact.
Innovation Solution
The use of a leveling plate with end protrusions and an intermediate protrusion, where the end protrusions intersect in an alternating manner, maintaining a constant lever ratio and ensuring uniform load distribution by adjusting the distance between supporting areas and end protrusions, thereby stabilizing the load even with inclination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional radial contact configuration is used between leveling plates, then the structure is simple, but the lever ratio changes when inclination occurs causing non-uniform load distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The contact portion is divided into multiple contact points (first contact point and second contact point) instead of a single radial line contact. This segmentation allows the leveling plate to maintain a constant lever ratio even when inclined, as the load is distributed across multiple points that preserve the geometric relationship. The segmentation transforms the problematic single-point radial contact into a multi-point configuration that resists lever ratio change.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the contact configuration by positioning contact points at specific locations that maintain equal distances from the fulcrum. By carefully selecting the positions of the first and second contact points on adjacent leveling plates, the lever ratio (distance from fulcrum to contact point) remains constant even when the plate inclines. This parameter optimization ensures uniform load distribution despite inclination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If thrust pad thickness varies, then adaptation to manufacturing tolerances is improved, but lever ratio changes causing local contact and wear occur
Solution Approach 1:
The leveling plate acts as an intermediary between the thrust pad and the supporting structure. It absorbs and compensates for thickness variations in the thrust pad through its multi-point contact configuration. The intermediary leveling plate maintains a constant lever ratio that ensures uniform load distribution regardless of the thrust pad's actual thickness, preventing local contact and wear on the thrust pad itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The leveling plate provides beforehand cushioning by pre-distributing the load uniformly across multiple contact points before any local contact or wear can occur on the thrust pad. The constant lever ratio configuration ensures that even if thrust pad thickness varies, the load is evenly cushioned across all contact points, preventing the development of local stress concentrations that would lead to wear.
3Area of stationary object
If leveling plates are disposed in alternating manner with radial contact, then space utilization is improved, but load uniformity deteriorates due to lever ratio change
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces asymmetry in the contact point positioning while maintaining overall symmetry in the alternating arrangement. The first and second contact points are positioned asymmetrically relative to the plate center but symmetrically relative to the fulcrum, creating a configuration that maintains constant lever ratio. This asymmetric positioning within a symmetric alternating pattern allows space-efficient arrangement while ensuring load uniformity.
Data Source
AI summary
A leveling plate including a main body and an end protrusion. The end protrusion is provided at both ends in a longer side direction of the main body, and protrudes from the main body in a thickness direction, the end protrusion having an end circumferential surface whose central axis extends in parallel with a shorter side direction of the main body.