Membrane Restrictor for Hydrostatic Bearing Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrostatic bearing systems lack effective restrictors that maintain optimal oil film thickness between the bearing and rail, affecting the bearing's stiffness and performance.
Innovation Solution
A membrane restrictor with a casing, membrane, and restricting plane is integrated onto the bearing, allowing for controlled fluid flow and maintaining a dimensionless stiffness of 1.33≤Kr*≤2 and design restriction ratio of 0.1≤λ≤0.5, ensuring a consistent oil film thickness and maximum bearing stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a membrane restrictor is used to maintain optimal oil film thickness, then bearing stiffness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a membrane (thin film) as the core component of the restrictor. The membrane with specific stiffness Kr* maintains optimal oil film thickness by flexing in response to pressure changes, thereby improving bearing stiffness while keeping the restrictor structure simple and compact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the stiffness parameter Kr* of the membrane to specific ranges (1.33≤Kr*≤2) to achieve the best bearing performance. By carefully selecting and controlling the membrane stiffness parameter, the system achieves maximum bearing stiffness with a simple restrictor design.
2Productivity
If the membrane stiffness Kr* is optimized to 1.33≤Kr*≤2, then bearing performance is maximized, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent defines specific ranges for membrane stiffness Kr* (1.33≤Kr*≤2) and design restriction ratio λ (0.1≤λ≤0.5) to optimize bearing performance. These parameter ranges provide manufacturing tolerance, allowing production within acceptable limits while maintaining optimal performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane restrictor design inherently provides feedback control of oil film thickness. As the bearing load changes, the membrane automatically adjusts its position based on pressure differential, maintaining optimal oil film thickness without requiring external control systems or high-precision active adjustment mechanisms.
3Volume of moving object
If a membrane restrictor is integrated onto the bearing, then system compactness is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the membrane restrictor directly onto the bearing, combining two separate components into one compact assembly. This integration reduces the overall system volume and eliminates the need for separate restrictor mounting, simplifying the external system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane restrictor is designed as a modular component that can be manufactured separately and then integrated onto the bearing. This segmentation allows for specialized manufacturing of the membrane component using appropriate techniques, followed by straightforward integration, balancing manufacturing ease with compactness.
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 membrane restrictor effectively maintains the oil film thickness between the bearing and rail, enhancing the bearing's stiffness and performance while occupying a small volume, achieving optimal hydrostatic bearing performance.
Implementation Method 1
ps is a hydraulic pressure supplied by the pump
Implementation Method 2
Rri is a hydraulic resistance of the fluid flowing through the restricting plane
Implementation Method 3
Dimensionless stiffness of the membrane is Kr*, and 1.33≤Kr*≤2, wherein Kr is the stiffness of the membrane
Implementation Method 4
The pump is adapted to supply fluid to a location between the bearing and the rail through the membrane restrictor
Implementation Method 5
an effect of hydrostatic lubrication is achieved
Data Source
AI summary
A membrane restrictor adapted to be connected to a pump and a bearing is provided. The pump is adapted to supply fluid to a location between the bearing and the rail through the membrane. The bearing is adapted to be disposed on a rail. The membrane restrictor includes a casing and a membrane. The casing has a chamber, an inlet and an outlet communicating with each other through the chamber, and a restricting plane. The pump is adapted to be connected to the inlet; the bearing is adapted to be connected to the outlet. The membrane is disposed in the chamber. The restricting plane is an inner surface of the casing adjacent to the outlet and towards the membrane. Dimensionless stiffness of the membrane is Kr*, and 1.33≤Kr*≤2. Kr*=KrL0/(psAr). Here, Kr is stiffness of the membrane, L0 is a distance from the membrane to the restricting plane when no fluid is supplied by the pump (i.e., assembling clearance of the membrane), ps is pressure supplied by the pump, and Ar is an effective area of the restricting plane. A hydrostatic bearing module having the membrane restrictor is further provided.