Spherical Structural Bearing with Variable Side Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing structural bearings, such as roller and spherical bearings, often restrict twisting motion due to their design, leading to overstressing and limitations in spatial flexibility, especially in applications like bridges where space is limited.
Innovation Solution
A structural bearing with a sliding body and receptacle featuring a segment of a sphere shape, allowing for flexible adaptation to spatial conditions through variable side surfaces and a narrow base area, enabling unrestricted twisting while maintaining secure force distribution and easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If roller bearings, cylinder bearings or linear tilting bearings are used, then translational movement is restricted, but twisting is restricted leading to overstressing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spherical sliding surfaces (convex on the sliding body, concave on the receptacle) to enable point contact instead of linear contact. This curvature allows the bearing to accommodate both translational restriction and twisting motion without overstressing, as the spherical geometry naturally guides the twisting movement while maintaining positional stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing is divided into two distinct components: a sliding body with a convex spherical surface and a receptacle with a concave spherical surface. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the sliding body provides the curved sliding surface while the receptacle provides the guiding constraint, together enabling both translational restriction and twisting freedom.
2Strength
If spherical bearings with dome-shaped sliding bodies are used, then twisting is unrestricted, but geometric flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry by adding side surfaces to the sliding body that extend beyond the spherical sliding surface. These side surfaces can be configured in various geometries (planar, curved, with cutouts) to adapt to different spatial conditions and structural requirements, while the spherical sliding surface maintains the twisting freedom capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extends the bearing geometry into additional dimensions by adding side surfaces that protrude radially from the spherical sliding surface. This dimensional extension allows the bearing to adapt to various installation spaces and structural configurations while preserving the core spherical sliding mechanism for twisting motion.
3Strength
If conventional spherical bearings are used, then twisting is unrestricted, but space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding body is designed with side surfaces that nest within or alongside the receptacle structure. This nesting arrangement allows the bearing to occupy minimal space while maintaining the spherical sliding mechanism, as the side surfaces are integrated into the overall compact geometry rather than extending outward independently.
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 solution provides a space-saving, flexible, and secure structural support that can replace traditional bearings, allowing for unrestricted twisting and easy installation, while ensuring uniform force distribution and preventing overstressing.
Implementation Method 1
a sliding body (12) with a base surface (16) and a convex sliding surface (17) curved in the shape of a segment of a sphere and a receptacle (14) for the movable mounting of the sliding body (12), the receptacle (14) having a concave receiving surface (20) curved in the shape of a segment of a sphere
Implementation Method 2
bearings are known which allow movement by rolling, rolling, etc., by deformation or by sliding of sliding surfaces
Data Source
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AI summary
A structural bearing (10; 31) which has a sliding body (12) with a base surface (16) and a convexly curved sliding surface in the form of a spherical portion and which has a receptacle (14) for movably holding the sliding body (12), wherein the receptacle (14) has a concavely curved receiving surface (20) in the form of a spherical portion and at least partially encloses the sliding surface (17) of the sliding body (12). The underlying object here is to provide a novel structural bearing which is designed in a particularly space-saving manner and can be used particularly flexibly. This object is achieved in that the receptacle (14) has at least one receptacle lateral surface (21; 22) which is arranged such that the receptacle surface (20) is delimited in such a way that it has a surface edge (13) which, based on the lowest point (Ta) of the concavely curved receiving surface (20), has a height which is variable in its profile in the region of the receiving lateral surface (21; 22). As a result, the bearing device (10, 31) is designed in a particularly space-saving manner in comparison.