Dynamic Thrust Bearing Cooling Structure in Fluid Machines
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid machines require efficient cooling of dynamic thrust bearings while maintaining high precision in clearance between the bearings and the support plate, as increased rotation generates heat.
Innovation Solution
A fluid machine design with a spacer member interposed between bearing bases, allowing fluid to swirl and cool the thrust bearings through centrifugal force, maintaining precise clearances and enhancing cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dynamic thrust bearings are used to rotatably support the rotary shaft in the thrust direction, then reliability is improved, but the bearings generate heat due to rotation and require efficient cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fluid (hydraulic principle) to cool the thrust bearings. A cooling passage is formed through the thrust bearing support, allowing cooling fluid to flow through and remove heat generated by the rotating thrust bearings, thus solving the temperature increase problem while maintaining reliable rotary shaft support
Solution Approach 2:
The thrust bearing support acts as an intermediary component that not only supports the thrust bearings but also provides a cooling function. The support structure includes an integrated cooling passage that mediates heat removal from the bearings, separating the support and cooling functions into a unified component
2Manufacturing precision
If high precision in clearance is obtained between the dynamic thrust bearings and the support plate, then stable support is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thrust bearing support is divided into multiple components: a support body and a separate support plate. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and assembled independently, reducing the overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining the required clearance precision between the bearing and support plate
Solution Approach 2:
The support plate serves as an intermediary component between the thrust bearing and the support body. It provides a precise mounting surface for the bearing while being separable from the main support structure, thus achieving high clearance precision without increasing overall device complexity
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 design efficiently cools the thrust bearings while preserving high precision in clearances, ensuring stable rotary shaft support.
Implementation Method 1
a spacer member disposed on an outer side of the support plate in a radial direction of the rotary shaft and interposed between the first bearing base and the second bearing base. The first bearing base and the second bearing base are fixed to each other via the spacer member
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid machine includes a thrust bearing support supporting a dynamic thrust bearing that includes a first dynamic thrust bearing and a second dynamic thrust bearing and including a first bearing base and a second bearing base fixed to each other via a spacer member. The fluid machine includes a main passage through which fluid flows from a motor chamber toward an operation chamber, and a space between an inner side of the spacer member and an outer side of the first dynamic thrust bearing and the second dynamic thrust bearing in a radial direction of a rotary shaft. The space communicates with a first through hole of the first bearing base communicating with the motor chamber and a second through hole of the second bearing base communicating with the main passage. The thrust bearing support includes a connecting passage interconnecting the space and the main passage.