Thrust Bearing Segmented Foils Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thrust bearings exhibit insufficient damping of vibrations and impacts in the thrust direction, leading to potential contact between the rotary shaft and stationary parts, such as in turbo machines where the impeller may rub against the housing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating vibration-damping foil pieces between the back and top foil pieces, and dividing these foil pieces in the radial direction to increase friction damping areas and smooth deformation, allowing for enhanced absorption of vibrations and impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional thrust bearing structure with top foil and back foil is used, then the bearing can support thrust loads, but the damping of vibrations and impacts in the thrust direction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The back foil is divided into multiple back foil pieces in the circumferential direction, with each piece having independent leading and trailing edges. This segmentation allows each piece to independently deform and absorb vibrations, increasing the overall damping capability of the bearing while maintaining thrust load support functionality
Solution Approach 2:
A vibration damping foil piece is introduced as an intermediary layer between the top foil and back foil. This intermediate layer provides additional friction damping surfaces that enhance vibration and impact damping without interfering with the primary thrust load support function of the bearing
2Strength
If the back foil is made with high rigidity to improve load capability, then the bearing can support higher loads, but the damping effect of vibrations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The back foil is segmented into multiple independent pieces that can deform flexibly under vibration while collectively maintaining structural integrity for load support. Each segment's ability to independently deform enhances damping without compromising overall load capability
Solution Approach 2:
The rigidity parameter of the back foil system is optimized by using multiple thinner pieces rather than one thick rigid piece. This parameter change allows the system to exhibit flexible damping behavior under vibration while maintaining sufficient load support capability through the collective structure
3Strength
If the top foil piece is made thicker to increase rigidity, then the bearing can support higher loads, but the ability to absorb vibrations and impacts is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration damping foil piece serves as an intermediary that absorbs vibrations between the top foil and back foil. This allows the top foil to be optimized for load support while the intermediate layer handles vibration damping, resolving the trade-off between rigidity and damping capability
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 achieves a higher friction damping effect, preventing contact between the rotary shaft and housing, thereby improving the bearing's ability to absorb vibrations and impacts effectively.
Implementation Method 1
dividing these foil pieces in the radial direction to increase friction damping areas and smooth deformation, allowing for enhanced absorption of vibrations and impacts
Implementation Method 2
dividing these foil pieces in the radial direction to increase friction damping areas and smooth deformation, allowing for enhanced absorption of vibrations and impacts
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A
Figure 3B~3C
AI summary
A thrust bearing (3) disposed facing a thrust collar (4) provided on a rotary shaft (1), the thrust bearing includes: a top foil (10) disposed facing the thrust collar; a back foil (20) disposed on a side of the top foil opposite to another side of the top foil facing the thrust collar; and an annular plate-shaped base plate (30) supporting the back foil. The back foil is formed of a plurality of back foil pieces (21). The top foil is formed of a plurality of top foil pieces (11). A vibration-damping foil piece (51, 55) is disposed in each of the positions between the back foil pieces and the top foil pieces.