Tilting Pad Bearing Coupling Without Spring Preload Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing coupling mechanisms for tilting pad bearings that use spring elements to apply preload can experience changes in elastic force over time, leading to moments that hinder the optimal tilting of pads and potentially cause mechanical damage due to resistance against tilting.
Innovation Solution
A coupling mechanism that utilizes a second ball portion and a second socket portion to apply preload to the first ball portion and first socket portion, where the centers of curvature of the sliding spherical surfaces coincide, allowing for tilting without the need for a spring element, and includes a movable region for sliding, ensuring the pad can tilt effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a spring element is used to apply preload to the ball portion and socket portion, then the preload can be applied, but the elastic force changes with time and generates resistance moments that hinder optimal tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the spring element from the coupling mechanism. By eliminating the spring element that causes time-dependent elastic force changes and resistance moments, the patent achieves consistent preload application through alternative means (hydraulic or gravitational systems) that do not exhibit the same degradation and resistance characteristics.
2Force
If a spring element is used to apply preload, then the preload can be applied, but it generates resistance against pad tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is completely removed from the system. The preload is applied through alternative mechanisms (hydraulic pressure or gravitational force on counterweights) that do not create resistance moments during pad tilting, thereby improving the ease of operation and allowing the pad to tilt freely to absorb external forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces intermediary mechanisms (hydraulic fluid or gravitational counterweights) to apply preload without direct mechanical contact that would create resistance. These intermediaries transmit the preload force while allowing free tilting motion, eliminating the resistance problem associated with spring elements.
3Device complexity
If the centers of curvature of the sliding spherical surfaces do not coincide, then the mechanism can be simpler, but the tilting motion is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the centers of curvature of the sliding spherical surfaces coincide, creating an equipotential configuration for the tilting motion. This geometric arrangement ensures that the gravitational force or hydraulic pressure acts uniformly throughout the tilting range, allowing smooth and unrestricted pad tilting without creating unwanted moments or resistance.
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
This solution maintains a consistent preload application, reduces mechanical stress, and enhances the durability of the bearing by allowing the pad to absorb external forces without the limitations of a spring element, ensuring efficient operation under varying loads.
Implementation Method 1
a first ball portion and a first socket portion to which a preload is applied, a contact surface between the first ball portion and the first socket portion serving as a first sliding spherical surface
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is a novel coupling mechanism capable of applying a preload to a ball portion and a socket portion which constitute a coupling mechanism of a titling pad bearing, without using a spring element.