Tilting Pad Bearing Cage Structure for Oil-Free Misalignment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tilting segment bearings face challenges in efficiently supporting high-speed shafts with minimal loss and accommodating angular misalignments, particularly in applications like turbo compressors and fuel cell systems, where traditional lubrication methods can be detrimental.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a tilting segment bearing with a frame-like spring device and rolling elements, such as balls or rollers, that allow for tilting movements and are supported by a cage design with through holes to position and stabilize the rolling elements between the housing body and rotor, enabling efficient rotation and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional lubrication methods (oil or grease) are used in bearings, then friction is reduced, but contamination occurs in fuel cell systems requiring oil-free compressed air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a gas-lubricated bearing system where compressed air serves as the lubricant instead of traditional oil or grease. The bearing design includes gas distribution channels that deliver compressed air to the bearing surfaces, creating a gas film that separates moving parts and reduces friction without introducing contamination into the fuel cell system.
2Productivity
If high-speed rotation is achieved in shafts, then productivity increases, but bearing losses and friction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-lubricated bearing utilizes compressed air to create a lubricating film that minimizes friction and bearing losses even at very high rotational speeds. The gas film formation and distribution are optimized to maintain effective lubrication under high-speed conditions, enabling the shaft to rotate with minimal energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing design incorporates parameters optimized for high-speed operation, including specific gas pressure levels, film thickness control, and geometric parameters of the bearing surfaces. These parameters are adjusted to ensure stable gas film formation and minimal friction across the operating speed range.
3Stability of the object's composition
If tilting segments are held rigidly in the housing, then structural stability is improved, but angular misalignments cannot be compensated
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting segments are designed with controlled mobility, allowing them to tilt and adjust their orientation in response to angular misalignments between the shaft and housing. The segments are supported by rolling elements that enable smooth tilting movements while maintaining stable contact with the shaft surface. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the bearing to compensate for misalignments without sacrificing overall structural stability.
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 configuration minimizes friction and bearing losses at high speeds, eliminates the need for oil or grease lubrication, and effectively compensates for angular misalignments, making it suitable for high-speed applications like turbo compressors and fuel cell systems.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element (43) assigned to each tilting segment (1-3) for positioning and holding the assigned tilting segment (1-3) tiltably within the housing body (5in)
Implementation Method 2
The rolling elements advantageously serve to enable the tilting movements of the tilting segments
Implementation Method 3
Gas-lubricated bearings are advantageously used for support, as they exhibit very low friction at very high rotational speeds and therefore only minimal bearing losses
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a tilting pad bearing (10) comprising tilting pads (1, 2, 3), which are retained and positioned so that they can tilt in a housing body (8) with a frame-type spring unit (8), such that, during operation of the tilting pad bearing (10), converging bearing gaps are created between the tilting pads (1,2,3) and a rotor body (4) that is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation. In order to improve the functioning and/or manufacturing of the tilting pad bearing (10), the tilting pad bearing (10) is characterised by rolling elements (6, 7) arranged between the housing body (5) and the tilting pads (1,2, 3).