Integrated Upper Rudder Stock Bearing with Self-Lubricating Sliding Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rudder support bearings for watercraft are prone to frequent wear and require costly maintenance, with separate axial and radial bearings leading to complex and expensive storage and assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A compact upper rudder support bearing design integrating both axial and radial bearings into a single housing, utilizing self-lubricating materials like PTFE and graphite-containing plastics, eliminating the need for external lubrication and reducing maintenance requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate axial and radial bearings are used, then the bearing functions are provided, but the storage and assembly become complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the axial bearing and radial bearing into a single integrated bearing unit. The housing contains both bearing elements arranged concentrically, where the radial bearing supports the rudder stock laterally and the axial bearing supports it in the axial direction. This merging eliminates the need for separate storage and assembly of multiple bearing components, directly resolving the complexity issue while maintaining all necessary bearing functions.
2Reliability
If conventional bearings with external lubrication are used, then the bearing operation is enabled, but maintenance costs increase and lubricant leakage risk occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-lubricating bearing materials where the bearing surfaces are made of materials that provide inherent lubrication without requiring external grease or oil. The bearing elements are constructed from composite materials containing solid lubricants that are released during operation, creating a self-sustaining lubrication system. This eliminates the need for external lubrication systems, reduces maintenance requirements, and prevents lubricant leakage into the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing elements are manufactured using composite materials that combine structural materials with solid lubricants. These composite materials provide both the mechanical strength required for bearing operation and the self-lubricating properties that eliminate external lubrication needs. The composite structure allows the bearing to function reliably while reducing maintenance costs and eliminating lubricant leakage risks.
3Ease of operation
If radial bearings are used for rudder stock support, then the rudder rotation is enabled, but frequent wear occurs requiring regular replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The self-lubricating bearing materials continuously provide solid lubricant to the bearing surfaces during operation. This automatic lubrication reduces friction and wear without requiring external intervention or maintenance. The bearing elements protect themselves from wear through the embedded solid lubricants that are gradually released during operation, significantly extending service life while maintaining smooth rudder rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters of the bearing surfaces by using composite materials with embedded solid lubricants instead of conventional metal-on-metal or metal-on-bronze contacts. This material parameter change transforms the friction and wear characteristics, reducing the coefficient of friction and wear rate, thereby extending the bearing service life while maintaining operational smoothness.
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 integrated design simplifies installation, reduces maintenance costs, and minimizes the risk of lubricant leakage, resulting in a more efficient and environmentally friendly rudder support system with reduced operational downtime.
Implementation Method 1
both the axial and the radial bearing are designed as plain bearings... self-lubricating bearings... the material they are made of contains solid lubricants embedded in them, which reach the surface through microwear during operation, thus reducing friction and wear of the bearings
Data Source
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AI summary
In order to provide an upper rudder carrier bearing (100) for mounting a rudder post (54) of a rudder (50) of a watercraft, in particular a ship, by which the bearing design of the rudder post as a whole is simplified and by which the maintenance expenditure is reduced, the rudder carrier bearing (100) comprises a bearing housing (10), having in particular a housing main body (12) and a housing cover (11), wherein an axial and a radial bearing (30, 20) are disposed in the bearing housing (10), which are both designed as sliding bearings, and wherein the axial and/or the radial bearings (30, 20) are designed as self-lubricating bearings.