Plain bearing
AssigneeSkf Marine GmbH
InventorDetlef Hammerschmidt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plain bearing includes a base body having a substantially cylindrical bore bounded by a bore surface, and the bore surface has a longitudinal recess in a load-zone region that is open radially inward and has curved ends connected by axially extending sides. A cylindrical shaft extends through the bore and over the load zone and has an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the bore. A fluid channel has an opening in the recess and provides fluid to the recess at a pressure that is maintained at a level to offset no more than about 40 percent of a force produced by the shaft in the direction of the load zone.
Claims19
A plain bearing comprising:
- a base body having a substantially cylindrical bore bounded by a bore surface and having an inner diameter and a longitudinal center axis,
- a first longitudinal recess in a load-zone region of the bore surface, the first recess being open radially inward and having curved ends connected by axially extending sides,
- a cylindrical shaft extending through the bore and over the load zone, the cylindrical shaft having a longitudinal center axis and an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the bore, the shaft producing a downward force in a direction of the load zone,
- fluid in the first longitudinal recess, and
- a fluid channel in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid supply external to the plain bearing, the fluid channel having an opening in the first longitudinal recess for providing the fluid to the first longitudinal recess at a pressure,
- wherein the pressure of the pressurized fluid is maintained at a level to offset no more than about 40 percent of the force.
A method comprising:
- providing a plain bearing comprising:
- a base body having a substantially cylindrical bore bounded by a bore surface and having an inner diameter and a longitudinal center axis,
- a first longitudinal recess in a load-zone region of the bore surface, the first recess being open radially inward and having curved ends connected by axially extending sides,
- a cylindrical shaft extending through the bore and over the load zone, the cylindrical shaft having a longitudinal center axis and an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the bore, the shaft producing a downward force in a direction of the load zone, and
- a fluid channel having an opening in the first longitudinal recess,
- the method comprising:
- connecting the fluid channel to a pressurized source of fluid,
- supplying the fluid through the fluid channel to the first longitudinal recess, and
- maintaining a pressure of the fluid in the first longitudinal recess at a level to offset no more than about 40 percent of the force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.