Bearing Apparatus Featuring Electrorheological Fluid Lubrication

Journal bearing apparatus for use in association with a shaft characterized by a longitudinal shaft axis, the journal bearing apparatus comprising:

• a cylindrical electrically nonconductive bearing member for circumscriptive placement with respect to said shaft, said bearing member being characterized by a bearing length and having an inward facing bearing surface characterized by a first circumference;
• a circumferential electrically nonconductive outside layer for combination with said shaft, said outside layer having an outward facing layer surface characterized by a second circumference that is smaller than said first circumference;
• plural electrodes embedded in said bearing member and parallel to and separated from each other, each said electrode having an electrode edge and extending at least substantially along said bearing length so that said electrode edge is flush with said inward facing bearing surface, wherein when said bearing member is circumscriptively placed with respect to said outside layer combined with said shaft, a space exists between said inward facing bearing surface and said outward facing layer surface, each said electrode is parallel to said longitudinal shaft axis, and each said electrode edge is exposed to said space;
• and
• electrorheological fluid for disposition in said space, wherein upon electrification of at least one adjacent pair of said electrodes, an electric flux is established between said adjacent pair of said electrodes so as to retain some said electrorheological fluid upon said inward facing bearing surface and between said adjacent pair of said electrodes.

A method for providing lubricative support for a shaft characterized by a longitudinal shaft axis, the method comprising:

• embedding plural electrodes in a cylindrical electrically nonconductive bearing member characterized by a bearing length and having an inward facing bearing surface, said electrodes being separated from and parallel to each other, each said electrode having an electrode edge and extending at least substantially along said bearing length so that said electrode edge is flush with said inward facing bearing surface;
• combining a circumferential electrically nonconductive outside layer with said shaft, said outside layer having an outward facing layer surface characterized by a layer circumference that is smaller than said bearing circumference;
• placing said bearing member circumscriptively with respect to said shaft so that a space exists between said inward facing bearing surface and said outward facing layer surface, and so that said electrodes are parallel to said longitudinal shaft axis;
• situating electrorheological fluid in said space;
• and
• electrifying at least one adjacent pair of said electrodes so that an electric flux is established between said adjacent pair of said electrodes so as to retain some said electrorheological fluid upon said inward facing bearing surface and between said adjacent pair of said electrodes, a lubricative electrorheological fluid coating thereby remaining on said inward facing bearing surface between said adjacent pair of said electrodes.