Method of forming an inside wall of a bearing for supporting a cylindrical element

A method of forming an inside wall of a support bearing of given height H and designed to receive a cylindrical element, said method comprising the steps of:

• estimating a deflection f taken by the cylindrical element between the center and one end of the support bearing, given:
• a predetermined loading of the cylindrical element;
• predetermined stiffness characteristics for the cylindrical element;
• and
• a predetermined assumption concerning thrust between the cylindrical element and the support bearing;
• estimating a nominal radius R by the relationship R=H2/8f;
• determining an inside wall for the support bearing extending over a toroidal surface having a throat diameter equal to the diameter of the cylindrical element, ignoring predetermined clearance, and having a meridian radius lying in a range of ±15% about the nominal radius R;
• and
• machining the support bearing in such a manner that its inside wall occupies the toroidal surface as determined in this way.