Fluid bearings with adjustable frictional load characteristics
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorCharles E. Roberts, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fluid bearing and a method of adjusting the load carrying capacity of a fluid bearing. The fluid bearing may include a bore defined in the fluid bearing and a rotatable bearing including a rotatable bearing surface. Lubricating fluid in the bore may be contacted with at least a portion of the rotatable bearing surface, wherein an effective bearing surface area is provided where the lubricating fluid contacts the rotatable bearing surface. The effective bearing surface area may be altered by either increasing or reducing the area of the rotatable bearing surface which is contacted by the lubricating fluid.
Claims10
A method of adjusting the load carrying capacity of a fluid bearing including a bore defined in said fluid bearing and a rotatable bearing including a rotatable bearing surface, comprising:
- providing a fluid bearing including a bore defined in said fluid bearing wherein said bore has a wall, a rotatable bearing positioned within said bore wherein said rotatable bearing includes a surface, and a bearing gap between the wall of the bore and the rotatable bearing;
- contacting a lubricating fluid in said bore with at least a portion of said rotatable bearing surface, wherein an effective bearing surface area is provided where said lubricating fluid contacts and surrounds said rotatable bearing surface;
- rotating said rotatable bearing about an axis;
- and
- altering the effective bearing surface area, by either increasing or reducing the area of the rotatable bearing surface which is contacted by said lubricating fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.