Design of the Hydrostatic Thrust Spherical Bearing with Restrictors (Fitted Type)

Abstract

The hydrostatic bearings are broadly observed in industrial applications owing to their potential characteristics of low running friction, high load-carrying capacity, high stiffness and small viscous dissipation. Spherical bearings have advantages over other configurations of bearings because of their self-aligning property and also their capacity to accept both radial and thrust loads. Operation of the spherical bearings is unaffected by angular miss-alignment. They are mainly used in machine tools, precision measuring instruments, hydraulic piston pumps and motors, gyroscope gimbals, telescopes, radar tracking units, air craft engines and rotary drum of centrifugal separator for enriched uranium. The main objective of this part of study is to handle the fitted bearing design taking into consideration the combined effects of rotational inertia, surface roughness and the fluid film viscosity variability. The mathematical expressions derived in part 2 for this type of bearings with its different configurations (with and without recess; hemispherical and partial hemispherical seats) have been used in the detailed bearing design. Improving the previous design through developing some mathematical expressions, a new conception is adopted to reveal the bearing consistency showing how the fluid flow rate pulsation or intermittent could be prevented. The detailed design procedures show the advantages of this method to get the central pressure ratio mathematically through maximizing the flow rate with minimizing the supply pressure which means minimum pump power to get maximum discharge. This design showed very high mean static stiffness of all the bearing configurations and an acceptable temperature rise for a heavy duty bearing without the need to a use a cooling system.