Bearings – Innovation – Real Insertions in Industry

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Branch Mechanical : 2nd year onward

1. Bearing load measurement

A resistance strain gauge is fastened to the outer race of the bearing. The strain gauge
measures the elastic deformation of the race under a load. The elastic deformation value is
proportional to the load.
The measurement can be used to limit the loads during the machine operation and prevent
machine damage.

Advantages
1. Measurement of the load on the bearing is highly accurate.
2. The proposed method for measuring loads determines the bearing wear degree.
3. Measuring the load on the bearing allows adaptive control of the machine.
4. The resistance strain gauge has small dimensions and is easily mounted on the bearing.

Problem
Exceeding the allowable load causes a rapid wear or breakdown of a bearing. The bearing
destruction causes considerable damage to the whole machine. It is necessary to control
the load on the bearing during the machine operation. Dynamometers are used to measure
loads. Dynamometers are large in size.
Solution
In order to measure a load on a bearing,
it is proposed to measure the elastic deformation of the race.

2. Bearing material with low coefficient of friction

Description
Bearings made of a material with an extraordinarily low coefficient of friction can operate
in “dry” form (without any additional lubrication). Such a material is required to retain its
properties at relatively high speeds, loads, and temperatures. Commonly, this material is
made of a special material that consists mostly of a solid lubricant. The material for
bearings is made by heating a solid lubricant and unsaturated organic compounds to the
polymerization temperature. Thus, the solid lubricant as a powder comprises from 50 to
90 percent by weight of the material. Such composition ensures low friction when in use.

Advantages
The proposed material ensures low friction. It is durable and can withstand high
temperatures.

Problem
To produce bearings, the materials with the least coefficient of friction are required.
Solution
In order to decrease friction
It is proposed to use a lubricant.

References
U.S. Patent. 3,985,660; Lankamp, Herman Odijk; “Material displaying a low coefficient of
friction and low wear at high load and speed”; Industrial Trading and Development
Company, B.V.

3. Diamagnetic contactless bearing

Description
A contactless bearing is made as a cone ring. The cone ring is placed into the gap between
the poles of the permanent magnet. The gap has external and internal cone surfaces. This
causes the magnet to induce a heterogeneous magnetic field. The ring is made of a
diamagnetic material, such as graphite.

The diamagnetic ring has a negative value of magnetic susceptibility in a heterogeneous

magnetic field. As a result, the magnetic force prevents the ring from moving in the space
under external load. The magnetic field holds the ring, while the ring freely rotates around
its axis.

This prevents mechanical friction in the bearing.

Advantages
1. It is proposed to use a simple design of a contactless diamagnetic bearing.
2. It is possible to produce bearings with a various number of degrees of freedom.

Problem
Contactless bearings are used in high-speed mechanisms to decrease heating and friction.

Contactless bearings, which use the superconductivity effect, should be cooled to cryogenic
temperatures.

Solution
In order to produce a contactless bearing,
it is proposed to keep the diamagnetic ring of the bearing in a heterogeneous magnetic
field.

4. Different deformation of bearing races reduces wear of rollers

Description
Outer and inner races are made of different materials. So their deformation by rollers is
different. A properly selected relation between the moduli of elasticity of the races can
balance the resulting elastic forces of deformation of the outer and inner races. As a result,
the rollers do not slide on the race surfaces. This reduces the wear of rollers.

Advantages
A rolling bearing with races made of different materials has a high durability.

Problem
A rolling bearing consists of an outer race, an inner race, and rolling bodies - balls and
rollers. Balls and rollers are deformed when they roll on the surface of races. Lines of
action of the resulting elastic forces of deformation of the outer and inner races do not
coincide. This creates an anti-rolling moment causing the rollers to slide on the races. This
results in a high wear of rollers.

Solution
In order to reduce the wear of rollers,
it is proposed to provide different deformation for bearing races.

5. Eccentric shaft bearing

Description
The intermediate hydrodynamic bearing axis is eccentric to the shaft axis. Therefore, a
turn of the bearing changes the clearance between the shaft and the bearing surface. This
changes the hydrodynamic reaction direction of the bearing. This makes it possible to
adjust the load applied to the shaft.

Advantages
1. Adjusting the eccentric bearing reaction changes the rigidity of the shaft-and-bearing
system.
2. Adjusting the bearing eccentricity reduces friction.

Problem
Long shafts are mounted in intermediate hydrodynamic bearings to reduce flexure. A
constant bearing-to-shaft clearance provides a constant reaction of the bearing. With a
changing load applied to the shaft, the bearing reaction value must be altered to reduce the
shaft flexure.

Solution
In order to change the direction of the reaction of an intermediate eccentric shaft bearing,
it is proposed to turn the eccentric bearing.

6. Elastic bearing member strength increase

Description

During the operation of an elastic bearing member, the stack of belts works in tension. As
each of the stack coils is a Moebius strip, in a multi-layer coiling each coil is an inside layer
on one end of the stack and an external layer on the opposite end. As a result, all coils have
the same load and are in an equally stressed state about the total perimeter.

Advantages
It increases the service life of an elastic bearing member.
Problem
Usually an elastic bearing member is used, which contains a stack of coiled steel belt. Such
a member has a disadvantage of an unequal stressed state of the belt in a stack caused by
the belt upper coils pressing on the lower ones and by the difference between the coil turn
lengths. This reduces the bearing capacity of the member.

Solution
In order to increase the bearing capacity of an elastic bearing member,
it is proposed to distribute the stress of each coil uniformly about the perimeter by
making the coil in the form of a Moebius strip.

7. Friction reduction in bearing

Description
The bearing is a ring made from a sapphire. The bearing is mounted inside a tubular
piezoceramic receptacle. A rotating pin is inserted into the bearing. Inner and outer
surfaces of the piezoceramic receptacle are connected to a source of alternating voltage.
The applied voltage causes axial vibrations of the receptacle and bearing due to the inverse
piezoelectric effect. The constant axial motion between the bearing and the pin reduces the
friction because of absence of static friction. The bearing unit is small and has low weight.

Advantages
1. The bearing has low friction.
2. The bearing unit is small and light.
3. The bearing improves lubrication when it is immersed in a lubricating liquid.
Problem
Friction in a friction bearing can be reduced by producing a constant axial relative motion
between the bearing and the pin. The electric motors have been used to produce this
relative motion. The electric motors are heavy and cumbersome.

Solution
In order to reduce the friction in a bearing,
it is proposed to excite vibration in a piezoceramic bearing receptacle.

References
U.S. Patent. 3,239,283; Broeze, et al; “Low friction bearing”; United Aircraft Corporation.

8. Hydrostatic radial bearing

Description
Lubricating fluid in a radial slider bearing is fed into special pockets located in the bearing
circumference. Hydrostatic pressure can separate the chafing surfaces. Lubricating fluid
fills the formed clearance. Friction, wear, and heat release decrease. A shaft tenon in the
bearing bush can stably rotate. There is no direct contact of the rough chafing surfaces.

Advantages
The chafing surfaces are completely separated at all times.

Problem
Chafing surfaces are in direct contact when radial slider bearings are not perfectly
lubricated. This contact increases resistance to rotation, wear, and heat release.

Solution
In order to separate chafing surfaces in a radial slider bearing,
it is proposed to pump liquid under pressure into a friction zone.

References
Niemann, G. Maschinenelemente. New York: Zweite Auflage, Springer-Verlag

9. Hyperbolic raceways of bearing

Description
The bearing raceways are made in the form of a single-space hyperboloid. The axis of
rotation of the rollers coincides with the generator of the hyperboloid. This causes the
rollers’ axis to slant to the axis of the bearing rotation.

During rotation of the bearing, the axial force acts on the rollers. Due to the slanting of the
rollers’ axis to the axis of the bearing rotation the axial force moves the rollers away from
the flange. The contact of the rollers with the flange is thus eliminated.
The bearing durability increases.

Advantages
1. Hyperbolic raceways of the bearing eliminate the contact of the rollers with the flange.
2. Hyperbolic raceways of the bearing increase the durability of the bearing.

Problem
Combined loads on a cylindrical roller bearing result in the appearance of axial forces. The
axial forces cause intensive friction between rollers and a flange.

The bearing durability decreases.

Solution
In order to eliminate the contact of rollers with a flange,
it is proposed to make raceways in the form of a single-space hyperboloid.

References
U.S. Patent. 5,322,374; Takata, Nobuo; “Antifriction roller bearing.”

10. Magnetic fluid bearing accelerometer

Description
An accelerometer comprises a nonmagnetic cylinder-shaped case filled with fluid. A
cylinder-shaped magnet placed in the magnetic fluid is used as an inertia mass. In the
absence of acceleration, the magnet is located in the center of a nonmagnetic case. Under
acceleration force, the magnet is displaced and the capacitive circuit generates voltage with
the sign and magnitude corresponding to the acceleration being measured.

Advantages
High sensitivity.

Problem
In inertial accelerometers, the sensitivity is limited by friction between the inertia mass
and the case. In liquid accelerometers, friction can be reduced but it is difficult to maintain
a stable position of the inertia mass.

Solution
In order to maintain a stable position of a magnet in a fluid with such magnet being able to
move freely,
it is proposed to expel the magnet using magnetic fluid.

References
U.S. Patent. 4,043,204; The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the
Army.; Aug. 23, 1977; "Magnetic fluid bearing accelerometer."

11. Pneumatic bearing

Description
The bearing comprises an annular permanent magnet with magnetic field concentrators.
The annular layer of a magnetic fluid is kept by the magnetic field and provides air-
tightness of the gas cavity between the housing and the platform. When increasing the load
on the bearing housing, the gas pressure rises in the cavity, creating a supporting force.
Due to this force, the rigid contact between the housing and the platform is removed, and
the friction is reduced when the bearing moves.

See Also
Effect: Gas cavity elasticity
Example: Vibration insulating member

Advantages
The device provides for a possibility of rotary and translational motion.

Problem
When designing devices bearing some load, problems of their free motion arise.

Solution
In order to reduce friction when a bearing moves,
it is proposed to make a gas cavity.

12. Radial magnetic fluid bearing

Description
A magnetic fluid bearing is made in the form of an annular magnetic system enclosing a
non-magnetic shaft. The ferrofluid fills the clearance between the shaft and the bush, with
a radially non-uniform magnetic field being applied. The magnetic field is axisymmetric.
When the shaft is displaced from the axis, a centering force acts upon it.

Advantages
The shaft is centered both in operation and stop modes. The shaft may revolve with
extremely low friction.

Problem
During start-up or stop modes, the rotating shaft may contact the bush, resulting in wear of
the surfaces.

Solution
In order to center a shaft relative to a bush,
it is proposed to apply a magnetic field to a clearance between the shaft and the bush filled
with a ferrofluid .

13. Reduced friction in slider bearings

Description
The working surface of a shaft is coated with a polymer, for example, polyethylene. A
source of fast neutral molecules of gas, e.g. inert gas, is installed into the bearing body
between the segments. The bearing is placed into a vacuum. When irradiated, the surface
layer of the polymer undergoes a strong orientation due to the effect of anomalous low
friction. This considerably reduces the friction coefficient.

Advantages
The proposed bearing may be employed in machines, devices, and different technical
apparatuses operating in a vacuum. It has the friction coefficient less than 0.001.

Problem
There are slider bearings with a shaft mounted in the body. The shaft is mounted by
segments having a metal working surface. The segments have a uniform circle
arrangement. Such bearings have a very high friction coefficient.

Solution
In order to reduce the friction coefficient in a slider bearing,
it is proposed to dewater the working surface of the shaft.

14. Roller bearing

Description
The outer and inner races of a roller bearing move relative to each other over rolling solids
(balls, rollers, needles). According to the rolling friction effect, to rotate a shaft in a bearing,
it is necessary to overcome the rolling friction force between the rolling elements and races
of the bearing. A rolling friction force is less than a sliding friction force, with the pressing
force being the same. Therefore, a much smaller force is required to overcome the rolling
friction than to overcome the sliding friction.

Advantages
1. Considerably lower starting torques are needed.
2. A higher carrying capacity per unit bearing width is obtained.

Problem
Roller bearings may be used to provide rotation of shafts mounted in immovable supports.
However, their application requires considerable forces to set the shaft in motion.

Solution
In order to reduce the force of friction between the rings,
it is proposed to use the solids of revolution

15. Rotating shaft misalignment compensation using spherical bearing

Description
A self-aligning shaft bearing in an electric motor rotor contacts the housing across the
spherical outer surface. The shaft rests upon the cylindrical inner surface of the bearing.

Spherical mating of the contacting surfaces provides the bearing with two angular degrees
of freedom with respect to the housing. The bearing can turn both about the shaft axis and
about an axis perpendicular to this axis. Thus, when the shaft vibrates, the bearing does
not prevent it from flexing in any plane. This eliminates misalignments.

Edge pressures of the shaft on the cylindrical inner surface of the bearing are practically
zero. This reduces the wear of the inner bearing surface.

Advantages
1. The spherical outer surface of a bearing compensates misalignments of a rotating shaft.
2. This reduces edge pressures of the shaft on the cylindrical inner surface of the bearing.
3. This reduces the wear of the bearing.

Problem
The outer and inner surfaces of shaft bearings are made cylindrical. They can rotate in the
housing only in a plane perpendicular to the shaft axis. High-speed shafts, like those of
electric motor rotors, are subjected to flexural deformations due to unavoidable angular
vibrations.

Flexing results in shaft misalignment in the bearing. This provides the shaft edge pressures
exerted on the cylindrical inner surface of the bearing. The bearing wears out rapidly.

Solution
In order to compensate misalignments of a rotating shaft of an electric motor rotor in the
bearings,
it is proposed to make the outer bearing surface contacting the motor housing spherical.

16. Superconductor bearing

Description
The superconductor bearing comprises a type II superconductor in the form of a disk. The
rotor comprises a permanent magnet magnetized in a desired multiple-pole-pair
configuration to provide a minimal variation in the magnetic field by its rotation. A
magnetic field penetrates a type II superconductor in the form of Abrikosov vortices. Any
displacement of the rotor requiring variation in the magnetic field results in the shift of
vortices. A friction force arises due to the energy dissipation caused by the flow of vortices
(magnetic lines). The rotor rotation over the type II superconductor is stable even if the
superconductor surface is flat.

Advantages
1. The rotor rotation over a flat superconductor is stable
2. The stiffness of the bearing system is improved.

Problem
In a superconductor bearing system, the magnetic rotor levitates above the superconductor
bearing. However, the stiffness of the system utilizing a type I superconductor is low.

Solution
In order to stabilize a levitating rotor,
It is proposed to pin the magnetic field lines.

References
U.S. Patent 5,126,317; ‘’Bearing system employing a superconductor element’’; Eastman
Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y.

17. Superconductor bearing system

Description
The rotor comprising a permanent magnet is magnetized with a desired magnetic-pole
configuration. The superconductor bearing is made from a type II superconductor in the
form of a disk. The magnetized rotor levitates when placed upon the superconductor
bearing. The rotor has not any mechanical contact to the superconductor bearing and
rotates in response to an applied external force without friction.

Advantages
Coefficient of friction is approximately zero.

Problem
The bearing life is limited by the friction developed in the bearing-rotor interface.

Solution
In order to decrease friction,
it is proposed to levitate the magnetic rotor.

References
U.S. Patent 5,126,317; Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y. ‘’Bearing system
employing a superconductor element.’’
 18. Tensoresistive control of working bearings

Description
The resistance strain gauge is arranged on the outer race of the bearing. When in
operation, the outer race of the operable bearing experiences regular vibrations. The
resistance strain gauge converts the vibrations into electrical signals registered on the
oscillogram. Damage causes stronger vibrations and changes their frequency spectrum.

Advantages
1. This method can detect damage in its early stages.
2. Continuous control of the bearings is possible.

Problem
Metal particles appearing in the ambient oil indicate damage to the working bearing.
However, this method does not detect the early stages of damage.

Solution
In order to detect irregular vibrations in a damaged bearing,
it is proposed to analyze the electric resistance of a resistance strain gauge.
 19. Vibration protection of rolling bearings

Description
Resonance elimination removes the bearing vibrations. The adjustable frequency of the
force on the balls that induces impact depends on the natural frequency of the race
deformations. The bearing races are axially compressed. This reduces the radial clearance.
As a result, the inducing force frequency changes. According to the resonance effect, the
amplitude sharply decreases. This reduces noise and the dynamic load on the shaft.

Advantages
1. The method is adaptable to current manufacturing processes.
2. Preventing a rolling bearing from vibrating increases its durability.

Problem
When rolling bearings rotate, the rolling bodies (balls) act on a bearing race by a radial
load. This force causes periodic deformations (deflection) of the outer race. The frequency
depends on the number and angular velocity of rolling bodies. In addition, the radial
clearances between the balls and the race cause the balls to periodically strike the race.

These deformations and impacts cause race vibrations. As a result, they produce noise and
dynamic loads on the driving shaft. The accuracy of bearing production must be increased
to eliminate the vibrations. In addition, the race thickness and ball diameter increase.
However, this complicates the bearing design and increases its cost.
Solution
The changing frequency of the impact forced vibrations of rolling bearing balls reduces the
vibration amplitude of bearing races.

20. Wearless plain bearing

Description
A lubricating layer containing copper oxides is applied onto the surface of a bearing.

Under the interaction (friction) of the shaft and the bearing walls, copper particles are
transferred to the shaft and bearing surfaces due to the selective transfer effect. This forms
a thin servovite layer of copper on the surfaces. This restores the initial diameters of the
shaft and the bearing. In this case, clearances are diminished, thus reducing the dynamic
loads. This increases the durability of the plain bearing.

See Also
Effect: Kragelski effect
Example: Increased durability in heavily-loaded friction assemblies
Example: Reduced cracking of pipe glass coating
Example: Reduced wear of seal rings engine
Example: Selective transfer reduces cutting force

Problem
Plain bearings are used in large drives, engine crankshafts, etc. High loads increase the
surface wear of bearings and shafts. This enlarges the clearances and, as a result, reduces
the durability.

Solution
In order to diminish the clearance between the shaft and the bearing,
it is proposed to form a servovite layer.