Lubricant reservoir for gas bearing

Details Lubricant reservoir for gas bearing Lubricant reservoir for gas bearing

2005-10-18

2005-10-18

Footland, Lenard A. (Department: 3682)

Bearings

Rotary bearing

Fluid bearing

C384S113000, C384S115000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06955472

ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus is provided for allowing a molecularly thin film to be established on a surface of the gas fluid dynamic bearing. The film can be controllably replenished so that the problem of liquid lubricant starvation is overcome. A suitable non-sludging lubricant of low surface tension is held in a porous reservoir within the stationary portion of the bearing. This fluid migrates out of the reservoir to coat the contiguous bearing surfaces. Alternatively, the lubricant may be held in a porous reservoir within the rotating portion of the bearing; due to centrifugal force, as the rotating portion spins, the fluid is spun out and coats the opposite non-rotating surface. The reservoir may be replaced by a singular reservoir such as a simple hole, depression, cavity or groove filled with lubricant. The liquid may also migrate by capillary force through natural surface asperities or roughness by texturing the surface to promote capillary migration; or the distribution of the lubricant is accomplished by evaporation and condensation. The reservoir may be located in a region of the bearing that reaches a relatively higher operating temperature than the wear surfaces of the bearing. The transport of the lubricant then occurs by evaporation at the wanner reservoir, and condensation at the cooler bearing surface.

REFERENCES:
patent: 5018881 (1991-05-01), Asada
patent: 5173797 (1992-12-01), Zedekar et al.

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