Patent ID: 6966700
Filing Date: 2005-11-22
Classification: F16C,F16N

Abstract:
1. A method of lubricating and cooling a hydrodynamic plain bearing for a rotating element, which bearing has at least one fixed gliding plane, which comprises the steps of (a) supplying fresh, cool liquid lubricant under pressure from a pressure chamber arranged upstream of the gliding plane to a lubricating gap between the fixed gliding plane and the rotating element, where the rotating element glides on the gliding plane, the supply of fresh, cold lubricant being so controlled that an effective lubricating wedge is formed between the rotating element and the fixed gliding plane, (b) connecting the pressure chamber and a decompression chamber predominantly filled with gas and arranged upstream of the pressure chamber by a mixing conduit, (c) moving used, hot lubricant adhering to the rotating element to the decompression chamber, and (d) removing a portion of the used, hot lubricant from the decompression chamber while the remaining portion of the used, hot lubricant flows from the decompression chamber into the mixing conduit and is mixed with fresh, cold lubricant flowing countercurrently in the mixing conduit whence the mixture is pressed into the decompression chamber.