Patent ID: 8955224
Filing Date: 2015-02-17
Classification: F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. 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.