Patent ID: 9181980
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of adjusting the load carrying capacity of a fluid bearing including a bore defining a longitudinal axis and a bearing including a bearing surface, comprising: providing a fluid bearing including a bore defined in said fluid bearing wherein said bore has a wall and defines a longitudinal axis, a rotatable bearing positioned within said bore, wherein said rotatable bearing includes a bearing surface and said bearing surface exhibits a length parallel to said longitudinal axis and said length varies at different points around the circumference of said rotatable bearing, and a bearing gap between the wall of the bore and the rotatable bearing; contacting a lubricating fluid in said bore with said bearing surface; wherein said lubricating fluid surrounds said bearing surface; and cyclically loading said fluid bearing and altering an effective bearing surface area of said rotatable bearing as points around the circumference of said rotatable bearing are contacted by the bore wall.