Recent Patent on Abnormal Bearing Constructed by Physical Adsorption

Background: An abnormal micro/nano step bearing with the film thickness in the inlet zone lower than that in the outlet zone registered in the patent is introduced based on the physical adsorption technology. This bearing does not follow conventional hydrodynamic lubrication principles. Objective: To introduce an abnormal-geometry micro step bearing for application in special cases. Methods: The operation of the mentioned bearing is based on the physical adsorption of the lubricating film to the bearing surface. The modified Reynolds equation for the analysis of this bearing is presented, based on the flow equation for a nanoscale fluid flow. Results: The calculation results showed that the mentioned bearing has a load-carrying capacity when the lubricating film thickness and the size of the step of the bearing both are on the 1nm scale. The physical adsorption of the lubricating film to the bearing surface has a significant effect on the bearing performance. Conclusion: The abnormal bearing in which the inlet film thickness is lower than the outlet film thickness, can be developed based on the physical adsorption of the lubricating film. It requires the physical adsorption of the film to the contacts in the inlet zone stronger than that in the outlet zone. The exemplary calculation results for the load-carrying capacity of this bearing are presented. This bearing does not follow conventional hydrodynamic lubrication principles, which rely on the convergent surface separation or the surface squeezing. The surface separation in this bearing is indeed divergent.