STATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF A RECTANGULAR HYDROSTATIC THRUST BEARING WITH A SELF-CONTROLLED RESTRICTOR EMPLOYING A FLOATING DISK

This paper proposes a new type of a self-controlled restrictor which c an achieve a very high bearing stiffness in hydrostatic bearings. This self-controlled restrictor employs a floating disk to control the mas s flow rate of the oil entering the bearing clearance according to cha nges of the applied load. Furthermore, a hydrostatic bearing with this restrictor can theoretically achieve an infinite stiffness when the m ass of a floating disk is assumed to be zero. The static characteristi cs of a rectangular hydrostatic thrust bearing with this self-controll ed restrictor are theoretically and experimentally investigated. It wa s consequently shown that the proposed hydrostatic thrust bearing can achieve a very high stiffness (nearly infinite stiffness) in a very wi de range of applied load independent of supply pressure.