AEROSTATIC THRUST BEARING WITH A SELF-CONTROLLED RESTRICTOR EMPLOYING A FLOATING DISK (STATIC CHARACTERISTICS)

In this paper, the static characteristics of a new type of aerostatic thrust bearing with a self-controlled restrictor is proposed in order to achieve very high static stiffness (nearly infinite stiffness). The self-controlled restrictor used in this bearing makes use of the balance of fluid-film forces acting on both sides of the floating disk to control the gas flow entering the bearing clearance. Since various design parameters influence the static characteristics of the proposed bearing, the effects of these parameters are discussed theoretically and experimentally. Then the optimum design method to obtain higher stiffness is also discussed. It is consequently demonstrated that the proposed bearing has very high static stiffness, about ten times as high as that of conventional aerostatic thrust bearings.