Reducing the compliance of measuring instrument support systems using adaptive gas-static bearings

A mathematical model of a gas-static support with active control is presented, designed to improve the accuracy of positioning and expand the functionality of measuring and diagnostic devices. The model includes a floating ring regulator, which allows for adaptive control of the support characteristics. The developed analytical model is validated by comparing it with the results obtained by the finite element method, which confirms its adequacy. The pressure distribution, static characteristics, and other parameters are calculated using the Delphi model. The static characteristics of the support, including load capacity and compliance in passive and adaptive modes of operation, are investigated. It is established that the use of active control can significantly increase the load capacity and reduce compliance. The modes of “zero” and negative compliance are identified, demonstrating high stability and positioning accuracy, as well as ensuring maximum load-bearing capacity under certain conditions. The factors influencing the stability of the support operation are considered, and the conditions for the occurrence of static instability when exceeding the control pressure limits are analyzed. The results obtained demonstrate the possibility of effectively controlling the characteristics of gasstatic supports by changing the control pressure, which opens up prospects for the use of these supports in precision measuring and diagnostic systems, as well as in other areas requiring high positioning accuracy and stability.

1. Hirn A. Bull soc. induster, Millhouse, 1854, vol. XXVI, рр. 188–277.

2. Kingsbury A. Am. Soc. Nav. Eng., 1897, vol. 9, рр. 267–292.

3. Petrov N.P. Treniye v mashinakh i vliyaniye na nego smazyvayushchey zhidkosti (Friction in Machines and the Influence of Lubricating Fluid on It), St. Petersburg, 1883, 210 р. (in Russ.)

4. Reynolds O. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London, 1886, is. 177, рр. 157–234.

5. Reynolds O. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, 1886, no. 130(21), pp.. 185–199, https://doi.org/10.1080/14786448608627834.

6. Harrison W.J. Trans. Cambridge Philos. Soc., 1913, vol. 22, рр. 39–54.

7. Patent US2086896A, G01C19/38, Y10T74/1239, Y10T74/1282, Air supported gyroscope, L.F. Carter, Patent application no. US734619A, Priority 1934.07.11, Published 1937.07.13.

8. Patent US2683635A, F16C32/0618, F16C32/0622, F16C32/067, F16C32/0696, Air bearing, M.W. Roy, Patent application no. US126757A, Priority 1949.11.12, Published 1954.07.13.

9. Patent US2683636A, F16C32/0651, Y10S384/902, Y10T29/49639, Y10T74/12, Air bearing, M.W. Roy, Patent application no. US126758A, Priority 1949.11.12. Published 1971.07.13.

10. Patent SU236138A1, F16C 17/02, F16C 32/06, Gazostaticheskiy radial’nyy podshipnik s vneshnim nadduvom (Gasstatic Radial Bearing with External Pressurization), V.S. Vasiliev, Patent application no. 1120841/25-27, Priority 1966.12.22, Published 1969.01.24. (in Russ.)

11. Patent SU184565A1, F16C 33/04, F16C 32/06, Gazostaticheskiy radial’no-upornyy podshipnik skol’zheniya (Gasstatic Radial Thrust Plain Bearing), A.M. Kharitonov, Patent application no. 909193/25-27, Priority 1964.07.04, Published 1966.07.21. (in Russ.)

12. Sheynberg S.A. Treniye i iznos v mashinakh, 1950, no. 6. (in Russ.)

13. Sheynberg S.A. Treniye i iznos v mashinakh, 1953, no. 8. (in Russ.)

14. Sheynberg S.A., Zhed’ V.P., Shisheyev M.D. Opory skol’zheniya s gazovoy smazkoy (Gas-Lubricated Sliding Bearings), Moscow, 1979, 336 р. (in Russ.)

15. Pinegin S.V., Pospelov G.A., Peshti Yu.V. Opory s gazovoy smazkoy v turbomashinakh ogranichennoy moshchnosti (Gas-Lubricated Bearings in Limited-Power Turbomachinery), Moscow, 1977, 149 р. (in Russ.)

16. Pinegin S.V., Tabachnikov Yu.B., Sipenkov I.E. Staticheskiye i dinamicheskiye kharakteristiki gazostaticheskikh opor (Static and Dynamic Characteristics of Gas-Static Bearings), Moscow, 1982, 265 р. (in Russ.)

17. Pinegin S.V., Orlov A.V., Tabachnikov Yu.B. Pretsizionnyye opory kacheniya i opory s gazovoy smazkoy (Precision Rolling Bearings and Bearings with Gas Lubrication), Moscow, 1984, 215 р. (in Russ.)

18. Peshti Yu.V. Gazovaya smazka (Gas Lubrication), Moscow, 1993, 381 р. (in Russ.)

19. Sipenkov I.E., Filippov A.Yu. Pretsizionnyye gazovyye podshipniki (Precision Gas Bearings), St. Petersburg, 2007, 503 р. (in Russ.)

20. Afonin V.V., Sidora N.N., Semenov V.A. et al. Rukovodyashchiy tekhnicheskiy material 108.129.101-76. Raschet radial’nykh gazostaticheskikh podshipnikov turbomashin atomnoy energetiki (Guiding Technical Material 108.129.101-76. Calculation of Radial Gas-Static Bearings of Turbomachinery in Nuclear Power Engineering), Leningrad, 1976, 86 р. (in Russ.)

21. Breńkacz Ł., Witanowski Ł., Drosińska-Komor M. et al. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 2021, vol. 151, рр. 107423, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2020.107423.

22. Raparelli T., Viktorov V., Colombo F. et al. Precision Engineering, 2016, vol. 44, рр. 1–12, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precisioneng.2015.11.002.

23. Grassam N.S. Gas lubricated bearings, Butterworths, 1964, 309 р.

24. Al-Bender F. Air bearings: theory, design and applications, Hoboken, John Wiley & Sons, 2021, 592 p..

25. Thomas A.S. Proceedings of 1994 Symposium on Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, Kailua, Kona, HI, United States, 1 June 1994, рр. 565–572, https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176224.

26. Kurzakov A.S. Stanki i instrument, 2013, no. 8, pp. 38–40. (in Russ.)

27. Kurzakov A.S. Vestnik mashinostroyeniya, 2013, no. 4, pp. 27–30. (in Russ.)

28. Kurzakov A.S. Tekhnologiya mashinostroyeniya, 2013, no. 12, рр. 25–27. (in Russ.)

29. Kurzakov A.S., Shatokhin S.N. Tekhnologicheskoye obespecheniye mashinostroitel’nykh proizvodstv (Technological Support of Mechanical Engineering Production), Collection of Scientific Papers of the 1st International Correspondence Scientific and Technical Conference, 2014, no. 1, pp. 310–314. (in Russ.)

30. Loitsyansky L.G. Mekhanika zhidkosti i gaza (Mechanics of Liquids and Gases), Moscow, 2003, 840 р. (in Russ.)

31. Anderson D., Tannehill J.C., Pletcher R.H. Computational fluid mechanics and heat transfer, NY, Hemisphere Publishing Corporation 2016, 774 р.

32. Cameron A. The principles of lubrication, London, 1966, 591 р.

33. Kurzakov A.S. Razrabotka radial’nykh aerostaticheskikh opor s plavayushchimi regulyatorami (Development of Radial Aerostatic Bearings with Floating Regulators), Candidate’s Thesis, Krasnoyarsk, 2002, 211 р. (in Russ.)

34. Kurzakov A.S. Stanki i instrument, 2003, no. 5, pp. 7–11. (in Russ.