Our ongoing joint research with Kindai University focuses on "hydrostatic gas bearings (non-contact bearings)" that use "air" as the lubricating fluid, which can be used in clean environments without lubricating oil. Hydrostatic gas bearing can support rotating shaft without contact by supplying compressed air from an external source, thus reducing the generation of wear debris from the rotating shaft and bearing in manufacturing machinery.

A method to determine the flow rate and shaft restoring force by performing CAE analysis with the shaft rotating was developed using two types of hydrostatic gas bearings: a hydrostatic gas bearing with axial directed slot restrictor (jointly developed product/made of resin) and a hydrostatic gas bearing with circumferential directed slot restrictor (existing product). The developed CAE analysis method enables us to understand the phenomena of hydrostatic gas bearings during shaft rotation and to dramatically reduce the number of experiments.

We will apply the research results into designing for the practical hydrostatic gas bearings, and contribute to reducing the maintenance load by improving the cleanliness of food production lines and other manufacturing machinery and by extending their service life.

Topics of April issue of Monthly tribology (available only in Japanese)

Related websites

• Kindai University and Starlite presented research results on hydrostatic gas bearings (non-contact bearings)" in joint names at the 2023 annual conference of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. - Notice and Info | Starlite Co., Ltd.
• Kindai University and Starlite presented research results on "hydrostatic gas bearings (non-contact bearings)" in joint names at the Tribology Conference 2023 Spring Tokyo. - Notice and Info | Starlite Co., Ltd.

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