Development History of Gas Bearing
The concept of gas bearing is to use gas as a bearing medium; this concept has existed since the 19th century. With the continuous development of science and technology, gas bearing has achieved significant progress in various application areas, such as aerospace, medical, automotive, etc.
In the 19th century, gas bearings made a major breakthrough in 19th century. At the time, coal gas and other combustible gases were used in the manufacture of bearings. For instance, the air engine was developed in 1826, using air as a medium for lubricating the moving parts. Despite the concept of using gas as a bearing being around since the 19th century, it was not until the first World War that gas bearings were developed to a more advanced technology and became commercially viable.
The development of gas bearing technology during the World War II and the early modern period focused more on the development of the technology itself. During this time, some of the techniques used to manufacture gas bearings included the usage of prestressed and sealed friction surfaces, using oil-pressurized air, and using the mechanical action of air. After the World War, the technology developed quickly and the demand for gas bearings began to increase.
At this time, the main application of gas bearings was for the bucking and propulsion applications. The first experiments with gas bearings as a bucking system were conducted in the late 1940s. However, it was not until the mid-1950s that gas bearings were developed for use in the propulsion system. The development of gas bearings for propulsion purposes in the 1950s and 1960s made the flight process easier and faster.
In the late 1960s, researchers and engineers discovered new methods of constructing gas bearings that increased their efficiency and made them more reliable. These early gas bearings were used in aircraft bearing systems and today they continue to be used as a reliable source of power. The advent of computerized measurements also allowed for more precise control of the bearing’s properties. This allowed engineers to design more efficient bearings with better characteristics.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the demand for the gas bearing in the aerospace industry rocketed, as many new projects were created. By this time, the technology had advanced greatly and was able to provide a higher performance capability at a lower cost. This allowed companies to reduce the project costs and it also improved their bottom line.
By the early 2000s, the demand for gas bearings had increased again as the technology had matured. Companies like IBM used gas bearings as part of their computer systems, which helped them to produce a more reliable and efficient product. This technology was also adopted by other industries, especially the automotive industry.
Today, the technology of gas bearing continues to be developed, as it is becoming more efficient and reliable. This technology is used in a variety of industries, from automotive to medical to aerospace, where it is used for a wide range of application purposes. Gas bearing technology still remains a major part of the modern industries, providing reliable and efficient solutions to many challenging problems.