05-06-2020, 11:40 PM
It seems genuinely miraculous that Bob's few tenths of a thou oil film separates the bearing surface from the journal sufficiently to practically eliminate bearing wear.
This film is maintained by the rotation of the shaft as long as there is a sufficient supply of oil.
In the old, less precise, days the bearing was made slightly under size and then "run in" by being used. The bearing wears until it is the optimum dimension. After that wear is, again, practically eliminated.
It all seems rather unlikely.
The alloy used in plain bearings was invented in 1839 by Mr Babbitt. I imagine a lot of luck was involved in his coming up with the mixture - still used today.
The mechanical gods must have been smiling!
This film is maintained by the rotation of the shaft as long as there is a sufficient supply of oil.
In the old, less precise, days the bearing was made slightly under size and then "run in" by being used. The bearing wears until it is the optimum dimension. After that wear is, again, practically eliminated.
It all seems rather unlikely.
The alloy used in plain bearings was invented in 1839 by Mr Babbitt. I imagine a lot of luck was involved in his coming up with the mixture - still used today.
The mechanical gods must have been smiling!