Development of a novel noncontact ultrasonic bearing actuated by piezoelectric transducers

Many high-end power machines demand greater bearing performance in terms of running speed, precision, reliability, longevity, noise reduction, etc. An ultrasonic bearing based on Near-Field Acoustic Levitation (NFAL) effect is a kind of emerging noncontact gas bearing. Due to its self-aligning capability, the ultrasonic bearing can steadily run at a high speed - tens of thousands of revolutions per minute - under high movement precision (micron dimension). Actuated by piezoelectric transducers, the ultrasonic bearings do not produce much noise pollution. As a potential alternative to conventional bearings, study on ultrasonic bearings with different structure forms will expand the bearing's application.