Geometric shaped side bearing pad

Abstract

A geometric shaped side bearing pad includes a top and a surface extending an angle ? towards the top, wherein the bearing pad has a geometric shape and a non-linear spring rate which levels out a reaction force without buckling. The surface of the bearing pad can have two sides or four sides, can have spacing within the surface, or can be solid. The angle ? can be within the range of about 20 degrees and 85 degree and, may preferably be within the range of about 30 degrees and 75 degrees. The top of the bearing pad can have a slot defined therethrough to accommodate a protrusion in a fixture to engage the bearing pad. The bearing pad can provide a friction contact with an object and enables lateral force transfer to the bearing pad, thereby providing lateral stiffness.

1 . A bearing pad comprising:
 a top; and   a surface extending an angle ? towards the top,   wherein the bearing pad has a geometric shape and a non-linear spring rate which levels out a reaction force without buckling.   
   
   
       2 . A bearing pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the geometric shape is a pyramid shape, a conical shape, a trapezoidal shape, or a prismoid shape. 
   
   
       3 . A bearing pad according to  claim 1 , wherein an initial length l 0  of the surface is formed so that l 0  is greater than a critical length l cr , where l cr =l 0 (l−p 2 /s 2 ) and s is a slenderness ratio of the surface. 
   
   
       4 . A bearing pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface has two sides. 
   
   
       5 . A bearing pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface has four sides. 
   
   
       6 . A bearing pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface is a smooth surface extending from a circular base to a pointed top 
   
   
       7 . A bearing pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the bearing pad has spacing within the surface, and the non-linear spring rate decreases with deflection. 
   
   
       8 . A bearing pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the bearing pad is solid. 
   
   
       9 . A bearing pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle ? is within the range of about 20 degrees and 85 degree. 
   
   
       10 . A bearing pad according to  claim 9 , wherein the angle ? is within the range of about 30 degrees and 75 degrees. 
   
   
       11 . A bearing pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the top of the bearing pad has a slot defined therethrough to accommodate a protrusion in a fixture to engage the bearing pad. 
   
   
       12 . A bearing pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the bearing pad provides a friction contact with an object and enables lateral force transfer to the bearing pad, thereby providing lateral stiffness. 
   
   
       13 . A bearing pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the bearing pad comprises polyurethane. 
   
   
       14 . A bearing pad according to  claim 13 , wherein the bearing pad comprises thermoset polyurethane. 
   
   
       15 . A bearing pad according to  claim 13 , wherein the bearing pad comprises thermoplastic polyurethane. 
   
   
       16 . A bearing pad according to  claim 13 , wherein the bearing pad comprises two part castable urethanes made from polyether-isocyanate prepolymers cured with organic diamine materials. 
   
   
       17 . A bearing pad according to  claim 13 , wherein the bearing pad comprises two part castable urethanes made from polyether-isocyanate prepolymers cured with polyol materials. 
   
   
       18 . A bearing pad according to  claim 13 , wherein the bearing pad comprises two part castable urethanes made from polyester-isocyanate prepolymers cured with organic diamine materials. 
   
   
       19 . A bearing pad according to  claim 13 , wherein the bearing pad comprises two part castable urethanes made from polyester-isocyanate prepolymers cured with organic polyol materials.