Bearing repair under high loading condition

A method for supplanting a damaged axial bearing placed under axial load between a support and a supported member with a repair axial bearing, wherein the damaged axial bearing includes bearing surfaces, the method comprising:

• coupling an arcuate rail to the support at a location adjacent to the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing and on one of an inner side and an outer side of the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing, the arcuate rail having a first bearing surface;
• providing one or more bolts protruding upward from a raised portion coupled to the supported member at a location adjacent to the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing and on the other of the inner side and the outer side of the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing;
• providing a lever plate including at least one low friction bearing pad mounted therein, the at least one low friction bearing pad having a second bearing surface, the lever plate further including one or more holes corresponding to the one or more bolts, the second bearing surface being configured to slide over the first bearing surface upon the lever plate being pressed against the raised portion;
• passing the one or more bolts through the one or more holes;
• pressing the lever plate against the raised portion;
• coupling a nut to each of the one or more bolts on the lever plate;
• axially unloading the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing as the lever plate is pressed against the raised portion of the supported member;
• and
• axially loading the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface of the repair axial bearing as the lever plate is pressed against the raised portion of the supported member.

A method for using a repair axial bearing system having a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface to provide rotation between a support and a supported member, the method comprising:

• providing the repair axial bearing system, the repair axial bearing system including an arcuate rail coupled to the support, the first bearing surface being formed on the arcuate rail, the repair axial bearing system further including one or more bolts protruding upward from a raised portion coupled to the supported member, the repair axial bearing system further including a lever plate, the lever plate including at least one low friction bearing pad mounted therein, the second bearing surface being formed on the at least one low friction bearing pad, the lever plate further including one or more holes corresponding to the one or more bolts, the one or more bolts extending through the one or more holes, the lever plate being pressed against the raised portion using one or more nuts coupled to the one or more bolts on the lever plate, and the repair axial bearing system further including a hydraulic cylinder;
• coupling a first end of the hydraulic cylinder to the support;
• coupling a second end of the hydraulic cylinder to the supported member;
• and
• actuating the hydraulic cylinder to slide the second bearing surface over the first bearing surface.

A repair axial bearing system for supplanting a damaged axial bearing placed under axial load between a support and a supported member, wherein the damaged axial bearing includes bearing surfaces, the repair axial bearing system consisting essentially of:

• an arcuate rail located adjacent to the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing and on one of an inner side or an outer side of the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing, the arcuate rail having a first bearing surface;
• one or more bolts, protruding upward from a raised portion that is coupled to the supported member, located adjacent to the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing and on the other of the inner side or the outer side of the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing;
• a lever plate, including at least one low friction bearing pad mounted therein, the at least one low friction bearing pad having a second bearing surface, the lever plate further including one or more holes corresponding to the one or more bolts, wherein the one or more bolts extend through the one or more holes, the second bearing surface being configured to slide over the first bearing surface upon the lever plate being pressed against the raised portion;
• and
• one or more nuts coupled to the one or more bolts on the lever plate for pressing the lever plate against the raised portion,
• wherein a height of the arcuate rail is sized such that the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing are axially unloaded and the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface of the repair axial bearing system are axially loaded as the lever plate is pressed against the raised portion, and
• wherein tightening the one or more nuts causes the lever plate to pivot.

A repair axial bearing system for supplanting a damaged axial bearing placed under axial load between a support and a supported member, wherein the damaged axial bearing includes bearing surfaces, the repair axial bearing system consisting essentially of:

• an arcuate rail located adjacent to the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing and on one of an inner side or an outer side of the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing, the arcuate rail having a first bearing surface;
• one or more bolts, protruding upward from a raised portion that is coupled to the supported member, located adjacent to the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing and on the other of the inner side or the outer side of the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing;
• a lever plate, including at least one low friction bearing pad mounted therein, the at least one low friction bearing pad having a second bearing surface, the lever plate further including one or more holes corresponding to the one or more bolts, wherein the one or more bolts extend through the one or more holes, the second bearing surface being configured to slide over the first bearing surface upon the lever plate being pressed against the raised portion;
• one or more nuts coupled to the one or more bolts on the lever plate for pressing the lever plate against the raised portion;
• and
• a fulcrum coupled to the supported member on the same side of the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing as the one or more bolts, the fulcrum being shaped for the lever plate continuously contacting the fulcrum along a pivot line as the lever plate is pressed against the raised portion,
• wherein a height of the arcuate rail is sized such that the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing are axially unloaded and the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface of the repair axial bearing system are axially loaded as the lever plate is pressed against the raised portion, and
• wherein tightening the one or more nuts causes the lever plate to pivot.

A repair axial bearing system for supplanting a damaged axial bearing placed under axial load between a support and a supported member, wherein the damaged axial bearing includes bearing surfaces, the repair axial bearing system comprising:

• an arcuate rail located adjacent to the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing and on one of an inner side or an outer side of the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing, the arcuate rail having a first bearing surface;
• one or more bolts, protruding upward from a raised portion that is coupled to the supported member, located adjacent to the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing and on a side of the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing;
• pivoting means for axially unloading the bearing surfaces of the damaged axial bearing as a lever plate is pressed against the raised portion;
• at least one low friction bearing pad mounted in the lever plate, the at least one low friction bearing pad having a second bearing surface, the second bearing surface being configured to slide over the first bearing surface upon the lever plate being pressed against the raised portion;
• and
• one or more nuts coupled to the one or more bolts on the lever plate for pressing the lever plate against the raised portion.