Combination thrust bearing and journal bearing, and method for distributing fluid to same

A true-tilting pad pivotally supported and adapted to cooperate with one or more other pads and a fluid within a housing to hydrodynamically and mechanically support a moving surface, said true-tilting pad comprising:

• a leading portion adapted to be positioned upstream relative to a direction of movement of the moving surface;
• a trailing portion adapted to be positioned downstream relative to the direction of movement of the moving surface;
• said leading and said trailing portions tiltable free of mechanical engagement with the other pads;
• and
• a face including a border region and extending generally longitudinally between said leading and said trailing portions, said border region including an engagement surface and defining a pocket for hydrodynamically increasing pressure on the moving surface during movement of the moving surface, said pocket having generally longitudinal sidebars and a bottom.

A combination thrust bearing and journal bearing for supporting a shaft having a runner, the combination comprising:

• a thrust bearing for axially supporting the runner in at least one direction;
• a journal bearing for radially supporting the shaft;
• and
• a conduit for distributing fluid directly to both said thrust bearing and said journal bearing.

A method for distributing fluid to a thrust bearing and a journal bearing, the method comprising:

• providing a pressurized fluid;
• providing a conduit;
• and
• distributing through the conduit a first portion of the pressurized fluid directly to the thrust bearing and second portion of the pressurized fluid directly to the journal bearing.

A method for directed lubrication of a fluid in a bearing, the method comprising:

• providing a pad having a longitudinally-extending pocket:
• introducing fluid into the pocket in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinally-extending pocket;
• and
• discharging fluid from the pocket in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinally-extending pocket.

A method for supporting a moving surface of a runner in a thrust bearing, the method comprising:

• positioning a leading portion of a tilting pad upstream relative to a rotation direction of the runner;
• positioning a trailing portion of the tilting pad downstream relative to the rotation direction of the runner;
• and
• relatively dimensioning a pocket, on a face of the tilting pad extending between the leading and trailing portions, to hydrodynamically increase pressure on the moving surface of the runner during rotation of the runner, with said face directed toward the runner.

A method for bearing a moving surface, the method comprising:

• positioning a leading portion of a true-tilting pad upstream relative to a rotation direction of the moving surface and free of mechanical engagement with one or more other pads of a bearing for the moving surface;
• positioning a trailing portion of the true-tilting pad downstream relative to the rotation direction of the moving surface and free of mechanical engagement with the other pads;
• and
• relatively dimensioning a pocket, on a face of the true-tilting pad extending between the leading and trailing portions, to hydrodynamically increase pressure on the moving surface during movement of the moving surface, with said face directed toward the moving surface.