Bearing Systems
OwnerClive Davisinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Bearing arrangements are described which enable rotation about a vertical axis with a very extended diameter bearing, for example 20 meters diameter. A usually stationary base supports a rotating member, e.g. on a fluid cushion. Separately, a ring of radially adjustable arcuate surface support pads on an outer member acts against a cylindrical surface of an inner member. The adjustability of the radially movable support pads enables them to increase their thrust at parts of the circumferences of the bearing relative to others. This enables considerably smoother running to be achieved, both to compensate for the difficulties of producing complete circularity with a bearing diameter of substantial size, and for varying direction lateral loadings, e.g. as experienced by a vertical axis wind-driven turbine.
Claims13
1-10. (canceled)
A bearing arrangement for vertical axis rotation comprising inner and outer coaxial cylindrical members, a first one of said members having a substantially flat support surface transverse to an axis thereof and a second one of said members having a substantially flat circular or annular surface facing the support surface on the first one of said members, means for enabling the flat support surface and the flat circular or annular surface to rotate relative to one another, and wherein a cylindrical wall of the first one of said members carries a plurality of radially movable arcuately curved support plates, curvature of the support plates matching curvature of a facing surface of the second one of said members, and being in contact therewith, and means to control radial thrust exerted by the movable support plates on the cylindrical surface of the second one of said members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.