Centrifugal gas compressor with a hardened shaft for a bearing system
AssigneeSolar Turbines Incorporated
InventorsGordon E. Brailean, William Courtney Krehbiel, Jess Lee Freeman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shaft (120) configured to be mounted within a centrifugal gas compressor (100) includes a suction end (116), a discharge end (117), and a shaft surface. The shaft surface includes a hardened surface (123) located between the suction end (116) and the discharge end (117). The hardened surface (123) is a localized portion of the shaft surface having a different surface treatment than a remainder of the shaft surface. The hardened surface (123) is harder than the remainder of the shaft surface. The hardened surface (123) is configured to axially align with a central auxiliary bearing (137).
Claims20
A centrifugal gas compressor shaft configured to be mounted within a centrifugal gas compressor having a central auxiliary bearing located between a suction end radial bearing and a discharge end radial bearing, the centrifugal gas compressor shaft comprising:
- a suction end;
- a discharge end distal to the suction end;
- and
- a shaft surface, the shaft surface having
- a hardened surface located between the suction end and the discharge end, the hardened surface being a localized portion of the shaft surface having a different surface treatment than a remainder of the shaft surface, the hardened surface being harder than the remainder of the shaft surface;
- wherein the hardened surface is configured to axially align with the central auxiliary bearing.
A centrifugal gas compressor, comprising:
- a shaft having
- a suction end,
- a discharge end, and
- a shaft surface;
- a suction end radial bearing;
- a discharge end radial bearing;
- a thrust bearing;
- and
- an auxiliary bearing system having
- a suction end landing guard located on the shaft proximal the suction end of the shaft,
- a discharge end landing guard is located on the shaft proximal the discharge end of the shaft, and
- a hardened surface located on the shaft axially inward from the suction end radial bearing, the discharge end radial bearing, and the thrust bearing, the hardened surface being a localized portion of the shaft surface having a different surface treatment than a remainder of the shaft surface, the hardened surface being harder than the remainder of the shaft surface.
An auxiliary bearing system of a centrifugal gas compressor, the centrifugal gas compressor includes a shaft with a suction end, a discharge end, and a shaft surface, the auxiliary bearing system comprising:
- a suction end landing guard located on the shaft proximal the suction end;
- a discharge end landing guard located on the shaft proximal the discharge end;
- and
- a hardened surface located on the shaft between the suction end and the discharge end, the hardened surface being a localized portion of the shaft surface having a different surface treatment than a remainder of the shaft surface, the hardened surface being harder than the remainder of the shaft surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.