Gas-lubricated self-pressurizing radial bearing
AssigneeSulzer Brothers Limited
InventorWerner Purtschert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The bearing segments of the bearing are made with asymmetrical bearing surfaces of concave and convex shape. In addition, one or more flow ducts communicate the concave bearing surface with the convex bearing surface in each bearing segment so that during operation a part of the lubricating film between the shaft and bearing segment flows to a gap between the housing and bearing segment to float the bearing segment.
Claims12
In combination,
- a housing having at least a recess therein;
- a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing;
- and
- a gas-lubricated self-pressurizing radial-bearing comprising a plurality of self-adjusting bearing segments, each said bearing segment being disposed in a respective recess for pivoting therein about an axis, each said bearing segment having a concave rotation ruled bearing surface facing said shaft and a convex rotation ruled bearing surface facing said recess, said bearing surfaces being asymmetrical relative to a plane passing through said axis and radially of said shaft, and at least one flow duct in said bearing segment communicating said bearing surfaces with each other.
A gas-lubricated bearing comprising
- a housing having a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses in an internal wall thereof;
- and
- a plurality of bearing segments for supporting a shaft in said housing, each said bearing segment being disposed in a respective recess for pivoting therein about an axis and having a concave rotation bearing surface on one side and a convex rotation bearing surface facing said recess in mating relation, said bearing surfaces being asymmetrical relative to a mid-plane passing through said axis, and at least one flow duct in each said bearing segment communicating said bearing surfaces with each other.
A bearing segment for a gas-lubricated radial bearing comprising a concave bearing surface on one side, a convex bearing surface on an opposite side, and a flow duct communicating said bearing surfaces with each other, said bearing surfaces being asymmetric to a mid-plane passing transversely through said bearing surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.