# US 4,456,391 A · Tilting pad thrust bearing

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- Number: US 4,456,391 A
- Document ID: US4456391A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/426,873
- Filed: 1982-09-29
- Granted: 1984-06-26
- Earliest claimed: 1981-09-30
- Assignees: Aeplc
- Inventors: Nigel H. New
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4456391A

## CPC

- F16C 17/06: with tiltably-supported segments, e.g. Michell bearings {(with flexible leaves F16C17/042; hydrostatic F16C32/0666)}
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

## Abstract

A tilting pad thrust bearing comprising a bearing ring, a number of spaced, circumferentially mounted thrust pads, and a series of oil nozzles located in the spaces between the pads. The pads are mounted to pivot on the ring by means of two pins arranged to fit slackly into corresponding holes in the pad.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tilting pad thrust bearing comprising a bearing ring, a number of similar thrust pads spaced apart and mounted circumferentially on said bearing ring, a series of lubricant distributors located in the spaces between said pads, and a series of slack-fit fixings by means of which said pads are located circumferentially and which allow said pads to pivot on said ring, and which are located outside said spaces between said pads.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A thrust bearing according to claim 1 wherein said slack-fit fixings comprise two pins fixed to said ring and two corresponding holes formed in the pads, said pins being adapted to extend slackly into said holes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A thrust bearing according to claim 2 wherein said pins associated with each pad are located at an angle to each other and lie in a plane passing through the pivotal axis of said pad.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A thrust bearing according to claim 3 wherein said slack-fit fixings also serve to locate said pads radially.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A thrust bearing according to claim 4 further including an outer annular flange on said ring, from which flange, for each said pad, one said pin extends radially inwards; and in which bearing, for each said pad, another said pin extends axially from said ring.

### Claim 6

A thrust bearing according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said lubricant distributors are nozzles which are flush with a surface of said ring, said surface being that on which said pads pivot.