Elastomeric supported hydrodynamic bearing
OwnerRussell D. Ideinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid bearing is disclosed which consists essentially of a number of bearing pads, each having a face member and a support member that are separated and bonded together by an elastomeric material. The face member will have a load engaging surface, and its back surface will have at least one arcuate portion to provide a point of inflection which opposes an identical arcuate surface providing another point of inflection located on the support member. In operation the pad which operates in a fluid that serves as a lubricant will develop friction and pressure forces, which move the pad in such a way as to provide a wedge for hydrodynamic lubrication.
Claims6
A fluid bearing for supporting an opposing moving part, a plurality of bearing pads, each pad having a face member and a support member separated by and bonded to an elastomeric material, said face member having a load engaging surface and a back surface with at least one arcuate point of inflection, which at rest opposed an arcuate point of inflection located on said support member, and which under fluid lubricant friction and pressure forces, move to form a wedge for hydrodynamic lubrication;
- said friction causing lateral pad motion and misalignment of the opposing points of inflection, said pressure force causing tilting of the pad to develop a lubricant wedge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.