Water lubricated bearing

A cylindrical water-lubricated bearing comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced bearing portions of resilient elastomeric material defining a first set of bearing elements, said bearing portions secured to an annular rigid supporting member, said circumferentially spaced bearing portions defining a central passageway with a central axis, at least two of said first set of bearing elements having inserts therein defining a second set of bearing elements moveable radially to and from said axis to project radially inwardly closer to said axis than the radial innermost surface of said first set of bearing elements from which said second set project, power operated means connected to said second set of bearing elements and operative to selectively radially move said second set of bearing elements.

A bearing assembly for a rotating shaft, said assembly having a rigid cylindrical shell, an elastomeric support member mounted in said shell, said support member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending lubricant passageways defining circumferentially spaced support surfaces therebetween, a shaft journaled on said elastomeric support surfaces for frictional contact thereby, said shaft having a center line, at least two of said support surfaces having recesses, a slide member of plastic material mounted in said recesses for movement toward and away from said center line, means operatively connected to said slide members for selectively moving said slide members radially inwardly toward said center line to selectively provide support for said shaft.

A bearing assembly for a rotating shaft comprising a shell member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced support members mounted in said shell defining an opening with a plurality of circumferentially spaced planar bearing surfaces defining a first set of bearing elements, a shaft journaled in said opening and operative to contact said support members for rotaion thereon, said shaft having a center line, said support member having forwardly disposed portions of elastomeric material and operative to support said shaft for rotation, at least two of said support members having plastic inserts moveable radially to and from said center line, and actuating means connected to each of said plastic inserts for selectively moving said inserts toward said center line to contact said shaft for support in rotation thereon, and out of contact with said elastomeric material of said support member to provide a different coefficient of friction for said shaft.

A bearing assembly for a rotating shaft comprising a shell member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced support members mounted in said shell, bearing means mounted in each of said support members for supporting a shaft for rotation about a centerline, each of said bearing means having at least a pair of moveable bearing elements defining a first set and a second set of bearing elements, and actuating means connected to all of said first set of bearing elements and to all of said second set of bearing elements to selectively move either said first set or said second set of bearing elements into and out of contact with said shaft to provide a different coefficient of friction for rotation of said shaft.

A bearing assembly for a rotating shaft comprising a shell member having a central bore with a longitudinal centerline therethrough, a plurality of circumferentially spaced support members mounted in said shell, each of said support members having bearing means mounted therein for supporting a shaft for rotation, at least certain ones of said bearing means having moveable bearing elements defining a first set and a second set of bearing elements, actuating means connected to all of said first set of bearing elements and to all of said second set of bearing elements to selectively move either said first set or said second set of bearing elements into and out of contact with said shaft, and said first set of bearing elements having a different coefficient of friction from said second set of bearing elements.