US 5,489,155 AGranted

Tilt pad variable geometry bearings having tilting bearing pads and methods of making same

OwnerRussell D. Ideinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A one piece hydrodynamic bearing which replicates the function and performance of more costly tilt pad bearings. The pads are supported on a single thin web for pivoting on a support structure which can include one or more beam-like members. The support structure preferably includes a primary support portion, a secondary support portion and a tertiary support portion. The beams allow deflection of the pad by either deflecting or twisting in a torsional mode. The bearing pad support structure may include portions which are fluid dampened. The bearing may be made self lubricating through the provision of a lubricant absorbing and releasing material in the spaces between the bearing pads or within the support structure. The bearings may be made of a wide variety of materials including, plastics, ceramics, powdered metals, composites and metals. The bearings may be manufactured by simple molding using a two-piece camless mold, injection molding, casting, powdered metal die casting, extrusion, electric discharge or laser cutting.

Claims13

Dependent claims

In an assembly which includes a shaft and a supply of liquid, a one piece hydrodynamic fluid film bearing for supporting a shaft for rotation, the bearing comprising:

a substantially cylindrical bearing housing having a radially inner cylindrical surface and a radially outer cylindrical surface provided with cuts, a plurality of circumferentially evenly spaced radial cuts extending radially inward from the radially inner cylindrical surface to define a plurality of bearing pads spaced evenly about the cylindrical housing, a circumferential cut extending in continuance of each of the radial cuts to undercut the bearing pads and a radial cut formed in continuance of the circumferential cuts to define a single radially extending web connecting each bearing pad to the bearing housing, each web being sufficiently thin that the bearing pads rotate to form a converging wedge between the pads and the rotating shaft under load so as to pressurize the liquid and maintain a symmetric pressure profile;
and each web including a first end connected to the bearing pad and a second end spaced from the bearing pad by a predetermined distance and wherein the housing includes a portion which extends radially inward toward the bearing pads and is spaced from the bearing pads by a distance which is less than the predetermined distance between the second end of the web and the bearing pad.

A hydrodynamic bearing supporting a rotating shaft, the bearing comprising a plurality of bearing pads spaced evenly about the circumference of the shaft and a housing located radially outward of the pads and encircling the pads each of the bearing pads having a pad surface facing the rotating shaft, a support surface facing the support structure, a leading edge, a trailing edge and two side edges, and a single thin web extending radially outward from the housing to a support structure so as to support the bearing pad on the housing such that under load the pads pivot;

each of the webs having a first end connected to the bearing pad which it supports and a second end spaced from the support surface of the bearing pad by a predetermined distance;
and the housing comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially inward extending portions which extends toward the support surfaces of the bearing pads and are spaced therefrom by a distance which is less than the predetermined spacing between the second end of the web and the support surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/878,601Filed 5 May 1992 · continuation in part
Priority: 29 May 1987
Granted: 6 Feb 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F16F 15/0237
Using fluid means: involving squeeze-film damping
F01D 25/164
Bearing supports: flexible supports; Vibration damping means associated with the bearing
F16C 17/035
With tiltably-supported segments, e.g. Michell bearings: the segments being integrally formed with, or rigidly fixed to, a support-element
F16C 17/065
With tiltably-supported segments, e.g. Michell bearings: the segments being integrally formed with, or rigidly fixed to, a support-element

Family

Serial55,340Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 May 1987
Serial283,529Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Oct 1988
Serial309,081Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Feb 1989
Serial685,148Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Apr 1991
Serial785,005Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Oct 1991
US 5,137,373 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,112,143 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,489,155 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.