Bridge spring centering device for squeeze film dampers
AssigneeLufkin Industries, Inc.
InventorsJohn C. Nicholas, Thomas P. Shoup, Donald H. Rockefeller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A damper film bearing assembly for supporting a rotatable shaft includes a bearing housing having a longitudinal opening passing therethrough for receiving the rotatable shaft. The bearing housing also has at least one radial recess formed in an outer surface thereof. At least one resilient element is disposed within the recess in the bearing housing above the floor of the recess, the resilient element biasing the support piston away from the axis of the rotatable shaft. The resilient element in accordance with the disclosure may be a bridge spring or a rod spring as appropriate.
Claims14
A damper film bearing assembly for supporting a rotatable shaft, the damper film bearing assembly comprising:
- an outermost bearing case having outer and inner surfaces;
- a rotatable shaft;
- a plurality of bearing tilting pads disposed circumferentially about the rotatable shaft and radially spaced apart from the rotatable shaft so as to create a circumferential space therebetween for receiving bearing oil;
- a bearing housing disposed circumferentially about the rotatable shaft and intermediate between the bearing case and the tilting pads, and radially spaced apart from the bearing case so as to create a circumferential space therebetween for receiving damper oil;
- at least one radial recess provided in an outer diameter surface of bearing housing intermediate between the inner surface of the bearing case and the bearing housing;
- and
- at least one centering device disposed within the recess in the bearing housing, the at least one centering device being intermediate between two O-rings,
- wherein the at least one centering device provides centering load bearing support to the rotatable shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.