Hermetically sealed damper assembly and methods of assembling same

A journal bearing assembly comprising;

• a bearing housing having a radial inner wall;
• a bearing pad coupled to said radial inner wall;
• and
• a hermetically sealed damper assembly coupled to said bearing pad such that mechanical loads imparted to said bearing pad are transmitted to said damper assembly, said damper assembly comprising:
• a sealed damper housing comprising a body having a cavity and a resistive flow path defined therein, the cavity and resistive flow path being filled with a viscous fluid;
• a plunger disposed within the cavity and separating the cavity into a first control volume and a second control volume, wherein the resistive flow path provides fluid communication between the first and second control volumes;
• and
• at least one restorative-force member coupled to said body and said plunger, said restorative-force member configured to provide a restorative force to said plunger.

A method of assembling a hermetically sealed damper assembly, said method comprising:

• providing a damper housing comprising a body having a cavity and a resistive flow path defined therein, the body comprising a plurality of springs integrally formed therein;
• providing a plunger within the cavity such that the plunger separates the cavity into a first control volume and a second control volume and the resistive flow path provides fluid communication between the first control volume and the second control volume, wherein the plunger is attached to the plurality of springs such that the springs provide a restorative force to the plunger;
• filling the cavity and the resistive flow path with a viscous fluid;
• and
• coupling a load transferring member to the plunger such that the load transferring member is configured to transmit mechanical loads to the plunger.