Trailing edge cooling on hydrodynamic bearings
AssigneeWaukesha Bearings Corporation
InventorsRichard Livermore-Hardy, Barry Blair
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A trailing edge cooled bearing provides an illustrative embodiment of an apparatus for increasing heat transfer in various bearings, including but not limited to radial and axial tilting pad bearings. In the illustrative embodiment, the trailing edge cooled bearing may comprise at least one journal pad having a leading and trailing edge. The trailing edge may include a trailing edge face having one or more grooves formed therein. A spray bar may having one or more apertures formed therein may be positioned adjacent the trailing edge face to deliver fluid thereto.
Claims20
A trailing edge cooled bearing comprising:
- a. a main body having a channel formed therein;
- b. a first pad engaged with said main body, wherein said pad includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a trailing edge face, and wherein said first pad is moveable with respect to said main body in at least one dimension;
- c. a plurality of grooves formed in said trailing edge face;
- and,
- d. a spray bar engaged with said main body, wherein said spray bar is in fluid communication with said channel, wherein said spray bar is positioned adjacent said trailing edge face, wherein said spray bar includes an aperture directly facing at least one groove of said plurality of grooves in said trailing edge face, and wherein said aperture and said spray bar direct a fluid toward said plurality of grooves in said trailing edge face.
A machine housing comprising:
- a. a main body of a bearing having a channel formed therein, wherein said main body is engaged with said machine housing, wherein said main body is positioned around a shaft protruding from and rotatable with respect to said machine housing;
- b. a first pad engaged with said main body, wherein said pad includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a trailing edge face, and wherein said first pad is moveable with respect to said main body in at least one dimension;
- c. a plurality of grooves formed in said trailing edge face;
- and,
- d. a spray bar engaged with said main body adjacent a trailing edge face of said first pad, wherein said spray bar is in fluid communication with said channel, wherein said spray bar includes an aperture that directly faces at least one groove of said plurality of grooves such that said aperture directs a fluid toward said plurality of grooves in said trailing edge face.
A method of increasing the amount of heat transfer, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. forming a plurality of grooves in a trailing edge face of a pad, wherein said trailing edge face is defined by a direction of rotation of a shaft adjacent to and rotatable with respect to said pad;
- b. positioning a spray bar adjacent said trailing edge face of said pad;
- c. configuring an aperture in said spray bar;
- d. directing a fluid flow having a plurality of predetermined fluid flow characteristics through said spray bar and out of said aperture toward said plurality of grooves, wherein said aperture is positioned to directly face at least one groove of said plurality of grooves, and wherein said fluid flow extracts heat from said pad.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.