Abstract: A beating assembly for a submersible motor/propeller unit for a water vehicle consists of a radial bearing assembly and a thrust bearing assembly associated with a propeller and an axle. The radial and thrust bearing assemblies are comprised of bearing components, preferably made of a hard material to provide "hard-on-hard" bearing surfaces, and a resilient backing means, preferably rubber, positioned behind the stationary bearing component. The "hard-on-hard" bearing surfaces increase the load capacity and operating life of the bearings, and the resilient backing means allows the propeller to be displaced under high impact shock loads and to transfer the shock loads to shock snubber locations between the rotor and the stator. The combination of "hard-on-hard" bearings with the resilient backing means provides control of the centering of the propeller on the shaft and longer operating life for the propeller unit, as well as increased capability to survive high shock loads.

Abstract: A canned pump is described which includes a motor, impeller, shaft, and high inertia flywheel mounted within a hermetically sealed casing. The flywheel comprises a heavy metal disk made preferably of a uranium alloy with a stainless steel shell sealably enclosing the heavy metal. The outside surfaces of the stainless steel comprise thrust runners and a journal for mating with, respectively, thrust bearing shoes and radial bearing segments. The bearings prevent vibration of the pump and, simultaneously, minimize power losses normally associated with the flywheel resulting from frictionally pumping surrounding fluid.

Abstract: A system preventing high pressure fluid leakage from a liquid natural gas compressor casing or hydrogen cooled generator casing to the atmosphere. Sealing the clearance between a non-rotating shaft and the casing through which it extends is provided by a multi-faced piston which can be axially displaced to contact a sleeve or shoulder which is attached to and surrounds a given length of the shaft. The multi-faced piston is slidably actuated to the open, unsealed position during shaft rotation and to the closed, sealed position during non-rotation of the shaft. This is accomplished by a series of conduits and valves which direct high pressure and low pressure gas against the appropriate faces of the multi-faced piston.

Abstract: A system preventing fluid leakage from the inside of a compressor to the atmosphere. Static sealing of a non-rotating compressor shaft is provided by a multi-faced piston axially contacting a sleeve which is attached to and surrounds the shaft. The multi-faced piston is slidably actuated to the open, unsealed position during shaft rotation and to the closed, sealed position during non-rotation of the shaft by a series of conduits and valves which direct the fluid against an appropriate face of the piston.

Abstract: A thrust bearing for supporting a rotating shaft. Rotation of the shaft generates a hydrodynamic film of lubricating fluid between a thrust runner mounted on the shaft and a bearing pad disposed within a bearing housing. A restrictor-compensated channel extending through the bearing pad conducts a portion of the pressurized lubricating fluid from the hydrodynamic film into a pocket, or cavity, disposed on that surface of the bearing pad adjacent the bearing housing. Conduction of pressurized lubricating fluid from the hydrodynamic film into the pocket produces a hydrostatic film of lubricating fluid between the bearing pad and the bearing housing to support the bearing pad away from the bearing housing. Further, a step, or notch, is disposed on the surface of the bearing pad adjacent the thrust runner to both increase the load-carrying capacity of the bearing and to obviate the necessity of the bearing pad tilting to generate the hydrodynamic film.