Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing device incorporates a relatively rotatable shaft 1 and a sleeve 2 internally sealed with the shaft 1. A groove for generating dynamic pressure is formed on an external circumferential surface of the shaft 1 or on internal circumferential surface of the sleeve 2. A circumferential groove 1a is formed at one end of the shaft 1 external to the bearing. An annular sealing plate 3 is secured to the sleeve 2 and interegagging with the shaft 1 external to the bearing and the circumferential groove 1a. A labyrinth is formed between the inner-diametric domain of the sealing plate 3. An annular recessed domain 2c is defined by internal circumferential surface of the sleeve 2 and the sealing plate 3 at a position substantially opposite the circumferential groove 1a. An oil-pooling space 4 thereby formed by the shaft 1, the circumferential groove 1a, the sleeve 2, the sealing plate 3, and the annular recessed domain 2c.

Abstract: A device (1) for supporting a rotatable body (3) in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation (5) of the body (3). The device (1) comprises a support member (17) with a fluid bearing (21) which maintains a beating gap (23) between a bearing surface (15) of the body (3) extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation (5) and a bearing surface (19) of the support member (17) extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation (5) during operation. Manufacturing tolerances may lead to deviations from perpendicularity of the beating surfaces (15, 19) relative to the axis of rotation (5), which deviations cause an undesirable vibration of the body (3) parallel to the axis of rotation (5) during rotation of the body (3).

Abstract: A hydrostatic radial pocket bearing for a servo cylinder is described, particularly for a high performance testing cylinder, of the kind as used, for example, in test rig or simulation technology. The radial pocket bearing is suitable for the highly precise regulation of the piston and for receiving large transverse forces acting on the piston rod. An even number of bearing pockets is uniformly distributed over the bearing periphery and fed from a source of pressure fluid by way of associated preliminary throttles connected to pressure supply conduits and by way of an associated connecting conduit. The preliminary throttles are formed by the bearing gap between a supply orifice and at least one outlet groove in an opposite bearing pocket, the bearing pocket being in the form of a reentrant depression either in the fixed or in the moving bearing portion.

Abstract: A hydrostatic journal bearing system for a rotor or shaft includes bearing pads which are self-aligned and self-adjusting. The self-adjusting aspect includes providing for radial movement of the bearing pads. The self-aligning feature includes providing for pivoting of the bearing pads. In one embodiment a pressurizable piston area provides a radial load to establish a substantially constant clearance between the bearing pad and the rotor. Spring preload of the bearing pads, if provided, prevents relative motion between the bearing and shaft, e.g., during transportation and storage.

Abstract: Bearing sleeves of dynamic pressure bearings are adjustably supported on mounting sleeves by flexible connecting portions. The center axes of the bearing sleeves are thus finely adjusted so as to coincide with the center axis of the shaft 3. The concentricity of the bearing sleeves with respect to the shaft 3 can then be enhanced without requiring any high-precision machining.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic thrust, journal or combined radial and thrust bearing and methods of manufacturing the same. The bearing includes a bearing pad structure that may change shape and move in any direction (six degrees of freedom) to optimize formation of a converging wedge for hydrodynamic operation, equalization of load on the bearing pads in thrust bearings and to adjust for any shaft misalignment. The bearing pad may be formed so as to contact the shaft in the installed state and to deflect under fluid film pressure. The shape of the pads may be altered to achieve desired deformations under load. The pads are supported by 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.

Abstract: The bearing pedestal for the rotating shaft 12 includes journal and axial thrust bearings 16 and 26, respectively. Both of the journal and thrust bearings have passages 70 and 80, respectively, and recesses 74 and 82 in the respective pad faces for flowing high pressure lubricant between the pads and the shaft to displace the shaft and pads relative to one another to minimize the required breakaway torque and metal-to-metal contact. Each thrust bearing includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced pads 26 and lubricant directors 30 between the pads. The lubricant director includes a rib 34 extending generally tangentially and radially outwardly to channel lubricant from a preceding pad to a succeeding pad in the direction of shaft rotation and to channel the lubricant for flow tangentially from the thrust bearing into an annular cavity 39 for return to sump 42.

Abstract: A self-lubricating hydrodynamic spindle bearing for support of a spindle of a magnetic disk drive assembly includes a crankcase design which provides large reservoirs for oil storage with an air cover in communication with the ambient environment through an air vents provided by clearance seals formed between respective central passages of housing-sealing endcaps and the shaft. The crankcase reservoir volume is defined within the bearing so that natural body force effects cause the lubricant to be fed into the hydrodynamic bearing. A leak-preventing capillary trap of minimal continuous axial length may be provided at the clearance seal for passive capture of wandering lubricant when the bearing is at rest. Full evacuation of lubricant trapped at the clearance seal is achieved toward the interior of the housing by centrifugal pumping, e.g.

Abstract: A dynamic pressure bearing device has a bearing and a shaft which is partly accommodated in the bearing. A sliding surface of the bearing is provided with dynamic pressure grooves of circular shape. When the direction of relative movement between the shaft and the bearing is reversed, fluid within the dynamic pressure grooves can move its flowing direction change along the circular dynamic pressure grooves. Further, the dynamic pressure grooves, being of circular shape, can generate dynamic pressures of equal levels irrespective of the direction of the movement.

Abstract: Adjustable gap hydrostatic bearings and adjustable gap seals wherein the adjustable gaps are useful to compensate for wear, thermal expansion, journal speed, and radial deflection of the journal. A housing 10 is adjacent to a journal 2. The housing contains an annular electrodeformable material 5 which will expand or contract radially with the application of voltage and thus adjust the gap between the liner material 3 and the journal.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic thrust, journal or combined radial and thrust bearing and methods of manufacturing the same. The bearing includes a bearing pad structure that may change shape and move in any direction (six degrees of freedom) to optimize formation of a converging wedge for hydrodynamic operation, equalization of load on the bearing pads in thrust bearings and to adjust for any shaft misalignment. The bearing pad may be formed so as to contact the shaft in the installed state and to deflect under fluid film pressure. The pad is separated from the support member by a support structure which includes 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.

Abstract: A squeeze film damper bearing (100) has the means of automatically centering itself from the force associated with lateral shaft vibration. It utilizes a floating ring (108) positioned between a housing (102) and a cage (106) with O-rings (115, 116, 130, 131) positioned between adjacent parts to maintain proper clearances. Oil is introduced into the clearances to serve as a damping medium. Squeeze film damping action occurs in the clearances when the force associated with lateral shaft vibration is transmitted from the shaft (120) through the radial bearing (114) to the damper oil films. The mating cylindrical surfaces between the flowing ring (108) and housing (102) have a common longitudinal axis 100a which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal shaft centerline 120a by an angle (122) which provides the means for the floating ring (108) to reposition itself so that it can assume a centered position with respect to the housing (102) and the cage (106) when subjected to lateral forces.

Abstract: A disk drive motor having a low profile construction and a gas-lubricated deflecting pad support usable in the disk drive motor and elsewhere.The motor includes a cup-shaped rotor having an integral cylindrical portion extending from the base of the cup; the cylindrical extension may be a shaft or a large hollow extension which encloses the stator windings. The stator can be conventional or can have a closed end and/or a cup-like portion to simplify construction and eliminate the need for a seal. A support mounted on the stator or the rotor supports the rotor for rotation relative to the stator. The support can be a deflecting pad support such as a deflecting pad hydrodynamic bearing or the plane or gas-lubricated deflecting pad support disclosed herein.The gas-lubricated deflecting pad support member includes bearing pads and a support structure which supports the bearings for strictly radial movement. A contoured surface is formed on the pad surfaces or a support surface opposing the pad surfaces or both.

Abstract: A compliant hydrodynamic gas bearing comprises a nonlinear spring arrangement for supporting a plurality of tilting arcuate pads which hydrodynamically carry radial journal loads. The nonlinear spring support arrangement enables the bearing to provide increasing load-deflection capacity under extreme loads to limit deflection to a predetermined clearance. The spring arrangement provides nonlinear load-deflection capabilities while operating with a designed constant bending stress.

Abstract: A support device for a drum (1) which is provided with two journals (57, 59) projecting from the drum on either side of the drum, whose centerlines (25, 27) substantially coincide with the centerline (9) of the drum. Each of the two journals (57, 59) is journalled around an axis of rotation (61) in a bearing bush (63, 65) which is attached to a frame (67) by a ring-shaped membrane (69) positioned in a plane transverse to the axis of rotation (61). Each of the two journals (57, 59) forms part of a shaft (17, 19) projecting into the drum (1), and attached to a shell (7) of the drum by a ring-shaped plate (11). An end of a portion of each shaft (17, 19) projecting into the drum (1) bears on adjustment devices (41, 43, 49) by which the relevant shaft (17, 19) with journal (57, 59) can be swivelled relative to the centerline (9) of the drum (1).

Abstract: A hydrodynamic thrust, journal or combined radial and thrust bearing and methods of manufacturing the same. The bearing includes a bearing pad structure that may change shape and move in any direction (six degrees of freedom) to optimize formation of a conversion wedge for hydrodynamic operation, equalization of load on the bearing pads in thrust bearings and to adjust for any shaft misalignment. The bearing pad may be formed so as to contact the shaft in the installed state and to deflect under fluid film pressure. The pad is separated from the support member by a support structure which includes 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.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing and methods of manufacturing the same. The bearing includes a bearing pad structure that may change shape and move in any direction (six degrees of freedom) to form a converging wedge for hydrodynamic operation, and to adjust for any shaft misalignment. The pad is separated from the support member by one or more beam-like members the beams extend substantially parallel to the plane of the face of the pad. The beams allow deflection of the pad by either deflecting or twisting in a torsional mode. 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 injection molding, casting, powdered metal die casting, extrusion, electric discharge or laser cutting.

Abstract: A rotatable shaft/thrust plate combination is disposed within a sleeve to form a first clearance space between the shaft and the sleeve and a second clearance space between the thrust plate and the sleeve. The external faces of the thrust plate are exposed to air. The clearance spaces are filled with a liquid lubricant and the sleeve includes pressure equalization ports connecting the first and second clearance spaces. Surface tension dynamic seals are provided between axially extending surfaces of the thrust plate and sleeve. The equalization ports balance the hydrodynamic pressures in the lubricant to prevent the lubricant being pumped through one of the dynamic seals. The resulting bearing provides high precision with low repetitive and nonrepetitive runouts. The bearing provides hydrodynamic support of both radial and axial loads and the bearing seal is relatively insensitive to orientation of the spindle and minimizes the generation of debris and cotaminating particles.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic thrust, journal or combined radial and thrust bearing and methods of manufacturing the same. The bearing includes a continuous bearing surface and support structure which supports the surface such that the surface may change shape and move in any direction (six degrees of freedom) to optimize formation of a converging wedge for hydrodynamic operation, equalization of load across the bearing surface in thrust bearings and to adjust for any shaft misalignment. The support structure can include a repeating series of support structure portions each including a fully rigid portion a partially rigid portion and connecting portions connecting the spaced portions. Alternatively, the support structure can include a spaced series of deflectable ears which are arranged such that the continuous surface deforms when the ear portions are deflected. The bearing may also include an additional support portion which includes one or more beam-like or membrane members.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic thrust, journal or combined radial and thrust bearing and methods of manufacturing the same. The bearing includes a continuous bearing surface and support structure which supports the surface such that the surface may change shape and move in any direction (six degrees of freedom) to optimize formation of a converging wedge for hydrodynamic operation, equalization of load across the bearing surface in thrust bearings and to adjust for any shaft misalignment. The support structure can include a repeating series of support structure portions each including a fully rigid portion a partially rigid portion and connecting portions connecting the spaced portions. Alternatively, the support structure can include a spaced series of deflectable ears which are arranged such that the continuous surface deforms when the ear portions are deflected. The bearing may also include an additional support portion which includes one or more beam-like or membrane members.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic thrust, journal or combined radial and thrust bearing which may be mounted within a sealed housing assembly which can be, for example, be used to replace rolling element bearings. The bearing can be designed for mounting to either the shaft or housing. If mounted for rotation with the shaft, the bearing pads move relative to a smooth support surface. The bearing includes a bearing pad structure that may change shape and move in any direction (six degrees of freedom) to optimize formation of a converging wedge for hydrodynamic operation, equalization of load on the bearing pads in thrust bearings and to adjust for any shaft misalignment. The bearing pad may be formed so as to contact the shaft in the installed state and to deflect under fluid film pressure. The pad is separated from the support member by a support structure which includes one or more beam-like members. The support structure preferably includes a primary support portion, a secondary support portion and a tertiary support portion.

Abstract: The spindle has a sleeve about a fixed shaft. Swing-type bearing pads are attached to the fixed shaft. The bearing pads are lubricated by flowing a lubricant through primary and secondary lubricating holes located in the fixed shaft.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic gas journal bearing system using rotating bushes which are able to radially move relative to a shaft, the movement being controlled by a spring support system, and in which a degree of dynaMic imbalance of the rotating system is incorporated, these features and the design of the system being together such as to suppress the onset of self-excited instability (half-speed whirl) of the rotating system.

Abstract: A gas-static and gas-dynamic radial bearing assembly includes a shaft having a supply line extending in the interior thereof for bearing gas. The shaft has a portion in the form of a porous sintered body. A bearing has a given bearing length, part of which is occupied by the porous sintered body. The bearing has a bearing box divided into individual segments partly overlapping one another at given regions. Spring elements in the vicinity of said given regions spread said segments apart.

Abstract: A rotary motion driving apparatus includes a gas bearing assembly for supporting a rotatable shaft and is usable in any ambience such as a vacuum ambience. The rotatable shaft has two flange-like collar portions formed on the opposite ends of the rotatable shaft. The collars are used as the members to be supported by the gas bearing assembly with respect to the thrust direction. A driving motor has a rotor and a stator, the rotor being fixed to one of the collars of the rotatable shaft and the stator being fixed to the gas bearing assembly. The other collar of the rotatable shaft functions as an output end of the rotary drive produced by the motor. Around such drive outputting collar of the rotatable shaft, a sealing plate having a plurality of grooves or recesses is provided. The sealing plate is maintained out of contact with the collar, and suitable vacuum is supplied to the grooves of the sealing plate.

Abstract: A rotatable shaft/thrust plate combination is disposed within a sleeve to form a first clearance space between the shaft and the sleeve and a second clearance space between the thrust plate and the sleeve. The external faces of the thrust plate are exposed to air. The clearance spaces are filled with a liquid lubricant and the sleeve includes pressure equalization ports connecting the first and second clearance spaces. Surface tension dynamic seals are provided between axially extending surfaces of the thrust plate and sleeve. The equalization ports balance the hydrodynamic pressures in the lubricant to prevent the lubricant being pumped through one of the dynamic seals. The resulting bearing provides high precision with low repetitive and nonrepetitive runouts. The bearing provides hydrodynamic support of both radial and axial loads and the bearing seal is relatively insensitive to orientation of the spindle and minimizes the generation of debris and contaminating particles.

Abstract: An aerodynamic slide bearing which uses air as a lubricant. A shaft is supported on substructures distributed about its circumference, which exhibit predetermined elasticity and dampening behavior. A dampening chamber is located between each substructure and an outer casing to give the aerodynamic slide bearing requisite dampening characteristics. Because of the modular design, the aerodynamic slide bearing is relatively insensitive to shifting of the shaft.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement which is to be used for supporting a rotatable shaft used in a system employing a pressurized medium at a pressure which is partially dependent on the speed of rotation of the shaft includes a main bearing sleeve mounted on a support and surrounding the shaft. The working medium is supplied between the shaft and the bearing sleeve to fully support the shaft in the bearing sleeve when the pressure of the working medium exceeds a predetermined value. The bearing arrangement further includes at least one, but possibly more than one, auxiliary bearing including a split bearing ring which has a conical outer circumferential surface and a stationary outer bearing ring surrounding the split bearing ring and having a conical inner ramp surface.

Abstract: Bearing for rotary shaft, of the type comprising at least one bearing element with a friction surface contacting with one external surface of the shaft. The bearing element comprises a bearing block on which is defined the friction surface and a support housing having an opening for receiving the block. The block and the housing are separated over the whole periphery of the opening by a gap, and joined together resiliently through the gap. The block and housing together define a closed cavity filled with a substantially incompressible fluid.

Abstract: A seal for a bearing space in hydrostatic or aerostatical bearings. It is of ring-shaped extension supported by a first bearing body so that with its sealing contact surface it bears in linear manner against a second bearing body forming part of the bearing. A plane which along the entire periphery of the ring extends through its sealing contact surface occupies an angular position relative to the symmetry axis of the bearing body, which the ring surrounds or against which it bears, and/or the plane crosses the perpendicular to a preferably concentric bearing surface of the second body.

Abstract: A hydro-dynamic fluid-bearing assembly constituted by bearing members disposed around a rotary shaft with the interposition of a film of pressure fluid. At least one of the bearing members is subject when the shaft is stopped to the action of a resilient member generating a limited pre-loading strictly necessary for maintaining the assembly in its correct interrelationship, the said resilient means being subject during operation of the shaft to the action of pressure fluid bled from the film of fluid under pressure lying beneath the bearing member and such that the load on the bearing member increases with the pressure of the fluid film.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting a propeller, which is driven by an aircraft engine, on a longitudinal member of a lightweight aircraft. The assembly includes a sleeve positioned about the longitudinal member, and a pair of opposed adjustable cups securing the sleeve at its ends longitudinally relative to the longitudinal member. A rotating mechanism mounted to the propeller, rotatable about the sleeve, and driven by the aircraft engine rotates the propeller concentrically about a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal member. Suitable bearings are disposed between the rotating mechanism and the sleeve and the rotating mechanism rotates on these bearings. Vibration dampening rings are placed between the cups and the sleeve and dampen the vibration transmitted between the rotating mechanism and the longitudinal member.

Abstract: A pad type journal bearing device includes a plurality of bearing pads disposed in circumferentially spaced relationship to one another within a casing and swingable about axes parallel to an axis of a rotating shaft. In addition, a resilient return member is provided within the casing for biasing the bearing pads in a manner to maintain a constant clearance between the rotating shaft and the bearing pads.

Abstract: In order to be able to achieve, in yarn manufacture, the very high speeds required by the textile industry in open-end spinning devices, for the purpose of increasing production, and in order to achieve high operating reliability and a long life of the spinning devices, the rotor which rotates at high speeds and is subject to a variable imbalance and which is guided in gas-dynamic radial plain bearings is guided in a bearing carrier which is elastically pivotable in relation to the rigid bearing journal. At the same time, the bearing journal is connected, but so as to be elastically pivotable, to the bearing carrier via a bearing-body joint. A first gas-dynamic radial plain bearing, which is located in the region in the center of gravity of the rotor, is arranged on the bearing carrier, and a second gas-dynamic radial bearing is arranged at the opposite end of the bearing carrier.

Abstract: A hydrostatic pad or slipper bearing that is hydrostatically balanced to provide a substantially frictionless bearing with negligible fluid leakage, for supporting a moving part, in which there is a stationary housing in a cylindrical recess in which is mounted a bearing pad movable in the recess and surrounded by a liquid seal, the outward face of the pad being shaped to bear on the moving part to be supported and having a recessed area in its outward face which is defined by sealing land. A passage through the pad provides a communication between the inward face of the pad and the recessed area. Within the housing is a cylindrical cavity containing a valve assembly which is connected in a manner that is free of back lash to the pad so that the valve moves with the pad. The cylindrical cavity is supplied with liquid under pressure the entry of which is controlled by the valve and also with a passage leading to an area of lower of pressure.

Abstract: So as to be able to achieve, in yarn manufacture, the very high speed required by the textile industry in open-end spinning devices, for the purpose of increasing production, the rotors which are connected to the spinning container including a spinning groove, are designed as a hollow shaft, and this hollow shaft is guided radially on a bearing journal located in the interior of the hollow shaft by means of gas-dynamic radial plain bearings designed as inner bearings. Gas-dynamic axial plain bearings are provided for the axial guidance of the rotor rotating at very high speed. The rotor together with the spinning container can be pushed in and out in a simple way from the spinning side, and to position the rotor over the entire speed range, permanent magnets are located in the bearing journal opposite the rearside of the spinning container and in an annular widened portion of the bearing journal.

Abstract: A fluid bearing is disclosed which consists essentially of a number of bearing pads, each having a face member and a support member that are separated and bonded together by an elastomeric material. The face member will have a load engaging surface, and its back surface will have at least one arcuate portion to provide a point of inflection which opposes an identical arcuate surface providing another point of inflection located on the support member. In operation the pad which operates in a fluid that serves as a lubricant will develop friction and pressure forces, which move the pad in such a way as to provide a wedge for hydrodynamic lubrication.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic fluid film bearing having a series of axially aligned foil bearing modules which act in concert to extend the load carrying capability of the bearing assembly while providing whirl free operation.

Abstract: A damped bearing device operative to damp vibration acting on a bearing journalling a rotary shaft includes a spring body resiliently supporting the bearing with respect to a housing. The spring body includes a spring portion arranged on the outer peripheral side of the bearing to minimize the axial dimensions of the bearing device without increasing the stress produced in the spring portion of the spring body.

Abstract: A hydrostatic support or pressure element, especially for a controlled deflection roll, comprising a sealing or closing ledge having a sealing surface which closes a gap between a plunger of the support element and the supported part in a manner such that mixed friction prevails at the sealing surface of the sealing ledge. The sealing surface has a width which at most amounts to ten or five millimeters, respectively. The hydraulically effective surface of the plunger, producing a contact or press force for the sealing surface, is equal to a surface whose boundary line extends within the sealing surface, and specifically, preferably at a distance of 0.2 to 0.5-fold of the width of the sealing surface from the inner edge of the sealing surface.

Abstract: Journal and/or thrust bearings of a high speed rotary machine are mounted on a portion of the machine stator by mounts which allow limited tracking of pivotal rotor displacements by the bearings to reduce the risk of bearing damage due to nonuniform bearing pressurization from such pivotal shaft displacements. The mounts resist radial and axial shaft displacements for maintenance of sufficient shaft-stator alignment to prevent risk of rotor-stator impact.