For Thrust Bearing Patents (Class 384/368)
  • Publication number: 20110309628
    Abstract: A bearing assembly and wind generator. The bearing assembly includes a plurality of bearing segments defining a sliding member and a bearing body, with the sliding member and bearing body being joined together, and the plurality of bearing segments being coupled together to define an annular bearing structure. Also, a wind generator includes a wind rotor supported upon a tower, a hydraulic pump coupled to the wind rotor, and with rotation of the hydraulic pump pressurizing a hydraulic fluid, and a hydraulic motor in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump, and an electrical generator driven by the hydraulic motor to produce electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventor: Jochen Corts
  • Publication number: 20110260456
    Abstract: A turbine replacement unit for replacement of at least one double runner horizontal submersible installation for a hydroelectric plant including at least one submerged coupling and at least one submerged bearing supported by a submerged bearing pedestal in which each of the two runners discharge a flow into a common draft tube. The replacement unit includes a single runner positioned to replace each of the two runners, the single runner receiving a flow and discharging the flow into the existing common draft tube. A dry pit assembly is positioned to surround the submerged pedestal and define an air space around the submerged pedestal and an oil-flooded bearing is positioned on the pedestal to replace the submerged bearing. A shaft supports the runner for rotation and is at least partially supported for rotation by the oil-flooded bearing. A generator is coupled to the shaft and is operable to produce an electrical power in response to rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: William D. Harris, Jeff Kiser
  • Patent number: 8042272
    Abstract: A thrust bearing assembly includes an upper thrust bearing and a lower thrust bearing for an engine assembly of a vehicle and which, are preferably, identically configured. The thrust bearings each include an arcuate bearing shell with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, and each includes a pair of axially spaced flanges extending radially outwardly of the bearing shells. The flanges may be formed as one piece with the bearing shell, and one flange is thicker than the other flange. The thicker flanges are load bearing and preferably contoured, whereas the thinner flanges are not. The bearings are installed with the thick flange of each bearing matched radially opposite the thin flange of the companion bearing to minimize fatigue and failure normally attributed to repeated seating and unseating of bearing assemblies having flanges of equal thickness caused by changing bending loads imparted by a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide Inc.
    Inventors: Sean M. Welch, Ronald J. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8021105
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic axial bearing with a floating disk is disclosed wherein two lubricating gaps on the two sides of the floating disk are formed by supporting surfaces of different size. This makes it possible to provide identical lubricating gaps on both sides, despite different rotation speeds between the floating disk and the bearing housing, and between the floating disk and the bearing comb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Turbo Systems AG
    Inventors: Bruno Ammann, Markus Lebong, Marco Di Pietro
  • Publication number: 20110194793
    Abstract: In a synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing 1, a silicone grease whose base oil is a silicone oil, whose coefficient of kinematic viscosity at 25° C. is not less than 100 cSt and not more than 500,000 cSt, and which contains a thickener so as to set its worked penetration to not less than 200 and not more than 400 is interposed at sliding interfaces between, on the one hand, an upper surface of a lower annular flat plate-shaped portion 202 defining a bottom surface of a lower annular recess 204 and a lower surface of an upper annular flat plate-shaped portion 102 and, on the other hand, an upper surface and a lower surface of a thrust bearing piece 300 which are respectively brought into sliding contact with the upper and the lower surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: OILES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryohei Kaneko, Yoshiaki Furusawa, Masaya Kinjyo
  • Patent number: 7887240
    Abstract: A thrust washer for a torque converter, including a front surface and at least one first channel. The at least one channel is at least partially enclosed by the front surface and is in fluid communication with an inner circumference and an outer circumference for the thrust washer. The front surface is arranged to engage a cover for the torque converter. In some aspects, the at least one channel is fully enclosed by the front surface. The thrust washer also includes a back surface, oppositely disposed from the front surface. The at least one channel is at least partially enclosed by the back surface. In some aspects, the thrust washer includes a front piece and a back piece matingly engaged and configured to form the at least one channel. The front and back pieces are fixedly secured or removably secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Bhaskar Marathe, Steven Olsen
  • Patent number: 7832934
    Abstract: A thrust bearing device comprising a runner portion attached to a rotational axis and having a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotational axis, and a fixed portion having a sliding surface facing the plane of the runner portion, wherein the fixed portion has a plurality of oil grooves extending in radial directions formed on the sliding surface, a plurality of tapered lands formed among some of the plurality of oil grooves on the sliding surface and having a tapered plane and a plane, a plurality of flat parts formed among the remainder of the plurality of oil grooves on the sliding surface and having only a plane, and a plurality of oil supply openings formed in each of the plurality flat parts and pressurized oil is externally supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Hemmi, Akitomi Semba
  • Publication number: 20100202716
    Abstract: A synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing includes a synthetic resin-made upper casing 100, a synthetic resin-made lower casing 200, and a synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing piece 300 interposed between the upper and lower casings 100 and 200.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Ryohei Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20100089194
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a worm drive supporting the worm of the worm drive with washer-shaped thrust slide bearings and bush-shaped radial slide (sintered oil-containing bearings) bearings. The thrust slide bearings are made of a resin containing 95 to 99.9 wt % of polyetheretherketone resin, which is an aromatic polyetherketone resin. Wear of the thrust slide bearings is reduced and its durability is improved, thereby preventing vibration and noise of the worm drive as well as improving its durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Masato SHIMODA, Masahiko Mizutani
  • Patent number: 7648773
    Abstract: To provide a thermal spray membrane contact material, contact member and contact part and an apparatus to which they are applied, showing excellent seizure resistance and wear resistance even under high surface pressure/low speed sliding, high speed/high temperature sliding, or high surface pressure/high speed sliding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Takemori Takayama, Tetsuo Ohnishi, Kazuo Okamura
  • Publication number: 20090304316
    Abstract: The invention provides a horizontal shaft type rotary machine capable of simply feeding oil into thrust bearing devices. Leak oil introduction means are provided in the circumferential end parts of thrust bearing devices, for introducing leak oil of lubrication oil from horizontal type slide bearing devices onto slide surfaces of the thrust bearing devices. With this configuration, the thrust baring devices can be lubricated with the use of leak oil of lubrication oil from the horizontal type slide bearing devices, and as a result, it is possible to eliminate the necessity of an oil feed system exclusively used for the thrust bearing devices, thereby it is possible to simplify the pipe line arrangement of the oil feed system and the control of oil feed quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Hattori, Tadaaki Kakimoto, Akitomi Semba, Keiji Fugane, Makoto Hemmi
  • Patent number: 7470064
    Abstract: An axial thrust bearing for axially supporting a rotating shaft of an exhaust gas turbocharger connected to a lubricating oil circuit includes a profiled annular bearing surface which contacts an essentially flat sliding surface, the bearing surface having a plurality of radially extending grooves which are open on the outside circumference, a plurality of coplanar flat trap surfaces located between respective pairs of adjacent grooves, and a plurality of wedge surfaces located between adjacent pairs of respective grooves. Each wedge surface forms a lubricating oil gap which narrows circumferentially toward an adjacent flat trap surface and which narrows radially toward the outside circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: MAN B&W Diesel AG
    Inventors: Hermann Link, Ferdinand Werdecker
  • Patent number: 7401980
    Abstract: A thrust bearing, in particular for a turbo charger, has an essentially disc shaped bearing body (10) with a central through opening (12) for a shaft, at least one bearing surface (14) surrounding the through opening (12) for a collar which is placed on the shaft, and at least one oil supply channel which leads from a radially outer region of the bearing body to the through opening (12). In order to realize a cost effective manufacture of the thrust bearing it is proposed according to the invention that the at least one oil supply channel is designed to be a groove (16?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Krauss, Thomas Weinitschke, Helmut Eggert, Klaus Schappert, Norbert Stoll
  • Patent number: 7399253
    Abstract: A washer and a planetary gear set having the same, wherein the washer includes a first washer member and a second washer member. The first washer member is formed at a surface thereof with a plurality of first stepped portions each having a radially extending concave structure. The second washer member has a plurality of second stepped portions each having a radially extending convex structure facing the first washer member. As the second stepped portions are inserted into the first stepped portions, respectively, a plurality of oil flow holes are defined between the first stepped portions and the second stepped portions, thereby allowing lubricating oil to pass through the washer in a radial direction. With this configuration, the washer ensures the smooth supply of lubricating oil regardless of the rotating direction of a pinion gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jim Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 7357578
    Abstract: A thrust sliding bearing includes an upper casing having a polyacetal resin-made flat annular surface and a lower casing superposed on the upper casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of the upper casing and having a polyacetal resin-made annular surface opposing the annular surface of the upper casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Oiles Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Watai, Kazuyuki Miyata, Atsushi Ueno, Ryohei Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7271135
    Abstract: A rolling bearing, for application in electric auxiliaries for a car, durable owing to high resistance to high temperatures and capable of restraining noises from being generated at low temperatures; and lubricant grease, for low and high temperature application, which can be sealed in the rolling bearing. The lubricant grease includes 100 parts by weight of a mixture of fluorine-containing lubricant grease containing perfluoropolyether oil as a base oil thereof and fluorocarbon resin powder as a thickening agent thereof and urea-containing lubricant grease containing polyester oil as a base oil thereof and a urea compound as a thickening agent thereof; and 3 to 30 parts by weight of polyolefin oil added to the mixed grease. The polyolefin oil has a pour point of not more than ?50° C. and a kinematic viscosity of 10 to 70 mm2/s at 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsunari Asao, Masaki Egami
  • Patent number: 7198406
    Abstract: A thrust sliding bearing includes an upper casing having a polyacetal resin-made flat annular surface and a lower casing superposed on the upper casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of the upper casing and having a polyacetal resin-made annular surface opposing the annular surface of the upper casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Oiles Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Watai, Kazuyuki Miyata, Atsushi Ueno, Ryohei Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7080720
    Abstract: An improved torque converter that results in greater fuel efficiency and more horsepower with a lower failure rate. The improved torque converter has a greater lock-up surface area than an original equipment torque converter to reduce slippage. The lock-up surface area can be provided from a wider friction lining material, a floating clutch, and/or a floating clutch plate. An improved stator contributes to fuel efficiency. In one aspect, the torque converter has a novel thrust washer that has parabolic shaped grooves to facilitate lubrication and reduce failure of the bearing thrust washer. In one aspect the torque converter uses brazed blades to reduce vibration and strengthen the blades to make them more resistant to distortion and failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Blumental Automatic, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Yarbrough, Kevin Blumenthal, Lewis Eidson, Richard Walker
  • Patent number: 6827494
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic thrust bearing of this invention comprises a body having a load-bearing surface comprising an oil supply channel and an oil return channel positioned along respective inside and outside body diameters. A number of thrust pads are positioned along the surface that each include an oil supply groove, positioned adjacent a leading edge/upstream portion of each thrust pad and extending radially a distance from the oil supply channel, and an oil return groove, positioned adjacent a trailing edge/downstream portion of each thrust pad and extending radially a distance from the oil return channel. The oil supply grooves are separate from the oil return grooves, and the thrust pads each comprise a series arrangement of three differently configured land or pad sections. Configured in this manner, oil is provided onto the series of land sections by the oil supply groove and is collected after passing over the series of land sections by the separate oil collection groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Grover Aguilar
  • Patent number: 6786643
    Abstract: A cam bracket is disclosed for lubricating the vicinity of a thrust plate sufficiently even during starting of the engine. In the cam bracket adapted to support a camshaft for rotation in cooperation with a cylinder head and provided with a support portion having a slot for supporting a thrust plate of the camshaft for rotation, an oil sump is formed in a hollow fashion on the upper surface of the support portion around the edge of the slot at least on one side in a rotation direction of the thrust plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignees: Aichi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Hada, Hisao Okawa
  • Patent number: 6746216
    Abstract: An oil pump for a scroll compressor has a bearing hub with a vent disposed between at least one fluid inlet in the bearing hub and a thrust washer. The vent provides an additional fluid flow path to equalize fluid pressure underneath the thrust washer. By minimizing or eliminating low fluid pressure zones with the bearing hub, fluid flow through the oil pump can be maintained at a constant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventor: Zili Sun
  • Publication number: 20040105601
    Abstract: In a thrust bearing (1) supporting a load in a thrust direction in a rotary portion, a size of a curved surface (32) in the forward side of a lubricating groove (3) with respect to a relative rotating direction (S) of an opposing sliding member is set to be larger than a size of a curved surface (31) in the rearward side of the lubricating groove (3) with respect to the relative rotating direction (S), and a depth (d1) of the lubricating groove (3) is set to be deeper than a starting point (32a) in the side of a groove bottom (33) of the curved surface (32) formed in the groove shoulder in the forward side of the lubricating groove (3) with respect to the rotating direction (S), so that a lubricating effect and a cooling effect are increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Tadashi Honda, Katsumi Sekine, Shigeru Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20030035603
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thrust bushing formed in such a way as to maximize its lubrication during use to minimize its wear. Broadly, at least one surface of the bushing is formed with grooves that extend between its central aperture and its outer diameter to allow the free flow of lubricant between the two and thus lubricate the entire bushing surface of the thrust bushing as it rotates during steering. The grooves may take a variety of forms such as radially extending rectangular grooves or spiral grooves to better spread lubricant over the entire bushing surface. The bushings may be imposed directly between the axle and the lower yoke or may be packaged in a cartridge between a pair of discs to provide a self-contained, well-lubricated package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: V.W. Kaiser Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Terrence S. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 6502994
    Abstract: A two component thrust washer assembly for a vehicle torque converter has a first component made of a durable polyimide material with an annular wear face and three axially projecting pins. The second component is made of metal and has a mating portion with three openings to receive the pins and an area to engage an adjacent element of a torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Sonnax Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott C. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6276834
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a semicircular or circular axial bearing element, especially a thrust washer or flanged bearing shell or flanged bearing bushing, with valleys on the side facing the sliding partner to form radial oil outlet openings; in order to increase the load carrying capacity, the axial bearing element is formed such that 5 to 8 valleys are provided over an angle of 180 degrees in the circumferential direction, such that rounded peaks points are provided between each 2 recesses, and such that the profile has a depth between peaks and valleys of 0.05 to 0.2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: KS Gleitlager GmbH
    Inventor: Clifford Byard
  • Patent number: 6132094
    Abstract: A thrust bearing having a radial taper in its top (land) surface provides improved load distribution when used in high-pressure positive displacement swashplate piston pumps. The thrust bearing includes a plurality of grooves in its land surface which carry and distribute fluid on the top surface during operation of the pump. The fluid is distributed so as to form a hydrodynamic fluid buffer between the thrust bearing and an adjacent pump cam surface, so that the thickness of the fluid buffer is larger in radial regions corresponding to regions of increased load and stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Dean Cornelison, Daryle Don Weaver, Rondall Bailey McKelroy
  • Patent number: 5765950
    Abstract: A thrust bearing assembly for a submersible motor assembly of a submersible pump assembly comprising first and second bearing members or plates and first and second bearing holders contained within a housing. Each bearing plate is in the form of a disk having a bearing surface, and the first and second bearing plates are disposed between the first and second bearing holders with the bearing surfaces in face-to-face contact. The first bearing holder is in the form of a thrust bearing holder, and the second bearing holder is in the form of a gimbal plate. The first bearing plate is adapted to rotate with a rotor shaft of the submersible pump assembly and to impose a thrust load on the second plate, and the second bearing plate is adapted to remain stationary relative to the rotating first bearing plate. Grooves are defined by one or both of the bearing surfaces to allow fluid from a fluid supply to enter between the bearing surfaces to create a fluid film to lubricate and cool the bearing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Goulds Pumps, Incorporated
    Inventors: James Joseph Eno, Antonio Tinio Ganzon
  • Patent number: 5695424
    Abstract: A planet carrier of an automotive automatic transmission includes an annular main body portion disposed around a pinion shaft between the carrier body and the pinion gear. A washer formed of a porous material such that lubricating fluid can flow therethrough to both sides of the washer is disposed around the pinion shaft. Further, a boss portion may be formed at the inner periphery of the washer opening, which portion is inserted between the surface of the pinion shaft and an inner circumference of the pinion gear. A fluid passage is defined according to installation of the washer, between the edge of the washer and the bearings of the pinion gear such that lubricating fluid is retained therein, which fluid flows around the pinion shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: JATCO Corporation
    Inventor: Muneo Mizuta
  • Patent number: 5624191
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a plain bearing part for a liquid metal lubricated plain bearing, the plain bearing part having a bearing surface that is in contact with a liquid metal during operation. This bearing surface is provided with a layer of a metal effective as diffusion barrier for the liquid metal and which is well wetted with the liquid metal. The layer is applied according to a PVD process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Fuchs, Erich Hell
  • Patent number: 5575567
    Abstract: A seal for use in a gap between two non-contacting solid members, comprises a pool of fluid, the pool being anchored in a first of the members and contacting the second of the members, the pool being detachable from the second member in response to a pressure differential within the gap, and a bearing in a gap between two solid members used in a micromechanical pump, comprising a disk member suspended between the non-contacting solid members, and a pool of a first liquid between a first of the solid members and a first surface of the disk member, a second fluid in contact with a second surface of the disk member, the second fluid being dielectric, and an electrical potential applied across the disk member and the second fluid, the disk member being moveable in response to the electrical potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Competitive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Forbes T. Brown
  • Patent number: 5558446
    Abstract: A "pancake-like" thrust bearing arrangement with gravity-fed lubrication is angular to a horizontal plane and has a top edge above such plane. A load-support structure oscillates on the bearing. Such bearing has a lubricant feed aperture at the top edge and plural lubrication grooves formed in the flat bearing face and connected to such aperture by feed passages. The grooves are oriented so that they "run downhill," i.e., so that they intersect a circle concentric with the bearing center. Grease moves by gravity along the grooves which are "closed-ended" to help prevent premature expulsion of grease from the bearing face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Harnischfeger Corporation
    Inventor: Harvey J. Kallenberger
  • Patent number: 5554015
    Abstract: A refrigeration compressor includes a polyamide annular thrust bearing pressfit within a countersunk recess in the rotor aperture and having radially extending lubricating oil grooves on a lower surface thereof. A vertical crankshaft being concentrically disposed within and secured to the rotor at one end and being journalled for rotation within a vertical bore defined by a bearing hub formed in a frame. The bearing hub supports the rotor and crankshaft combination. The bearing hub includes an upper end face which is machine ground and polished to a smooth surface and which is in contact with the smooth lower surface of the thrust bearing thereby forming a frictional pair. A reduction in mechanical friction and power consumption is realized by use of the polyamide thrust bearing and the smooth polishing of the hub upper end face thereby increasing the overall efficiency associated with the refrigeration compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Nelik I. Dreiman, Tara C. Kandpal
  • Patent number: 5308169
    Abstract: A thrust bearing for a turbocharger includes a main body portion which defines a central bore for receipt of a thrust collar, an oil reservoir in the shape of a blind, oblong slot disposed in the main body portion and an oil passageway connecting the oil reservoir with the central bore. As oil is drained from the turbocharger by a siphoning action as the engine oil level drops, oil which is stored in the oil reservoir will remain and after the engine has completely stopped this stored oil is available to drain into the interface between the thrust collar and central bore of the thrust bearing in order to provide lubricating oil to this interface upon restart of the engine. Oil is also provided by the reservoir to the turbine and compressor journal bearings where it is held in small clearances on the inner and outer surfaces of the journal bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn L. Baker, David R. Engle, Roger Williams
  • Patent number: 5192136
    Abstract: A split crankshaft bearing assembly includes two flanged half bearings adapted to collectively encircle a crankshaft. The flanges are formed with oil supply grooves that subdivide the flange surface into thrust bearing pads. Each pad includes a positively sloped ramp surface leading to a raised land surface. The rotating crankshaft drags a film of oil onto the land surface where it provides hydrodynamic thrust support for the shaft. To facilitate close tolerance control on the thrust bearing pad contour, the manufacturing process is carried out so that the oil supply grooves are formed and the thrust face presized prior to formation of the pad final contour. The pad contour is formed by a coining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald J. Thompson, Ned L. Misner, Michael D. Winegard
  • Patent number: 5077776
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary anode X-ray tube with a sliding bearing, in particular a spiral flute bearing. In the case of such an X-ray tube, the passing of lubricant into the vacuum space of the X-ray tube, filled with a strong electric field in the operating state, is prevented by the surfaces, over which the lubricant reaches the space mentioned, being provided with a coating which can be wetted by the lubricant and forms an alloy with the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Axel Vetter
  • Patent number: 5035519
    Abstract: A thrust bearing including a ring-like form plate body, and a plurality of rib members provided on the ring-like form plate body of the thrust bearing. Such a plurality of rib members may be provided on a thrust runner. The rib members cause a difference in load deformation amount in a circumferential direction according to thrust load and generate a wedge-shaped form clearance between a sliding face of the thrust bearing and a sliding face of the thrust runner. Since the wedge-shaped form clearance is formed by utilizing the load deformation, even when the thrust load becomes large, the wedge-shaped form clearance does not become narrow. The occurrence of dynamic pressure by the wedge effect and the formation of a water film can be assured, and the temperature increase between the sliding face of the thrust runner and the sliding face of the thrust bearing can be restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kooji Aizawa, Katsutoshi Nii, Kazuhiko Kawaike, Kengo Hasegawa, Akira Saruta, Ryoichi Nakashima
  • Patent number: 4993979
    Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising a gear housing adapted to be mounted on a transom of a boat, a first gear rotatably supported by the gear housing and adapted to be driven by an engine, a second gear which is rotatably supported by the gear housing, which is driven by the first gear and which is adapted to be drivingly connected to a propeller, a third gear driven by the second gear, and an arrangement for lubricating the third gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald F. Bland, James c. Kantola, Martin J. Mondek, Lawrence E. Zdanowicz
  • Patent number: 4826396
    Abstract: A plurality of lubricating plugs are disposed in the stationary backup face adjacent to the axial stop face of a rotating impeller mounted in a turbopump for pumping liquid oxygen or liquid hydrogen. The stop face and the backup face are those surfaces which engage when the axial load on the impeller exceeds the load balancing capability. The plugs have a truncated conical configuration so as to be trapped in the backup face, and are disposed at varying radii on the face to provide complete surface lubrication. The plugs may be formed from Teflon, Kel-F or bronze filled Teflon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Dale H. Blount
  • Patent number: 4810105
    Abstract: In order to support a mud-driven impeller of a down-hole turbogenerator in such a manner as to provide long bearing service life in the hostile conditions down-hole, a bearing sleeve is provided which comprises an outer shell of marine brass and an inner lining of nitrile rubber bonded to the inside surface of the shell. The lining extends axially beyond the end of the shell to form a portion positioned beyond the end of the shell and turned over the end of the shell. This portion comprises radical lands separated by radial grooves, and the radial lands define axial bearing surfaces for cooperating with an axial bearing surface of a bearing member which the bearing sleeve surrounds in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: NL Sperry-Sun, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Arlott, Manmohan S. Kalsi
  • Patent number: 4795220
    Abstract: A thrust bearing which is formed by stamping a plate made of a bearing alloy material or a plate having a bearing alloy layer has an annular shape. The thrust bearing is disposed in a circumferential direction and has a plurality of recesses and projections deformed in the direction of the thickness of the bearing. The thrust bearing may have a positioning and retaining portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Sanae Mori
  • Patent number: 4772188
    Abstract: A scroll compressor comprises an orbiting scroll and a stationary scroll, both being mutually combined to form a compression chamber therebetween. The scroll compressor is provided with a lubricating oil feeding system to lubricate each bearing constituting a contact-sliding and contact-rotating part. A special arrangement of oil grooves is made in a thrust bearing supporting the orbiting scroll in such a manner that pressure loss in the oil grooves of the thrust bearing is greater than a pressure raised by the third oil pump means so that there causes no negative pressure at the inlet port of a radial oil feeding conduit and the outlet of the vertical oil feeding passage in the main shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Kimura, Masahiro Sugihara, Tetsuzo Matsugi
  • Patent number: 4639148
    Abstract: A thrust bearing for an automobile turbocharger and which sustains a thrust load of the rotor shaft of the turbocharger. The thrust bearing has a first groove for holding lubricating oil supplied to the bearing. A first oil passage extends from the groove toward the axis of the rotor shaft. A second oil passage communicates with the first passage and has oil holes formed therein that extend to tapering lands formed on surfaces on which the rotor shaft bears. The second passage is so disposed that oil is spouted on both sides of the bearing. The lower end portion of the bearing is cut out portion to facilitate removal of oil. The cut out portion constitutes a planar portion of a closed loop on a surface of the bearing. A second groove is formed in the thrust bearing to hold oil discharged from the oil holes to some extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Tamura, Noriyoshi Shibata, Toshiro Kawakami
  • Patent number: 4614445
    Abstract: In order to prevent the escape of metal lubricant in a helical-groove bearing, the helical-groove bearing is provided with an anti-wetting layer on the surfaces which adjoin the helically grooved surfaces and which could act as a creepage path for the metal lubricant. An extremely accurate definition of the bearing portions to be wetted by the lubricant is also obtained by means of these layers. Thus, more complex bearings can also be locally provided with a metal lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Gerkema, Jozef B. Pelzer
  • Patent number: 4541736
    Abstract: A system for cooling and lubricating the drive motor of a centrifuge. The shaft of the motor includes an internal passage with an inlet having a size and taper sufficient to provide the desired rate of cooling oil flow through the motor. A lower bearing proportioning arrangement applies a high percentage of a small proportion of the total oil flow to the lower bearing. An upper bearing proportioning arrangement applies a low percentage of a large proportion of the total oil flow to the upper bearing. Together these features assure a high degree of motor cooling without overlubricating the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Giebeler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4526484
    Abstract: A ferrofluid thrust and radial bearing assembly for a rotatable shaft element, which assembly comprises: a housing characterized by a shaft-receiving space, to define a radial bearing inner surface and a thrust bearing surface at the one end of the shaft-receiving space; a shaft element within the shaft-receiving space, one end of the shaft element disposed to rotate on the thrust bearing surface, and the other end of the shaft extending from the other end of the housing; a ferrolubricant in the shaft-receiving space, to form a lubricant for the thrust bearing and the radial bearing assembly; and a ferrofluid exclusion seal at the other end of the housing and about the other end of the shaft-receiving space, the exclusion seal comprising an annular permanent magnet and at least one annular pole piece, one end of which extends into a close, noncontacting relationship with the exterior surface of the shaft, to form a radial gap, and the ferrofluid within the shaft-receiving space defining a ferrofluid seal at t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Assignee: Ferrofluidics Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Stahl, Dudley D. Fuller, Harry C. Rippel
  • Patent number: 4522513
    Abstract: A tapered-land thrust bearing device including a disk-shaped bearing member and a race member. The bearing member has a tapered-land face on which tapered surfaces and flat-land surfaces are successively formed, along the peripheral direction. The race member is arranged to contact the tapered-land face of the bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Assignee: Taiho Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehiro Nozue, Tatsuhiko Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 4455098
    Abstract: A self-pumping thrust bearing for electric machines having a vertical shaft is disclosed in which oil circulates through radially-extending bores in a rotating thrust ring to suck hot oil from an oil space and transfer it to a ring canal disposed in a stationary part. In order to make the transition from the rotating thrust ring to the stationary ring canal as loss free as possible, there is arranged on the outside at the thrust ring a circular canal into which the bores lead. This circular canal is bounded on the side facing the stationary part by a height-adjustable ring which is held at the thrust ring with a gap between the ring and the thrust ring. The transfer of oil therefore takes place around the entire circumference of the thrust ring so that turbulence is avoided. The quantity of oil pumped can be adjusted by adjusting the width of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Jurgen Pollok
  • Patent number: 4453837
    Abstract: In a thrust bearing for a turbocharger of the type having a thrust metal formed with a lubricating oil passage in communication with a lubricating oil feed port, a thrust bushing and an oil thrower, the inner peripheral wall of the thrust metal is formed with an annular oil reservoir and a single or plural small-diameter holes are axially extended through the wall of the thrust metal so as to intercommunicate between the oil reservoir and the outer peripheral wall of the thrust metal, that is, the thrust load carrying surface, whereby a sufficient quantity of lubricating oil can issue through such small-diameter holes to the load bearing surface. Because of this arrangement, the overall lubricating oil required may be reduced yet reliable and dependable operation can be ensured. In addition, the thrust load carrying capacity can be remarkably increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masami Shimizu, Fusayoshi Nakamura