Abstract: A hydrodynamic compliant journal bearing for dynamically supporting a rotating shaft in a journal sleeve, includes three pads, each having a flexible bearing sheet attached to the sleeve along one edge and a resilient supporting structure attached to the sleeve under the bearing sheet for compliantly supporting the bearing sheet to support the shaft. The resilient support has a series of resilient elevations which increase in stiffness in the direction of shaft rotation so that the pad assumes a profile under hydrodynamic loading which increases in inclination with increasing shaft speed to maintain bearing stability over the full load range.

Abstract: A fiber optic proximity measuring instrument for measuring dynamic changes in the gap between a probe tip and a target includes a light source, two sensors for measuring reflected light and lamp brightness, and a light conducting cable for transmitting light to the target and conducting light reflected from the target back to the reflected light sensor. The lamp intensity is set by a brightness control during setup to produce a mean level of reflected light intensity, and then is automatically regulated to maintain an equal mean intensity at the reflected light sensor despite changes in target reflectivity and cable light conductance.

Abstract: A fiber optic proximity measuring instrument for measuring dynamic changes in the gap between a probe tip and a target includes a light source, two sensors for measuring reflected light and lamp brightness, and a light conducting cable for transmitting light to the target and conducting light reflected from the target back to the reflected light sensor. The lamp intensity is set by a brightness control during setup to produce a mean level of reflected light intensity, and then is automatically regulated to maintain an equal mean intensity at the reflected light sensor despite changes in target reflectivity and cable light conductance.

Abstract: A multi-pad compliant hydrodynamic fluid journal bearing includes three bearing modules spaced uniformly around a bearing sleeve. Each module includes a resilient supporting element formed in a corrugated pattern to provide spaced resilient support projections for an overlying bearing sheet having a bearing surface which faces the rotating shaft. One end of the sheet is welded to one end of the supporting element with an intervening spacer block having a recess in the center thereof. The other end of the bearing sheet includes a tongue which lies under the bearing sheet of the adjacent module within the recess of the spacer block of that module.

Abstract: A high temperature, low friction, flexible coating for metal surfaces which are subject to rubbing contact includes a mixture of three parts graphite and one part cadmium oxide, ball milled in water for four hours, then mixed with thirty percent by weight of sodium silicate in water solution and a few drops of wetting agent. The mixture is sprayed 12-15 microns thick onto an electro-etched metal surface and air dried for thirty minutes, then baked for two hours at 65.degree. C. to remove the water and wetting agent, and baked for an additional eight hours at about 150.degree. C. to produce the optimum bond with the metal surface. The coating is afterwards burnished to a thickness of about 7-10 microns.

Abstract: A compliant gas thrust bearing has a thrust plate on which is mounted an annular, flexible bearing sheet supported by a resilient support member which enables the bearing sheet to deflect under hydrodynamic loads and thermal and misalignment loads. The bearing surface of the thrust runner has formed therein a series of hydrodynamic profiles which facilitate the generation of hydrodynamic supporting gas films during rotation of the thrust runner. A restricted gas inlet port in the thrust runner admits externally pressurized lubricating gas to separate the bearing surfaces of the thrust runner and the bearing sheet during startup and stopping phases of operation and also to enhance the hydrodynamic effect of the thrust runner/compliant bearing surface combination.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic fluid bearing includes a pivoted shoe which can tilt in response to the hydrodynamic fluid forces generated between the bearing surfaces, and a locally conformable bearing layer attached to the shoe facing the opposing bearing surface. The pivoted shoe can pivot to conform to changes in the pitch of the opposing bearing surface and can tilt to the correct slope to generate the hydrodynamic supporting fluid wedge, and can also conform to the shape of the opposing bearing surface if it becomes thermally distorted or "dished". The compliant layer at the top surface of the shoe can conform to smaller area bearing irregularities, and in addition, can locally conform under hydrodynamic forces to assume the ideal configuration to generate the optimum hydrodynamic wedge. The support on which the pivoted shoe is mounted can itself be pivoted on a gimbal ring to provide large area compliance with the bearing surface to follow, if necessary, precession or other large scale runout of the bearing surface.

Abstract: A resilient compliant hydrodynamic fluid film thrust bearing includes a top bearing sheet of thin metalic foil material, and a lower supporting sheet of the same or slightly heavier gauge material. The top bearing sheet is stamped to produce an annular array of truncated sector-shaped flaps attached to the array along one radially extending edge. The second section is stamped to produce an annular pattern of raised projections formed by bending the material along slits to form radially extending bumps which resiliently support the first section. The two sheets are superimposed and aligned, and are welded together along the edge by which the sector-shaped flaps are attached to the first section. The welded assemblies are then sheared from the superimposed foils and deburred.

Abstract: A resilient, compliant, hydrodynamic fluid film bearing, for positioning between a stationary member and the bearing surface of a rotor, includes a bearing module formed as a unitary one-piece article having a resilient support section and a bearing surface section which overlaps its own resilient support section, or that of the next adjacent module, to provide a low cost bearing which is easy, fast and economical to manufacture and assemble.

Abstract: A resilient support for a compliant hydrodynamic fluid bearing includes a series of corrugated spring metal strips arranged side-by-side. The corrugations on adjacent strips are displaced axially a distance equal to one-half of the wave lengths of the corrugations so that the peaks on one strip are laterally aligned with the valleys on adjacent strips. This arrangement provides a uniform matrix of support zones for the bearing sheet to minimize localized deflections of the bearing sheet. It produces a bearing sheet profile under hydrodynamic loading which is approximately cylindrical so the supporting hydrodynamic fluid film is more uniform for the generation of greater pressures over a greater area.

Abstract: A compliant hydrodynamic fluid film bearing for supporting a rotating motor on a stationary mount, includes a bearing sheet supported by a resilient, compliant support element formed of a series of resilient metal tubular members held in parallel spaced array by a cage. The degree of damping can be selected by filling some or all of the tubes with damping material. The tubular support elements are very strong for their size and weight, and yet produce a support element of only moderate and predictable stiffness.

Abstract: A compliant, hydrodynamic fluid film bearing for supporting a rotating rotor on a stationary mount, includes a bearing sheet supported by a compliant resilient support member formed of two sheets, each having raised resilient elevations in the form of corrugations. One of these sheets is inverted with respect to the other and the corrugations on the two sheets are vertically aligned and face in opposite directions, each corrugation forming one-half of an elongated tubular spring. A metal sheet lies between the two support sheets and all three sheets, and the bearing sheet, are fastened at one end to a pair of spacer blocks. The yield strength of the support member is thus raised above the yield strength of a single support sheet while maintaining low stiffness.

Abstract: A compliant hydrodynamic fluid journal bearing includes a bearing sleeve having a cylindrical bore which receives a bearing sheet having a radially inwardly facing bearing surface. The bearing sheet is supported by a compliant support element having spaced resilient projections for resiliently supporting the bearing sheet. One end of the support element is welded adjacent to one end of the bearing sheet with an intervening spacer block, and the assembly is fixed in the bearing sleeve. A second block is welded adjacent to the other end of the bearing sheet so that the ends of the bearing sheet extend slightly beyond the blocks. A spring is disposed between the two blocks and is retained in place by the bearing sheet overhangs. The spring exerts a circumferential spreading force on the two blocks and through them on the two ends of the bearing sheet.

Abstract: A random vibration generator includes a hollow tabletop for supporting equipment to be subjected to vibration, and a sinusoidal reaction-type vibration machine connected to the tabletop to produce a sinusoidal vibration of adjustable frequency and amplitude. The hollow tabletop is horizontally divided into four sections, each containing a number of projectiles such as heavy balls which roll and bounce about within the compartments in the tabletop, impacting with the floor and ceiling of the compartment and with each other in a random fashion to produce random shocks over a wide band of frequency and amplitude, and subject the equipment to every possible vibration failure mode that might occur in nature.