Abstract: A centrifugal separator comprises a housing through which extends a spindle on which is mounted a centrifuge rotor. The rotor is mounted on journal bearing bushes that are lubricated by the liquid supplied at pressure to the rotor and the weight of the liquid-filled rotor is carried by magnetic repulsion thrust bearing comprising permanent magnets secured one each to the housing and rotor. The spaced magnets run without contact noise and frictional losses, improving rotational speed available from the supply pressure, and lateral (radial) instability that is inherent between repelling magnets and normally disliked puts a radial bias on the journal bearings which may result in quieter running by inhibiting vibration, particularly when the journal bushes are starved of liquid supply during wind-down. Alternatively or additionally, supply pressure induced lift of the rotor may be borne by a magnetic repulsion thrust bearing. The magnets may be permanent and/or electromagnets.

Abstract: A centrifugal separtor for non-cohesive particulates, such as are found in transmission oils and hydraulic liquids, rather than the cohesive combustion products found within internal combustion engine lubricants, consists of a housing enclosing a vertical spindle on which spins a liquid reaction driven rotor container. The container is divided internally by inwardly extending partition wall into separate outflow chambers. Non-cohesive particulates which separate from the liquid, and are held against the peripheral side wall by centrigual force during rotation, slump therefrom in the absence of rotation and risk forming a slurry that gets carried to the outflow chamber.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator for removing particulate contaminants from liquid such as engine lubricants consists of a housing for securing to the engine having a funnel-shaped floor from which oil can drain centrally at a drainage duct. The housing is secured to a legged spider or cage carrying a hollow axle by which the apparatus is secured to the engine and oil delivered to a separation rotor canister. Liquid ejected tangentially from rotor nozzles to cause it to rotate tends to flow around the inside of the housing as a vortex and to prevent rotation of the canister being interfered with by climbing of the vortex or splashing of the liquid from such vortex, one or more vortex disruption vanes are formed with the legs of the cage to deflect liquid.

Abstract: A tilting pad thrust bearing arrangement (30), comprises a circular array of pads (351, 352, . . . ) having tilt pivots (381, 382, . . . ) and supported spaced from a carrier surface (33) by supporting springs (40) in the form of a stack of at least two annular, axially deflectable spring members (41, 42). Each spring member (41 and 42) is spaced from an adjacent surface, the carrier surface (33) and spring member (41) respectively, by an array of deflection pivots (411, 412, . . . , 421, 422, . . . ) disposed one pivot each between the tilt pivots of adjacent pads and acting as a fulcrum for spring deflection. The spring deflection pivots are in line axially so that upon axial loading of the bearing pads the spring (42) closest to the pads deflects at a first rate to contact the next spring (41) and the spring combination deflects at a second rate, at least until it contacts the carrier surface (33). Any number of springs may be stacked to give appropriate overall progressive deflection characterising.