Abstract: An equalizing tilting pad thrust bearing assembly with inner and outer concentric retaining rings supporting an array of upper and lower equalizing links which support a circular array of tilting bearing pads. Each tilting pad has a flat bottom surface supported by a raised radial cylindrical surface on the upper side of an upper equalizing link. The pads tilt circumferentially to develop a hydrodynamic lubricating wedge by rolling on the radius of the raised cylindrical surface of an upper equalizing link. Each bearing pad and its supporting upper equalizing link tilt together radially by rolling on the radius of two slightly crowned radial cylinders on the bottom surface of the upper link. Each upper link pivots circumferentially about a stub radial pin extending inward from the outer retaining ring which engages an axial slot in the upper link. Each lower equalizing link is supported by and pivots circumferentially about a radial pin whose opposite ends are fixed in the inner and outer retaining rings.

Abstract: An equalizing tilting pad assembly for thrust bearings and the like which includes a retaining ring housing an arrangement of upper and lower equalizing links and supporting a number of similar tilting pads each having a spherically curved contact surface on its lower face. The upper and lower equalizing links lie within the retaining ring in an endless overlapping arrangement with each upper link touching at contact points two adjacent lower links. Each upper link is pivotally mounted on a spherical ball supported by the retaining ring and each lower link is pivotally mounted on the retaining ring by cylindrical members lying perpendicular to the axis of the retaining ring, and the contact points between adjacent upper and lower links lie in a common plane when the equalizing links are in a position of zero pivoting angle.