Abstract: The improved shaft support means described herein provides a means for resiliently supporting and damping the vibrations occurring in a shaft in a turbo-machine or the like. The bearings supporting the shaft are located in bores formed in the housing of the turbo-machine. The shaft is oriented in an horizontal directiion and the housing is split along a horizontal plane extending through the bore. The upper portion of the bore is provided with a groove that is formed on a centerline coincident with the centerline of the bore. The lower half of the bore is provided with a groove that is formed from a centerline located above the centerline of the bore so that the lower portion of the groove is of less depth than the groove of the upper portion of the bore. An O-ring or the like is disposed in the groove encircling the bearing.

Abstract: The control apparatus described is provided for the purpose of utilizing internal seals in the turbo-machinery for the purpose of adding additional stiffness to the shaft to raise the critical speed of the shaft-rotor system. The seals described are annular in configuration, closely surrounding the shaft of the turbo-machine and located inboard of the bearings supporting the shaft. The seals each include a face having an annular recess formed therein adjacent a radially oriented surface in the turbo-machine housing. A passageway extends through this face into fluid communication with the annular recess. The passageway is connected to a hydraulic system and is provided with a control valve so that the rate of fluid flow through the passageway can be varied. A small passageway extends through the seal body into the recess. The arrangement is such that fluid acts on one end of the seal body to force the seal face into frictional engagement with the radial face in the housing.