Abstract: A compliant hydrodynamic fluid film thrust bearing. A circumferential row of sectors of flexible sheets are positioned to face a shaft runner for relative rotation therebetween. The flexible sheets are supported by a flexible membrane which is in turn supported by a pair of rows of corrugated foil elements. Flexible strips are sandwiched between the trailing portions of the flexible sheets and the flexible membrane to provide a tapered/land effect. The corrugated foil elements are supported by a flexible diaphragm which is in turn supported by a row of corrugated support elements which are attached thereto along circumferentially intermediate portions thereof and are aligned with the flexible strips to provide a crowning effect. The ridges of at least one of the pair of rows of corrugated foil elements have truncated apex portions. In one embodiment, ridges in corrugated foil elements of one row thereof underlie only some ridges in the other row, and furrows underlie the other ridges.

Abstract: An auxiliary bearing for temporarily receiving rotor load when the main bearings are unable to receive rotor load. A plurality of rollers or sets of rollers are spaced circumferentially around the rotor. At least some of the rollers are movable between first radial positions which afford clearance between the rollers and the rotor and second radial positions for receiving by the rollers of rotor load. The movement of one roller toward the second radial position in response to contact therewith by the rotor effects movement of all of the at least some rollers toward the second radial positions to close the clearance and receive the rotor load. The rollers then disengage when the rotor load is again taken by the main bearings.

Abstract: The damper arrangement is operated in high temperature applications, such as load and speed environments such as found in turboengines. The damper arrangement includes damper pads which are laterally urged against damping elements forming a shearing zone therebetween. The shearing zone is lubricated with solid dry powder lubricant. The damper pads include a circumferential wave or a multi-partial arc configuration formed by radial slots with inwardly tapering radial bevels and lateral bevels adjacent to the radial slots to enhance the circulation of the powder lubricant in response to nutating motion between the damper pad and the damper element.

Abstract: A powder-lubricated piston is disclosed for diesel engines, particularly adiabatic diesel engines and coal-water slurry fueled diesel engines. Rings are provided for the piston which flex in response to combustion within the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An improved modular bearing assembly capable of operation for radical and thrust loads under starved and flooded lubricant conditions with low power losses. A journal bearing alone may be employed or journal and thrust bearings. Thrust bearings per se are also disclosed and claimed. Particular bearing characteristics are disclosed for preferred journal liner and thrust bearings.

Abstract: An improved modular bearing assembly capable of operation for radial and thrust loads under starved and flooded lubricant conditions with low power losses. A journal bearing alone may be employed or journal and thrust bearings. Thrust bearings per se are also disclosed and claimed. Particular bearing characteristics are disclosed for preferred journal liner and thrust bearings.

Abstract: A bearing lubrication device for use in ring-oiled journal bearings and the like in which a generally circular ring member is eccentrically disposed around the rotatable shaft in the bearing assembly. The ring has an outer surface, right and left sides extending downwardly from the outer surface at a predetermined angle, most preferably about 30 degrees, for a predetermined distance and then radially inwardly, generally perpendicular to the outer surface for a predetermined distance, and an inner surface, said inner surface having at least one, but preferably a plurality of grooves therein. As rotation occurs at high forward speeds, improved lubricant delivery, stability of operation and bearing performance capability are realized.

Abstract: Provides new magnetic fluid bearings and magnetic fluid seals incorporating a pressure responsive system for automatically controlling the supply of magnetic fluid to the magnetic fluid feed area of such bearing or seal. The system for controlling the supply of magnetic fluid includes a reservoir of magnetic fluid and a conduit leading from the reservoir to the magnetic fluid feed area of the magnetic fluid bearing or magnetic fluid seal. A portion of the conduit is subjected to a magnetic field which establishes a pressure responsive magnetic fluid plug in that portion of the conduit to automatically control the flow of magnetic fluid to and from the reservoir as a function of the difference in pressure between the magnetic fluid feed area of the bearing or seal and the reservoir.

Abstract: Compensation for shaft excursion in a seal housing is achieved with a fluid film bearing in which bearing fluid is supplied to the bearing region at a pressure and flow rate which depend upon shaft rotational speed. In a disclosed embodiment, the bearing fluid is provided from a centrifugal fluid seal which delivers part of its fluid to the bearing region as a function of centrifugal pressure. A magnetic fluid seal is employed for zero and low speed operation. The shaft includes an annular collar which rotates in an annular cavity formed in a seal cartridge which is rotationally stationary but capable of small axial displacements to compensate for axial shaft displacement. A spring biases the cartridge in opposition to the axial forces of the magnetic fluid seal so as to axially balance the system at zero and low shaft speed operation.

Abstract: A bearing lubrication device for use in ring-oiled journal bearings and the like in which a generally circular ring member is disposed around the rotatable shaft in the bearing assembly and has a circumferential groove in its inner surface. A cantilevered leaf member projects into the groove in the ring member to separate the lubricant from the ring as rotation occurs, thus providing greater lubricant delivery, improved bearing performance capability, and stabilized performance at high journal speeds.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic fluid film bearing having a series of axially aligned foil bearing modules which act in concert to extend the load carrying capability of the bearing assembly while providing whirl free operation.

Abstract: A plural fluid magnetic/centrifugal-fluid seal is provided for hermetically sealing the space between a rotated shaft member and a close fitting spaced-apart stationary housing wherein the housing and the shaft are shaped to provide magnetic pole-like close clearance gap regions between their opposed surfaces. A high viscosity ferromagnetic fluid normally is disposed in the magnetic gap region with the rotating shaft member at rest and at low rotational speeds. A permanent magnet or electromagnet is provided which forms a closed magnetic circuit through the magnetic gap region with the high viscosity ferromagnetic fluid. A circumferentially arranged centrifugal seal forming region is radially disposed outward from the magnetic gap region and is located between the rotatable shaft and the stationary housing member.

Abstract: A compliant hydrodynamic fluid film bearing includes a flexible bearing sheet overlying and supported by a resilient support element having two corrugated spring foil support elements arranged in a staged, parallel spring array. The top spring element is more compliant in the bottom spring element and provides a compliant support for the bearing sheet at low rotor speeds to provide early development of load bearing capacity. With increasing rotor speed, the top support element deflects to the level of the second or lower support element which is stiffer and provides stronger support at higher speeds. At these higher speeds, the combined support element supports the bearing sheet at the correct profile to the moving bearing member and prevents collapse of the support element so that the bearing remains operative at high and ultra high speeds despite the increased load and stiffness of the hydrodynamic fluid film.

Abstract: A resilient support element for a compliant hydrodynamic fluid film bearing has top and bottom corrugated foil modules separated by a thin mid-plane sheet. Both modules are split by slits extending perpendicular to their corrugation axes, and the two modules are arranged with their corrugations extending transverse to each other. The angular stiffness of each finite area of the support element is substantially equal about orthogonal axes over its entire area. The support element provides superior damping and soft, strong isotropic support of the bearing sheet for generation of high load capacity at low speed, stable operation and high load capacity at high speed, and tolerance of manufacturing, use and loading abberations.

Abstract: A compliant hydrodynamic fluid film bearing made of three or more pads, each having a thin, flexible bearing sheet supported by a resilient support element fastened to a mount. A set of split, tiered stiffener sheets is fastened between the bearing sheet and the support element to provide an increasing stiffness gradient to the pad from its leading to trailing edges. The support element includes a plurality of resilient elevations that also increase in stiffness toward the trailing edge for the same purpose. The pad profile changes with changing hydrodynamic loading to present an optimal profile for maximal load carrying over the full speed range of the bearing.

Abstract: A compliant hydrodynamic fluid thrust bearing tolerant of strong misalignment forces includes two radially outside sections and a radially inside section, all lying generally parallel to the direction of rotation of the thrust runner. The outside sections are more compliant than the inside section of the bearing and can deflect independently of it to conform independently with a misaligned thrust runner bearing surface without distorting other portions of the bearing. The surface area of the bearing which is thus made available to bear loads is maximized, thereby increasing load capacity and misalignment tolerance of the bearings.

Abstract: A compliant fluid film bearing includes a thin, flexible bearing sheet supported on a resilient bump-form support member which is divided into multiple adjacent strips. The bearing sheet and support member are each formed of a composite material made of Inconel X-750 and copper. The Inconel sheet, in annealed condition, is cut and formed in the desired shape and is coated with copper. The sheet is heat treated in an oxygen-free atmosphere to give the Inconel the small grain size for the desired properties of strength and hardness. During the heat treatment, the copper diffuses into the Inconel, producing at the end a composite material of Inconel X-750 having a diffusion of copper into its top portion such that the top surface is about 100% copper, and the copper fraction decreases exponentially with the depth into the Inconel sheet.

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.