Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of a damper for use with rotary machinery may include a damper mass connected to an electronics housing via one or more piezo elements. The illustrative embodiment of the damper may include one or more electrical components wherein the electrical components, piezo elements, and/or damper mass may be tuned such that the damper is configured with an electrical resonance frequency corresponding to a mechanical resonance frequency present in a component of the rotary machinery. The piezo elements may be extension/retraction type or bending type, and they may have any orientation with respect to the rotational axis of the rotary machinery depending on the specific embodiment and/or application of the damper.

Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of a damper for use with rotary machinery may include a damper mass connected to an electronics housing via one or more piezo elements. The illustrative embodiment of the damper may include one or more electrical components wherein the electrical components, piezo elements, and/or damper mass may be tuned such that the damper is configured with an electrical resonance frequency corresponding to a mechanical resonance frequency present in a component of the rotary machinery. The piezo elements may be extension/retraction type or bending type, and they may have any orientation with respect to the rotational axis of the rotary machinery depending on the specific embodiment and/or application of the damper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for radial and axial hybrid bearings using gas sector(s) and magnetic sector(s) to increase bearing load capacity and stiffness, reduce bearing size and bearing span, and reduce cost comprises a stator and a rotor. An illustrative embodiment of a stator for use with a hybrid bearing may include one or more bearing pads positioned in a gas sector, and the stator may also include one or more magnetic sectors. The hybrid bearings may provide for the elimination of much of the magnetic bearing structure and associated power electronics using a pressurized gas/air bearing to react the bearing steady load while reserving the magnetic bearing and its controls to react dynamic loads and stabilize the bearing. In addition, the magnetic bearing controls for a hybrid bearing may be used to monitor bearing operating condition and provide communications of these conditions to the outside world.

Abstract: A tilting pad journal bearing, an annular housing for an array of arcuate bearing pads resiliently mounted by spring means which biases the pads against heads of restraining bosses that limit radial displacement and cause the bearing pads to define a shaft space. The pads have associated therewith support pegs secured to housing or pad at one end and movable relative to the pad or housing at the other, and the spring means comprises stacks of individually deflectable elements mounted between relatively moving pad, housing or peg and pre-loaded by adjusting the effective gap with the pads against the bosses. Relative movement between springs provide friction damping. The restraining bosses may be displaceable together to eliminate the shaft space clearance if the magnetic suspension fails or shows signs of failing.

Abstract: A tilting pad journal bearing, an annular housing for an array of arcuate bearing pads resiliently mounted by spring means which biases the pads against heads of restraining bosses that limit radial displacement and cause the bearing pads to define a shaft space. The pads have associated therewith support pegs (60) secured to housing or pad at one end and movable relative to the pad or housing at the other, and the spring means comprises stacks of individually deflectable elements mounted between relatively moving pad, housing or peg and pre-loaded by adjusting the effective gap with the pads against the bosses. Relative movement between springs provide friction damping. The restraining bosses may be displaceable together to eliminate the shaft space clearance if the magnetic suspension fails or shows signs of failing.

Abstract: A tilting pad journal bearing, an annular housing for an array of arcuate bearing pads resiliently mounted by spring means which biases the pads against heads of restraining bosses that limit radial displacement and cause the bearing pads to define a shaft space. The pads have associated therewith support pegs (60) secured to housing or pad at one end and movable relative to the pad or housing at the other, and the spring means comprises stacks of individually deflectable elements mounted between relatively moving pad, housing or peg and pre-loaded by adjusting the effective gap with the pads against the bosses. Relative movement between springs provide friction damping. The restraining bosses may be displaceable together to eliminate the shaft space clearance if the magnetic suspension fails or shows signs of failing.

Abstract: A damping arrangement 20 (FIG. 1(b)) for radial vibrations in a turbomachine shaft 10 comprise two circumferentially limited, diametrically opposed damping chambers 22, 23 open towards the shaft and to which gas is supplied alternately by gas flow controllers 29.sub.A and 29.sub.B. Each controller contains fluidic devices switched by sensing pressures in the circumferentially displaced chambers 22', 23', or even the same chambers, as such pressure are modulated by the variations in shaft position, to divert the gas from source 27. The diversion of gas flow is arranged to cause pressure fluctuations, which exert radial thrust on the shaft, advanced in phase to approach of the shaft so as to damp the vibration. The fluidic devices may be implemented by flow amplifiers or fluid logic flip flop 41 (FIG. 2) and may be multistage devices to increase gain, all of which may be formed without moving parts and embedded in the housing.

Abstract: A damping arrangement (FIG. 1) for axial vibrations in a turbomachine shaft 10 comprises at least one circumferentially extending annular damping chambers 34 and 35 open towards a shaft thrust face 19.sub.A and 19.sub.B of a radially extending collar 20 and to which gas is supplied alternately by gas flow controllers 42.sub.A and 42.sub.B. Each controller contains fluidic devices switched by sensing pressures in radially displaced pressure sensing chambers 51, 53, or even the same chambers, as such pressure are modulated by the variations in shaft and collar position, to divert the gas from source 40. The diversion of gas flow is arranged to cause pressure fluctuations, which exert axial thrust on the thrust faces, advanced in phase to approach of the shaft so as to damp the vibration. The fluidic devices may be implemented by flow amplifiers 47.sub.A, 47.sub.B or fluid logic flip flop 61 (FIG.