Patents by Inventor Michel Hermand

Michel Hermand has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4421425
    Abstract: A fixed pad thrust bearing for a turbomachine comprises a ring of sector-shaped pads separated by grooves and facing a thrust collar integral with the rotor of the turbomachine within a thrust bearing cage integral with the rotor. The ring bears on a deformable ring. Each pad is fed with oil via a space formed in the wall of the cage and facing an orifice in a bore in the pad. A front surface of each pad facing the collar is inclined relative to the rear surface of the ring. Each pad is further formed with a groove communicating with the aforementioned bore but not reaching as far as the inner and outer edges of the pad, being disposed adjacent the leading edge of the pad. The oil is recovered centrifugally from the outer edge of the collar. In this way, virtually all the power consumed by the oil goes towards providing the hydrodynamic supporting force, minimizing the shearing losses between the fixed and moving parts within the thrust bearing cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Alsthom-Atlantique
    Inventors: Gerard Foucher, Michel Hermand