Fluid Bearing Patents (Class 384/100)
  • Patent number: 9835196
    Abstract: A method for operating a rotating machinery comprising a rotor, a rotor shaft, and at least one journal bearing supporting the rotor shaft is disclosed. The bearing comprises a bearing housing, a bearing surface in the bearing housing, a sleeve torsionally and axially fitted on the shaft, and a lubrication oil film filling a clearance between the outer surface of the sleeve and the bearing surface. The method comprises the step of modifying the clearance by modifying a radial dimension of the outer surface of the sleeve as a function of a rotation speed of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Srl
    Inventors: Leonardo Baldassarre, Andrea Cianti, Michele Fontana, Andrea Bernocchi, Daniele Panara
  • Patent number: 9822812
    Abstract: A bearing housing (12) for a turbocharger having a rotatable shaft (14) passing through the bearing housing (12) with journal bearings (30) having tilting pads (40) for supporting the rotatable shaft (14) in the bearing housing (12). The tilting pads (40) may have oil supply holes (50) through each pad (40) to direct lubrication to each pad surface (44). The journal bearings (30) preferably have a circumferential groove (52) on an outer surface of the bearing aligned with the oil supply holes (50) to help feed oil to the oil supply holes (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Keun Ryu, Zachary Ashton
  • Patent number: 9790990
    Abstract: Provided herein, is an apparatus that includes a fluid dynamic bearing defined in a gap between a stationary component and a rotatable component. The fluid dynamic bearing includes a first portion of the gap at an axial end of the fluid dynamic bearing, and a second portion of the gap. The first portion of the gap is narrower than the second portion of the gap. A groove in the fluid dynamic bearing on the stationary component or the rotatable component includes a portion of a predetermined width or a predetermined depth. The portion of the predetermined width or predetermined depth is selected based on the first gap or the second gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Hans Leuthold, Paco G. Flores, Chris Woldemar
  • Patent number: 9765790
    Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly has a thrust bearing mechanism with first and second thrust runners axially and rotationally secured to the shaft and located within a housing. First and second thrust receiving structures are rigidly mounted in the housing to receive thrust from the first and second thrust transferring devices. A deflectable member located in the first thrust transfer thrust device decreases in axial thickness in response to thrust of a selected level. The second thrust transfer thrust device has an axial length less than an axial distance from the second thrust receiving structure to the second thrust runner, defining an initial axial gap. During operation of the pump, the shaft and the first and second thrust runners move axially a limited extent, closing the gap and transferring thrust from the second thrust transfer device to the second thrust receiving structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: David Tanner, Arturo Luis Poretti, Ryan P. Semple, Aron M. Meyer
  • Patent number: 9683602
    Abstract: The invention relates to a slide bearing set (4), comprising a slide bearing combination consisting of a radial bearing (6) with a radial bearing slide surface (7) and comprising a first axial bearing (8) with an axial bearing slide surface (9), wherein the first axial bearing (8) is arranged next to the radial bearing (6) in an axial direction (10), and with a lubricant supply device, which comprises a supply line (20) for a lubricant to the radial bearing slide surface (7) of the radial bearing (6). At least one first transversal groove (22) is disposed in the radial bearing (6) such that at least one part of the lubricant is deviated towards the first axial bearing (8) and the first axial bearing (8) can be supplied with the lubricant solely via the radial bearing (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Miba Gleitlager Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Hager, Johannes Sebastian Hoelzl, Alexander Kari
  • Patent number: 9657746
    Abstract: A compressor rotor of a gas turbine engine includes a rotor body having a face adapted to face an adjacent rotor. The rotor body extends radially between an outer peripheral rim surface and an inner rim surface. The inner rim surface defines a bore of the rotor body. A plurality of blades extends radially from the outer peripheral rim surface. A plurality of anti-vortex fins extends axially from the face of the rotor body facing the adjacent rotor. The plurality of anti-vortex fins forms a plurality of open radial passageways. The plurality of anti-vortex fins extends axially to a predetermined thickness such that, when assembled with the second rotor, axial extremities of the plurality of anti-vortex fins being in close proximity with the adjacent rotor and the adjacent rotor closes the radial passageways. A method of providing a first rotor for assembly with a second facing rotor of a compressor rotor assembly is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Tibor Urac
  • Patent number: 9562602
    Abstract: A bearing for a gearbox, the bearing having a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body defines a hollow interior chamber. The cylindrical body has a gear supporting section. The gear supporting section has a cross-section formed by three lobes equally distributed around a circumference of the cylindrical body. Each of the lobes has a land portion having a first radius over at least 20% of the lobe. Each lobe also has a tapered portion that gradually slopes from the first radius of the land portion to a reduced radius region that is smaller than the first radius. The tapered portion is formed over less than 80% of each lobe. Each lobe also has an opening formed in the reduced radius region and a flow passage fluidly connecting the hollow interior of the cylindrical body with the opening formed in the reduced radius region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward William Sieveking, Yuanhong Guan
  • Patent number: 9520754
    Abstract: A motor for use in a disk drive apparatus includes a bearing, a rotary unit, a stator, a thin flat base member, and a cylindrical holder extending in an axial direction. The base member includes a first through-hole, a peripheral edge portion, and a thin portion. The thin portion is located radially outward of the peripheral edge portion. The thin portion has an axial thickness smaller than an axial thickness of the peripheral edge portion. The holder includes a first protrusion portion and a second protrusion portion. The first protrusion portion extends radially outward and is located axially above the peripheral edge portion. The second protrusion portion extends radially outward and is located axially below the peripheral edge portion. The bearing is located inside the holder. A stator core is located radially outside the holder and axially above the thin portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuro Matsumoto, Atsushi Yawata
  • Patent number: 9518607
    Abstract: A drain proof bearing assembly includes a seat; a cylindrical bearing being receivable in a hollow space of the seat; the bearing being formed with an axial hole; an upper opening of the axial hole of the bearing being formed with an annual recess for receiving a drain proof ring; a plurality of radial notches being formed radially on an upper surface of the bearing; an outer surface of the bearing being formed with a plurality of oil guiding trenches; by the notches, the oil guiding trenches being communicated to the annular recess; and a press plate having an inner hollow penetrating hole and receivable in the hollow spate of the seat. Thereby, the fluid is prevented from draining out along the path from the spindle to the press plate. This design is effective from various kinds of bearings, such as fluid dynamic bearings, or oil bearings, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventor: John Wun-Chang Shih
  • Patent number: 9476449
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing device including: a bearing sleeve fixed to an inner periphery of a housing; a shaft member removably inserted along an inner periphery of the bearing sleeve; an annular member having an inner peripheral surface for defining a radial gap together with an outer peripheral surface of the shaft member; and radial bearing portions and a thrust bearing portion for supporting the shaft member. At least the radial bearing gap at each of the radial bearing portions, and a bottom gap having the thrust bearing portion received therein are filled with lubricating oil. A void section is formed in an interior space of the housing. Assuming that d1 represents a gap width of the radial bearing gap and d2 represents a gap width of the radial gap, a relationship of 30d1?d2?250d1 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Komatsubara, Tetsuya Kurimura, Yasuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9429165
    Abstract: In a bearing mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a seal portion in which a surface of a lubricating oil is located is defined in a seal gap defined between an outer circumferential surface of a first tubular portion and an inner circumferential surface of a second tubular portion. The first tubular portion includes, in an area where the outer circumferential surface of the first tubular portion is in contact with the lubricating oil, a maximum outside diameter portion at which the outside diameter of the first tubular portion is greatest, an annular shoulder portion including a surface facing toward the surface of the lubricating oil and at which the outside diameter is smaller than at the maximum outside diameter portion, and an inclined portion at which the outside diameter gradually decreases from the annular shoulder portion toward the surface of the lubricating oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehito Tamaoka, Kazuhiko Fukushima
  • Patent number: 9404535
    Abstract: A sliding bearing assembly for joints of construction equipment can be provided, in which production cost is reduced by decreasing the used amount of Cu and sulfides having high fixability to a matrix are dispersed. The sliding bearing assembly for joints of construction equipment, includes at least a shaft and a bush made of an iron-based sintered material which functions as a sliding bearing, in which the bush has the overall composition of, by mass %, 0.1 to 10% of Cu, 0.2 to 1.2% of C, 0.03 to 0.9% of Mn, 0.36 to 1.68% of S, and the balance of Fe and inevitable impurities, a metal structure has pores dispersed in a matrix mainly including a martensite structure and sulfide particles precipitated and dispersed, and the sulfide particles are dispersed at 1 to 7 volume % in the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI CHEMICAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Tokushima, Hideaki Kawata, Daisuke Fukae, Osamu Mawatari, Hideki Akita, Makoto Sugaya, Akiko Satou, Osamu Gokita, Shigeyuki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9376219
    Abstract: An actuating system of sectors of a device for producing an airplane fuselage in which a lamination mandrel includes a plurality of sectors that are angularly spaced about an axis and mobile between an expanded lamination position and a contracted dissembled position. Each sector has screw-nut screw type actuating system in which a threaded element is rotated about the axis by a motor. The threaded element includes an internal shaft made of a first material extending along the axis, an external tubular portion made of a second material that is mounted axially on the shaft and constraint element arranged between the internal shaft and the external tubular portion to prevent angular displacement of the external tubular portion with respect to the internal shaft and allow a linear sliding of the external tubular portion with respect to the internal shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: ALENIA AERMACCHI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Guido Sibona, Ettore Mostarda, Giuseppe Iovine
  • Patent number: 9366263
    Abstract: A bearing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a bearing portion having a bottom and being substantially cylindrical; a shaft inserted in the bearing portion, and arranged to rotate about a central axis relative to the bearing portion; a bearing opposing portion defined in one piece, arranged above the bearing portion, and arranged to hold an upper end portion of the shaft while covering an outer circumferential surface upper portion and an upper end surface of the shaft; and a cylindrical seal portion arranged to extend downward from the bearing opposing portion. An inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical seal portion and an outer circumferential surface of the bearing portion are arranged to together define a seal gap therebetween, the seal gap including a seal portion having a surface of a lubricating oil defined therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehito Tamaoka, Kazuhiko Fukushima
  • Patent number: 9353789
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to bearing assemblies, bearing apparatuses, and methods of operation thereof. In particular, embodiments include bearing assemblies configured to maintain a fluid at or near bearing surfaces thereof. For example, one or more bearing assemblies of a bearing apparatus may include a fluid retention mechanism that may facilitate fluid retention at or near the bearing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jair Jahaziel Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 9333950
    Abstract: In the case of a window cleaning system for a motor vehicle, a washing fluid line (6) is manufactured integrally with plug-type coupling parts (8). Movable components and a sealing ring (15) are arranged on bushing-type coupling parts (9). The bushing-type coupling parts (9) are arranged on a washing fluid pump (2), on washing nozzles (4) and on a T connector (7). By this means, the window cleaning system is constructed in a particularly simple manner and can be manufactured cost-effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Patrick Opel, Nico Schmidt, Thomas Werner
  • Patent number: 9068589
    Abstract: A rotating device includes a shaft body that has a shaft, a first flange extending outwardly from the outer periphery of the shaft, and a second flange, a bearing body that has a shaft encircling member encircling the shaft between the first flange and the second flange, a first thrust opposing part formed between the shaft encircling member and the first flange, a second thrust opposing part formed between the shaft encircling member and the second flange, an intermediate space provided in a gap between the shaft and the shaft encircling member, a radial dynamic pressure bearing, a first communication channel that allows the first thrust opposing part to be in communication with the intermediate space, and a second communication channel that allows the second thrust opposing part to be in communication with the intermediate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS JAPAN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryusuke Sugiki
  • Patent number: 9064531
    Abstract: A rotating apparatus includes a hub, a shaft housing portion having a center through-hole, a base plate, and a shaft with a cylindrical section housed in the through-hole. At a joint between the shaft housing portion and the hub is formed a bonding region for bonding the shaft housing portion and the hub by a hardening resin, and a narrow-gap region more toward the base plate than the bonding region. A gap between the shaft housing portion and the hub in the narrow-gap region is narrower than a gap between the shaft housing portion and the hub in the bonding region. The hub includes a fourth circumferential recessed portion recessed in the axial direction and a lower circumferential raised portion projecting in the axial direction on a radially inner side of the fourth circumferential recessed portion. The narrow-gap region is located inside the lower circumferential raised portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS JAPAN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kodama, Ryusuke Sugiki, Akira Aoi
  • Patent number: 9065308
    Abstract: In addition to a bearing holder being provided with an annular groove that opens down in the axial direction, an end cap is provided with an annular projection that extends up in the axial direction, and by way of press-fitting the projection into the groove, the fitted portion of the bearing holder and the end cap is forms an axially convex labyrinthine shape extending along the entire perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Tokyo Parts Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Nishidate
  • Patent number: 9062716
    Abstract: A moveable guide carriage forms a linear roller bearing on a guide rail. The guide carriage has four endlessly revolving rows of rollers that are guided in respective roller tracks. The guide carriage has a central main body with two end sides that are spaced apart from each other in the direction of movement. A respective end cap is arranged on the two end sides of the main body. The rows of rollers are deflected in the end caps. At least one of the end caps includes a lubricant input on an outer side. The guide carriage includes a branching lubricant line between the lubricant input and the four rows of rollers or the four roller tracks. At least two internal nonreturn valves are provided in the lubricant line in the interior of the end cap or between the end cap and the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Dittmar, Andre Schott, Andreas Schupies
  • Patent number: 9030068
    Abstract: There is provided a spindle motor including: a shaft connected directly or indirectly to a base member and having a depression groove formed in a central portion of an outer peripheral surface thereof; a sleeve rotatably installed on the shaft and having a communication hole formed so as to be connected to the depression groove; and a rotor hub fixedly installed on the sleeve to thereby rotate together therewith, wherein the communication hole is inclined so that lubricating fluid may be easily injected into the depression groove, and the sleeve has a fluid storage part formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, the fluid storage part being connected to the communication hole and temporarily storing the lubricating fluid therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Ha Park
  • Patent number: 9016947
    Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including a stationary component and a rotatable component; a fluid between the stationary component and the rotatable component; a limiter shoulder of the stationary component; a flanged limiter bushing of the rotatable component; and a separating means for separating the limiter shoulder and the limiter bushing, wherein the separating means comprises the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Paco Gregor Flores, Troy M. Herndon, Norbert Steven Parsoneault
  • Patent number: 9006947
    Abstract: There is provided a spindle motor including: a base part including a base member and a lower thrust member fixedly installed on the base member; a shaft having a lower end portion fixedly installed on the base part; an upper thrust member fixedly installed on an upper end portion of the shaft; a sleeve disposed between the upper and lower thrust members and rotatably installed on the shaft; and a rotor hub fixedly installed on the sleeve to thereby rotate together therewith, wherein the sleeve includes a connection hole formed therein in order to connect an inner diameter portion thereof to an outer peripheral surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Ha Park
  • Patent number: 9006944
    Abstract: A motor includes a base, a rotor and a stator. The base includes a shaft tube having an open end and a closed end. A shaft supporting assembly is received in the shaft tube and includes a top portion. The rotor includes a shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and the shaft includes a retaining groove. The stator includes a limiting member having a distal end. The limiting member defines an opening through which the shaft extends. The limiting member further includes a bottom facing the shaft supporting assembly. A gap and a supporting member are formed between the bottom and the top portion. The supporting member is closer to the shaft tube than to the shaft, and the gap is closer to the shaft than to the shaft tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Alex Horng
  • Publication number: 20150070798
    Abstract: A spindle motor is configured to rotate a disk in a case defined by a base plate and a top cover arranged to cover an upper side of the base plate. The spindle motor includes a fluid dynamic bearing including a lubricant oil. A rotating portion body of the spindle motor includes an air hole. An upper opening of the air hole is in communication with an annular space between the top cover and the rotating portion body. A lower opening of the air hole is in communication with a gap between a stator and a magnet. Accordingly, even if a gas including the lubricant oil vaporized through a liquid surface of the lubricant oil leaks into the annular space, at least a portion of the gas including the lubricant oil flows into the air hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiro SHIRAISHI, Tsuchitsugu WATANABE, Yoichi SEKII
  • Patent number: 8973848
    Abstract: An air bearing assembly supporting a turbine driven rotatable motor shaft is provided. The assembly includes a composite cylindrical air bearing having alternating, bonded segmented porous carbon sections and nonporous carbon sections. The composite bearing has a sleeve installed circumferentially therearound. The sleeve has openings therein, therethrough and therearound such that the openings are adjacent the porous carbon sections and are oriented so as to be in longitudinal and circumferential registry with the porous carbon sections. Air passageways deliver supplied air into and through the sleeve openings, thence into and through the porous sections, thereby providing frictionless support for the rotating shaft. The assembly includes “O”-rings installed circumferentially therearound, one at each end of the assembly. A specific embodiment, namely a rotary bell cup atomizer driven by a turbine mounted on a rotatable motor shaft supported by the air bearing assembly, is disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: EFC Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunnar van der Steur, Joseph Cichocki
  • Patent number: 8967865
    Abstract: A bearing apparatus includes a first cup portion defining a portion of a stationary portion of a bearing apparatus includes a first circular plate portion and a first cylindrical portion projecting downward from an outer edge portion of the first circular plate portion. A rotating portion of the bearing apparatus includes an annular recessed portion arranged to accommodate at least a lower end portion of the first cylindrical portion. The stationary portion includes a second cup portion including a second circular plate portion arranged to extend radially outward from an outer circumferential surface of a stationary shaft below the first cup portion and a second cylindrical portion arranged to project upward from an outer edge portion of the second circular plate portion. One of the first and second cup portions is integral with the stationary shaft defining a single monolithic member, and the other is fixed to the stationary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Kimura, Teiichi Hirono, Kunio Sakurada, Kyoko Horise
  • Publication number: 20150049967
    Abstract: In an aluminum turbocharger bearing housing, there is a potential for wear of the bearing housing at the interface with the turbine housing and/or the bearing system. One area of potential concern is the interface between the flange of the bearing housing and an abutment of the turbine housing. With a protective element at the interface, the potential for wear, and thus misalignment of the rotating assembly with the housings in which they operate can be mitigated. The protective element can be a cap for the bearing housing flange or a heat shield adapted to cover certain faces of the bearing housing flange. The protective element can be a sleeve provided within a bore in the bearing housing. The protective element can be made of a material with a higher heat resistance and/or a higher wear resistance than the aluminum bearing housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Brock Fraser, Mehul Sonigra
  • Publication number: 20150049861
    Abstract: A liquid metal bearing includes at least one first bearing part and at least one second bearing part that have a non-positive fit connection to one another. At least one first ductile sealing layer is disposed at least partly between at least a first bearing part of the at least one bearing and a second bearing part of the at least one second bearing part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald Dittrich, Manfred Fuchs
  • Patent number: 8955224
    Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fluid bearing and a method of adjusting the load carrying capacity of a fluid bearing. The fluid bearing may include a bore defined in the fluid bearing and a rotatable bearing including a rotatable bearing surface. Lubricating fluid in the bore may be contacted with at least a portion of the rotatable bearing surface, wherein an effective bearing surface area is provided where the lubricating fluid contacts the rotatable bearing surface. The effective bearing surface area may be altered by either increasing or reducing the area of the rotatable bearing surface which is contacted by the lubricating fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Charles E. Roberts, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8952585
    Abstract: There is provided a rotating member for a motor, the rotating member including: a hub coupled to a shaft system of the motor and rotating together therewith; a main wall portion protruding from one surface of the hub and allowing oil to be sealed between the main wall portion and a sleeve supporting the shaft system; and a pumping portion formed in a lower surface of the main wall portion and generating fluid pressure for preventing a leakage of the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Jin Park
  • Publication number: 20150030268
    Abstract: A porous oil-impregnated sleeve is used for a fluid dynamic pressure bearing. The sleeve includes an inner surface, a first axial end face, a first recessed portion, and a first dynamic pressure generating groove. The first recessed portion is positioned on the other side of a line segment, which connects one-side end portion of the inner surface with an inner end portion of the first axial end face, in a cross-section including the central axis. A bottom portion of the first recessed portion, which has the longest distance between itself and the line segment, is positioned closer to the other side than a bottom portion of the first dynamic pressure generating groove in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehito Tamaoka, Kiyoto Ida, Masashi Hirayama, Kazuhiko Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20150023617
    Abstract: A hydrostatic bearing adapted to be mated with a base includes a floating seat and a holder. The floating seat is made from a porous material and formed with a bearing surface that has a contour conforming to that of the base. The holder is coupled to the floating seat and cooperates with the floating seat to define an accommodating space for accommodating pressurized air. A pressurized air film is formed between the base and the bearing surface of the floating seat when the pressurized air discharges from the accommodating space through the floating seat so as to separate the floating seat from the base and so as to support the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Kuo-Yu CHIEN, Ming-Yuan CHEN
  • Publication number: 20150023620
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hoop including a cylinder which, so that it can be mounted around a shaft, is formed by multiple parts that are assembled together using assembly means that can produce an assembly without deformation of an external surface of the cylinder. A ring, of which an external surface forms the internal surface of the bearing and which, so that it can be secured to the external wall of the cylinder, is formed by multiple elements that are secured to the cylinder by securing means that can maintain a machining tolerance of the external surface of the ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Lucas CHABERT
  • Patent number: 8934196
    Abstract: A rotating apparatus includes a hub, a shaft housing portion having a center through-hole, and a base plate, having a base circular part that extends axially and with an inner surface thereof used as a bearing hole. Further included is a shaft with a cylindrical section housed in the through-hole, an extending section formed integrally with the cylindrical section and extending radially from a first end of the cylindrical section, and an annular section provided radially from a second end of the cylindrical section. Provided on the inner surface of the through-hole is a groove configured to generate radial dynamic pressure in lubricant. The rotatable rotor includes a portion encircling at least part of the annular section. An opening of the bearing hole surrounds a part of the shaft housing portion, the extending section inserted and fixed into the opening, with a hardening resin interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Japan Advanced Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kodama, Ryusuke Sugiki, Akira Aoi
  • Patent number: 8926184
    Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including a fluid dynamic bearing, wherein the fluid dynamic bearing includes a set of pressure-generating grooves, and wherein the set of pressure-generating grooves includes a plurality of chevron-shaped grooves, each chevron-shaped groove including at least two selected from a non-uniform depth, non-uniform angle, a non-uniform width, or a non-uniform length, selected to provide a predetermined spindle-motor stiffness to the journal bearing during steady-state operation and during a shock event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Paco Gregor Flores, Lynn Bich-Quy Le
  • Patent number: 8926183
    Abstract: An inner peripheral surface and a lower end surface of a bearing sleeve made of a sintered metal are each formed into a smooth cylindrical surface or a flat surface that does not have a dynamic pressure generating portion. Thus, a step of forming the dynamic pressure generating portion can be omitted from a manufacturing step of the bearing sleeve, and cost of dies can be markedly reduced. Further, the inner peripheral surface of the bearing sleeve is formed into the smooth cylindrical surface, and hence a radial dynamic pressure generating portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of a shaft member. However, the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion is accessible to tools, and hence the radial dynamic pressure generating portion can be formed easily with high accuracy. As a result, accuracy of a radial bearing gap is enhanced so that a bearing rigidity is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Noda, Natsuhiko Mori, Tetsuya Kurimura, Isao Komori, Masaharu Hori, Kimihiko Bito, Toshiyuki Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8916509
    Abstract: A bearing lubricant of the present invention contains a compound represented by the following general formula: CfH2f+1—R1a—O—(C?O)—O—R2b—CgH2g+1 wherein O represents an oxygen atom; C represents a carbon atom; H represents a hydrogen atom; R1 and R2 independently represent a C2-C48 oxaalkylene group having 1 to 6 oxygen atoms; a and b independently represent an integer of 0 or 1 and satisfy a+b?1; and f and g independently represent an integer of 1 to 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Moresco Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Maruyama, Yoshifumi Nakacho
  • Publication number: 20140369630
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a fluid dynamic bearing defined in a gap between an inner component and an outer component. In some instances, the inner component and the outer component are configured for relative rotation. In some instances, the apparatus further includes a fluid reservoir configured to supply a fluid to the fluid dynamic bearing and the fluid reservoir is defined by shearless surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Hans Leuthold, Troy M. Herndon
  • Publication number: 20140355913
    Abstract: A wind turbine and method for controlling a wind turbine with a plain/sliding bearing and bearing lubrication means is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of Operating the bearing as a hydrodynamic bearing in normal operation; and Operating the bearing as a hydrostatic bearing when the friction of the bearing reaches a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Bo Pedersen, Kim Thomsen
  • Patent number: 8882353
    Abstract: A gas bearing (100) having pressurized axially extending chambers (110) in a housing (102) having a shaft bore (104) therein, the axially chambers (110) being in fluid communication with a bearing surface (108) that defines the bore via laser-drilled capillaries (118). The end (122) of each laser-drilled capillary at the bearing surface (108) is flared such that the narrowest portion of the capillary is set back from the bearing surface (108). This shape can ensure that the load carrying function of the bearing (100) does not fail during shaft eccentricity by ensuring that pressure restriction must happen within the capillary and not the gap being shaft and bearing surface. The bearing surface may face in an axial and/or radial direction with respect to the shaft. The axial chambers may be pressurized axially such that the outer circumference of the housing is unbroken and hence usable for other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignees: Air Bearings Limited
    Inventor: Ralf Dupont
  • Patent number: 8882446
    Abstract: A bearing system for a rotor in rotating machines, such as compressors, pumps, turbines, expanders, has points of bearing and sealing for the rotor each being in the form of a combined bearing and sealing formed by a stator situated within a rotating machine house and surrounding the rotor. The stator is formed with a bore, whereby an annular clearance is created between stator and rotor, and the bore is having sectional area gradually increasing in the direction of larger pressure within the rotating machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Statoil Petroleum AS
    Inventor: Harald Underbakke
  • Patent number: 8851756
    Abstract: A coast-down bearing and method for a magnetic bearing system is provided. The bearing includes first, second, and third rings disposed around a shaft. The first, second, and third rings each have an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the shaft and provide a running clearance therebetween. The first, second, and third rings are eccentrically positioned with respect to each other to form a pocket for receiving the shaft during a drop, radial shock, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventors: Martin D. Maier, H. Allan Kidd
  • Publication number: 20140286599
    Abstract: In order to effect a seal a porous material which comprises one side of two opposing surfaces is used to restrict and evenly distribute externally pressurized gas, liquid, steam, etc. between the two surfaces, exerting a force which is opposite the forces from pressure differences or springs trying to close the two faces together and so may create a non-contact seal that is more stable and reliable than hydrodynamic seals currently in use. A non-contact bearing is also disclosed having opposing surfaces with relative motion and one surface issuing higher than ambient pressure through a porous restriction, wherein the porous restriction is part of a monolithic porous body, or a porous layer, attached to lands containing a labyrinth, the porous restriction and lands configured to not distort more than 10% of a gap created from differential pressure between each side of the porous restriction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: NEW WAY MACHINE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Devitt, Richard Duane Pollick
  • Patent number: 8836189
    Abstract: There is provided a spindle motor including: a sleeve rotatably supporting a shaft and having an insertion groove provided in a top surface thereof; and a rotor case mounted on a top end of the shaft and including a protruding wall part inserted into the insertion groove, wherein a lubricant, provided to generate a dynamic pressure when the shaft rotates, forms an interface with air in a clearance formed by the protruding wall part and the insertion groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8834028
    Abstract: A rotating assembly adapted for use in turbines and pumps is provided. The rotating assembly includes a shroud that rotates around a central axis and a disk seated in a recess in the shroud so that the disk rotates with the shroud, the disk being oriented perpendicular to the central axis. The rotating assembly also includes a stationary element in which at least one surface of the disk contacts a fluid so that when the fluid flows under pressure, the surface of the disk resists the generation of drag between the surface and the stationary element of the rotating assembly. A shroud is provided that includes a circular recess with a cavity on an outer perimeter extending away from the fixed assembly. A method of manufacturing a rotating assembly is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Energy Recovery, Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Winkler, Jeffrey Michael Calkins
  • Patent number: 8830078
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bearing device component is provided. The bearing device includes a shaft and a sleeve that surrounds the shaft, and at least either one of the shaft and the sleeve is referred to as a work. The method includes: a process of forming a coating of an anti-sticking-lube polymer on the work; a process of applying a photoluminescence material to a range overlapping a range where the coating of the anti-sticking-lube polymer is formed; and a condition detecting process of causing the photoluminescence material to emit light by causing the work to be irradiated with excitation light that excites the photoluminescence material, and detecting an applied condition of the photoluminescence material based on the light emission of the photoluminescence material, thereby detecting a condition of the coating of the anti-sticking-lube polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Japan Advanced Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chenglin Chen, Kazuhiro Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8823230
    Abstract: A motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The rotating portion includes a sleeve portion. The sleeve portion includes a communicating hole. A dynamic pressure bearing is defined in a first gap between a shaft portion and the sleeve portion. An upper seal portion and a lower seal portion are arranged radially outward of the dynamic pressure bearing. The upper seal portion and the lower seal portion are arranged in communication with each other through the communicating hole. The communicating hole and a space extending from the upper seal portion to the lower seal portion through the first gap are filled with a lubricating oil. A fixing region where an outer tubular portion and a base portion are fixed to each other is arranged to overlap with the dynamic pressure bearing in a radial direction in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Junya Mizukami, Takayuki Oe, Yoichi Sekii, Naoki Sabashi, Hideki Nishimura, Takehito Tamaoka, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8814433
    Abstract: A positive pressure generating mechanism comprising a positive pressure generating groove is provided to a high-pressure side of one of two sliding surfaces that slide relative to each other in a pair of sliding components, and a negative pressure generating mechanism comprising a negative pressure generating groove is provided to a low-pressure side. The positive pressure generating groove and negative pressure generating groove are communicated with a high-pressure fluid side and separated from a low-pressure fluid side by a seal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichiro Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 8810095
    Abstract: A dynamic pressure bearing is defined in a first gap between a shaft portion and a sleeve portion. An upper seal portion extending upward and a lower seal portion extending downward are arranged radially outward of the dynamic pressure bearing. Each of the upper seal portion and the lower seal portion includes a surface including a lubricating oil located therein. The upper seal portion and the lower seal portion are arranged in communication with each other through a communicating hole defined in the sleeve portion. The communicating hole and a space ranging from the upper seal portion to the lower seal portion through the first gap are filled with the lubricating oil. The axial distance between the surfaces of the lubricating oil in the upper seal portion and the lower seal portion is arranged to be shorter than the axial distance between an upper end and a lower end of the dynamic pressure bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Junya Mizukami, Takayuki Oe, Yoichi Sekii, Naoki Sabashi, Hideki Nishimura, Takehito Tamaoka, Takashi Yamamoto