With Lubricating Means Patents (Class 384/307)
  • Patent number: 11441643
    Abstract: A gear assembly includes a planetary gear set having a sun gear, planet gears, and a ring gear. The planet gears are respectively rotatably mounted by a bearing on a respective planetary pin. The respective planetary pin is connected to a planetary carrier. Tilting pads arranged radially circumferentially with respect to the planetary pin are provided on sides of the planetary carrier facing the planet gears. The planetary carrier has, on sides facing the planet gears, recesses arranged radially circumferentially with respect to the planetary pin and corresponding to the tilting pads. The recesses are configured to receive at least part of the tilting pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF WIND POWER ANTWERPEN N.V.
    Inventors: Umit Kutluay, Koen Krieckemans, Yvan Berkmans, Michel Goovaerts, Roger Bogaert, Maarten Ooms
  • Patent number: 11359667
    Abstract: Provided are a bearing and a power generation system including the same. The bearing supporting a shaft system of a power generation system in a radial direction includes a pad disposed on an outer side of the shaft system with respect to the radial direction and including a cooling path through which oil flows. In the bearing and the power generation system including the same, the cooling flow path is formed through the pad so that the oil existing between the pad and the shaft system flows into the cooling flow path to cool the pad. Accordingly, the pad is continuously cooled during the operation of the power generation system, and the temperature of the pad is prevented from rising above the threshold value even if friction occurs between the shaft system and the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventor: Yeong Chun Kim
  • Patent number: 11261908
    Abstract: A tilting pad bearing including pads disposed around a rotating shaft so as to face an outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft, liners each supporting an outside of the pad in a radial direction with an axis of the rotating shaft as a center, and pivots each supporting an outside of the liner in the radial direction with the axis as a center at a central position of the liner in an axial direction of the rotating shaft so as to allow the pad to be swingable, wherein a recessed portion recessed in a direction away from the pad is formed on a surface of the liner facing the pad or a surface of the pad facing the liner at least at the central position thereof in the axial direction of the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro Yoshimine, Tanehiro Shinohara, Takuzo Shigihara, Shuichi Isayama, Yuichiro Waki
  • Patent number: 11261904
    Abstract: A semi-cylindrical half bearing for a sliding bearing includes at least one axial groove formed on its inner circumferential surface that includes a smooth groove surface formed back away from the inner circumferential surface toward a radially outer side of the half bearing. The groove surface forms a convex curve toward the radially outer side in a cross-section perpendicular to the axial direction of the half bearing, and forms a straight line extending in the axial direction in a cross-section parallel to the axial direction. The half bearing further includes a plurality of axial narrow grooves formed on the groove surface so as to be back away from the groove surface toward the radially outer side, that extend in the axial direction of the half bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: DAIDO METAL COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Ryota Ito, Seiji Amano, Shiho Goto
  • Patent number: 11015646
    Abstract: Tilting pad bearing assemblies and apparatuses are disclosed herein. The disclosed tilting pad bearing assemblies and apparatuses may be employed in downhole motors of a subterranean drilling system or other mechanical systems. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly or apparatus includes a support ring and a plurality of tilting pads. Each tilting pad is tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the support ring. In some embodiments, one or more of the tilting pads include a plurality of superhard bearing segments assembled to form a superhard bearing surface. One or more seams may be positioned between adjacent superhard bearing segments of the superhard bearing segments. In other embodiments, one or more of the tilting pads may include at least one or only one superhard bearing segment, such as a polycrystalline diamond bearing segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: US Synthetic Corportation
    Inventors: Craig H. Cooley, Timothy N. Sexton
  • Patent number: 10788024
    Abstract: Ports (11 and 12) are formed in a port plate (10). A plurality of valve plate holes are arranged on a circumference around the rotation axis (S). The port plate (10) includes a plurality of bridges (13) configured to divide the port (11) into a circumferential direction to provide a plurality of port holes (11a), and a plurality of bridges (14) configured to divide the port (12) into the circumferential direction to provide a plurality of port holes (12a). A summation of the number of port holes (11a) and the number of port holes (12a) is greater than the number of valve plate holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kakino, Takashi Miura, Kenta Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 10247239
    Abstract: The tilting-pad bearing includes: a plurality of tilting pads arranged around a rotary shaft; a housing including a lubricating oil-supplying hole provided at a position facing a gap formed between the tilting pads disposed next to each other; and a pair of side plates disposed so that the tilting pads are interposed therebetween. The tilting pad is provided with an internal flow passageway through which lubricating oil flow. The internal flow passageway includes a first inflow opening, a second inflow opening, and a discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: IHI ROTATING MACHINERY ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Minegishi, Toshimichi Taketomi
  • Patent number: 9771972
    Abstract: A thrust bearing includes a bearing retainer including a first ring and a second ring radially spaced from the first ring, the first ring and the second ring defining an annular passageway therebetween, and at least two bearing pad retaining arrangements extending from a first surface of the second ring, each bearing pad retaining arrangement defining a retaining channel therein, and at least two bearing pads circumferentially spaced within the bearing retainer. The bearing pads may be held within the bearing retainer via the bearing pad arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Elliott Company
    Inventor: Neil A. Guest, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9719558
    Abstract: A bearing for a turbocharger may include an annular body and a centrally arranged passage opening for bearing a shaft at least one of axially and radially with respect to a rotation axis. The body may include at least one segment extending at least partially about the passage opening in a circumferential direction. The at least one segment may include an oil pocket, a circumferentially extending wedge surface and a detent surface circumferentially spaced from the oil pocket. The segment may also include a radially inner flange extending at least partially along the wedge surface in the circumferential direction. The inner flange may define an inner sealing web that may continue uninterruptedly into the detent surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Gauger, Fabian Haslinger
  • Patent number: 9719557
    Abstract: A bearing for an exhaust gas turbocharger may include an annular body and a centrally arranged passage opening for bearing a shaft at least one of axially and radially with respect to a rotation axis. The body may include an oil pocket, a wedge surface extending at least partially in a circumferential direction, and a detent surface circumferentially spaced from the oil pocket via the wedge surface. The detent surface may include a predetermined wear height configured to be worn down over an operating lifespan of the bearing. A radially inner flange may extend at least partially along the wedge surface in the circumferential direction and define an inner sealing web. A radially outer flange may extend at least partially along the wedge surface in the circumferential direction and define an outer sealing web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Gauger, Fabian Haslinger
  • Patent number: 9670957
    Abstract: The invention provides a tilting-pad thrust bearing that requires less oil supply and a rotary machine having the same. A tilting-pad thrust bearing 100 comprises: multiple oil inlets 10 disposed in spaces between pads 6; multiple outflow guide grooves 12 each formed near the inner circumferential edge of the sliding surface of the pad 6 such that the outflow guide grooves 12 extend in a circumferential direction; and multiple inflow guide grooves 13 provided separately from the outflow guide grooves 12 and formed at the leading ends of the sliding surfaces of the pads 6 so as to be located more radially inward than the oil inlets 10. Each outflow guide groove 12 is open to the sliding surface and the trailing end surface of the pad 6. Each inflow guide grooves 13 is open to the leading end surface and the sliding surface of the pad 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Hemmi, Kenichi Murata, Kenta Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9611886
    Abstract: Provided is a tilting pad bearing capable of suppressing the temperature rise of sliding surfaces of pads and reducing the amount of oil that has to be supplied to the bearing. The tilting pad bearing comprises: a bearing housing 4; a plurality of pads 2 which are arranged to be pivotable with respect to the bearing housing 4; a channel 31 which is formed in each of the pads 2; a first nozzle 9 which is formed in each of the pads 2, connects with the channel 31, and is open on a rear end surface 8 of the pad 2; and a second nozzle 10 which is formed in each of the pads 2, connects with the channel 31, and is open on a rear edge part of a sliding surface 5 of the pad 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Motoki Sato, Kenta Suzuki, Makoto Hemmi
  • Patent number: 9255605
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to tilting superhard bearing element bearing assemblies and apparatuses. The disclosed assemblies/apparatuses may be employed in downhole motors of a subterranean drilling system or other mechanical systems. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a support ring and a plurality of superhard bearing elements each of which is tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the support ring and distributed circumferentially about an axis. Each of the superhard bearing elements includes a bearing surface and a base portion. The base portion of the at least one of the superhard bearing elements may include a tilting feature configured to allow the at least one of the superhard bearing elements to be tiltable about a tilt axis. The bearing assembly includes retaining features that secure the superhard bearing elements to the support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: S. Barrett Peterson, Craig H. Cooley, Timothy N. Sexton
  • Patent number: 9022658
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic journal pad bearing is provided having several pads circumferentially distributed around the rotor of a large steam turbine with each pad mounted onto a platform separating the pad from a cylindrical cage in turn connected to the floor of a hall housing the turbine and having an interface between at least one of the several pads and the platform on which the at least one of the several pads is mounted is formed such as to include at least two areas with different curvatures to increase the stiffness of the interface in the event of a relative movement between the pad and the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Arnaud Buguin, Jacques Mizera
  • Publication number: 20150003762
    Abstract: A tilting pad bearing is provided that can reduce an amount of oil leaking from the side edges of a sliding surface of a pad, thereby reducing an amount of oil to be fed onto the sliding surface of the pad. The tilting pad bearing includes journal pads 2 arranged in a circumferential direction of a rotating shaft 1; and a bearing housing 4 for carrying the journal pads 2 in a tiltable manner via associated pivots 3. Lubricating oil is fed to a sliding surface 14 of the journal pad 2 via an oil-feeding hole 5 formed in the journal pad 2. The sliding surface 14 of the journal pad 2 has a portion formed so that the portion has an axial width that gradually increases, as the axial width approaches the circumferential downstream side of the rotating shaft, from an oil-feed start position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Motoki SATO, Kenta SUZUKI, Makoto HEMMI, Tomoaki INOUE, Kenichi MURATA
  • Patent number: 8684606
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing includes a housing defining a central axis, a pad slidable relative to the housing in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis, a cylinder defined in one of the housing and the pad, a lubricant port in fluid communication with the cylinder, and a piston at least partially positioned in the cylinder. The piston is movable within the cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position in response to a flow of lubricant through the lubricant port to vary an axial spacing between the pad and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Orion Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Byrne, Thomas H. Stietz
  • Patent number: 8408801
    Abstract: An oiling nozzle for a thrust bearing improves the following capability of pads and achieves a higher bearing pressure of the thrust bearing. The oiling nozzles are arranged between respective pads disposed in positions facing the thrust surface of a thrust collar that protrudes radially outward from a rotor shaft, along the circumferential direction. Each oiling nozzle has a cylindrical stem and a rectangular-shaped mainframe whose heightwise middle portions of opposite lateral sides are provided with convex parts. Each convex part presents a semicircular disk shape in a plane view to be fitted into concave parts that are formed in lateral sides of the pads. A top portion located on a side opposite to the stem is formed with a plurality of nozzle holes for ejecting lubricating oil that has been supplied from the bottom of the stem toward a space between the thrust collar and the pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Waki, Takashi Nakano, Takaaki Kaikogi
  • Patent number: 7862239
    Abstract: A tilting pad thrust bearing is described including a substantially solid flat carrier body, a plurality of bearing pads, and an intermediate component which is disposed in the assembled bearing between the bearing pads and the carrier body, the intermediate component providing a plurality of fulcrum means corresponding in number to the bearing pads and being angularly orientated such that the fulcrum means are disposed beneath the bearing pads. The arrangement is designed such that the intermediate component includes at least one of an annular hub portion and an annular rim portion from which a plurality of ribs project outwardly or inwardly thereof and on which individual bearing pads are arranged to be seated to pivot thereon, the ribs thus providing the fulcrum means, and in that a locating component is provided which also includes at least one of a hub portion and a rim portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventor: Nigel Henry New
  • Publication number: 20100215299
    Abstract: Provided is an oiling nozzle for a thrust bearing, capable of improving the following capability of pads, and achieving a higher bearing pressure of the thrust bearing. An oiling nozzle which is for use in a thrust bearing and is respectively arranged between pads disposed in positions facing the thrust surface of a thrust collar that protrudes radially outward from a rotor shaft, along the circumferential direction, wherein the oiling nozzle comprises: a cylindrical stem; and a rectangular-shaped mainframe whose heightwise middle portions of opposite lateral sides are provided with convex parts each presenting a semicircular disk shape in a plane view, to be fitted into concave parts that are formed in lateral sides of the pads, and whose top portion located on the side opposite to the stem is formed with a plurality of nozzle holes for ejecting lubricating oil that has been supplied from the bottom of the stem toward a space between the thrust collar and the pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Yuichiro Waki, Takashi Nakano, Takaaki Kaikogi
  • Patent number: 7682084
    Abstract: In a bearing constituted by a plural-layer slide member, the plural-layer slide member comprises a resin layer of polytetrafluoroethylene as a slide member and a backing strip to which the resin layer is bonded. A fitting hole having a depth exceeding the thickness of the resin layer is formed from the resin layer side. A temperature measuring metallic member formed of a white metal is fitted in the fitting hole. A temperature sensor is positioned within the temperature measuring metallic member. This bearing permits an accurate detection of its temperature. Further, in an oil cooled screw compressor having a bearing lubricating oil supply pipe, a slide surface of the bearing is covered with polyether ether ketone. Even if foaming occurs in the oil, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a mechanical trouble such as galling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yoshimura, Yasushi Amano, Takao Ohama
  • Patent number: 7641392
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic plain bearing is provided and includes a raceway which is rotatable about an axis of rotation and which is mounted in the axial direction on a plurality of carrying segments (12). A lubricating oil film is formed between the raceway and the carrying segments (12) in a bearing gap. In such a plain bearing, a circulation of the lubricating oil is brought about in a simple way in that the plain bearing is equipped with an integrated pumping device (15) for pumping the lubricating oil around in a circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Axel Guenter Albert Fuerst, Kamil Matyscak
  • Publication number: 20090310896
    Abstract: A tilting pad journal bearing mounted with a stepped seal tooth at an oil supply part disposed between bearing pads is disclosed. More particularly, the tilting pad journal bearing is formed by mounting a plurality of the bearing pads between an inner circumference of a bearing case and an outer circumference of a rotor, and mounting the seal tooth only to the oil supply part formed between the bearing pads to supply cooling lubricant while removing the seal tooth from a bearing pad part to thereby reduce a frictional torque between the bearing and the rotor and metal temperature, such that performance of the bearing pad can be guaranteed and the capability of the bearing can be improved by reducing loss of a driving force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Bo Bang, Jeong Hun Kim
  • Patent number: 7066653
    Abstract: A bearing assembly and method in which a bearing cage is disposed around a rotating member and a housing is disposed around the cage. A first portion of the radial outer surface of the cage extends in a slightly spaced relation to the corresponding portion of the inner surface of the housing, and a second portion of the radial outer surface of the cage projects from the first portion in a radial direction and engages the corresponding portion of the inner surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventors: Herve H. Dourlens, Dale F. Marshall, Philippe Auber
  • Patent number: 6746152
    Abstract: A multi-pad, fluid film thrust bearing has the pads suspended from the carrier ring on hydrostatic oil pressure regions. The oil is pressurized hydrodynamically by relative rotation between a load surface and the bearing surface of each pad; and the oil is passed through each pad to a rear cavity where the hydrostatic pressure region is established. A manifold interconnects all of the hydrostatic pressure regions for the individual pads in order to average the hydrostatic pressures and provide for static and dynamic load equalization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Pioneer Motor Bearing Company
    Inventor: Lyle Arthur Branagan
  • Patent number: 6588933
    Abstract: A thrust bearing for a rotating machine has a rotating ring and a bearing shoe for use in a non-filled oil chamber that permits oil flow through the bearing shoe. The oil flows out a leading recessed groove in the bearing shoe and across the bearing shoe surface. This permits for the oil flow to cool the bearing shoe and maintain lubrication between the bearing shoe and the rotating ring. Further, the non-filled oil chamber acts more as an oil collection chamber which provides two distinct advantages. One advantage is a reduction in bearing losses not present due to the elimination of swirling of the oil bath. The other advantage is one of servicing by the ability to inspect the bearings and all oil conduit connections without being encumbered by oil partially covering or surrounding the bearing shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventor: James Harold Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20030021503
    Abstract: A multi-pad, fluid film thrust bearing has the pads suspended from the carrier ring on hydrostatic oil pressure regions. The oil is pressurized hydrodynamically by relative rotation between a load surface and the bearing surface of each pad; and the oil is passed through each pad to a rear cavity where the hydrostatic pressure region is established. A manifold interconnects all of the hydrostatic pressure regions for the individual pads in order to average the hydrostatic pressures and provide for static and dynamic load equalization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Lyle Arthur Branagan
  • Patent number: 6422754
    Abstract: A bearing assembly is provided which includes an annular support member and a plurality of thrust bearing elements coupled to and distributed about the face of the support member. The thrust bearing elements are adapted to receive and support an axial load of a rotating member such as a thrust collar on a shaft. An annular distribution ring is mounted to the face of the support member for restricting motion of the thrust bearing elements. A distribution passage is formed between the distribution ring and the support member in such a manner that the distribution passage carries fluid to and across each of the thrust bearing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Qimin J. Dong, Anthony Uliana
  • Publication number: 20020051592
    Abstract: A thrust bearing for a rotating machine has a rotating ring and a bearing shoe for use in a non-filled oil chamber that permits oil flow through the bearing shoe. The oil flows out a leading recessed groove in the bearing shoe and across the bearing shoe surface. This permits for the oil flow to cool the bearing shoe and maintain lubrication between the bearing shoe and the rotating ring. Further, the non-filled oil chamber acts more as an oil collection chamber which provides two distinct advantages. One advantage is a reduction in bearing losses not present due to the elimination of swirling of the oil bath. The other advantage is one of servicing by the ability to inspect the bearings and all oil conduit connections without being encumbered by oil partially covering or surrounding the bearing shoe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventor: James Harold Ferguson
  • Patent number: 6089754
    Abstract: A thrust bearing for use with a shaft having a collar mounted thereon, comprises a base ring, a series of thrust bearing shoes positioned on the base ring, each shoe having a leading edge connected to a trailing edge by an inner diameter edge and an outer diameter edge, each thrust bearing shoe having a working face with a bearing liner on its surface, a shoe pivot member on each shoe allowing the shoe to pivot in any direction, an oil distribution groove formed in the working face of each shoe near the leading edge of each shoe and extending radially for substantially the entire distance between the inner and outer diameter edges of each shoe, each oil distribution groove having an inner end and an outer end connected by a leading edge and a trailing edge, an oil feed line leading to each oil distribution groove for feeding oil to each oil distribution groove, and a recess formed in the working face of each shoe commencing at the trailing edge of the oil distribution groove and extending rearwardly therefrom
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Kingsbury, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Wilkes, Ascanio M. DeCamillo
  • Patent number: 5879085
    Abstract: A tilting pad bearing for a rotatable surface includes a plurality of circumferentially-arranged tilting pads, each of the tilting pads having a working surface and a trailing surface. A lubrication device for lubricating fluid is detachably affixed to the tilt pad leading surface or is formed integral with the tilting pad. The lubrication device has a fluid conduit and a cavity that provide the cool lubricating fluid to those portions of the rotating collar which need the most cooling. The conduit has a ninety degree turn so that the cooling fluid has a velocity vector normal to the boundary layer of the hot carryover fluid. The outlet of the conduit is positioned, and the cavity is designed, to provide the greatest amount of cooling fluid where the rotating surface is the hottest. The lubrication device also has a wiper to wipe hot carryover fluid off of the rotating surface. The amount of lubricating fluid and bearing power losses are substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Orion Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Ball, Thomas R. Byrne
  • Patent number: 5795076
    Abstract: A tilting pad bearing for a rotatable surface includes a plurality of circumferentially-arranged tilting pads, each of the tilting pads having a working surface, a leading surface and a trailing surface. A lubrication device for lubricating fluid is detachably affixed to the tilt pad leading surface. The lubrication device may have an integrally-formed lubricant flow director with a radial or herringbone shape. The lubrication device has a pair of spaced ridges extending from the base of the device, the ridges being disposed at less than 180.degree. to each other. The ridges may also be parallel to the adjacent pad trailing surface. The ridges have wiper surfaces that wipe hot carryover lubricating fluid from the rotating surface. The hot lubricating fluid is directed by the ridges into an exit annulus or outlet apertures on opposite sides of the lubrication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Orion Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Ball, Thomas R. Byrne
  • Patent number: 5738447
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a rotatable member, which includes a bearing casing with an inner surface and a fluid drain outlet, and pads mounted on the inner surface of the casing, is provided. Each pad has a face facing the rotatable member and has a leading edge and a trailing edge with respect to the rotation of the rotatable member. A spray bar is positioned adjacent the leading edge of each of the pads, and the spray bar has a fluid ejecting conduit positioned to forcibly eject lubricating fluid toward the leading edge and onto the pad face. The spray bar also includes a fluid blocking segment adjacent the rotatable member for blocking heated fluid from being carried by the rotation of the rotatable member to the leading edge of the next pad in the direction of the rotation, and a fluid removal segment in fluid communication with the fluid drain outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Rotating Machinery Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 5567057
    Abstract: An equalizing tilting pad thrust bearing assembly with inner and outer concentric retaining rings supporting an array of upper and lower equalizing links which support a circular array of tilting bearing pads. Each tilting pad has a flat bottom surface supported by a raised radial cylindrical surface on the upper side of an upper equalizing link. The pads tilt circumferentially to develop a hydrodynamic lubricating wedge by rolling on the radius of the raised cylindrical surface of an upper equalizing link. Each bearing pad and its supporting upper equalizing link tilt together radially by rolling on the radius of two slightly crowned radial cylinders on the bottom surface of the upper link. Each upper link pivots circumferentially about a stub radial pin extending inward from the outer retaining ring which engages an axial slot in the upper link. Each lower equalizing link is supported by and pivots circumferentially about a radial pin whose opposite ends are fixed in the inner and outer retaining rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventor: C. William Boller
  • Patent number: 5271676
    Abstract: The bearing pedestal for the rotating shaft 12 includes journal and axial thrust bearings 16 and 26, respectively. Both of the journal and thrust bearings have passages 70 and 80, respectively, and recesses 74 and 82 in the respective pad faces for flowing high pressure lubricant between the pads and the shaft to displace the shaft and pads relative to one another to minimize the required breakaway torque and metal-to-metal contact. Each thrust bearing includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced pads 26 and lubricant directors 30 between the pads. The lubricant director includes a rib 34 extending generally tangentially and radially outwardly to channel lubricant from a preceding pad to a succeeding pad in the direction of shaft rotation and to channel the lubricant for flow tangentially from the thrust bearing into an annular cavity 39 for return to sump 42.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard K. Keck, Blake Wilson, Steve Hendricks, Thomas R. Byrne
  • Patent number: 5007745
    Abstract: The bearing pads of a hydrodynamic tilting pad thrust bearing are cut from a ring and arranged in a circle within a retainer for bearing the load of a collar fastened to a rotating shaft. The leading and trailing edges of respective adjacent pads contain open edge grooves which together form a pocket for receiving and dispensing lubricating and cooling oil under controlled conditions. Semicircular grooves in the edges of the adjacent pads together form generally circular ducts through which the oil is conducted to the pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Ball, Willis W. Gardner
  • Patent number: 4863291
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Company
    Inventors: Hooshang Heshmat, Paul T. Gorski
  • Patent number: 4624586
    Abstract: A bearing for a large rotating shaft machine is subject to differing conditions of operations. In order to accommodate these differing conditions of operation, the lubricant flows throughout the bearings may have to be changed. The prior art method of changing flow distributions throughout a bearing would be to remachine orifice passageways formed in the base ring. The present invention overcomes this difficulty by proposing a standardized base ring and multi-variable orifices which can be remachined and reinserted into the base ring with minimal difficulty and machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Brogan
  • Patent number: 4525083
    Abstract: For use in a pressure fed or flood lubricated bearing, there is disclosed a shaft load-bearing element (e.g., the thrust plate in a tapered land thrust bearing) preferably comprising three metallic layers including an inner layer adjacent the shaft surface of metal possessing good bearing properties; an outer layer of structural steel to provide rigidity; and an intermediate layer of copper or copper alloy sandwiched between the inner and outer layers to provide good thermal properties. The metallic layers of such a trimetallic bearing element are metallurgically bonded at the interfaces between layers to enhance heat transfer. Advantageously, a shaft load-bearing element according to the invention is substantially free from distortion and damage during handling and avoids elevated temperature problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James R. Pedersen
  • Patent number: 4501505
    Abstract: A thrust bearing for use with a shaft having a collar mounted thereon, comprising a base ring, a thrust bearing shoe having a leading edge connected to a trailing edge by an inner diameter edge and an outer diameter edge and having a working face with a bearing liner on its surface, a series of shoes positioned on the base ring, a shoe pivot on each shoe allowing the shoe to pivot in any direction, an oil distribution groove formed in the working face near the leading edge of the shoe and extending radially for substantially the entire distance between the inner and outer diameter edges of the shoe, said oil distribution groove having an inner end and an outer end connected by a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a bleed groove extending radially from the inner end of the oil distribution groove to the inner diameter edge of the shoe for supplying oil to the inner diameter area of the shoe downstream of the bleed groove which downstream inner diameter area would otherwise be starved by oil by the centrifug
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Inventor: William S. Chambers
  • Patent number: 4494882
    Abstract: A self-pumping thrust bearing for electric machines having a vertical shaft is disclosed in which the oil is circulated via radially-extending bores which suck hot oil from an oil space adjacent to the vertical shaft and conduct it to at least one cooler through a stationary ring canal. In order to prevent air bubbles or foamed oil from being circulated with the oil, the oil suction space is enlarged by a recess extending to the radial bores on the inside of the thrust ring and additional radial bores are provided which open toward the oil suction space below the top end of a cylinder wall rotating with the thrust bearing which begins at the thrust ring. The oil contained in the oil suction space rotates together with the thrust ring, and a segregation of air bubbles or oil foam from the oil is obtained during the dwell time of the oil in the oil suction space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Jurgen Pollok
  • Patent number: 4456391
    Abstract: A tilting pad thrust bearing comprising a bearing ring, a number of spaced, circumferentially mounted thrust pads, and a series of oil nozzles located in the spaces between the pads. The pads are mounted to pivot on the ring by means of two pins arranged to fit slackly into corresponding holes in the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: AEPLC
    Inventor: Nigel H. New
  • Patent number: 4455098
    Abstract: A self-pumping thrust bearing for electric machines having a vertical shaft is disclosed in which oil circulates through radially-extending bores in a rotating thrust ring to suck hot oil from an oil space and transfer it to a ring canal disposed in a stationary part. In order to make the transition from the rotating thrust ring to the stationary ring canal as loss free as possible, there is arranged on the outside at the thrust ring a circular canal into which the bores lead. This circular canal is bounded on the side facing the stationary part by a height-adjustable ring which is held at the thrust ring with a gap between the ring and the thrust ring. The transfer of oil therefore takes place around the entire circumference of the thrust ring so that turbulence is avoided. The quantity of oil pumped can be adjusted by adjusting the width of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Jurgen Pollok
  • 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