Patent EP0343620A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0343620A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bearings having beam mounted bearing pads and methods of making same
Assignee: IDE Russell D
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Filing: 1989-05-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-05-24
Abstract
Abstract A hydrodynamic thrust, journal or combined radial and thrust bearing and methods of manufacturing the same. The bearing includes a bearing pad structure that may change shape and move in any direction (six degrees of freedom) to optimize formation of a converging wedge for hydrodynamic operation, equalization of load on the bearing pads (12) in thrust bearings and to adjust for any shaft misalignment. The bearing pad (12) may be formed so as to contact the shaft (5) in the installed state and to deflect under fluid film pressure. The pad (12) is separated from the support member by a support structure which includes one or more beam-like members (14). The support structure preferably includes a primary support portion, a secondary support portion and a tertiary support portion. The beams (14) allow deflection of the pad (12) by either deflecting or twisting in a torsional mode. The bearing pad (12) support structure may include portions which are fluid dampened. The bearing may be made self lubricating through the provision of a lubricant absorbing and releasing material in the spaces between the bearing pads or within the support structure. The bearings may be made of a wide variety of materials including, plastics, ceramics, powdered metals, composites and metals. The bearings may be manufactured by simple molding using a two-piece camless mold, injection molding, casting, powdered metal die casting, extrusion, electric discharge or laser cutting.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell D. Ide
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:17
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C17/00; F16C17/04; F16C17/06; F16C17/065; F16C17/02; F16C17/03; F16C17/035; F16F; F16F15/00; F16F15/02; F16F15/023; F16F15/0237; F16C2300/00; F16C2300/02; F16C27/00; F16C27/02; F16C27/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A hydrodynamic bearing for supporting a rotating shaft on a fluid film, the bearing comprising a plurality of bearing pads and a support structure for supporting the bearing pads, characterized in that: the bearing pads and the support structure are unitary and the support structure comprises a primary support portion, a secondary support portion and a tertiary support portion, each of the support portions being adapted to deflect relative to one another and the support structure supporting the bearing pads for movement with six degrees of freedom such that under loading the pads deflect to a position in which the trailing edge of the pad is closer to the shaft than the leading edge of the pad so as to form an optimum hydrodynamic wedge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A hydrodynamic bearing for supporting a rotating shaft on a fluid film, the bearing comprising a plurality of bearing pads and a support structure for supporting the bearing pads, characterized in that: the bearing pads and the support structure are unitary and the support structure comprises a primary support portion, a secondary support portion and a tertiary support portion, each of the support portions being adapted to deflect relative to one another and the support structure supporting the bearing pads for movement with six degrees of freedom such that under loading the pads deflect to a position in which the trailing edge of the pad is closer to the shaft than the leading edge of the pad so as to form an optimum hydrodynamic wedge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The hydrodynamic bearing of claim 1 wherein the surface of each of the bearing pads comprises a portion of a cylinder such that the bearing is adapted to support the shaft for radial loading.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The hydrodynamic bearing of claim 1 wherein each of the surfaces of each of the bearing pads is substantially planar such that the bearing is adapted to support the shaft for axial thrust loading.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The hydrodynamic bearing of claim 1 wherein the bearing pad surfaces comprise portions of a cone having its apex on the axis of the bearing such that the bearing is adapted to support the shaft for both radial and axial thrust loading.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The hydrodynamic thrust bearing of any of claims 1-4 wherein the bearing pads and support structure are defined by a plurality of cuts, grooves and openings formed in a unitary member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The hydrodynamic bearing of any of claims 1-5 wherein the support structure supports the bearing pads such that the bearing pads have a predetermined stiffness which is less than the characteristic stiffness of the fluid film such that the fluid film causes the bearing pads to deflect away from the shaft upon rotation of the shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bearing of claim 6 wherein the pads are formed so as to form a converging wedge between the pad surface and the shaft portion when the shaft is at rest.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-7 wherein the support structure is fluid dampened.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A bearing according to any of claims 1-8 wherein each of the bearing pads is supported by the support structure such that the pad surface deforms under load to form a concave lubricant retaining pocket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A bearing according to any of claims 1-8 wherein the pad is supported so as to deflect under loading, the deflections deforming the pad surface to cause channelling and wedge formation in the direction of lubricant flow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The bearing of any of claims wherein the support structure is symmetrical such that the bearing supports the shaft for rotation in two directions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The bearing of any claims 1-10 wherein the support structure is non-symmetrical such that the bearing pads are biased in a predetermined direction and the bearing is unidirectional.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bearing according to any of claims 1-12 wherein the support structure is designed so as to deflect to accommodate shaft misalignment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The bearing according to any of claims 1-13 wherein the support structure is designed so as deflect under loading to equalize loading on the bearing pads.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The bearing according to any of claims 1-14 wherein a porous plastic material fills the spaces between the bearing pads.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The bearing according to claim 15 wherein the porous plastic is capable of absorbing and releasing liquid lubricant and is loaded with liquid lubricant such that when the support structure deflects, liquid lubricant is released from the porous plastic onto the bearing pad surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-16 wherein the bearing has an easily moldable shape.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-17 wherein the support structure is designed such that under normal loading, the pad deflects such that the trailing edge is between two to five times closer to the shaft than the leading edge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
99 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-18 wherein the support structure is designed such that the trailing edges of the bearing pads contact the shaft when the shaft is at rest; and the support structure has a predetermined stiffness such that as the shaft begins to rotate the pressure of the hydrodynamic fluid increases to a point at which the stiffness of the fluid film is greater than the stiffness of the support structure thereby causing the trailing edge to deflect away from the shaft to allow formation of a fluid film between the trailing edge and the shaft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-19 wherein the primary support portion comprises one beam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-19 wherein the primary support portion comprises two beams.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-19 wherein the primary support portion comprises three or more beams.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-22 wherein the secondary support portion comprises one beam.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-22 wherein the secondary support portion comprises two beams.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-22 wherein the secondary support portion comprises three or more beams.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-22 wherein the secondary support portion comprises a continous membrane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-26 wherein the tertiary support portion comprises two or more beams.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The bearing of claim 27 wherein the tertiary support portion comprises continuous annular beams.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-28 wherein the pads are designed so as to deflect into a convex shape under loading.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bearing of any claims 1-28 wherein the pads are designed so as to deflect into a air foil shape under loading.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-30 wherein the support structure deflects in a torsional or bending mode under loading.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The bearing of any of claims 1-18 and 20-31 wherein the trailing edge moves closer to the shaft under loading.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bearing according to any of claims 1-32 wherein the bearing is formed of a ferrous metal material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bearing according to any of claims 1-32 wherein the bearing is formed of a non-ferrous metal material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bearing according to any of claims 1-32 wherein the bearing is formed of a plastic material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bearing according to any of claims 1-32 wherein the bearing is formed of a ceramic material.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of making a bearing characterized by the steps of forming a cylindrical blank having a central axis; forming a central bore in the cylindrical blank, the central bore having a central axis which is coincident with the axis of said cylindrical blank; machining the cylindrical blank so as to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced bearing pads which are moveable in a predetermined direction and further comprising the step of machining the cylindrical blank so as to define a unitary support structure for supporting each of the plurality of bearing pads.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of making a bearing characterized by the steps of forming a cylindrical blank having a central axis; forming a central bore in the cylindrical blank, the central bore having a central axis which is coincident with the axis of said cylindrical blank; machining the cylindrical blank so as to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced bearing pads which are moveable in a predetermined direction and further comprising the step of machining the cylindrical blank so as to define a unitary support structure for supporting each of the plurality of bearing pads.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of machining the cylindrical blank so as to provide a support structure for supporting the bearing pad for movement with six degrees of freedom so as to optimize wedge formation.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the cylindrical blank is machined through electrical discharge machining.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the cylindrical blank is machined by laser cutting.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the bearing is formed by casting.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the bearing is formed by injection molding.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the bearing is formed by powdered metal with sintering.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the bearing is formed by extrusion.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of forming a radially groove around the circumference of said cylindrical blank.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of forming a facing groove on one of the opposed circular faces of the cylindrical blank.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the cylindrical blank is machine by water jet cutting.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
129 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising the steps of: encasing the machined cylindrical blank in molten rubber; allowing the rubber to harden; splitting the rubber; removing the machined cylindrical blank to yield an open rubber mold; pouring molten wax into the rubber mold; allowing the wax to harden into a wax casting; removing the wax casting from the rubber mold; encasing the wax casting in molten plaster; allowing the plaster to harden so as to form a plaster mold; providing at least one opening in the plaster mold; pouring molten bearing material into the plaster mold so as to melt the wax casting and replace the molten wax with molten bearing material; allowing the molten bearing material to harden; and removing the plaster from the hardened bearing material.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of filling the spaces between the bearing pads and the openings within the unitary support structure with a porous plastic material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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