US3575476A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas bearing
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1968-10-14
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Granted: 1971-04-20
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Expires: 1988-10-14
Abstract
Abstract An externally pressurized gas bearing in which the stationary bearing surface is made up of a plurality of stacked washers. A set of alternate relatively soft washers have one face grooved to provide manifolding and radial supply passages from the supply plenum to the hydrostatic gas bearing layer. The washers in the other alternate set are plain, of a relatively harder material and have smaller internal diameters to provide a plain bearing surface should the external pressure gas source suddenly fail. The design facilitates a family of fixed diameter bearings in which the length is tailored to meet the needs of various load carrying capacities.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick W Ortman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:08
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C32/00; F16C32/06; F16C32/0603; F16C32/0614; F16C32/0625; F16C33/00; F16C33/02; F16C33/04; F16C33/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An externally pressurized fluid film bearing comprising combination, a stationary member having a plenum adapted to be fluidly connected to a source of pressurized gas, a plurality of stacked washers carried by said stationary member, said washers having exposed circumferential surfaces, a rotatable member having a circumferential bearing surface spaced sufficiently close to said exposed circumferential surfaces to maintain a load-carrying hydrostatic gas layer therebetween, said plurality of stacked washers including at least one pair of washers consisting of a plain washer adjacent a washer having radial passage means in its annular face adjacent said plain washer, said gas passage means opening into said exposed circumferential surface and into said plenum whereby said rotatable member is adapted to be rotatably supported by a hydrostatic fluid film layer when said plenum is fluidly connected to a source of pressurized fluid, said plain washer having its exposed circumferential surface slightly closer to said circumferential bearing surface than said washer having radial passage means to protect said radial passage means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
An externally pressurized fluid film bearing comprising combination, a stationary member having a plenum adapted to be fluidly connected to a source of pressurized gas, a plurality of stacked washers carried by said stationary member, said washers having exposed circumferential surfaces, a rotatable member having a circumferential bearing surface spaced sufficiently close to said exposed circumferential surfaces to maintain a load-carrying hydrostatic gas layer therebetween, said plurality of stacked washers including at least one pair of washers consisting of a plain washer adjacent a washer having radial passage means in its annular face adjacent said plain washer, said gas passage means opening into said exposed circumferential surface and into said plenum whereby said rotatable member is adapted to be rotatably supported by a hydrostatic fluid film layer when said plenum is fluidly connected to a source of pressurized fluid, said plain washer having its exposed circumferential surface slightly closer to said circumferential bearing surface than said washer having radial passage means to protect said radial passage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
The externally pressurized fluid film bearing as defined in claim 1 wherein said washer having radial passage means in its annular face has a circumferential groove in its said annular face at the margin thereof remote from its exposed circumferential surface, and a plurality of radial grooves in its said annular face extending from its said circumferential groove and opening into its said exposed circumferential surface, said radial grooves opening into said plenum through said circumferential groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
158 words
An externally pressurized gas bearing comprising in combination, an elongated stationary member having an axial radially open groove, a plurality of stacked washers mounted on said stationary member with each of the washers first circumferential surface overlying said open groove forming a plenum and each of the washers opposite circumferential surface exposed, means to fluidly connected said plenum to a source of pressurized gas, a rotatable member having a bearing surface spaced sufficiently close to said exposed circumferential surfaces to maintain a load-carrying hydrostatic gas layer therebetween, alternate washers of said plurality of stacked washers each having a circumferential groove in one face thereof at said first circumferential surface, and a plurality of radial grooves in said one face extending from said circumferential groove to said opposite circumferential surface whereby said any pressurized gas supplied to said plenum is manifolded to said radial grooves and flows into the space between said exposed circumferential surfaces and said bearing surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
158 words
An externally pressurized gas bearing comprising in combination, an elongated stationary member having an axial radially open groove, a plurality of stacked washers mounted on said stationary member with each of the washers first circumferential surface overlying said open groove forming a plenum and each of the washers opposite circumferential surface exposed, means to fluidly connected said plenum to a source of pressurized gas, a rotatable member having a bearing surface spaced sufficiently close to said exposed circumferential surfaces to maintain a load-carrying hydrostatic gas layer therebetween, alternate washers of said plurality of stacked washers each having a circumferential groove in one face thereof at said first circumferential surface, and a plurality of radial grooves in said one face extending from said circumferential groove to said opposite circumferential surface whereby said any pressurized gas supplied to said plenum is manifolded to said radial grooves and flows into the space between said exposed circumferential surfaces and said bearing surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The gas bearing as defined in claim 3 wherein said rotatable member includes thrust surfaces and wherein said plurality of washers include two washers having faces spaced closely adjacent to said thrust surfaces, respectively, whereby pressurized gas flows between said faces and thrust surfaces to center said rotatable member on said stationary member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein the remaining washers are plain washers and have their exposed circumferential surfaces slightly closer to said bearing surfAce to protect said radial grooves in said alternate washers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-19 | 1974-10-19 | 1975-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-19 | 1978-10-19 | 1979-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-19 | 1982-10-19 | 1983-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |