Damper bearing to increase rotor stability

Claim 2

In combination, a rotatable shaft having a journal portion, an annular bearing structure for rotatably supporting said journal, a support structure for said bearing structure, said bearing structure comprising an inner bearing member and an outer bearing member, means defining an inner bearing surface on said inner bearing member for slidably supporting said journal, a pair of radially extending flanged members cooperatively associated with said inner and outer bearing members to position said member relative to each other, said bearing members being maintained in spaced relation to provide an annular channel between said inner bearing member and said outer bearing member, and means for admitting pressurized liquid to said annular channel.

Claim 3

The combination defined in claim 1 and further including a plurality of bars interacting with said bearing members to maintain them in spaced relation.

Claim 4

In combination, a rotatable shaft having a journal portion, an annular bearing structure for rotatably supporting said journal, a support structure for said bearing structure, said bearing structure comprising an inner bearing member and an outer bearing member, means defining an inner bearing surface on said inner bearing member for slidably supporting said journal, said inner bearing member having two annular flanges which are on opposite ends of said member, said flanges extending radially outward from the axis of rotation of the journal to receive said outer bearing member, said bearing members being maintained in spaced relation to provide an annular channel between said inner bearing member and said outer bearing member, and means for admitting pressurized liquid to said annular channel.

Claim 5

In combination, a rotatable shaft having a journal portion, an annular bearing structure for rotatably supporting said journal, a support structure for said bearing structure, said bearing structure comprising an inner bearing member and an outer bearing member, means defining an inner bearing surface on said inner bearing member for slidably supporting said journal, said inner bearing member having two annular flanges which are on opposite ends of said member, said flanges extending radially outward from the axis of rotation of the journal to receive said outer bearing member, said bearing members being maintained in spaced relation to provide an annular channel between said inner bearing member and said outer bearing member, and means for admitting pressurized liquid to said annular channel.

Claim 6

The combination defined in claim 3 wherein on the flanges on the inner bearing member are a pair of annular rows of apertures and the outer bearing member has a corresponding and aligned annular row of apertures, a plurality of resilient bars, said bars being received in said apertures in the bearing structure to maintain the bearing members in spaced relation and to further provide a spring and damping characteristic.

Claim 7

The combination defined in claim 4 wherein the rows of apertures are concentric with the axis of rotation of the rotor.

Claim 8

The combination defined in claim 4, wherein the bars are circular in cross section and have portions which are of reduced diameter, the larger diameter portions of the bars engaging the bearing members.

Claim 9

In combination, a rotatable shaFt subject to transverse vibrations and having a journal portion, an annular bearing structure encompassing and rotatably supporting said journal, a support structure for said bearing structure, said support structure having an annular integral ring portion, said bearing structure comprising an inner bearing member and an outer bearing member, mean defining an inner bearing surface on said inner bearing member for slidably supporting said journal, said outer bearing member having flanges extending radially outward on opposite sides, said ring portion fitting between said outer bearing flanges, said inner bearing member having flanges extending radially outward on opposite sides of said member to receive said outer bearing member, said bearing members jointly defining an annular channel, a passage structure for admitting pressurized fluid to said annular channel, means maintaining a spaced relation between said bearing members, said means comprising a plurality of bars, said flanges on the inner bearing member having a pair of annular rows of apertures, said outer bearing member having an annular row of apertures, aligned with said flanges apertures, and said bars disposed in said apertures to maintain a fixed relation between said bars and said bearing member.

Claim 10

In combination, a rotatable shaFt subject to transverse vibrations and having a journal portion, an annular bearing structure encompassing and rotatably supporting said journal, a support structure for said bearing structure, said support structure having an annular integral ring portion, said bearing structure comprising an inner bearing member and an outer bearing member, mean defining an inner bearing surface on said inner bearing member for slidably supporting said journal, said outer bearing member having flanges extending radially outward on opposite sides, said ring portion fitting between said outer bearing flanges, said inner bearing member having flanges extending radially outward on opposite sides of said member to receive said outer bearing member, said bearing members jointly defining an annular channel, a passage structure for admitting pressurized fluid to said annular channel, means maintaining a spaced relation between said bearing members, said means comprising a plurality of bars, said flanges on the inner bearing member having a pair of annular rows of apertures, said outer bearing member having an annular row of apertures, aligned with said flanges apertures, and said bars disposed in said apertures to maintain a fixed relation between said bars and said bearing member.

Claim 11

The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said inner bearing member has two annular flanges extending radially inward on opposite sides of said member, and said slidably supporting means comprises a series of bearing shoes encompassing the journal, said shoes being disposed in a tiltable manner between said flanges by a corresponding series of rocker pivots.

Claim 12

The combination defined in claim 3 and further including a plurality of bars interacting with said bearing members to maintain them in spaced relation.