US3597020A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure-lubricated bearings
Assignee: Ferranti International PLC
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Filing: 1969-03-07
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1989-03-07
Abstract
Abstract A pressure-lubricated bearing to allow a sliding movement of a load over a fixed planar bearing surface while keeping substantially constant the height of the load above that surface over a wide range load weights includes a chamber filled with oil under pressure from a source and sealed at the top by an elastic diaphragm which supports the load. The other end contains a port through which a bearing film of oil escapes between the chamber and the planar surface. An increase in load weight reduces the film thickness; but the resulting increase of the oil pressure in the chamber displaces the diaphragm (and hence the load) upwards to compensate. Similarly with decreases of load weight.
Inventors
- 👤 Graham Isaac Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:17
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C32/00; F16C32/06; F16C32/0629; F16C32/064; F16C32/0644; B; B23; B23Q; B23Q1/00; B23Q1/25; B23Q1/26; B23Q1/38; F16C29/00; F16C29/02; F16C29/025; F16C32/0648; F16C32/0651; F16C32/0659; F16C2322/00; F16C2322/39
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A pressure-lubricated bearing to support a load or resist a thrust due to a load which includes a. first and second cooperating bearing surfaces attached respectively to the load and to a reference structure and having a common area of overlap, b. a pressure chamber located between the second surface and the load and having a port which opens in the first surface in said common area, the chamber being sealed remote from the port over an area larger than that of said common area by a member movable to accept variations in the internal volume of the chamber, c. means rigidly coupling the load to said movable member, d. means for continuously delivering fluid under pressure to the chamber by way of a fluid resistance, thereby providing in operation a pressure reaction at said port and a film of fluid escaping from said port between said surfaces, and e. resilient means coupling the chamber to the load to compensate for variations in the thickness of said film by oppositely varying the distance between the chamber and the load to maintain the distance between the load and the second surface substantially constant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A pressure-lubricated bearing to support a load or resist a thrust due to a load which includes a. first and second cooperating bearing surfaces attached respectively to the load and to a reference structure and having a common area of overlap, b. a pressure chamber located between the second surface and the load and having a port which opens in the first surface in said common area, the chamber being sealed remote from the port over an area larger than that of said common area by a member movable to accept variations in the internal volume of the chamber, c. means rigidly coupling the load to said movable member, d. means for continuously delivering fluid under pressure to the chamber by way of a fluid resistance, thereby providing in operation a pressure reaction at said port and a film of fluid escaping from said port between said surfaces, and e. resilient means coupling the chamber to the load to compensate for variations in the thickness of said film by oppositely varying the distance between the chamber and the load to maintain the distance between the load and the second surface substantially constant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A bearing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable member is a flexible diaphragm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A bearing as claimed in claim 2 wherein the diaphragm has sufficient resilience to act as part at least of said resilient means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A bearing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable member is a piston arranged to traverse a part of the chamber which forms the cooperating cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A bearing as claimed in claim 1 wherein part at least of said resilient means is in the form of a spring device outside the chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A bearing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure chamber comprises a main part containing said movable member, an auxiliary part having said port, and a pipe connecting the interiors of the two parts to one another.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |