Thrust bearing

Claim 2

An end thrust bearing having a horizontal shaft mounted for rotation on a frame, said thrust bearing comprising a flange fixed on said shaft having its opposite faces substantially smooth and parallel, a pair of pads fixed on said frame on opposite sides of and facing said flange, a recess in the face of each of said pads, a separate source of lubricating fluid under pressure connected to said recesses through a check valve, an enclosure surrounding said pads, the lowest point on the upper edges of said enclosure being higher than the highest point in the said recess, an outlet duct connected to each of said recesses including overpressure relief valves.

Claim 3

An end thrust bearing having a horizontal shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, said thrust bearing comprising at least one flange mounted on said shaft with its opposite faces lying in planes perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, a pair of pads mounted on said frame on opposite sides of and facing said flange, recesses in the face of each of said pads, a separate constant flow source arranged to provide lubricating fluid under pressure to each of said recesses, said pads being so designed and arranged as to permit a substantial axial movement of said shaft and simultaneously together with the flow of lubricating fluid prevent contact between the flange and pad even in the presence of substantial axial overload conditions.

Claim 4

An end thrust bearing having a horizontal shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, said thrust bearing comprising at least one flange mounted on said shaft with its opposite faces lying in planes perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, a pair of pads mounted on said frame on opposite sides of and facing said flange, recesses in the face of each of said pads, a separate constant flow source arranged to provide lubricating fluid under pressure to each of said recesses, said pads being so designed and arranged as to permit a substantial axial movement of said shaft and simultaneously together with the flow of lubricating fluid prevent contact between the flange and pad even in the presence of substantial axial overload conditions.

Claim 5

An end thrust bearing as claimed in claim 1 wherein a lubricating fluid is supplied to said recesses through ducts formed in the pad and said relief valve is directly connected to said outlet duct without any intervening conduit.

Claim 6

An end thrust bearing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outlet duct is formed directly in said pad and said pressure relief valve is directly connected in to said outlet duct.

Claim 7

An end thrust bearing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of lubricating fluid under pressure consists of a pair of positive displacement pumps, one connected to each of said recesses.

Claim 8

An end thrust bearing for a horizontal shaft as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of lubricating fluid includes an underpressure detector contact arranged to provide a signal indicating the absence of fluid pressure.

Claim 9

An end thrust bearing having a rotatable shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, said thrust bearing comprising a flange fixed on said shaft having its opposite faces substantially smooth and parallel, a pair of pads fixed on said frame on opposite sides of and facing said flange, a recess in the face of each pad, a separate source of lubricating fluid under pressure connected to each recess through a check valve, an enclosure for said bearing, an outlet duct connected to each recess including overpressure relief valves.

Claim 10

An end thrust bearing having a rotatable shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, said thrust bearing comprising a flange fixed on said shaft having its opposite faces substantially smooth and parallel, a pair of pads fixed on said frame on opposite sides of and facing said flange, a recess in the face of each pad, a separate source of lubricating fluid under pressure connected to each recess through a check valve, an enclosure for said bearing, an outlet duct connected to each recess including overpressure relief valves.