US3680932A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stable journal bearing
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1970-09-10
•
Granted: 1972-08-01
•
Expires: 1990-09-10
Abstract
Abstract The stability and the load capacity of a journal bearing are improved over conventional non-tilting pad hydrodynamic bearings for supporting the rotating shafts of relatively large machines, such as turbines and generators. The present bearing is considerably cheaper and easier to manufacture than tilting pad journal bearings. The bearing comprises a plurality of tapered segments or lobes which are separated by axial grooves in its inner surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert A Raimondi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:39
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C33/00; F16C33/02; F16C33/04; F16C33/06; F16C33/10; F16C33/1025; F16C33/106; F16C33/1075; F01; F01D; F01D25/00; F01D25/16; F01D25/166; F16C17/00; F16C17/02; F16C17/022; F16C17/028; F16C2300/00; F16C2300/10; F16C2300/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A journal bearing structure for supporting a rotatable shaft, comprising: a bearing member having at least three lobes each of which has a circumferentially extending arcuately tapered recess having a deepest part in the inner surface of the bearing member, the inner surface of the bearing member having axially extending grooves therein constituting demarcations between said lobes, the deepest part of the recessed portion of each lobe communicating with the adjacent groove at the leading edge of the lobe with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft, and one of the lobes extending through an arc of substantially 180*.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A journal bearing structure for supporting a rotatable shaft, comprising: a bearing member having at least three lobes each of which has a circumferentially extending arcuately tapered recess having a deepest part in the inner surface of the bearing member, the inner surface of the bearing member having axially extending grooves therein constituting demarcations between said lobes, the deepest part of the recessed portion of each lobe communicating with the adjacent groove at the leading edge of the lobe with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft, and one of the lobes extending through an arc of substantially 180*.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The journal bearing defined in claim 1, wherein each one of the other lobes extends through an arc of substantially 90*.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The journal bearing defined in claim 1, wherein the bearing member is divided into a top portion and a bottom portion and said one lobe is generally at the bottom of the bearing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The journal bearing defined in claim 3, wherein the lobe at the bottom of the bearing is provided with circumferentially extending grooves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The journal bearing defined in claim 3, wherein the recess in each lobe is in the top portion of the bearing and is divided axially by a circumferentially extending groove.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The journal bearing defined in claim 3, including means for supplying oil at a relatively high pressure to the inner surface of the lobe at the bottom of the bearing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
A journal bearing structure for supporting a rotatabLe shaft, comprising: a bearing member having a plurality of lobes each of which has a circumferentially extending arcuately tapered recess having a deepest part in the inner surface of the bearing member, the inner surface of the bearing member having axially extending grooves therein constituting demarcations between said lobes, the deepest part of the recessed portion of each lobe communicating with the adjacent groove at the leading edge of the lobe with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft, the length of said axial grooves being less than the axial length of the bearing, and said bearing having bleed grooves of a reduced size therein at the ends of said axial grooves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
A journal bearing structure for supporting a rotatabLe shaft, comprising: a bearing member having a plurality of lobes each of which has a circumferentially extending arcuately tapered recess having a deepest part in the inner surface of the bearing member, the inner surface of the bearing member having axially extending grooves therein constituting demarcations between said lobes, the deepest part of the recessed portion of each lobe communicating with the adjacent groove at the leading edge of the lobe with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft, the length of said axial grooves being less than the axial length of the bearing, and said bearing having bleed grooves of a reduced size therein at the ends of said axial grooves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
A journal bearing structure for supporting a rotatable shaft, comprising: a bearing member having two lobes each of which extends through an arc of substantially 180* and has a circumferentially extending arcuately tapered recess having a deepest part in the inner surface of the bearing member, the inner surface of the bearing member having axially extending grooves therein constituting demarcations between said lobes, and the deepest part of the recessed portion of each lobe communicating with the adjacent groove at the leading edge of the lobe with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
A journal bearing structure for supporting a rotatable shaft, comprising: a bearing member having two lobes each of which extends through an arc of substantially 180* and has a circumferentially extending arcuately tapered recess having a deepest part in the inner surface of the bearing member, the inner surface of the bearing member having axially extending grooves therein constituting demarcations between said lobes, and the deepest part of the recessed portion of each lobe communicating with the adjacent groove at the leading edge of the lobe with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
A journal bearing structure for supporting a rotatable shaft, comprising: at least three lobes disposed around the shaft and one of said lobes extending through an arc of substantially 180*, each lobe having a circumferentially extending arcuately tapered recess with a deepest part in the inner surface of the lobe, and the deepest part of the recessed portion of each lobe being at the leading edge of the lobe with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
A journal bearing structure for supporting a rotatable shaft, comprising: at least three lobes disposed around the shaft and one of said lobes extending through an arc of substantially 180*, each lobe having a circumferentially extending arcuately tapered recess with a deepest part in the inner surface of the lobe, and the deepest part of the recessed portion of each lobe being at the leading edge of the lobe with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft.
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) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |