Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
In a tiltable pad journal bearing having a rotatable shaft and wherein there is an annular bearing housing with an annular pad-receiving channel, and wherein there is a plurality of tiltable pads positioned around said shaft in endwise relationship within said pad-receiving channel, said tiltable pads having inner arcuate surfaces, the improvement comprising a plurality of flexible pads positioned in endwise relationship around the shaft between said shaft and the inner arcuate surfaces of said tiltable pads, each flexible pad having an inner arcuate surface which is eccentric with respect to the shaft and with a radius of curvature which is slightly greater than the radius of curvature of said shaft, and each of said flexible pads having an outer arcuate surface which is on a slightly greater radius than the radius of curvature of adjacent inner arcuate surface portions of the tiltable pads so that the flexible pads are deflectable intermediate their length when subjected to a load, and means for supplying lubricating fluid between the inner arcuate surfaces of the flexible pads and the shaft and between the outer arcuate surfaces of the flexible pads and the inner arcuate surfaces of the tiltable pads.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a tiltable pad journal bearing having a rotatable shaft and wherein there is an annular bearing housing with an annular pad-receiving channel, and wherein there is a plurality of tiltable pads positioned around said shaft in endwise relationship within said pad-receiving channel, said tiltable pads having inner arcuate surfaces, the improvement comprising a plurality of flexible pads positioned in endwise relationship around the shaft between said shaft and the inner arcuate surfaces of said tiltable pads, each flexible pad having an inner arcuate surface which is eccentric with respect to the shaft and with a radius of curvature which is slightly greater than the radius of curvature of said shaft, and each of said flexible pads having an outer arcuate surface which is on a slightly greater radius than the radius of curvature of adjacent inner arcuate surface portions of the tiltable pads so that the flexible pads are deflectable intermediate their length when subjected to a load, and means for supplying lubricating fluid between the inner arcuate surfaces of the flexible pads and the shaft and between the outer arcuate surfaces of the flexible pads and the inner arcuate surfaces of the tiltable pads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tiltable pad journal bearing as claimed in claim 1 in which the tiltable pads and flexible pads are formed of metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tiltable pad journal bearing as claimed in claim 1 in which the radial thickness of the flexible pads is slightly less than the radial distance between the shaft and inner arcuate surface portions of the tiltable pads.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tiltable pad journal bearing as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for supplying lubricating fluid includes lubrication bores in the housing extending from the exterior to the pad-receiving channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tiltable pad journal bearing as claimed in claim 4 in which there are spaces between the ends of the tiltable pads, and in which said lubrication bores communicate with said spaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A tiltable pad journal bearing as claimed in claim 1 in which the tiltable pads are made of steel, and in which the flexible pads are made of aluminum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A tiltable pad journal bearing as claimed in claim 1 in which there is a flexible pad for each tiltable pad, and in which the flexible pad deflects into a space between the flexible pad and tiltable pad which is intermediate the length of said pads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tiltable pad journal bearing as claimed in claim 7 and including retaining means between each tiltable pad and its flexible pad for maintaining each flexible pad in position against circumferential movement relative to its tiltable pad.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A tiltable pad journal bearing as claimed in claim 8 in which the retaining means comprises lips projecting radially from the ends of each tiltable pad between which the associated flexible pad is mounted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A tiltable pad journal bearing as claimed in claim 7 in which the ends of the outer surface of each flexible pad engage the inner surface of the adjacent tiltable pad near the ends thereof, and in which there is a fluid-filled deflection space between said places of engagement.