US3795427A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Anti-whirl fluid bearing
Assignee: Ampex Corp
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Filing: 1972-11-24
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Granted: 1974-03-05
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Expires: 1992-11-24
Abstract
Abstract An anti-whirl capability is provided for a shaft and journal bearing, or a conical-ended shaft in a combination journal-thrust bearing, by coiling a springy foil-strip in more than one full turn around the shaft within the bearing concavity, the springiness of the coiled strip being such as to cause the coil to expand away from the shaft and against the walls of the concavity in the bearing block.
Inventors
- 👤 L Licht
- 👤 M Branger
- 👤 H Kayan
- 👤 B Lawson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:23
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C17/00; F16C17/02; F16C17/024; F16C17/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
In combination with a rotating element and a supporting fixed bearing element, one of said elements fitting into a concavity of the other element: a flexible foil strip coiled in more than one turn around said other element within said concavity; whereby a self-acting fluid bearing is formed between said strip and said elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
In combination with a rotating element and a supporting fixed bearing element, one of said elements fitting into a concavity of the other element: a flexible foil strip coiled in more than one turn around said other element within said concavity; whereby a self-acting fluid bearing is formed between said strip and said elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said coiled foil strip is springy and is loaded to circumferentially engage said fixed element, and means are provided to retain said coiled strip on said fixed element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 2, wherein said rotating element is a cylindrical shaft and said concavity is defined by a hollow cylindrical wall of said fixed element, said springy foil strip being coiled to expand against said cylindrical wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein said foil strip is tapered in width from a wide outer turn of said coil to a narrow inner turn, and said shaft rotates in the direction traced by said foil from outer to inner turn, so as to define a pump for drawing air into said bearing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 4, wherein said foil strip is provided in mirror image halves of equal length, the confronting foil edges being co-planar and the outwardly facing edges being tapered.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein said foil strip is arranged in helical form with abutted edges to define a hollow cylinder of wall thickness equal to the foil thickness.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein said foil strip is arranged in helical form with overlapping edges to define a stepped hollow cylinder of envelope wall thickness equal to twice the foil thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 7, wherein said foil strip is formed in two halves with oppositely directed helical forms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein said rotating element is a shaft with a frustro-conical end and said concavity is defined by a hollow conical wall in said fixed element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination of claim 9, wherein said foil strip is formed from flat stock as a 360-degree circular segment of outer radius Ro, the outer radius of the conical base of said conical wall being ro, the cone angle of said conical wall being Alpha , and the number of turns of said coil being n; and wherein Ro/ro n (sin Alpha ) 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein said foil strip is reduced in circumferential length by reducing the angle of said circular segment, the number of turns in the completed coil being correspondingly less than n.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein a plurality of circular segments are provided and are interleaved in coil form in said concavity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein the ends of said circular segment are cut on an expanding bias curve from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of said segment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein the end of said foil remote from said rotating element is secured to the adjacent structure that is more remote from said rotating element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 14, wherein said adjacent structure is provided with an opening into which an adhesive material is inserted to contact and adhere to said foil.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 14, wherein said adjacent structure is provided with a recess, a corner of said remote foil end being crimped over to extend into said recess to retain said foil.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 14, wherein a plurality of said foils are provided and are interleaved with the ends thereof in angularly equispaced relation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1454024A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-04 | 1977-09-03 | 1978-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-04 | 1981-09-03 | 1982-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-04 | 1985-09-03 | 1986-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |