US3814487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thrust bearing with pad-retaining and lubrication means
Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Inc
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Filing: 1973-01-08
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1993-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of tiltable thrust-bearing pads are supported in circumferentially spaced relationship around one face of a bearing retainer adjacent a rotatable thrust collar, the latter bearing against the outer faces of the bearing pads. Oil ducts are formed in each bearing pad for conducting oil from the inner face of the pad to its ends, and relatively cool oil under pressure is supplied to the ducts at the inner face of each pad. The ducts are angled and positioned to direct jets of cool oil against the thrust collar in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pads to reduce the temperature of the oil film which is carried by the thrust collar from one pad to another during rotation. A circular resilient O-ring seal bears against the inner face of each bearing pad and defines an oil chamber for receiving cool oil under pressure and for supplying the oil to the ducts at the inner face of the pad. A plurality of cap screws are threaded into the bearing retainer at spaced locations around the periphery of the retainer, the head of each cap screw being positioned in a corresponding space between two bearing pads and serving to limit the circumferential movement of the bearing pads. Each bearing pad has a pin extending adjacent to the head of a corresponding cap screw to prevent the cap screw from becoming inadvertently unthreaded and detached from the bearing retainer.
Inventors
- 👤 W Gardner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:02
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C32/00; F16C32/06; F16C32/0681; F16C32/0692; F16C17/00; F16C17/04; F16C17/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
In a thrust bearing having an annular bearing retainer and having a plurality of bearing pads with inner and outer faces and with end portions supported in circumferentially-spaced relationship around one face of said retainer, the outer faces of said pads providing a bearing surface for an adjacent rotatable thrust collar, the improvement comprising having each pad provided with oil ducts positioned to conduct oil from the inner face of said pad to the ends thereof, and means for supplying relatively cool oil under pressure to the duct portions at the inner face of each pad, the duct portions adjacent the ends of each pad being disposed and positioned to direct jets of said cool oil against said thrust collar in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pads to reduce the temperature of the oil film carried by said thrust collar from one pad to another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a thrust bearing having an annular bearing retainer and having a plurality of bearing pads with inner and outer faces and with end portions supported in circumferentially-spaced relationship around one face of said retainer, the outer faces of said pads providing a bearing surface for an adjacent rotatable thrust collar, the improvement comprising having each pad provided with oil ducts positioned to conduct oil from the inner face of said pad to the ends thereof, and means for supplying relatively cool oil under pressure to the duct portions at the inner face of each pad, the duct portions adjacent the ends of each pad being disposed and positioned to direct jets of said cool oil against said thrust collar in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pads to reduce the temperature of the oil film carried by said thrust collar from one pad to another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein each bearing pad is provided with a plurality of internal oil ducts with discharge ends which are spaced apart from each other at the ends of said pad to direct a plurality of spaced oil jets against said thrust collar in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pads.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 in which said oil ducts extend obliquely and communicate at the inner ends with the inner face of the pad intermediate its length and at their outer ends with end portions of the pad.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said means for supplying relatively cool oil under pressure to the duct portions at the inner face of each pad includes means forming a plurality of oil chambers in the surface of said retainer which supports said bearing pads, each of said oil chambers being positioned under the duct portions at the inner face of a corresponding pad, and means for supplying relatively cool oil under pressure to each of said oil chambers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement defined in claim 4 and further comprising an annular resilient oil seal around each of said oil chambers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein said means for supplying relatively cool oil under pressure to each of said oil chambers includes an annular oil groove extending around the outer periphery of said retainer and a plurality of oil ducts each extending between said oil groove and a corresponding one of said oil chambers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The improvement defined in claim 4 and further comprising a hardened bearing button attached to the bottom of each bearing pad and shaped to tiltably support the corresponding bearing pad against the adjacent surface of the bearing retainer, wherein each of said bearing buttons is positioned to contact said retainer within a corresponding one of said oil chambers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein said means forming said plurality of oil chambers includes a circular series of annular grooves in the surface of said retainer, each of said annular grooves being positioned adjacent the inner face of a corresponding pad, and duct means communicating with each of said annular grooves to conVey cool oil under pressure thereinto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of spacer elements each attached to said retainer and each positioned in the space between a corresponding adjacent pair of bearing pads to limit the circumferential movement thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a thrust bearing having an annular bearing retainer and having a plurality of bearing pads supported in circumferentially-spaced relationship around one face of said retainer, the outer faces of said pads providing a bearing surface for an adjacent rotatable thrust collar, the improvement comprising cap screws threaded into openings in said annular retainer and having cylindrically-shaped heads positioned in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pairs of bearing pads, the diameter of each cylindrical cap screw head being of a size to limit the circumferential movement of said bearing pads to a predetermined distance, and a dowel projecting from the end of one of each adjacent pairs of bearing pads radially inwardly of the head of the corresponding cap screw to prevent the same from becoming inadvertently removed from its threaded connection with said retainer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a thrust bearing having an annular bearing retainer and having a plurality of bearing pads supported in circumferentially-spaced relationship around one face of said retainer, the outer faces of said pads providing a bearing surface for an adjacent rotatable thrust collar, the improvement comprising cap screws threaded into openings in said annular retainer and having cylindrically-shaped heads positioned in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pairs of bearing pads, the diameter of each cylindrical cap screw head being of a size to limit the circumferential movement of said bearing pads to a predetermined distance, and a dowel projecting from the end of one of each adjacent pairs of bearing pads radially inwardly of the head of the corresponding cap screw to prevent the same from becoming inadvertently removed from its threaded connection with said retainer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a thrust bearing having an annular bearing retainer and having a plurality of bearing pads with inner and outer faces and with end portions supported in circumferentially spaced relationship around one face of said retainer, the outer faces of said pads providing a bearing surface for an adjacent rotatable thrust collar, the improvement comprising having each pad provided with oil ducts positioned to conduct oil through the pad to at least one end thereof, and means for supplying relatively cool oil under pressure to said duct portions of the pads, the duct portions adjacent the ends of the pads being disposed and positioned to direct jets of said cool oil against said thrust collar in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pads to reduce the temperature of the oil film carried by said thrust collar from one pad to another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a thrust bearing having an annular bearing retainer and having a plurality of bearing pads with inner and outer faces and with end portions supported in circumferentially spaced relationship around one face of said retainer, the outer faces of said pads providing a bearing surface for an adjacent rotatable thrust collar, the improvement comprising having each pad provided with oil ducts positioned to conduct oil through the pad to at least one end thereof, and means for supplying relatively cool oil under pressure to said duct portions of the pads, the duct portions adjacent the ends of the pads being disposed and positioned to direct jets of said cool oil against said thrust collar in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pads to reduce the temperature of the oil film carried by said thrust collar from one pad to 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) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |