Compact tilting pad thrust bearing

Claim 1

A thrust bearing for axially constraining a rotatable shaft within a machine casing, said shaft including a thrust collar rotatable therewith; and, said thrust bearing comprising: a non-rotatable annular cage having a pair of spaced apart concentric rings said concentric rings including a radially outer concentric ring supported from a radially inner concentric ring by a number of radially extending spokes defining radially extending slots therebetween; a pivotal bearing pad assembly radially insertable into each slot and constrained in the circumferential direction by said spokes, said pads forming a raised annular bearing surface adjacent said thrust collar; each pad assembly including at least one pivot point on the side opposite the bearing surface forming an annular array of pivot points; pivotally fixed leveling links, disposed within said concentric rings cooperating with said annular array of pivot points; and, a separate, relatively thin, hardened ring disposed in said machine casing adjacent said leveling links between said annular cage and said machine casing whereby axial thrusts to said bearing surface are transmitted directly through said leveling links and hardened ring to said machine casing.