US3828610A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thrust measurement
Assignee: GE Oil and Gas Operations LLC
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Filing: 1971-12-22
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1991-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A method of determining the axial thrust on a thrust bearing assembly having a fixed and a rotating component in which a lubricant is being forced between the mated faces of the respective components and where zones of pressure are built up during operation, comprising monitoring the pressure of the lubricant between the mated faces. The invention also provides for determining the axial thrust by measuring the pressure differential of the lubricant between the mated faces or as it enters therebetween and as it emerges from between said faces. To measure the axial thrust on a pair of opposing thrust bearing assemblies, the pressure differential of the lubricant between the respective mated faces of the two assemblies is obtained. The axial thrust measurement can be utilized in a method of adjusting the axial thrust on the bearing assemblies by changing manually or automatically a balancing means separate from the thrust bearings and their lubricant and used to adjust the net thrust on the bearings in response to the respective pressure measurement. The invention also encompasses the combination of suitable pressure measuring devices with thrust bearing assemblies with and without balancing means to carry out the above measurement and control methods.
Inventors
- 👤 Judson S Swearingen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:26
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C39/00; F16C39/04; F01; F01D; F01D25/00; F01D25/16; F01D25/166; F01D25/168; F04; F04D; F04D29/00; F04D29/05; F04D29/051; F04D29/0516; F16C17/00; F16C17/04; F16C32/00; F16C32/06; F16C32/0629; F16C32/064; F16C32/0644; F16C32/0681; F16C32/0692; G; G01; G01L; G01L5/00; G01L5/12; F16C2360/00; F16C2360/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
In a thrust bearing assembly having a rotating component and a non-rotating component, one face of said non-rotating component and one face of said rotating component being in opposing relationship with one another, wherein a lubricant is forced in operation between the opposed faces of said components by the relative rotation of said components forming two zones of pressure at least one of which is between said faces maintaining them separated and transmitting thrust load between them; the pressures of said zones differing from each other by an amount indicative of the aggregate thrust on said bearing, the improvement which comprises monitoring means for monitoring the pressure of said lubricant in said one of said zones, means for monitoring the pressure of said lubricant in the other of said zones, and means for sensing the difference between said pressures to determine the aggregate axial thrust on said bearing assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
In a thrust bearing assembly having a rotating component and a non-rotating component, one face of said non-rotating component and one face of said rotating component being in opposing relationship with one another, wherein a lubricant is forced in operation between the opposed faces of said components by the relative rotation of said components forming two zones of pressure at least one of which is between said faces maintaining them separated and transmitting thrust load between them; the pressures of said zones differing from each other by an amount indicative of the aggregate thrust on said bearing, the improvement which comprises monitoring means for monitoring the pressure of said lubricant in said one of said zones, means for monitoring the pressure of said lubricant in the other of said zones, and means for sensing the difference between said pressures to determine the aggregate axial thrust on said bearing assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a rotating machine having a thrust bearing assembly, said bearing assembly having a rotating component and a non-rotating component, one face of said non-rotating component and one face of said rotating component being in opposing relationship with one another, wherein a lubricant is forced in operation between the opposed faces of said components by the relative rotation of said components forming a first zone of pressure which is between said faces and is pressurized to a thrust sustaining pressure to maintain said components separated, and a second pressure zone is created in said lubricant differing from said thrust sustaining pressure by an amount indicative of the thrust on said bearing assembly; the improvement which comprises a pressure determining means including a pressure sensing means exposed to said first zone, a pressure sensing means exposed to said second zone, and means for comparing the two.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a rotating machine having a thrust bearing assembly, said bearing assembly having a rotating component and a non-rotating component, one face of said non-rotating component and one face of said rotating component being in opposing relationship with one another, wherein a lubricant is forced in operation between the opposed faces of said components by the relative rotation of said components forming a first zone of pressure which is between said faces and is pressurized to a thrust sustaining pressure to maintain said components separated, and a second pressure zone is created in said lubricant differing from said thrust sustaining pressure by an amount indicative of the thrust on said bearing assembly; the improvement which comprises a pressure determining means including a pressure sensing means exposed to said first zone, a pressure sensing means exposed to said second zone, and means for comparing the two.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A rotating machine according to claim 2 wherein said second zone is located at a point at which said lubricant has emerged from between the mated faces.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
165 words
The method of determining the axial thrust on a thrust bearing assembly which has a rotating component and a fixed component, one face of said fixed component and one face of said rotating component being in mating relationship with one another, and wherein a lubricant is forced by the relative rotation of saiD components into said assembly between the mated faces of said rotating and said fixed component, the forced flow of said lubricant between said mated faces generating two zones of pressure at least one of which is between said faces and maintains them separated to transmit thrust load between them, and the pressures of said zones differing from each other by amounts indicative of the aggregate thrust load; said method comprising the steps of monitoring the pressure of said lubricant in said one of said zones, monitoring the pressure of said lubricant in the other of said zones, and determining the difference between the two pressures as an indication of said axial thrust.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
165 words
The method of determining the axial thrust on a thrust bearing assembly which has a rotating component and a fixed component, one face of said fixed component and one face of said rotating component being in mating relationship with one another, and wherein a lubricant is forced by the relative rotation of saiD components into said assembly between the mated faces of said rotating and said fixed component, the forced flow of said lubricant between said mated faces generating two zones of pressure at least one of which is between said faces and maintains them separated to transmit thrust load between them, and the pressures of said zones differing from each other by amounts indicative of the aggregate thrust load; said method comprising the steps of monitoring the pressure of said lubricant in said one of said zones, monitoring the pressure of said lubricant in the other of said zones, and determining the difference between the two pressures as an indication of said axial thrust.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said pressure difference is determined by taking the difference between the pressure of a zone of constant pressure of said lubricant and the pressure of said lubricant between said mated faces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said lubricant is forced through a restriction between said faces, and said pressure difference is monitored by taking the difference between the pressure of said lubricant at points between and after emerging from between said mated faces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said other of said zones is a zone of constant pressure of said lubricant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a rotating machine having a thrust bearing assembly having a rotating component and a fixed component, one face of said fixed component and one face of said rotating component being in mating relationship with one another, wherein a lubricant is forced into said assembly by the relative rotation of said components and then flows radially outward between the mated faces of said rotating and said fixed component, the flow of lubricant radially outwardly between said mated faces generating zones of pressure sufficient to maintain said components separated, and the difference in pressures of said zones being indicative of the value of the thrust load; the improvement which comprises the combination therewith of a pressure measuring means connected so as to monitor the pressure gradient of said lubricant across said mated faces between successive ones of such zones at least one of which is between said mated faces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a rotating machine having a thrust bearing assembly having a rotating component and a fixed component, one face of said fixed component and one face of said rotating component being in mating relationship with one another, wherein a lubricant is forced into said assembly by the relative rotation of said components and then flows radially outward between the mated faces of said rotating and said fixed component, the flow of lubricant radially outwardly between said mated faces generating zones of pressure sufficient to maintain said components separated, and the difference in pressures of said zones being indicative of the value of the thrust load; the improvement which comprises the combination therewith of a pressure measuring means connected so as to monitor the pressure gradient of said lubricant across said mated faces between successive ones of such zones at least one of which is between said mated faces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a rotating machine having a pair of opposing thrust bearing assemblies to maintain axial location of a shaft of said machine, each of said bearing assemblies having a rotating component mounted on said shaft and a non-rotating component, one face of said rotating component and one face of said non-rotating component being in opposing relationship with one another, wherein a bearing lubricant body is created in operation between the opposed faces of said components by the relative rotation of said components and maintained under pressure sufficient to keep said components separated and transmit any thrust forces between them, the combination of a differential pressure measuring device connected so as to measure the difference between the pressure of said lubricant between the opposed faces of one of said bearing assemblies and the pressure of said lubricant between the opposed faces of the other of said bearing assemblies, whereby when said rotating components are displaced in one direction by an end thrust loading one of said bearing assemblies and unloading the other, said comparison will indicate the pressure in the loaded assembly compared to an unloaded assembly and hence the end thrust on the loaded assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a rotating machine having a pair of opposing thrust bearing assemblies to maintain axial location of a shaft of said machine, each of said bearing assemblies having a rotating component mounted on said shaft and a non-rotating component, one face of said rotating component and one face of said non-rotating component being in opposing relationship with one another, wherein a bearing lubricant body is created in operation between the opposed faces of said components by the relative rotation of said components and maintained under pressure sufficient to keep said components separated and transmit any thrust forces between them, the combination of a differential pressure measuring device connected so as to measure the difference between the pressure of said lubricant between the opposed faces of one of said bearing assemblies and the pressure of said lubricant between the opposed faces of the other of said bearing assemblies, whereby when said rotating components are displaced in one direction by an end thrust loading one of said bearing assemblies and unloading the other, said comparison will indicate the pressure in the loaded assembly compared to an unloaded assembly and hence the end thrust on the loaded assembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A rotating machine according to claim 9 wherein the lubricant between each of the opposed bearing assemblies forms part of a common lubricant body.
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) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |