US3893737A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thrust bearing having lubrication system
Assignee: IMO Industries Inc
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Filing: 1974-04-19
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Granted: 1975-07-08
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Expires: 1994-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A self-leveling thrust bearing, according to the present invention, may include a generally circular retainer element that retains a plurality of segmental thrust pads in substantially normal and stationary relationship relative to a rotatable shaft that may be horizontally mounted. A thrust runner or collar, that is non-rotatably secured to the shaft and extends in substantially normal relation with the shaft, may be provided with a generally planar annular thrust force applying face that may be disposed in engagement with bearing surfaces formed on the plurality of thrust pad segments. Leveling links may be interposed between the retainer and thrust pad segments in order to maintain the bearing face of each of the segments in intimate equal load distributing engagement with the bearing face formed on the thrust runner or collar. A thin hydrodynamic film of lubricating oil may be maintained between the bearing face and the thrust faces of the thrust pad segments by a bearing lubrication system. The lubrication system may incorporate a plurality of lubricating oil jet heads that also serve as retainer elements for the thrust pad segments and the leveling links. The jet heads direct jets of lubricating oil against the bearing face of the thrust runner or collar to maintain the film of lubricating oil. The jets of oil are of particular directional nature, at least some of the jets of oil having a radially inward component of direction that opposes the direction imparted to the film of oil by the centrifugal force of the rotating thrust runner or collar, depending upon the speed of shaft rotation and upon particular size of the bearing being lubricated. Others of the jets have a radially outward component of direction, while still other jets of lubricating oil may be directed in normal relation against the thrust applying face.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard L Tyson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:27
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C17/00; F16C17/04; F16C17/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A lubricated self-leveling thrust bearing construction capable of sustaining thrust loads applied thereto by a rotatable shaft, said thrust bearing construction comprising: rotatable thrust force applying means being disposed in fixed relation to said rotary shaft; thrust pad means being disposed in movable but non-rotatable position relative to said rotatable shaft and being disposed to receive thrust loads applied thereto by said rotatable thrust force applying means; lubricant supply means for maintaining a hydrodynamic film of lubricant between said thrust pad means and said thrust force applying means, said lubricant supply means directing at least one jet of lubricant toward said thrust force applying means and causing said jet of lubricant to impinge upon said thrust force applying means, said jet of lubricant having a component of direction that opposes the direction of lubricant flow that is induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force; and means communicating a quantity of pressurized lubricant to said lubricant supply means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A lubricated self-leveling thrust bearing construction capable of sustaining thrust loads applied thereto by a rotatable shaft, said thrust bearing construction comprising: rotatable thrust force applying means being disposed in fixed relation to said rotary shaft; thrust pad means being disposed in movable but non-rotatable position relative to said rotatable shaft and being disposed to receive thrust loads applied thereto by said rotatable thrust force applying means; lubricant supply means for maintaining a hydrodynamic film of lubricant between said thrust pad means and said thrust force applying means, said lubricant supply means directing at least one jet of lubricant toward said thrust force applying means and causing said jet of lubricant to impinge upon said thrust force applying means, said jet of lubricant having a component of direction that opposes the direction of lubricant flow that is induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force; and means communicating a quantity of pressurized lubricant to said lubricant supply means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
160 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 1, wherein: said thrust pad means comprise a plurality of thrust pads each having a generally planar thrust force receiving surface formed thereon and being movable by force applied thereto by said thrust force applied thereto by said thrust force applying means; said thrust force applying means includes a generally planar thrust force applying surface through which thrust forces are transmitted to each of said thrust pads, said thrust force applying means causing individual movement of said thrust pads to cause the planar surfaces formed thereon to seek optimum aligned relation with said planar thrust force applying surface; and said lubricant supply means including jet head means being disposed between said thrust pad means and cause said jet of lubricant to be applied to the portion of said thrust applying surface that is exposed between said thrust pad means, said lubricant supply means retaining said thrust pad means in movable oriented relation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 1, wherein said lubricant supply means comprises: projection means being disposed in generally stationary relation to said thrust force applying means and said thrust pad means and being disposed between said thrust pad means; lubricant supply passage means being formed in said projection means; and lubricant jet passage means being formed in said projection means and being disposed in communication with said lubricant supply passage means, said lubricant jet passage means being oriented to direct said at least one jet of lubricant onto said planar thrust surface of said thrust force applying means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 3, wherein said lubricant jet passage means comprises: a plurality of lubricant jet passages being formed in said projection means, at least some of said jet passages being oriented to direct jets of lubricant onto said planar surface of said thrust force applying means with a component of direction that opposes the direction induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 3, wherein said lubricant jet passage means comprises: a plurality of lubricant jet passages being formed in said projection means, said jet passages being angularly oriented one relative to the other, at least some of said jet passages being oriented to direct jets of lubricant onto said planar surface of said rotatable thrust applying means with differing components of direction, at least some of said jets of lubricant having components of direction that oppose the direction induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 3, wherein said lubricant jet passage means comprises: a plurality of lubricant jet passages being formed in said projection means, said jet passages being angularly oriented one relative to the other, at least some of said jet passages being oriented to direct jets of lubricant onto said planar surface of said rotatable thrust force applying means with differing components of direction, at least some of said jets of lubricant having components of direction that oppose the direction induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force and at least some of said jets of lubricant having components of direction that coincide with the direction of flow induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 3, wherein said thrust bearing construction includes: an annular generally rigid thrust pad retainer body adapted to be received about said rotatable shaft; means retaining said thrust pads in movable assembly with said thrust pad retainer body; and said projection means being formed integrally with said thrust pad retainer body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 3, wherein said thrust bearing construction includes: an annular generally rigid thrust pad retainer body adapted to be received about said rotatable shaft; said projection means being bolt elements threadedly connected to said rigid thrust pad retainer body, said bolt elements each having a bolt head formed thereon with at least a portion of said bolt heads disposed for engagement with said thrust pads and retaining said thrust pads in assembly with said thrust pad retainer body; and said lubricant jet passage means being formed in said bolt head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 8, wherein said lubricant jet passage means comprises: a plurality of lubricant jet passages being formed in said heads of each of said bolts, said jet passages being angularly oriented one relative to the other, at least some of said jet passages being oriented to direct jets of lubricant onto said planar surface of said rotatable thrust applying means with differing components of direction, at least some of said jets of lubricant having components of direction that oppose the direction induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 8, wherein said lubricant jet passage means comprises: a plurality of lubricant jet passages being formed in said heads of each of said bolts, said jet passages being angularly oriented one relative to the other, at least some of said jet passages being oriented to direct jets of lubricant onto said planAr surface of said rotatable thrust force applying means with differing components of direction, at least some of said jets of lubricant having components of direction that oppose the direction induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force and at least some of said jets of lubricant having components of direction that coincide with the direction of flow induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 1, including: a filter element being disposed within said lubricant supply means, said filter element having a plurality lubricant filtering passages defined thereby that are of smaller dimension than the dimension of said lubricant jet passage means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 11, wherein said lubricant supply means includes a generally cylindrical passage and said filter element comprises: a filter rod having a grooved external periphery defined thereon; a plurality of non-registering blind grooves being formed longitudinally of said filter rod, said blind grooves being intersected by the external grooves formed in the periphery of said rod; and said external grooves cooperating with said generally cylindrical passage to define said plurality of filtering passages, said filtering passages establishing communication between said blind grooves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
272 words
A lubricated, self leveling thrust bearing construction capable of sustaining thrust loads applied thereto by a rotatable shaft, said thrust bearing construction comprising: a rotatable thrust element being disposed in fixed relation to said rotary shaft and having a generally planar annular thrust applying surface formed thereon; a bearing retainer body of annular configuration being supported about said rotary shaft in generally fixed relation; a plurality of thrust pads being supported by said bearing retainer body and being disposed in generally equally spaced relation about said rotatable shaft, said thrust pads being movably carried by said bearing retainer body and being movable responsive to force induced by said rotatable thrust element to seek optimum bearing engagement with said planar thrust applying surface; leveling linkage means being disposed between said bearing retainer body and said thrust pads and functioning, responsive to force applied thereto by said thrust pads, to allow movement of said thrust pads relative to said retainer body and to transmit thrust loads from said thrust pads to said bearing retainer body; lubricant supply means for maintaining a hydrodynamic film of lubricant between said thrust pads and said thrust element, said lubricant supply means having lubricant jet passage means directing at least one jet of lubricant against said planar thrust applying surface, said jet of lubricant having a component of direction that opposes the direction of lubricant flow that is induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force said lubricant supply means retaining said thrust pads and said leveling linkage in assembly with said bearing retainer body; means communicating a quantity of pressurized lubricant to said lubricant supply means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
272 words
A lubricated, self leveling thrust bearing construction capable of sustaining thrust loads applied thereto by a rotatable shaft, said thrust bearing construction comprising: a rotatable thrust element being disposed in fixed relation to said rotary shaft and having a generally planar annular thrust applying surface formed thereon; a bearing retainer body of annular configuration being supported about said rotary shaft in generally fixed relation; a plurality of thrust pads being supported by said bearing retainer body and being disposed in generally equally spaced relation about said rotatable shaft, said thrust pads being movably carried by said bearing retainer body and being movable responsive to force induced by said rotatable thrust element to seek optimum bearing engagement with said planar thrust applying surface; leveling linkage means being disposed between said bearing retainer body and said thrust pads and functioning, responsive to force applied thereto by said thrust pads, to allow movement of said thrust pads relative to said retainer body and to transmit thrust loads from said thrust pads to said bearing retainer body; lubricant supply means for maintaining a hydrodynamic film of lubricant between said thrust pads and said thrust element, said lubricant supply means having lubricant jet passage means directing at least one jet of lubricant against said planar thrust applying surface, said jet of lubricant having a component of direction that opposes the direction of lubricant flow that is induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force said lubricant supply means retaining said thrust pads and said leveling linkage in assembly with said bearing retainer body; means communicating a quantity of pressurized lubricant to said lubricant supply means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 13, wherein said lubricant supply means comprises: projection means being disposed in generally stationary relation to said thrust force applying means an said thrust pad means and being disposed between said thrust pad means; lubricant supply passage means being formed in said projection means; and lubricant jet passage means being formed in said projection means and being disposed in communication with said lubricant supply passage means, said lubricant jet passage means being oriented to direct a jet of lubricant onto said planar thrust applying surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 14, wherein said lubricant jet passage means comprises: a plurality of lubricant jet Passages being formed in said projection means, at least some of said jet passages being oriented to direct jets of lubricant onto said planar surface of said thrust applying surface with a component of direction that opposes the direction induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
94 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 14, wherein said lubricant jet passage means comprises: a plurality of lubricant jet passages being formed in said projection means, said jet passages being angularly oriented one relative to the other, at least some of said jet passages being oriented to direct jets of lubricant onto said planar surface of said rotatable thrust applying means with differing components of direction, at least some of said jets of lubricant having components of direction that oppose the direction induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
125 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 13, wherein said lubricant jet passage means comprises: a plurality of lubricant jet passages being formed in said projection means, said jet passages being angularly oriented one relative to the other, at least some of said jet passages being oriented to direct jets of lubricant onto said planar surface of said rotatable thrust force applying means with differing components of direction, at least some of said jets of lubricant having components of direction that oppose the direction induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force and at least some of said jets of lubricant having components of direction that coincide with the direction of flow induced to said hydrodynamic film of lubricant by centrifugal force.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 13, including: a filter element being disposed within said lubricant supply means, said filter element having a plurality lubricant filtering passages defined thereby that are of smaller dimension than the dimension of said lubricant jet passage means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
89 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 18, wherein said lubricant supply means includes a generally cylindrical passage and said filter element comprises: a filter rod having a grooved external periphery defined thereon; a plurality of non-registering blind grooves being formed longitudinally of said filter rod, said blind grooves being intersected by the external grooves formed in the periphery of said rod; and said external grooves cooperating with said generally cylindrical passage to define said plurality of filtering passages, said filtering passages establishing communication between said blind grooves.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
88 words
A thrust bearing construction as recited in claim 13, wherein said lubricant supply means includes: elongated retainer means having lubricant supply passage means formed therein, said retainer means having a jet head formed thereon and having lubricant jet passages formed therein in communication with said lubricant supply passage means; and retention means being formed on said thrust pad means and said leveling linkage and being engaged with said elongated retainer means to retain said thrust pads and sail leveling linkage in movable assembly with said bearing retainer body.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-07 | 1979-01-06 | 1979-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-07 | 1983-01-06 | 1983-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-07 | 1987-01-06 | 1987-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |