US4005916A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Jacked hydrostatic bearing
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-11-07
•
Granted: 1977-02-01
•
Expires: 1995-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A bearing assembly for a generally horizontal shaft particularly propeller shafts for ships which includes a cylindrically lower bearing shell for cooperating with and supporting the shaft, a pair of cylindrically faced upper bearing shells also cooperating with the shaft and an upper bearing shell support means for the upper bearing shells which includes a piston and cylinder assembly between the support and shells for urging the cylindrical faces of the upper bearing shells against the shaft. Bearing fluid is led to the bearing shells, and a liquid under pressure is introduced into the piston and cylinder means. This liquid reacts against a captive chosen volume of gas to allow resilient movement of the upper bearing shells in their support means. The assembly also provides for release of the bearing from the housing, in which it is contained, by means of pressurized fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard H. F. Dillon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:51
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C23/00; F16C23/02; F16C23/04; F16C23/043; F16C23/045; B; B63; B63H; B63H23/00; B63H23/32; B63H23/321; F16C32/00; F16C32/06; F16C32/0662; F16C32/0666; F16C32/067; B63H2023/327; F16C2326/00; F16C2326/30; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S384/00; Y10S384/90; Y10S384/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A bearing assembly for a generally horizontal shaft which comprises, a cylindrically faced lower bearing shell for cooperating with and supporting said shaft, a pair of cylindrically faced upper bearing shells for cooperating with this shaft, lower bearing shell support means cooperating with and supporting said lower bearing shell, upper bearing shell support means cooperating with said upper bearing shells, means for leading bearing fluid under pressure to the cylindrical faces of said lower and upper bearing shells respectively, said upper bearing shell support means comprising means for urging the cylindrical faces of said upper bearing shells against said shaft and for urging said shaft against said lower bearing shell, said urging means comprising cooperating piston and cylinder means on said upper bearing support means and said upper bearing shells, and means for introducing liquid under pressure into said cylinder means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A bearing assembly for a generally horizontal shaft which comprises, a cylindrically faced lower bearing shell for cooperating with and supporting said shaft, a pair of cylindrically faced upper bearing shells for cooperating with this shaft, lower bearing shell support means cooperating with and supporting said lower bearing shell, upper bearing shell support means cooperating with said upper bearing shells, means for leading bearing fluid under pressure to the cylindrical faces of said lower and upper bearing shells respectively, said upper bearing shell support means comprising means for urging the cylindrical faces of said upper bearing shells against said shaft and for urging said shaft against said lower bearing shell, said urging means comprising cooperating piston and cylinder means on said upper bearing support means and said upper bearing shells, and means for introducing liquid under pressure into said cylinder means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 comprising, means defining a space in connection with said cylinder means for retention of a captive chosen volume of gas under pressure of said liquid for allowing resilient movement of said upper bearing shell in said upper bearing shell support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and said lower bearing shell having a spherical lower face, and said lower bearing shell support means being spherically faced for cooperation with said lower bearing shell spherical face.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and said means for introducing liquid to said cylinder means comprising a non-return valve adjacent said cylinder means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, and said space being of chosen volume with respect to the face area of said piston for permitting resilient movement of said upper bearing shell sufficient only to accommodate variations in film thickness of lubricant at the cylindrical faces of said upper and lower bearing shells.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, and said gas being contained within a sealed sac.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical surfaces are multi-compartmented; and fluid flow metering passages defined in said bearing shells for supplying the bearing fluid individually to said compartments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and said bearing fluid leading means leading said fluid independently to the cylindrical bearing surfaces of the lower bearing shells and the cylindrical bearing surfaces of the upper bearing shells.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 comprising, a housing for said bearing, and sealing means between said shaft and said housing for preventing bearing fluid flow from said housing axially of said shaft,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, comprising low pressure warning means in said bearing fluid supply for said lower bearing shell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, comprising a housing, at least one of said upper and lower bearing shell support means being received in said housing on a surface tapering outwards radially of said shaft to one side of said housing, means for introducing fluid under pressure to the other side of said housing for forcing said support means to said one side of said housing for release of said bearing from said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, comprising releasable sealing means cooperating with said shaft for sealing fluid against egress from said other said of said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, and including screw means for withdrawing said support means in the direction towards said one side of said housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, and including releasable screw means for retaining the shell supporting means in position in said housing.
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) | 1980-02-01 | 1980-08-02 | 1981-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-02-01 | 1984-08-02 | 1985-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-02-01 | 1988-08-02 | 1989-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |