Bearing block for boring turbine

Claim 2

A bearing block for a boring turbine, comprising a block housing with a boring tool shaft passing therethrough and rotatable in said housing; a boring tool on an end of said shaft; a plurality of axially spaced apart rotation bearings in an axial array for permitting rotation of said shaft in said housing; a first said bearing at one end of the axial array thereof being connected with said block housing for transmitting force thereto; a second said bearing at the opposite end of the axial array thereof being nearer to said tool and being connected with said shaft for having force transmitted to said second bearing from said shaft; a respective intermediate spring ring between axially neighboring said bearings, and a plurality of said rings being provided; each said ring being deflectable under force applied by said shaft to said second bearing; each said ring being deflectable under force through a gradually increasing level of force until that said ring reaches a deflection level at which further force on said shaft does not cause further deflection of that said ring and that said ring thereafter permitting a constant flow of force; each said ring nearer said tool having a greater resistance to deflection than the said ring next further from said tool; said rings having respective deflection characteristics such that the said rings are deflected in a stepped manner starting with said ring furthest from said tool as the axial force on said shaft increases.

Claim 3

The bearing block of claim 1, wherein said intermediate spring rings each have a generally U-shaped profile, in cross-section, and said rings being oriented such that the arms of said U-shaped rings deflect toward and away from each other axially of said shaft.

Claim 4

The bearing block of claim 2, wherein at least some said rings have holes passing therethrough in a manner to selectively weaken the said rings with holes, and the number, size and spacing of said holes on each said ring being selected to make a said ring further from said tool more easily deflectable than a ring nearer said tool.

Claim 5

The bearing block of claim 3, wherein said holes extend through said rings in a direction axially of said shaft; said holes in said rings nearer said tool are smaller in size than said holes further from said tool.

Claim 6

The bearing block of claim 1, wherein said intermediate spring rings are in the form of cup springs.

Claim 7

The bearing block of claim 1, wherein said rings have respective deflection levels selected such that a said ring further from said tool reaches that deflection level at which it has a constant flow of force before the said ring next further from said tool attains its respective same deflection level.

Claim 8

A bearing block for a boring turbine, comprising a block housing with a boring tool shaft passing therethrough and rotatable in said housing; a boring tool on an end of said shaft; a plurality of axially spaced apart rotation bearings in an axial array for permitting rotation of said shaft in said housing; a first said bearing in the axial array thereof being connected with said block housing for transmitting force thereto; a second said bearing in the axial array thereof being connected with said shaft for having force transmitted to said second bearing from said shaft; a respective intermediate spring ring between axially neighboring said bearings, and a plurality of said rings being provided; each said ring being deflectable under force applied by said shaft to said second bearing; each said ring being deflectable under force through a gradually increasing level of force until that said ring reaches a deflection level at which further force on said shaft does not cause further deflection of that said ring and that said ring thereafter permitting a constant flow of force; said rings having different respective resistances to deflection and having respective deflection characteristics such that each said ring with a lesser resistance to deflection deflects before a said ring with a greater resistance to a deflection, such that said rings deflect in a stepped manner; each said ring having a respective deflection level selected such that one said ring reaches that deflection level at which it has a constant flow of force before another said ring attains its respective same deflection level, and said rings attaining the respective same deflection levels in sequence.

Claim 9

A bearing block for a boring turbine, comprising a block housing with a boring tool shaft passing therethrough and rotatable in said housing; a boring tool on an end of said shaft; a plurality of axially spaced apart rotation bearings in an axial array for permitting rotation of said shaft in said housing; a first said bearing in the axial array thereof being connected with said block housing for transmitting force thereto; a second said bearing in the axial array thereof being connected with said shaft for having force transmitted to said second bearing from said shaft; a respective intermediate spring ring between axially neighboring said bearings, and a plurality of said rings being provided; each said ring being deflectable under force applied by said shaft to said second bearing; each said ring being deflectable under force through a gradually increasing level of force until that said ring reaches a deflection level at which further force on said shaft does not cause further deflection of that said ring and that said ring thereafter permitting a constant flow of force; said rings having different respective resistances to deflection and having respective deflection characteristics such that each said ring with a lesser resistance to deflection deflects before a said ring with a greater resistance to a deflection, such that said rings deflect in a stepped manner; each said ring having a respective deflection level selected such that one said ring reaches that deflection level at which it has a constant flow of force before another said ring attains its respective same deflection level, and said rings attaining the respective same deflection levels in sequence.