US4287758A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shaft mounting device and method
Assignee: GE Oil and Gas Operations LLC
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Filing: 1979-07-19
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Granted: 1981-09-08
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Expires: 1999-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A device for accommodating and measuring thrust loads on a rotatably mounted shaft wherein the thrust loading is in either axial direction. The rotatably mounted shaft has two shoulders facing in opposite axial directions which cooperate with a pair of thrust bearings to constrain the shaft to a limited range of axial movement. Thrust rings associated with the shoulders are positioned between the shoulders and the bearings and are biased toward the bearings by resilient members to resist the axial movement of the shaft between the bearings. Sensing systems are arranged to measure the axial displacement of the shaft and provide input to thrust monitoring and control systems. A method for preventing damage to labyrinth seals on the shaft during start up of the equipment is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Judson S. Swearingen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:03
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L5/00; G01L5/12; F; F04; F04D; F04D29/00; F04D29/05; F04D29/051; F04D29/0513; F04D29/0516; F16; F16C; F16C17/00; F16C17/04; F16C27/00; F16C27/08; F16C39/00; F16C39/04; F16C2360/00; F16C2360/42; F16C2360/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A shaft mounting device comprising a housing; two thrust bearing members fixed in said housing; a shaft rotatably mounted in said thrust bearing members and being slideably disposed therein, said shaft including two radial surfaces thereon facing in opposite axial directions; two thrust rings slideably disposed on said shaft adjacent said radial surfaces, said thrust bearing members each abutting one said thrust ring; means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring spaced axially on said shaft from said radial surface; means fixed relative to said housing for sensing axial displacement of said shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
A shaft mounting device comprising a housing; two thrust bearing members fixed in said housing; a shaft rotatably mounted in said thrust bearing members and being slideably disposed therein, said shaft including two radial surfaces thereon facing in opposite axial directions; two thrust rings slideably disposed on said shaft adjacent said radial surfaces, said thrust bearing members each abutting one said thrust ring; means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring spaced axially on said shaft from said radial surface; means fixed relative to said housing for sensing axial displacement of said shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The shaft mounting device of claim 1 wherein said two radial surfaces on said shaft are shoulders on a section of said shaft of increased diameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The shaft mounting device of claim 1 further including means for fixing said thrust rings to rotate with said shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The shaft mounting device of claim 1 wherein said means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring includes springs positioned between said radial surfaces and said thrust rings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shaft mounting device of claim 4 wherein said springs have a non-linear force-displacement relationship.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The shaft mounting device of claim 1 wherein said means fixed relative to said housing for sensing the axial displacement of said shaft includes a proximity transducer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
131 words
A shaft mounting device comprising a housing; two thrust bearing members fixed in said housing; a shaft rotatably mounted in said thrust bearing members and being slideably disposed therein, said shaft including two radial surfaces thereon facing in opposite axial directions; two thrust rings slideably disposed on said shaft adjacent said radial surfaces, said thrust bearing members each abutting one said thrust ring; means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring spaced axially on said shaft from said radial surfaces; means fixed relative to said housing for sensing axial displacement of said shaft, said means fixed relative to said housing for sensing the axial displacement of said shaft including a proximity transducer, said shaft including an anomaly on the surface thereof the position of which is sensed by said proximity transducer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
A shaft mounting device comprising a housing; two thrust bearing members fixed in said housing; a shaft rotatably mounted in said thrust bearing members and being slideably disposed therein, said shaft including two radial surfaces thereon facing in opposite axial directions; two thrust rings slideably disposed on said shaft adjacent said radial surfaces, said thrust bearing members each abutting one said thrust ring; means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring spaced axially on said shaft from said radial surfaces; means fixed relative to said housing for sensing axial displacement of said shaft, said means fixed relative to said housing for sensing the axial displacement of said shaft including a proximity transducer, said shaft including an anomaly on the surface thereof the position of which is sensed by said proximity transducer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shaft mounting device of claim 7 wherein said anomaly includes a raised cylindrical ridge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The shaft mounting device of claim 7 wherein said anomaly includes a tapered section on said shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The shaft mounting device of claim 9 wherein said tapered section is frusto conical.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The shaft mounting device of claim 9 wherein said tapered section is contoured to induce a non-linear response in said proximity transducer responsive to axial movement of said shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
109 words
A shaft mounting device comprising a housing; two thrust bearing members fixed in said housing; a shaft rotatably mounted in said thrust bearing members and being slideably disposed therein, said shaft including two radial surfaces thereon facing in opposite axial directions; two thrust rings slideably disposed on said shaft adjacent said radial surfaces, said thrust bearing members each abutting one said thrust ring; means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring spaced axially on said shaft from said radial surfaces; means for fixing said thrust rings to rotate with said shaft, said thrust ring fixing means including pin slideably extending into cavities in said thrust rings and said shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
109 words
A shaft mounting device comprising a housing; two thrust bearing members fixed in said housing; a shaft rotatably mounted in said thrust bearing members and being slideably disposed therein, said shaft including two radial surfaces thereon facing in opposite axial directions; two thrust rings slideably disposed on said shaft adjacent said radial surfaces, said thrust bearing members each abutting one said thrust ring; means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring spaced axially on said shaft from said radial surfaces; means for fixing said thrust rings to rotate with said shaft, said thrust ring fixing means including pin slideably extending into cavities in said thrust rings and said shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
124 words
A shaft mounting device comprising a housing; two thrust bearing members fixed in said housing; a shaft rotatably mounted in said thrust bearing members and being slideably disposed therein, said shaft including two radial surfaces thereon facing in opposite axial directions; two thrust rings slideably disposed on said shaft adjacent said radial surfaces, said thrust bearing members each abutting one said thrust ring; means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring spaced axially on said shaft from said radial surface; means fixed relative to said housing for sensing axial displacement of said shaft, said shaft including an anomaly on the surface thereof the position of which is sensed by said means fixed relative to said housing for sensing the axial displacement of said shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
124 words
A shaft mounting device comprising a housing; two thrust bearing members fixed in said housing; a shaft rotatably mounted in said thrust bearing members and being slideably disposed therein, said shaft including two radial surfaces thereon facing in opposite axial directions; two thrust rings slideably disposed on said shaft adjacent said radial surfaces, said thrust bearing members each abutting one said thrust ring; means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring spaced axially on said shaft from said radial surface; means fixed relative to said housing for sensing axial displacement of said shaft, said shaft including an anomaly on the surface thereof the position of which is sensed by said means fixed relative to said housing for sensing the axial displacement of said shaft.
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) | 1984-09-07 | 1985-03-09 | 1985-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-09-07 | 1989-03-09 | 1989-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-09-07 | 1993-03-09 | 1993-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |