US4525083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trimetallic bearings
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1983-09-21
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Granted: 1985-06-25
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Expires: 2003-09-21
Abstract
Abstract For use in a pressure fed or flood lubricated bearing, there is disclosed a shaft load-bearing element (e.g., the thrust plate in a tapered land thrust bearing) preferably comprising three metallic layers including an inner layer adjacent the shaft surface of metal possessing good bearing properties; an outer layer of structural steel to provide rigidity; and an intermediate layer of copper or copper alloy sandwiched between the inner and outer layers to provide good thermal properties. The metallic layers of such a trimetallic bearing element are metallurgically bonded at the interfaces between layers to enhance heat transfer. Advantageously, a shaft load-bearing element according to the invention is substantially free from distortion and damage during handling and avoids elevated temperature problems. A load-bearing element according to the invention may be fabricated as a tilting pad for use in a journal bearing, as a thrust plate for a tapered land thrust bearing, or as a tilting shoe for a thrust bearing.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Pedersen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:12
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C17/00; F16C17/04; F16C17/06; F16C2300/00; F16C2300/10; F16C2300/14; F16C2360/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
In a flood lubricated bearing associated with a rotatable shaft, a load-bearing element for minimizing localized peak temperatures, comprising: an inner metallic layer having a bearing face for carrying a mechanical load transmitted from an adjacent portion of said shaft to said bearing face through an intervening lubricant film; an outer metallic layer; and an intermediate metallic layer having higher thermal conductivity than both said inner and outer layer, respectively, said intermediate layer sandwiched between and metallurgically bonded to said inner and said outer layer and effective to maintain a substantially even temperature distribution throughout said inner layer, wherein said outer metallic layer has greater structural rigidity than both said inner and intermediate layer, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a flood lubricated bearing associated with a rotatable shaft, a load-bearing element for minimizing localized peak temperatures, comprising: an inner metallic layer having a bearing face for carrying a mechanical load transmitted from an adjacent portion of said shaft to said bearing face through an intervening lubricant film; an outer metallic layer; and an intermediate metallic layer having higher thermal conductivity than both said inner and outer layer, respectively, said intermediate layer sandwiched between and metallurgically bonded to said inner and said outer layer and effective to maintain a substantially even temperature distribution throughout said inner layer, wherein said outer metallic layer has greater structural rigidity than both said inner and intermediate layer, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A load-bearing element as in claim 1 wherein said inner layer is selected from the group consisting of alloys of aluminum and babbitt metal, said outer layer is steel, and said intermediate layer is selected from the group consisting of copper and copper alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A load-bearing element as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the thickness of said inner layer is less than the thickness of said intermediate layer and the thickness of said intermediate layer is less than the thickness of said outer layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A shaft load-bearing element according to claim 3 wherein such load-bearing element is fabricated as a pivoted shoe for use in a journal bearing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A shaft load-bearing element according to claim 3 wherein such load-bearing element is fabricated as a tilting thrust pad for a thrust bearing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
A flood lubricated bearing for a rotatable shaft, said bearing effective for minimizing localized peak temperatures, comprising: an inner layer of bearing having a bearing surface for carrying a mechanical load transmitted from an adjacent portion of said shaft to said bearing surface through an intervening lubricant film; an outer layer of metal; and an intermediate layer of metal sandwiched between said inner and said outer layer, said intermediate layer effective to maintain a substantially even temperature distribution throughout said inner layer, and said intermediate layer having a higher thermal conductivity than both said inner and said outer layer, respectively, wherein said outer metallic layer has greater structural rigidity than both said inner and intermediate layer, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
A flood lubricated bearing for a rotatable shaft, said bearing effective for minimizing localized peak temperatures, comprising: an inner layer of bearing having a bearing surface for carrying a mechanical load transmitted from an adjacent portion of said shaft to said bearing surface through an intervening lubricant film; an outer layer of metal; and an intermediate layer of metal sandwiched between said inner and said outer layer, said intermediate layer effective to maintain a substantially even temperature distribution throughout said inner layer, and said intermediate layer having a higher thermal conductivity than both said inner and said outer layer, respectively, wherein said outer metallic layer has greater structural rigidity than both said inner and intermediate layer, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A bearing as in claim 6 wherein said outer layer is thicker than said intermediate layer and said intermediate layer is thicker than said inner layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A bearing as in claim 7 wherein said inner layer is selected from the group consisting of alloys of aluminum and babbit metal, said outer layer is steel, and said intermediate layer is selected from the group consisting of copper and copper alloy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A bearing as in claim 6 wherein said intermediate layer is metallurgically bonded to said inner and outer layers.
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) | 1988-06-24 | 1988-12-24 | 1989-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-06-24 | 1992-12-24 | 1993-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-06-24 | 1996-12-24 | 1997-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |