GB1032555A - Force balance hydrodynamic-hydrostatic thrust bearing - Google Patents

Abstract

1,032,555. Bearings. J. G. WILLIAMS. Sept. 26, 1963 [May 10, 1963], No. 37901/63. Heading F2A. A thrust bearing in operative association with a thrust collar 78 mounted on a shaft 50 and disposed in a housing 52 comprises a thrust bearing assembly 90 non-rotatably mounted in the housing, at least one face, e.g. 110, adapted to coact with a face 112 of the collar 78 to form a predetermined minimum fluid film thickness therebetween, means for mounting the assembly 90 to permit slight axial displacement and swivelable movement responsive to thrust collar 78 misalignment, e.g. bushings 144, 146 on the support assembly 92 and spherical surfaces 128 and 130 on the bearing assembly 90, a high-pressure chamber 162 and a low-pressure chamber 88, a source of high pressure bearing fluid 178 communicating with the chamber 162 to act on faces 110 and 114 of the assembly 90 to balance the forces resulting from the pressures thereon, to prevent distortion thereof and to transmit the load supporting pressure to the non-pressure-sensitive area of the housing so that the coacting faces of the thrust collar 78 and the assembly 90 will operate distortion free. A gimbal assembly 150, 152, Fig. 8, not shown, is associated with the assembly 90 and includes a conduit 154 for the high-pressure fluid. The gimbal assembly comprises a floating ring 150, which separates the chambers 88 and 162, a support ring 152, stationary clevis members 180 and floating clevis members 188. Front bearing plate 98 is formed with a face having annular grooves 260, 266 and radial grooves 264 together with a plurality of pads 276, Fig. 5, not shown, formed with a centre section 284 having steps 282 each side, and dams 262, 268. Rear bearing plate 102 has pads 286 formed between radial grooves 270 and a dam 274. The highpressure fluid source 178, Fig. 3, includes a reservoir 212, positive displacement pumps 204 and 206, check valves 203, strainers 256, 258 and a cooler 218. Fluid is delivered through line 176 to the passage 164 and chamber 162 through passage 154 to the passage 168 and, assuming the thrust is in the direction R, to the inner end of annular groove 260 and the dam 262. Fluid also flows through the radial grooves 264 to the groove 266 and dam 268. From the dam 262 fluid flows along the shaft 50 through space 271 to the journal bearing 198 where most of the fluid, allowing for leakage past the seal 220 and slinger 236, flows through the passage 248 to the chamber 88. From the dam 268 fluid flows through the annular space 122 and clearance between the rear plate 102 and collar 78 into chamber 88, a seal 222 and slinger 238 being disposed at this end of the shaft. Fluid flows back to the reservoir 212 via passage 214 and line 216. Any misalignment of the collar 78 will be continuously corrected by fluid pressure generating righting moments on the pads 276. The face of the rear plate 102 may be similar to that of the plate 98. Only one pump 204 or 206 need be used and the pumps may be disposed in a sound absorption compartment. A further embodiment describes the bearing assembly gimbal mounted on a domed extension of the housing end plate. The bearing assembly comprising one bearing plate on one side of the thrust collar and a Kinsbury bearing on the other. Further embodiments described bearing assemblies mounted on ball elements carried by retainer elements which co-operate with spherical surfaces on the assemblies to allow the axial and swivelable movement of the assembly. The supported shafts may be vertical or at an angle to the vertical.