Hydrodynamic liquid metal bearing

Details Hydrodynamic liquid metal bearing Hydrodynamic liquid metal bearing

2011-03-01

2011-03-01

Pilkington, James (Department: 3656)

Bearings

Rotary bearing

Fluid bearing

C384S100000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07896550

ABSTRACT:
A hydrodynamic liquid metal bearing capable of use in a high temperature environment. The hydrodynamic bearing includes a rotating shaft with a raised portion extending into an annular groove formed within a stationary sleeve, the space formed between the two forming the liquid bearing surface. The raised portion in the shaft includes an axial passage and a radial passage to pump the liquid into a high pressure cavity formed in the annular groove. A low pressure cavity forms a recirculating passage with the high pressure cavity and the axial and radial passages such that the liquid metal recirculates with the rotation of the shaft. A collecting space formed between a labyrinth seal and a wind back seal collects any fluid that leaks into the space from the bearing. The leaked fluid is collected in a reservoir, and a pump delivers makeup liquid from the reservoir into the low pressure reservoir of the bearing. The bearing is a radial bearing, and in another embodiment is both a radial and a thrust bearing.

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