1980-07-02
1982-06-22
Stearns, Richard R.
Cutlery
308170, F16C 1706
Patent
active
043359256
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to thrust bearings of the kind having a ring of thrust pads, which between them define an annular thrust bearing surface, and which are individually mounted to be capable of tilting about radial axes, to permit a wedge of lubricant to be built up between each pad, and the co-operating bearing surface which is for example, the surface of a collar on a rotating shaft.
An object of the invention, is to provide a particularly simple arrangement for supporting the individual thrust pads, and for interconnecting the individual supports, so that thrust loads tend to be borne more-or-less equally between the pads.
According to the present invention, a thrust bearing comprises a ring of thrust pads, supporting bars, each supporting one of the thrust pads, and a ring of rockers, the rockers in an adjacent pair having ends overlapping and supporting respective ends of a supporting bar, all the rockers and supporting bars being identical components.
In the past very complicated arrangements have been proposed containing many different components for interconnecting the supporting bars or their equivalent to allow the loads to be transferred between the pads while yet providing for satisfactory support of the supporting bars without them slipping in relation to their neighbours, or sliding about in the bearing.
The present invention uses identical components for the rockers and for the supporting bars with considerable simplification in the assembly. Moreover the identical components can be so shaped in the direction in which thrust is supported, that the same components can be used for a large diameter thrust bearing with many pads, and for a small diameter thrust bearing with fewer pads. Thus, the identical components may have their ends which are circumferentially spaced from the ends of their neighbours of convex rounded shape when seen in the direction of the bearing axis.
The overlapping parts of the ends at one side of the components are conveniently each formed with an arcuate ridge in such a way that where the respective ends of a rocker and a supporting bar overlap, there are two abutment regions where the ridges cross one another. Then even if the angle between the components is increased or decreased for a larger or smaller diameter bearing, there can still be two abutment regions where the arcuate ridges cross one another, and there can be three point suspension for each component provided at the two abutment regions at one side, and a single abutment region at the other side.
The arcuate ridge can be defined by a lip of rounded cross section adjacent the convex end of the component defined by a depression in the surface of the component just inside that rounded lip.
The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, and one embodiment will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one half of a thrust bearing;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of a levelling plate used in the bearing of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an elevation looking in the direction of the arrow IV in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pillar in the bearing of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a thrust pad in the bearing of FIG. 1; and
FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing how cooperating levelling plates bear on one another at respective sides.
The bearing comprises an annular ring through which a shaft can pass, which shaft carries an external collar which during rotation of the shaft acts on a ring of eight thrust pads 11 forming a part of the bearing to carry thrust loads on the shaft.
In order to enable it to be assembled, the bearing is in two diametrically separable halves 12, which can be assembled together around the shaft and held in position by a circlip (not shown). Each half comprises a semi-annular body defining a base 14, an outer wall 15, and a shelf 16. The shelf is formed with circumferentially spaced alternate bores 17 and 18 respectively for pillars 19 for supporting the thrust pads 11, and lubricant post
REFERENCES:
patent: 2102534 (1937-12-01), Howarth
patent: 2565116 (1951-08-01), Baudry
patent: 2874007 (1959-02-01), Cametti et al.
patent: 3586401 (1971-06-01), Gravelle
patent: 3655250 (1972-04-01), Sprenger
patent: 3912344 (1975-10-01), McCafferty
Stearns Richard R.
The Glacier Metal Company Limited
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