阅读说明：本技术 改进效率的轴颈轴承 (Journal bearing with improved efficiency ) 是由 巴里·布莱尔 理查德·利弗莫尔-赫迪 丹·勃兰登堡 于 2018-04-06 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种混合轴承可以在各种应用中增加热传递、轴承负载能力和轴承寿命,包括但不限于径向和轴向倾斜衬垫轴承。在说明性的混合轴承中,混合轴承可以包括至少一个倾斜衬垫和至少一个固定衬垫,倾斜衬垫相对于主体是可移动的,固定衬垫相对于主体是固定的。固定衬垫或倾斜衬垫(和/或其表面)可包含非金属材料(例如,聚合物或陶瓷材料)。(A hybrid bearing may increase heat transfer, bearing load capacity, and bearing life in various applications, including but not limited to radial and axial tilt pad bearings. In an illustrative hybrid bearing, the hybrid bearing may include at least one tilt pad that is movable relative to the body and at least one stationary pad that is stationary relative to the body. The fixed or tilting pad (and/or its surface) may comprise a non-metallic material (e.g., a polymer or ceramic material).)

1. A hybrid bearing, comprising:

a. a body having a channel formed therein;

b. a first liner coupled to the body, wherein the liner includes an active surface; and the combination of (a) and (b),

c. a non-metallic material engaged with a first portion of the active surface of the first pad.

2. The hybrid bearing of claim 1, wherein the non-metallic material is further defined as a polymeric material.

3. The hybrid bearing of claim 1, wherein the non-metallic material is further defined as a ceramic material.

4. The hybrid bearing of claim 1, further comprising a second non-metallic material engaged with a second portion of the active surface of the first pad.

5. The hybrid bearing of claim 4, further comprising a third portion on the active surface and constructed of a metallic material, wherein the non-metallic material and the second non-metallic material are further defined as moving away from each other through the third portion.

6. The hybrid bearing of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the active surface is further defined as having an area that is less than eighty-five percent (85%) of an area of the active surface.

7. The hybrid bearing of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the active surface is further defined as having an area equal to an area of the active surface.

8. The hybrid bearing of claim 1, wherein the first pad is movable in at least one dimension relative to the body.

9. The hybrid bearing of claim 8, further comprising a second pad having an active surface thereon, wherein a position of the second pad is fixed relative to the body.

10. The hybrid bearing of claim 9, further comprising a second non-metallic material engaged with a first portion of the active surface of the second pad.

11. The hybrid bearing of claim 1, wherein the first spacer is further defined as comprising a non-metallic material.

12. A hybrid bearing, comprising:

a. a body having a channel formed therein;

b. a first pad engaged with the body, wherein the pad comprises an active surface, and wherein the first pad is movable in at least one dimension relative to the body;

c. a second pad engaged with the body, wherein the second pad includes an active surface, and wherein a position of the second pad is fixed relative to a position of the body; and the combination of (a) and (b),

d. a non-metallic material engaged with a portion of the active surface of the first pad.

13. The hybrid bearing of claim 12, wherein the non-metallic material is further defined as a polymeric material.

14. The hybrid bearing of claim 12, wherein the non-metallic material is further defined as a ceramic material.

15. The hybrid bearing of claim 14, further comprising:

a. a second non-metallic material engaged with a second portion of the active surface of the first pad; and

b. a third portion on the active surface and comprising a metallic material, wherein the non-metallic material and the second non-metallic material are further defined as moving away from each other through the third portion.

16. The hybrid bearing of claim 12, further comprising a second non-metallic material engaged with the first portion of the active surface of the second pad.

17. The hybrid bearing of claim 12, wherein said second spacer is further defined as being comprised of a non-metallic material.

18. A hybrid bearing, comprising:

a. a body having a channel formed therein;

b. a first pad engaged with the body, wherein the pad is movable in at least one dimension relative to the body;

c. a second pad engaged with the body, wherein an active surface is configured on the second pad, wherein a position of the second pad is fixed relative to a position of the body; and the combination of (a) and (b),

d. a non-metallic material engaged with a portion of the active surface of the second pad.

19. The hybrid bearing of claim 18, further comprising a second non-metallic material engaged with a portion of the active surface of the first pad.

20. The hybrid bearing of claim 19, wherein the non-metallic material is further defined as comprising a polymer.

21. The hybrid bearing of claim 19, wherein the non-metallic material is further defined as comprising a ceramic.

22. The hybrid bearing of claim 18, further comprising a third pad engaged with the body, wherein the third pad is movable in at least one dimension relative to the body.

23. The hybrid bearing of claim 20, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyetheretherketone, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, perfluoroalkoxyalkane, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride or polyvinylidene fluoride, liquid crystal polymer, polyphenylene sulfide, polyamide, polyimide, and acetal.

24. The hybrid bearing of claim 21, wherein the ceramic is selected from the group consisting of aluminum nitride, boron nitride, cordierite, silicon carbide, polycrystalline diamond, graphite, tungsten carbide, and cobalt-chromium alloys.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to bearings.

Background

There are many types of bearings. Tilt pad journal bearings (journel bearing) typically rely on a fluid film for proper operation. However, the temperature of the fluid film and the temperature of the bearing surfaces in such bearings can greatly affect the performance and life of the bearing. Accordingly, attempts have been made to cool bearing surfaces that may be in direct contact with the fluid. For example, U.S. patent No.6,485,182, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a sleeve bearing with bypass cooling. Additionally, U.S. patent nos.8,123,409, 5,743,657, and 4,597,676 and U.S. patent application nos.14/460,418, 14/210,339 disclose various bearings that may be the relevant background for one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Alternative materials to conventional bearing surface materials are used in journal bearings to allow journal bearings to operate at higher temperatures and higher unit loads. Thus, operating at higher temperatures and higher unit loads allows for smaller bearings with lower power losses. In combination with other features, such as in U.S. patent No.4,597,676, to reduce power losses, the replacement material allows for the reduction of additional power losses.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the methods and systems.

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a trailing edge cooled bearing;

FIG. 2 provides an axial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the trailing edge cooling bearing shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 provides a radial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the trailing edge cooling bearing shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 provides a detailed perspective view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 adjacent to a journal pad;

FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of an illustrative aspect of a hybrid bearing using a conventional metallic bearing material (without non-metallic materials);

FIG. 6 provides an axial face view of the hybrid bearing shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7A provides a cross-sectional view of the hybrid bearing shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 along the longitudinal axis of the bearing;

FIG. 7B provides another cross-sectional view of the hybrid bearing shown in FIGS. 5-7A;

FIG. 7C provides a cross-sectional view of the hybrid bearing shown in FIGS. 5-7B along a radial plane of the bearing;

FIG. 8A provides a perspective view of another hybrid bearing of non-metallic material positioned on a stationary pad;

FIG. 8B provides a cross-sectional view of the hybrid bearing shown in FIG. 8A along the longitudinal axis of the bearing;

FIG. 8C provides a cross-sectional view of the hybrid bearing shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B along a radial plane of the bearing;

FIG. 9 provides a perspective view of another hybrid bearing of non-metallic material positioned on a stationary pad and directionally lubricated;

FIG. 10 provides a perspective view of another hybrid bearing of non-metallic material positioned on a tilt pad;

FIG. 11 provides a wire frame diagram of a hybrid bearing with directional lubrication and surface features on an angled pad;

FIG. 12A provides a perspective view of another hybrid bearing of non-metallic material positioned on a fixed pad and a tilt pad;

FIG. 12B provides a cross-sectional view of the hybrid bearing shown in FIG. 12A along the longitudinal axis of the bearing;

FIG. 12C provides a cross-sectional view of the hybrid bearing shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B along a radial plane of the bearing;

FIG. 13 provides a perspective view of another hybrid bearing in which the tilt pad is constructed of a non-metallic material.

List of elements in the detailed description