GB191005035A - Improvements in and relating to Thrust Bearings and the like. - Google Patents

Abstract

5035. Ferranti, S. Z. de. Feb. 28. Thrust bearings.-In thrust bearings for turbines, propeller shafts, &c., the working faces of the stationary thrust rings e, Fig. 1, are provided with a number of radial grooves o, Fig. 4, one or both edges of which are slightly tapered as shown at s, Fig. 6, to enable oil which is supplied to the grooves to penetrate between the bearing-surfaces. The thrust collars a keyed to the shaft b are faced with white metal n, and have extensions h carrying the rings e, which are bushed with white metal f. Each ring e has a spherical seating m on a ring k, supported against a fixed collar c by a spring i in the form of a ring with radial corrugations, which distributes the load. Oil under pressure is fed to an axial bore t in the shaft, and passes through passages u, v to the grooves o. If the (supply fails, the oil is retained in the bearing between flanges c, y by centrifugal force. Instead of having grooves o, the rings e may be divided radially into a number of sectors 4, Fig. 10, which are arranged to tilt under the load either by means of two supporting-springs 6 placed unsymmetrically, or by two symmetrical springs of different strengths. In this case, the springs 6 distribute the load, and the rings k are omitted ; the rings 7, Fig. 10, correspond to the collars c, Fig. 1. In a modification, the invention is applied to a bearing taking thrusts in both directions, the collars a each having two working faces ; each collar c may also have two working faces. Fig. 12 shows the application of the invention to the footstep bearing of a vertical shaft. Means are provided to relieve the thrust collars of the weight of the running parts at starting and stopping, and at low speeds, in order to allow the oil to penetrate between the working faces. The upper member 8 o! a ball bearing and a flange or collar 10 on the shaft have oppositely inclined faces, separated by a number of wedgeshaped sectors 11 forced inwards by a spring 12. When at rest, the weight is taken by the ball bearing, but when a critical speed is obtained, the sectors move outwardly allowing the shaft to descend upon the thrust-rings 13. Each ring 13 is channel-shaped and is supported by a number of helical springs 14 ; when taking no load each ring 13 bears against a shoulder 15 on the collar c. Hand-operated means may be provided for relieving the thrust bearing of the load at low speeds. Specification 875/05 is referred to.