Patent ID: 9482271
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: F16C

Claim Text:
1. A disengageable axial thrust bearing for a rotary machine, the thrust bearing comprising an inner ring arranged around a rotary shaft in radially non-interfering manner on said shaft, a synchronization element mounted on said rotary shaft to drive rotation of said inner ring selectively, an outer ring comprising first and second outer half-rings centered in a casing and clamped in the axial direction between firstly a stationary thrust member and secondly a first pre-loading system exerting a first predetermined axial force, and oblique-contact rolling elements, wherein the thrust bearing further comprises a second pre-loading system inserted in the axial direction between said first and second outer half-rings and exerting a second predetermined axial force less than the first predetermined axial force such that, so long as the axial load exerted on the axial thrust bearing via the synchronization element is greater than a determined threshold value, each of the rolling elements presents a single line with two points of contact respectively with the inner ring and with the first outer half-ring, the second outer half-ring being spaced apart from the first by the second predetermined axial force exerted by the second pre-loading system, and such that the inner ring is driven in rotation by said synchronization element, whereas, when the axial load exerted on the axial thrust bearing becomes less than this determined threshold value, a second line with two additional points of contact is created between each of the rolling elements and respectively the inner ring and the second outer half-ring such that the axial thrust bearing is disengaged, with rotation of the inner ring stopping as a result of inertia and friction internal to the thrust member via the four points of contact between each rolling element and the inner ring and the first and second outer half-rings.