Patent ID: 6036435
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: F04D,F16C

Abstract:
A hydrodynamic and hydrostatic thrust bearing comprising:a rotating member that is subject to axial forces causing movement in an axial direction of said rotating member;a sealing surface positioned on at least a portion of said rotating member;a bearing positioned adjacent said rotating member;a sealing face positioned on said bearing, said sealing face being disposed to be in opposed relationship with said sealing surface on said rotating member, a bearing space being located between said sealing face and said sealing surface;a fluid reservoir positioned in said bearing, said fluid reservoir being in communication with said bearing space located between said sealing face and said sealing surface;at least one passageway extending through said bearing to a volute region adjacent said rotating member for supplying a supply of high pressure fluid under hydrodynamic and hydrostatic pressure to said fluid reservoir, said fluid under said hydrodynamic and hydrostatic pressure in said fluid reservoir acting on said sealing face of said bearing to counteract axial forces placed on said rotating member;a plurality of pockets positioned on said sealing face of said bearing, said pockets being positioned to be in communication with said fluid reservoir; anda plurality of wedge shaped depressions positioned on said sealing face of said bearing, said depressions being disposed to be positioned adjacent and in communication with said pockets, said depressions each having an inner portion which terminates at a radial location so that the wedge shape depressions do not overlap and are not in communication with said fluid reservoir such that fluid does not flow through said wedge shaped depressions into said fluid reservoir,whereby fluid from said reservoir enters said pockets on said sealing face of said bearing; and whereby, as said rotating member rotates, the fluid in said pockets is dragged by said rotating member into said wedge shaped depressions, the hydrodynamic pressure on said fluid increasing as said fluid is forced, due to the rotation of said rotating member, into a decreasing clearance formed by said wedge shaped depressions, said increased fluid hydrodynamic pressure in said depressions acts on said sealing face of said bearing to counteract axial forces placed on said rotating member; and,whereby the thrust bearing acts as a high pressure sealing mechanism by restricting pressure loss between said volute region adjacent said rotating member and a center region of said rotating member,said bearing space between said sealing surface of said rotating member and said sealing face of said bearing being determined by the dynamics of said hydrodynamic and said hydrostatic pressures thereby increasing the efficiency of said thrust bearing.