Patent ID: 8646979
Filing Date: 2014-02-11
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
1. A multi-recess hydrostatic journal bearing comprising: a rotatable shaft having an outer surface; a bearing housing that surrounds the rotatable shaft, the bearing housing having an inner surface facing the outer surface of the rotatable shaft; a plurality of recesses located in the internal surface of the bearing housing, each recess of the plurality of recesses having a corresponding recess bottom; pressurized liquid media between the inner surface of the bearing housing and the outer surface of the rotatable shaft; inlet restrictors for the plurality of recesses, the inlet restrictors being connected through openings in the bearing housing to an external source of the pressurized liquid media; and gap lands surrounding each of the plurality of recesses, the gap lands separating the plurality of recesses from chambers connected to atmosphere pressure and separating the plurality of recesses from one another, said recess bottoms being inclined to form variable gaps with the outer surface of the rotatable shaft, the variable gaps decreasing in width, as measured in a radial direction from a rotational axis of the bearing, in a direction of rotation of the rotatable shaft, wherein, during operation of the bearing, the inclined recess bottoms generate hydrodynamic forces, and the hydrodynamic forces have both a component in a direction opposite to an applied force and a component in a direction perpendicular to the applied force, and wherein both the recess bottoms and the gap lands surrounding every recess of the plurality of recesses are inclined to form variable gaps with the outer surface of the rotatable shaft, the variable naps decreasing in width, as measured in the radial direction from the rotational axis of the bearing, in the direction of rotation of the rotatable shaft.