Patent ID: 8106556

Claim:
An emergency rolling bearing that is insensitive to axial load, for a rotary machine having magnetic bearings presenting a mean air gap relative to a rotor, the emergency bearing comprising at least first and second bearing members such that radial clearance of value ε r /2 that is of the order of half the mean radial air gap ε r of the magnetic bearings is provided between each of the first and second bearing members and the rotor, and axial clearances ε a are formed on either side of the first and second bearing members between said assembly and first and second axial abutment elements secured to the rotor, wherein: the first bearing member is mounted directly in a first intermediate support element that is coaxial with a stator element; the second bearing member is mounted in a second intermediate support element that is likewise coaxial with said stator element; the first and second intermediate support elements present a plane of contact in a radial plane perpendicular to the axis of the bearing and are united by a resilient pre-stressed element acting in the axial direction and allowing the first and second intermediate support elements and the first and second bearing members to expand or move apart in the axial direction; and damper means in the radial direction are interposed between firstly the first and second intermediate support elements and secondly the stator element.