초록 ▼

A compliant fluid film bearing includes a thin, flexible bearing sheet supported on a resilient bump-form support member which is divided into multiple adjacent strips. The bearing sheet and support member are each formed of a composite material made of Inconel X-750 and copper. The Inconel sheet, i

A compliant fluid film bearing includes a thin, flexible bearing sheet supported on a resilient bump-form support member which is divided into multiple adjacent strips. The bearing sheet and support member are each formed of a composite material made of Inconel X-750 and copper. The Inconel sheet, in annealed condition, is cut and formed in the desired shape and is coated with copper. The sheet is heat treated in an oxygen-free atmosphere to give the Inconel the small grain size for the desired properties of strength and hardness. During the heat treatment, the copper diffuses into the Inconel, producing at the end a composite material of Inconel X-750 having a diffusion of copper into its top portion such that the top surface is about 100% copper, and the copper fraction decreases exponentially with the depth into the Inconel sheet. The bearing elements formed of this composite material provide improved coulomb and viscous damping and improved bearing load capacity and stability at high temperature and speed.

대표청구항 ▼

A compliant fluid film bearing for dynamically supporting a rotating rotor, comprising: a mounting member mounted in coaxial relationship to the rotational axis of said rotor and having a surface facing a bearing surface of said rotor; a compliant support element fastened to said surface of said mou

A compliant fluid film bearing for dynamically supporting a rotating rotor, comprising: a mounting member mounted in coaxial relationship to the rotational axis of said rotor and having a surface facing a bearing surface of said rotor; a compliant support element fastened to said surface of said mounting member, said compliant support element including a metal support sheet having a plurality of resilient support elevations projecting therefrom; a bearing sheet lying between said support element and the bearing surface of said rotor; said support element formed of a composite material having a first layer of metal in engagement with said mounting member, and an overlying layer of metal in engagement with said bearing sheet and bonded to said first layer, said overlying layer having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of said first layer; whereby a decrease in the stiffness of the material of the support element with increasing temperature is compensated for by an increase in stiffness of said elevations by virtue of the difference in coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials of the first and overlying layers. A compliant fluid film bearing for dynamically supporting a rotating rotor on a mounting member, comprising: a flexible bearing sheet having a bearing surface facing and supporting said rotor; a resilient compliant support element between said bearing sheet and said mounting member for compliantly supporting said bearing sheet; said flexible bearing sheet being formed of a composite material including a base sheet of strong springy metal and a second metal diffused into said first metal and distributed therein in a concentration decreasing exponentially with the depth below one surface of said base sheet, said second metal having a yield strength less than the yield strength of said strong springy metal, whereby the damping and high temperature load bearing capacity of said bearing is enhanced.