초록 ▼

A compliant hydrodynamic fluid film thrust bearing. A circumferential row of sectors of flexible sheets are positioned to face a shaft runner for relative rotation therebetween. The flexible sheets are supported by a flexible membrane which is in turn supported by a pair of rows of corrugated foil e

A compliant hydrodynamic fluid film thrust bearing. A circumferential row of sectors of flexible sheets are positioned to face a shaft runner for relative rotation therebetween. The flexible sheets are supported by a flexible membrane which is in turn supported by a pair of rows of corrugated foil elements. Flexible strips are sandwiched between the trailing portions of the flexible sheets and the flexible membrane to provide a tapered/land effect. The corrugated foil elements are supported by a flexible diaphragm which is in turn supported by a row of corrugated support elements which are attached thereto along circumferentially intermediate portions thereof and are aligned with the flexible strips to provide a crowning effect. The ridges of at least one of the pair of rows of corrugated foil elements have truncated apex portions. In one embodiment, ridges in corrugated foil elements of one row thereof underlie only some ridges in the other row, and furrows underlie the other ridges.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A compliant hydrodynamic fluid film thrust bearing comprising a backing member, a circumferential row of sectors of flexible sheets positioned to face a shaft runner for relative rotation therebetween and each having a leading portion and a trailing portion relative to re

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A compliant hydrodynamic fluid film thrust bearing comprising a backing member, a circumferential row of sectors of flexible sheets positioned to face a shaft runner for relative rotation therebetween and each having a leading portion and a trailing portion relative to relative shaft rotation, means for resiliently supporting said flexible sheets, and means including flexible strip means sandwiched between each of said trailing portions and said supporting means for providing an effect of circumferentially spaced raised lands, said resiliently supporting means comprising an inner corrugated element means and an outer corrugated element means each having a plurality of ridges and a plurality of furrows in alternating relation therewith wherein inner element ridges supportively underlie some of said outer element ridges and whereby inner element furrows underlie others of said outer element ridges.