초록 ▼

A thrust bearing tilting pad has face with a border region including an engagement surface and defining a pocket with generally longitudinal sidebars and a bottom. The pad has leading and trailing portions, with the face extending generally longitudinally therebetween. The leading and trailing porti

A thrust bearing tilting pad has face with a border region including an engagement surface and defining a pocket with generally longitudinal sidebars and a bottom. The pad has leading and trailing portions, with the face extending generally longitudinally therebetween. The leading and trailing portions can be positioned upstream and downstream, respectively, relative to a direction of movement of a runner. The pad is pivotally supported by (e.g., mechanical and/or hydrostatic) pivot and can cooperate with one or more other pads and fluid within a housing to hydrodynamically and mechanically support the runner in an axial position. In another embodiment, the pad tilts free of mechanical engagement with other pads. The leading portion can define an entrance to the pocket and the sidebars can converge along the direction of motion of the runner. The pocket hydrodynamically increases pressure on the runner during rotation, and generates pressure effecting on the face counteraction force about the pivot and upstream relative to the rotation direction in order to counteract spragging force. The pocket can also have a generally tapered profile or an abrupt step.

대표청구항 ▼

A thrust bearing tilting pad has face with a border region including an engagement surface and defining a pocket with generally longitudinal sidebars and a bottom. The pad has leading and trailing portions, with the face extending generally longitudinally therebetween. The leading and trailing porti

A thrust bearing tilting pad has face with a border region including an engagement surface and defining a pocket with generally longitudinal sidebars and a bottom. The pad has leading and trailing portions, with the face extending generally longitudinally therebetween. The leading and trailing portions can be positioned upstream and downstream, respectively, relative to a direction of movement of a runner. The pad is pivotally supported by (e.g., mechanical and/or hydrostatic) pivot and can cooperate with one or more other pads and fluid within a housing to hydrodynamically and mechanically support the runner in an axial position. In another embodiment, the pad tilts free of mechanical engagement with other pads. The leading portion can define an entrance to the pocket and the sidebars can converge along the direction of motion of the runner. The pocket hydrodynamically increases pressure on the runner during rotation, and generates pressure effecting on the face counteraction force about the pivot and upstream relative to the rotation direction in order to counteract spragging force. The pocket can also have a generally tapered profile or an abrupt step. nt to the fluid interconnect cart and the fluid interconnect port; and further comprising a capillary accumulator surrounding the opening through the outer container lower portion, the capillary break formed in the outer container lower portion. 11. The fluid port vent of claim 10, wherein the capillary accumulator comprises a chamfer.12. A replaceable container for a consumable liquid, comprising: a fluid reservoir having a substantially rigid outer container with a top portion and a bottom portion, the container having an interior substantially filled with a capillary material, and a fluid interconnect port forming an opening through the outer container lower portion into the interior; a container vent in the top portion providing air communication between the interior and ambient air; a venting mechanism in the reservoir interior providing air communication between the container vent to an area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port; a passageway providing limited air communication between the area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port and the fluid interconnect port; a wall formed in the container interior blocking airflow between the area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port end the fluid interconnect port, and wherein the passageway providing limited air communication is a small vent formed in the wall; and wherein the small vent has a smallest dimension no greater than 0.015 inches. 13. A replaceable container for a consumable liquid, comprising: a fluid reservoir having a substantially rigid outer container with a top portion and a bottom portion, the container having an interior substantially filled with a capillary material, and a fluid interconnect port forming an opening through the outer container lower portion into the interior; a container vent in the top portion providing air communication between the interior and ambient air; a venting mechanism in the reservoir interior providing air communication between the container vent to an area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port; a passageway providing limited air communication between the area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port and the fluid interconnect port; and wherein the venting mechanism in the reservoir interior comprises an air ring formed in the rigid container interior bottom portion, the air ring encircling the fluid interconnect port. 14. A replaceable container for a consumable liquid, comprising: a fluid reservoir having a substantially rigid outer container with a top portion and a bottom portion, the container having an interior substantially filled with a capillary material, and a fluid interconnect port forming an opening through the outer container lower portion into the interior; a container vent in the top portion providing air communication between the interior and ambient air; a venting mechanism in the reservoir interior providing air communication between the container vent to an area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port; a