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A fluid bearing for use in turbomachinery including at least one bearing pad configured to be arranged about a rotating member of the turbomachinery. Each bearing pad includes an internal cooling opening defined in the bearing pad and an internal channel network defined in the bearing pad with at le

A fluid bearing for use in turbomachinery including at least one bearing pad configured to be arranged about a rotating member of the turbomachinery. Each bearing pad includes an internal cooling opening defined in the bearing pad and an internal channel network defined in the bearing pad with at least one channel node in fluid communication with the internal cooling opening and at least two passageways in fluid communication with and extending from the channel node through the bearing pad. At least one of the passageways extends to an exterior surface of the bearing pad to define at least one cooling discharge opening.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fluid bearing for use in turbomachinery comprising: at least one bearing pad configured to be arranged about a rotating member of the turbomachinery, each bearing pad comprising: an internal cooling opening defined in the bearing pad; andan internal channel network defined in the bearing pad co

1. A fluid bearing for use in turbomachinery comprising: at least one bearing pad configured to be arranged about a rotating member of the turbomachinery, each bearing pad comprising: an internal cooling opening defined in the bearing pad; andan internal channel network defined in the bearing pad comprising at least one channel node in fluid communication with the internal cooling opening and at least two passageways in fluid communication with and extending from the channel node through the bearing pad,wherein at least one of the passageways extends to an exterior surface of the bearing pad to define at least one cooling discharge opening, andwherein channel support structures are located within the internal channel network. 2. The fluid bearing of claim 1, wherein the bearing pad is defined by an inner radial side and an outer radial side, a first axial side and a second axial side, and a circumferential leading edge and a circumferential trailing edge. 3. The fluid bearing of claim 2, wherein the internal cooling opening is defined in the outer radial side of the bearing pad proximate the trailing edge of the bearing pad. 4. The fluid bearing of claim 2, wherein the internal cooling opening is defined in the outer radial side of the bearing pad proximate the leading edge of the bearing pad. 5. The fluid bearing of claim 2, wherein the internal cooling opening is defined in a jacking oil port defined in the outer radial side of the bearing pad. 6. The fluid bearing of claim 2, wherein at least one cooling discharge opening is defined in the first axial side or the second axial side. 7. The fluid bearing of claim 2, wherein at least one cooling discharge opening is defined in the leading edge or the trailing edge. 8. The fluid bearing of claim 2, wherein the bearing pad is arcuate-shaped. 9. The fluid bearing of claim 1, further comprising: a deck plate;a central support column connected to an outer radial side of the deck plate, wherein the central support column defines a spherical seat, wherein the internal cooling opening is defined in the spherical seat of the central support column, wherein the central support column defines the internal channel network; anda plurality of primary support structures connecting the central support column with the deck plate. 10. The fluid bearing of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of secondary support structures, each secondary support structure connecting the primary support structure to the deck plate, another of the secondary support structures, or the central support column. 11. The fluid bearing of claim 10, wherein the primary support structures or the secondary support structures are hollow, and wherein the primary support structures or the secondary support structures are in fluid communication with the internal channel network defined in the central support column such that cooling oil can flow through the primary support structures or the secondary support structures. 12. The fluid bearing of claim 1, wherein the channel support structures are bars or trusses. 13. The fluid bearing of claim 1, wherein the channel support structures mechanically strengthen the bearing pad. 14. The fluid bearing of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the bearing pad is 3D printed. 15. The fluid bearing of claim 14, wherein the portion of the bearing pad that is 3D printed is proximate a trailing edge of the bearing pad. 16. The fluid bearing of claim 14, wherein the portion of the bearing pad that is 3D printed is proximate a leading edge of the bearing pad. 17. The fluid bearing of claim 14, wherein the portion of the bearing pad that is 3D printed is printed in a cubic pattern, a corrugated pattern, or a pyramidal pattern. 18. The fluid bearing of claim 14, wherein the portion of the bearing pad that is 3D printed is printed in a hexagonal structure pattern, a square structure pattern, a triangular structure pattern, a diamond structure pattern, a navtruss structure pattern, a tetrahedral structure pattern, a diamond textile structure pattern, a diamond collinear structure pattern, a square collinear structure pattern, a three-dimensional kagome structure pattern, a square honeycomb structure pattern, a triangular honeycomb structure pattern, or a corrugated honeycomb structure pattern. 19. The fluid bearing of claim 1, wherein the entire bearing pad is 3D printed. 20. A bearing pad comprising: an internal cooling opening defined in the bearing pad; andan internal channel network defined in the bearing pad comprising at least one channel node in fluid communication with the internal cooling opening and at least two passageways in fluid communication with and extending from the channel node through the bearing pad,wherein at least one of the passageways extends to an exterior surface of the bearing pad to define at least one cooling discharge opening, andwherein channel support structures are located within the internal channel network. 21. The bearing pad of claim 20, wherein the bearing pad is defined by an inner radial side and an outer radial side, a first axial side and a second axial side, and a circumferential leading edge and a circumferential trailing edge. 22. A fluid bearing for use in turbomachinery comprising: at least one bearing pad configured to be arranged about a rotating member of the turbomachinery, each bearing pad comprising: an internal cooling opening defined in the bearing pad; andan internal channel network defined in the bearing pad comprising at least one channel node in fluid communication with the internal cooling opening and at least two passageways in fluid communication with and extending from the channel node through the bearing pad,wherein at least one of the passageways extends to an exterior surface of the bearing pad to define at least one cooling discharge opening;a deck plate;a central support column connected to an outer radial side of the deck plate, wherein the central support column defines a spherical seat, wherein the internal cooling opening is defined in the spherical seat of the central support column, wherein the central support column defines the internal channel network; anda plurality of primary support structures connecting the central support column with the deck plate.