Brush damper rings for radial fluid bearing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9651086-B2
Application number	US-201514713049-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2015
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

A bearing assembly for a rotating shaft, with brush rings on both sides of the bearing mechanism for damping bearing motion. In a foil gas bearing embodiment, the bearing itself comprises a hollow sleeve, a compliant layer, and a top foil layer. These bearing elements are arranged in a conventional manner except that the top foil layer extends beyond the sleeve. A sleeve extension extends over the extended portion of the top foil layer. Two opposing brush rings, an inner brush ring and an outer brush ring, are attached to the top foil layer extension and the sleeve extension, respectively. The bristles of an inner brush ring and the bristles of an outer brush ring are interposed and provide damping during operation of the bearing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foil gas bearing for a rotating shaft, comprising:
a hollow sleeve having an inner surface;
a compliant layer surrounding the inner surface of the hollow sleeve;
a top foil layer inside the compliant layer; wherein the compliant layer supports the top foil layer during rotation of the shaft by means of a spring structure;
wherein the top foil layer extends beyond the sleeve on at least one end of the sleeve;
a sleeve extension over the portion of the top foil layer that extends beyond the sleeve, the sleeve extension having an inner surface
an inner brush ring on the outer surface of the top foil layer and having bristles that extend outwardly from the top foil layer; and
an outer brush ring on the inner surface of the sleeve extension and having bristles that extend inwardly from the sleeve extension;
wherein the bristles of the inner brush ring and the bristles of the outer brush ring are interposed.

2. The bearing of claim 1 , wherein the compliant layer comprises one of the following: a bump foil layer, a metal mesh layer, or a leaf spring layer.

3. The bearing of claim 1 , wherein the top foil layer extends beyond the sleeve on both ends of the sleeve, and each end of the sleeve has a sleeve extension, an inner brush ring, and an outer brush ring.

4. The bearing of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve extension, the inner brush ring, and the outer brush ring are removably attached.

5. The bearing of claim 1 , wherein the bristles of the inner brush ring are parallel to the bristles of the outer brush ring.

6. The bearing of claim 1 , wherein the bristles of the inner brush ring are interposed with the bristles of the outer brush ring within a bristle angle range of 0 to 20 degrees.

7. The bearing of claim 1 , wherein the bristles of the inner brush ring, or the outer brush ring, or both, are attached with a backing.

8. A tilt-pad bearing for a rotating shaft, comprising:
a tilt-pad bearing mechanism having at least a hollow sleeve and a ring of pads proximate the inner surface of the sleeve, the ring of pads having an outer surface, and the pads operable to generally comply with the motion of the rotating shaft by tilting;
wherein the pads extend beyond the sleeve on at least one end of the sleeve;
a sleeve extension over the portions of the pads that extend beyond the sleeve, the sleeve extension having an inner surface;
an inner brush ring on the outer surface of the ring of pads where the pads extend beyond the sleeve, and having bristles that extend outwardly from the ring of pads; and
an outer brush ring on the inner surface of the sleeve extension and having bristles that extend inwardly from the sleeve extension;
wherein the bristles of the inner brush ring and the bristles of the outer brush ring are interposed.

9. The bearing of claim 8 , wherein the pads extend beyond the sleeve on both ends of the sleeve, and each end of the sleeve has a sleeve extension, an inner brush ring, and an outer brush ring.

10. The bearing of claim 8 , wherein the sleeve extension, the inner brush ring, and the outer brush ring are removably attached.

11. The bearing of claim 8 , wherein the bristles of the inner brush ring are parallel to the bristles of the outer brush ring.

12. The bearing of claim 8 , wherein the bristles of the inner brush ring are interposed with the bristles of the outer brush ring within a bristle angle range of 0 to 20 degrees.

13. The bearing of claim 8 , wherein the bristles of the inner brush ring, or the outer brush ring, or both, are attached with a backing.

14. The bearing of claim 8 , wherein the tilt-pad bearing mechanism is one of the following types of bearing mechanisms: a pivot pad bearing, a rocker pad bearing, or a flexure pad bearing.

Assignees

• Southwest Res Inst

Inventors

• Rimpel Aaron M

Classifications

• F16C17/03

  with tiltably-supported segments, e.g. Michell bearings {(hydrostatic bearings with tiltably supported bearing pads F16C32/0666; made from a plurality of rods F16C33/26; with flexible leaves F16C17/024; hydrodynamic bearings with chambers F16C33/1075)} · CPC title

• F16C2360/00

  Engines or pumps · CPC title

• F16C33/1005

  with gas, e.g. air, as lubricant · CPC title

• F16C27/02 Primary

  Sliding-contact bearings · CPC title

• F16C17/024

  with flexible leaves to create hydrodynamic wedge, e.g. radial foil bearings · CPC title