Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Leo K Lu

Stanley S Sattinger

Robert P Andrews

Jerry R Smerecky

Kenneth J Bussell

A mechanical bearing, the major advantage inherent in magnetic and other non-contact bearing designs, i.e., being active. The specific bearing disclosed is a tilt pad bearing having a structure which changes shape in a controlled manner in response to a control signal, which structure is made up of a piezoceramic smart material and a backing housing. A controller is also provided for developing a control signal in response to feedback information.

Active bearing

A hollow beam structure such as a machinery subbase having apertures in sidewall portions thereof has a plurality of shear damper assemblies which straddle the apertures and are fastened to the wall portion on opposite sides of the apertures. The shear damper assemblies include a viscoelectric damping layer which dissipates vibrational energy to minimize the vibrational response of the hollow beam structure.

Growing community of inventors

Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Leo K Lu