Mechanical Technology Incorporated

Stanley Gray

Hooshang Heshmat

Donald F Wilcock

Wilbur Shapiro

Bharat Bhushan

John A McCormick

A magnetic/centrifugal-fluid seal is characterized by a common region serving as both the magnetic gap for the magnetic seal and a fluid-receiving pool for the centrifugal seal. A magnetically permeable annular rotating member extends radially into an annular space defined by a magnetically permeable stationary member to form an annular space of U-shaped cross-section between the members. A closed magnetic circuit is established through the members and the space, which space thereby acts as a magnetic gap to retain the fluid therein when the rotating member is at rest or rotated at low speeds. The common region also retains the fluid when it is centrifugally pressurized during high speed rotation of the rotating member. The fluid remains substantially in the same location during speed-up and slow-down, thereby avoiding compromise of the seal during speed transitions. Recirculation and replacement of the fluid is achieved in conjunction with an injection port arranged to deliver fluid to the common region through the stationary member. A fluid reservoir includes a sight glass to permit viewing the fluid condition and level and is arranged to selectively deliver fluid to the inlet port by gravity feed. A pump in the recirculation path delivers recirculating fluid to the reservoir from a vent on the low pressure side of the seal.

Integral magnetic fluid centrifugal high speed gas seal and method

A hydrodynamic fluid film bearing having a series of axially aligned foil bearing modules which act in concert to extend the load carrying capability of the bearing assembly while providing whirl free operation.

High load, whirl free, foil journal bearing

A resilient compliant hydrodynamic fluid film thrust bearing includes a top bearing sheet of thin metalic foil material, and a lower supporting sheet of the same or slightly heavier gauge material. The top bearing sheet is stamped to produce an annular array of truncated sector-shaped flaps attached to the array along one radially extending edge. The second section is stamped to produce an annular pattern of raised projections formed by bending the material along slits to form radially extending bumps which resiliently support the first section. The two sheets are superimposed and aligned, and are welded together along the edge by which the sector-shaped flaps are attached to the first section. The welded assemblies are then sheared from the superimposed foils and deburred.

Hydrodynamic compliant thrust bearing and method of making

A compliant hydrodynamic fluid thrust bearing tolerant of strong misalignment forces includes two radially outside sections and a radially inside section, all lying generally parallel to the direction of rotation of the thrust runner. The outside sections are more compliant than the inside section of the bearing and can deflect independently of it to conform independently with a misaligned thrust runner bearing surface without distorting other portions of the bearing. The surface area of the bearing which is thus made available to bear loads is maximized, thereby increasing load capacity and misalignment tolerance of the bearings.

Support element for compliant hydrodynamic thrust bearing

A compliant hydrodynamic fluid journal bearing system tolerant of strong misalignment forces includes an end section at each axial end of the bearing system which lies parallel to the direction of rotation of the rotor. The end sections are more compliant than the central section of the bearing system and can deflect independently of it to conform independently with a misaligned rotor bearing surface without distorting other portions of the bearing. The surface area of the bearing which is thus made available to bear loads is maximized, thereby increasing load capacity and misalignment tolerance of the bearings.

Support element for compliant hydrodynamic journal bearings

Hydrodynamic compliant thrust bearing

A resilient, compliant, hydrodynamic fluid film bearing, for positioning between a stationary member and the bearing surface of a rotor, includes a bearing module formed as a unitary one-piece article having a resilient support section and a bearing surface section which overlaps its own resilient support section, or that of the next adjacent module, to provide a low cost bearing which is easy, fast and economical to manufacture and assemble.

Modular compliant hydrodynamic bearing with overlapping bearing sheet

A compliant hydrodynamic fluid film bearing for supporting a rotating motor on a stationary mount, includes a bearing sheet supported by a resilient, compliant support element formed of a series of resilient metal tubular members held in parallel spaced array by a cage. The degree of damping can be selected by filling some or all of the tubes with damping material. The tubular support elements are very strong for their size and weight, and yet produce a support element of only moderate and predictable stiffness.

Compliant hydrodynamic bearing with tubular support element

A compliant, hydrodynamic fluid film bearing for supporting a rotating rotor on a stationary mount, includes a bearing sheet supported by a compliant resilient support member formed of two sheets, each having raised resilient elevations in the form of corrugations. One of these sheets is inverted with respect to the other and the corrugations on the two sheets are vertically aligned and face in opposite directions, each corrugation forming one-half of an elongated tubular spring. A metal sheet lies between the two support sheets and all three sheets, and the bearing sheet, are fastened at one end to a pair of spacer blocks. The yield strength of the support member is thus raised above the yield strength of a single support sheet while maintaining low stiffness.

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Skaneateles, NY, United States of America

Stanley Gray