The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 08, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 19, 2001
James Harold Ferguson, Peterborough, CA;
General Electric Canada Inc., Mississauga, CA;
Abstract
A thrust bearing for a rotating machine has a rotating ring and a bearing shoe for use in a non-filled oil chamber that permits oil flow through the bearing shoe. The oil flows out a leading recessed groove in the bearing shoe and across the bearing shoe surface. This permits for the oil flow to cool the bearing shoe and maintain lubrication between the bearing shoe and the rotating ring. Further, the non-filled oil chamber acts more as an oil collection chamber which provides two distinct advantages. One advantage is a reduction in bearing losses not present due to the elimination of swirling of the oil bath. The other advantage is one of servicing by the ability to inspect the bearings and all oil conduit connections without being encumbered by oil partially covering or surrounding the bearing shoe. The thrust bearing has an oil reservoir located below the non-filled oil chamber into which oil drains from the non-filled oil chamber and an oil cooling and circulating system comprising a pump, heat exchanger and conduit connectors connected to each oil inlet for circulating oil drained into the oil reservoir through the heat exchanger into the flexible hoses and back into the bearing shoes. Further, the thrust bearing shoe has a secondary oil inlet adjacent the leading edge of the bearing shoe providing a safety back-up lubrication source.