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. 15, 2003
Filed:
May. 02, 2001
David L. Olson, Los Alamitos, CA (US);
Baker Hughes Incorporated, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A hydraulic washer or spacer is used to reduce friction between a planet gear and the planet carrier. The washer has a top side and a bottom side, an inner diameter and an outer diameter. A mating profile extends from the inner diameter to the outer diameter along the bottom side adjacent the planet gear. The top side has a pumping land, pressure pocket, and bearing surface arranged from the inner diameter to the outer diameter respectively. The pumping land extends from the inner diameter outward radially to the pressure pocket. The pressure pocket is recessed relative to the pumping land and extends from the pumping land outward radially to a containment edge. The containment edge is raised relative to the pressure pocket and pumping land. Extending from the containment edge to the outer diameter is a bearing surface that is also raised relative to the pressure pocket and pumping land. As the washer rotates, the surrounding fluid is subject to centrifugal forces. The fluid passes over the pumping land and into the pressure pocket. Once sufficient pressure has developed, the fluid passes over the containment edge to form a hydraulic barrier between the bearing surface and the planet carrier.