Patent · US Expired

High performance bearing pad for thrust bearing

US5253939A · kind A · utility

93Cited by
22References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 22, 1991
Grant dateOct 19, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 22, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16C2352/00
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Cylindrical bearing pads are insertable into bearing pad recesses formed in a receiving surface of a bearing pad retainer in a load-carrying structure. The bearing pads have an insertion end which is fixed into the bearing pad recess by brazing or by interference fitting and a bearing end which projects from the receiving surface and terminates in a bearing face. The bearing face has a periphery which encircles the bearing face and an indentation having a perimeter formed centrally in the bearing face. An annular flattened area encircles the indentation forming an effective bearing contact area between an outer border of the flattened area and the perimeter of the indentation. When the indentation is filled with drilling fluid, lubrication is provided to an opposed bearing face of an opposing bearing pad. The indentation can be filled with drilling fluid or some other material with a higher heat storage capacity than polycrystalline diamond to provide temperature modulation for storing heat produced at the bearing face. When filled with a material, the indentation also serves to dissipate heat to reducing the length of a path of heat when the heat is conducted to cooler areas of th…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.