Integral tilting pad bearing

Abstract

There is disclosed a bearing to support a rotating shaft. The bearing includes a cylindrical housing defining a central opening. A plurality of bearing pads integrally coupled to the housing with each bearing pad having a circumferential surface defining a portion of the central opening. A plurality of pins disposed in a bore defined in the housing, with each pin aligned as a pivot for each corresponding pad. Each pad can tilt about the pin in relation to the rotating shaft. Each pad is coupled to the housing by a pair of webs defined by a plurality of cuts forming a plurality of openings in the housing substantially parallel to a line tangent with the circumferential surface of the pad. Each pin is aligned parallel with the rotating pad.

1 . A bearing to support a rotating shaft comprising:
 a cylindrical housing defining a central opening;   a plurality of bearing pads integrally coupled to the housing, each bearing pad having a circumferential surface defining a portion of the central opening; and   a plurality of pins disposed in a bore defined in the housing, with each pin aligned as a pivot for each corresponding pad,   wherein each pad can tilt about the pin in relation to the rotating shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The bearing of  claim 1 , wherein each pad is coupled to the housing by a pair of webs defined by a plurality of cuts forming a plurality of openings in the housing substantially parallel to a line tangent with the circumferential surface of the pad. 
     
     
         3 . The bearing of  claim 1 , wherein each pin is aligned parallel with the rotating shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the bore has a constant diameter and the pin defines a cylindrical, longitudinal cross-section, wherein the pad can tilt about the x-axis of the pin. 
     
     
         5 . The bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the bore has a constant diameter and the pin defines a spherical, longitudinal cross-section, wherein the pad can tilt about the x-axis and y-axis of the pin. 
     
     
         6 . The bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the bore and pin are configured to reduce stress concentrations in the bearing. 
     
     
         7 . The bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the bore and pin are offset from the radial centerline of the pad. 
     
     
         8 . The bearing of  claim 2 , wherein each web varies in thickness as defined by the cuts in the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The bearing of  claim 2 , including a fluid in each opening and further including a fluid delivery passage extending through the housing and in fluid communication with each opening, wherein the fluid permits active control of the pad position and pad damping characteristics. 
     
     
         10 . The bearing of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid is oil. 
     
     
         11 . A method for enhancing shaft rotation in a bearing, the bearing including a plurality of bearing pads arranged circumferentially around a central opening in a bearing housing, with each bearing pad integrally coupled to the housing with a plurality of webs, and a plurality of pins disposed in a bore defined in the bearing housing, each pin aligned as a pivot for each corresponding pad, wherein each pad can tilt about the pin in relation to a rotating shaft, the method comprising:
 determining a force to be exerted on at least one pad in the bearing;   determining a deformation of one of the bore and pin from the exerted force on the pad; and   configuring one of the bore and pin to compensate for the determined deformation,   wherein the shaft rotation is enhanced by reducing the stress concentration in one of the bore and pin caused by the determined deformation.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , including the step of configuring the pin as a cylinder. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , including the step of configuring the pin with a spherical surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , including the step of varying the thickness of the webs associated with one of the bearing pads. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , including the step of injecting a fluid into a gap defined by the pad, the webs and the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid is oil. 
     
     
         17 . A thrust bearing comprising:
 a housing defining a central opening, the opening configured to receive a rotating shaft;   a plurality of bearing pads integrally coupled to the housing, each bearing pad having a circumferential surface defining a portion of the central opening;   a plurality of pins disposed in a bore defined in the housing, with each pin aligned as a pivot for each corresponding pad; and   a thrust collar coupled to the rotating shaft and aligned with the bearing pads,   wherein each pad can tilt about the pin in relation to the rotating shaft.   
     
     
         18 . The thrust bearing of  claim 17 , wherein each pad is coupled to the housing by a pair of webs defined by a plurality of cuts forming a plurality of openings in the housing substantially normal to the rotational axis of the shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The bearing of  claim 17 , wherein each pin is aligned normal to the rotating shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The bearing of  claim 17 , wherein the bore has a constant diameter and the pin defines a cylindrical, longitudinal cross-section, wherein the pad can tilt about the x-axis of the pin. 
     
     
         21 . The bearing of  claim 17 , wherein the bore has a constant diameter and the pin defines a spherical, longitudinal cross-section, wherein the pad can tilt about the x-axis and y-axis of the pin. 
     
     
         22 . The bearing of  claim 17 , wherein the bore has a non-constant diameter and the pin defines a cylindrical, longitudinal cross-section, wherein the pad can tilt about the X-axis and Y axis of the pin. 
     
     
         23 . The bearing of  claim 18 , including a fluid in each opening and further including a fluid delivery passage extending through the housing and in fluid communication with each opening, wherein the fluid permits active control of the pad position and pad damping characteristics. 
     
     
         24 . The bearing of  claim 22 , wherein the fluid is oil.