Tilting Pad Bearing

Abstract

A tilting pad bearing comprises a piston carrier ring that may include a plurality of voids spaced around the piston carrier ring, wherein a channel may be formed in a surface of the piston carrier ring opposite the plurality of voids. A carrier end plate may be positioned in the channel and secured to the piston carrier ring, wherein a recess may be formed in a top surface of the carrier end plate. A piston may be positioned in each void, wherein a bottom face of each piston is positioned adjacent the recess. The pistons may be substantially secured in the voids using a plurality of membranes, wherein one membrane corresponds to one piston and one void. Alternatively, the pistons may be formed in two pieces secured via a membrane. Each piston may be engaged with a bearing pad and/or interface member in a bearing pad carrier ring.

1 . A tilting pad bearing comprising:
 a. a bearing pad carrier ring;   b. a bearing pad positioned on said bearing pad carrier ring;   c. a piston carrier ring, wherein said piston carrier ring and said bearing pad carrier ring are configured such that the relative positions thereof are substantially fixed;   d. a void formed in said piston carrier ring;   e. a two-piece piston positioned in said void, said two-piece piston comprising:
 i. a top piece in mechanical communication with said bearing pad; 
 ii. a bottom piece cooperating with said piston carrier ring, wherein said two-piece piston and said bearing pad are configured such that the relative positions thereof are substantially fixed; 
   f. a membrane cooperating with said top piece and said bottom piece such that said top piece and said bottom piece of said two-piece piston and said membrane form an interstitial area.   
     
     
         2 . The tilting pad bearing according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. a second void formed in said piston carrier ring; 
 b. a second two-piece piston positioned in said second void, said second two-piece piston comprising:
 i. a top piece in mechanical communication with said bearing pad; 
 ii. a bottom piece cooperating with said piston carrier ring; 
 
 c. a membrane cooperating with said top piece and said bottom piece of said second two-piece piston such that said top piece and said bottom piece of said second two-piece piston and said membrane form a second interstitial area; and 
 d. a fluid positioned and sealed within said piston carrier ring, wherein said fluid is in simultaneous fluid communication with said two-piece piston and said second two-piece piston. 
 
     
     
         3 . The tilting pad bearing according to  claim 2  wherein said bearing pad carrier ring further comprises:
 a. a top ridge axially extending from a first axial surface of said bearing pad carrier ring; 
 b. first and second positioner voids formed in said first axial surface; 
 c. first and second interface voids formed in said first axial surface; 
 d. a bottom ridge axially extending from a second axial surface of said bearing pad carrier ring; and, 
 e. first and second piston voids formed in a second axial surface, wherein a portion of said top piece of said two-piece piston and a portion of said top piece of said second two-piece piston are placed in said first and second piston voids, respectively. 
 
     
     
         4 . The tilting pad bearing according to  claim 3  further comprising;
 a. a first and second positioner having at least a portion thereof placed in said first and second positioner voids, respectively; and, 
 b. a first and second interface member having at least a portion thereof placed in said first and second interface member voids, respectively. 
 
     
     
         5 . The tilting pad bearing according to  claim 4  further comprising a first bearing pad, said first bearing pad comprising:
 a. an external bearing surface; 
 b. an internal bearing surface opposite said external bearing surface; and 
 c. a positioner groove formed in a side of said first bearing pad, wherein said internal bearing surface cooperates with said first interface member, and wherein said positioner groove cooperates with said first positioner. 
 
     
     
         6 . The tilting pad bearing according to  claim 5  further comprising a second bearing pad, said second bearing pad comprising:
 a. an external bearing surface; 
 b. an internal bearing surface opposite said external bearing surface; and 
 c. a positioner groove formed in a side of said second bearing pad, wherein said internal bearing surface cooperates with said second interface member, and wherein said positioner groove cooperates with said second positioner. 
 
     
     
         7 . The tilting pad bearing according to  claim 6  wherein said piston carrier ring is further defined as comprising:
 a. a first void, wherein a portion of said bottom piece of said two-piece piston is placed in said first void: 
 b. a second void, wherein a portion of said bottom piece of said second two-piece piston is placed in said second void; and, 
 c. a channel formed in a first axial surface of said piston carrier ring, wherein said first axial surface is opposite said second axial surface of said bearing pad carrier ring. 
 
     
     
         8 . The tilting pad bearing according to  claim 7  wherein said tilting pad bearing further comprises a carrier end plate, wherein said carrier end plate and said piston carrier ring are configured such that the relative positions thereof are substantially fixed, and wherein a recess is formed in a top surface of said carrier end plate. 
     
     
         9 . The tilting pad bearing according to  claim 8  wherein said bottom piece of said two-piece piston is further defined as comprising a bore extending from a first surface of said bottom piece adjacent said interstitial area to a second surface of said bottom piece adjacent said carrier end plate. 
     
     
         10 . The tilting pad bearing according to  claim 9  wherein said bottom piece of said second two-piece piston is further defined as comprising a bore extending from a first surface of said bottom piece opposite said carrier end plate to a second surface of said bottom piece adjacent said second interstitial area, wherein said recess in said carrier end plate fluidly connects said bore in said second two-piece piston to said bore in said two-piece piston. 
     
     
         11 . The tilting pad bearing according to  claim 10  wherein said piston carrier ring further comprises a fill aperture and a corresponding plug, wherein said fill aperture is in fluid communication with said first and second interstitial areas and said recess in said carrier end plate. 
     
     
         12 . A tilting pad bearing comprising:
 a. a piston carrier ring;   b. a piston positioned on said piston carrier ring, wherein said piston is configured to support a bearing pad; and   c. a membrane positioned adjacent said piston, wherein said membrane is configured to flexibly secure said piston to said piston carrier ring such that an interstitial space is defined by said piston, said membrane, and said piston carrier ring, and wherein said interstitial space may be hermetically sealed from the external environment.   
     
     
         13 . The tilting pad bearing according to  claim 12  wherein the interface between said piston and a corresponding bearing pad is further defined as a non-pivoting interface. 
     
     
         14 . The tilting pad bearing according to  claim 13  wherein said tilting pad bearing further comprises:
 a. a second piston positioned on said piston carrier ring; 
 b. a second membrane positioned adjacent said second piston, wherein said second membrane is configured to flexibly secure said second piston to said piston carrier ring such that a second interstitial space is defined by said second piston, said second membrane, and said piston carrier ring, wherein said second interstitial space may be hermetically sealed from the external environment, and wherein said interstitial space and said second interstitial space are in fluid communication with one another. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method of equalizing the thrust force among a plurality of bearing pads in a tilting pad bearing, said method comprising:
 a. securing a plurality of pistons to a piston carrier ring via a corresponding plurality of flexible membranes, wherein a corresponding plurality of interstitial spaces are defined by said pistons, said membranes, and said piston carrier ring;   b. placing a suitable fluid in said plurality of interstitial areas; and,   c. fluidly connecting each said interstitial space with one another.