US 11,808,278 B2
Bearing system for vertical shafts
Knut Harald Klepsvik, Kolltveit (NO); and Anders Brunvold, Blomsterdalen (NO)
Assigned to OneSubsea IP UK Limited, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed by ONESUBSEA IP UK LIMITED, London (GB)
Filed on May 13, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/410,871.
Prior Publication US 2020/0362871 A1, Nov. 19, 2020
Int. Cl. F04D 29/047 (2006.01); F04D 13/10 (2006.01); F04D 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 29/0476 (2013.01) [F04D 3/00 (2013.01); F04D 13/10 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vertical rotating system, comprising:
a first vertical shaft configured to rotate about a central axis of the first vertical shaft, wherein the first vertical shaft is oriented such that the gravitational force is substantially parallel to the first vertical shaft;
a first impeller section coupled to the first vertical shaft and configured to rotate in a first direction;
a stator surrounding the first vertical shaft; and
a plurality of bearing pads that extend circumferentially about the first vertical shaft, wherein the plurality of bearing pads couple to the stator with a respective pivot connector of a plurality of pivot connectors, and wherein the plurality of bearing pads are configured to direct a force created by rotation of the first vertical shaft in a fluid to load the first vertical shaft;
wherein the plurality of bearing pads are equally sized and comprise a first bearing pad, a second bearing pad and a third bearing pad spaced adjacent to one another in a sequence in a circumferential direction, wherein the first bearing pad is circumferentially offset from the second bearing pad by a first distance, and the second bearing pad is circumferentially offset from the third bearing pad by a second distance, wherein the first distance and the second distance are different, and wherein a difference between the first distance and the second distance is configured to direct the force of a fluid to load the first vertical shaft; and
wherein the plurality of bearing pads comprises the first bearing pad, the second bearing pad, the third bearing pad, and a fourth bearing pad in the sequence in the circumferential direction, wherein the fourth bearing pad is circumferentially offset from the first bearing pad by a third distance and circumferentially offset from the third bearing pad by a fourth distance, wherein the first distance and third distance are a first common distance, wherein the second distance and the fourth distance are a second common distance, wherein the second common distance is greater than the first common distance, wherein the first, second, and fourth bearing pads are configured to direct the force of the fluid to load the first vertical shaft in a direction toward the third bearing pad.