US 12,135,057 B2
Tilt pad journal bearing with lubrication arrangement
Wei Li, Delmont, PA (US); Manish Rambhau Thorat, Monroeville, PA (US); Brian Christopher Pettinato, Greensburg, PA (US); and Christopher Joseph Braman, Irwin, PA (US)
Assigned to Elliott Company, Jeannette, PA (US)
Filed by Elliott Company, Jeannette, PA (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/899,792.
Prior Publication US 2024/0068510 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. F16C 17/03 (2006.01); F16C 33/10 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 17/03 (2013.01) [F16C 33/106 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tilt pad journal bearing for supporting a rotating shaft, the tilt pad journal bearing comprising:
an annular support ring;
a plurality of arcuate pads tiltably mounted in the annular support ring and circumferentially spaced apart from each other, each of the plurality of arcuate pads having a mounting surface opposite a shaft support surface; and
a lubrication arrangement disposed between adjacent pads of the plurality of arcuate pads, the lubrication arrangement comprising:
a lubrication manifold connected to the annular support ring and recessed relative to the shaft support surface of adjacent arcuate pads to define an oil mixing cavity, and
a plurality of lubrication nozzles protruding from the lubrication manifold into the oil mixing cavity between the adjacent pads and the lubrication manifold,
wherein a cross-sectional flow area of an outlet of at least one of the plurality of lubrication nozzles positioned toward a center of the lubrication manifold is larger than a cross-sectional flow area of an outlet of a remainder of the plurality of nozzles positioned away from the center of the lubrication manifold.
 
15. A tilt pad journal bearing for supporting a rotating shaft, the tilt pad journal bearing comprising:
an annular support ring;
a plurality of arcuate pads tiltably mounted in the annular support ring and circumferentially spaced apart from each other, each of the plurality of arcuate pads having a mounting surface opposite a shaft support surface; and
a lubrication arrangement disposed between adjacent pads of the plurality of arcuate pads, the lubrication arrangement comprising:
a lubrication manifold connected to the annular support ring and recessed relative to the shaft support surface of adjacent arcuate pads to define an oil mixing cavity between the adjacent pads and the lubrication manifold, and
a plurality of lubrication nozzles protruding from the lubrication manifold into the oil mixing cavity,
wherein a cross-sectional flow area of an outlet of at least one of the plurality of lubrication nozzles positioned toward a center of the lubrication manifold is larger than a cross-sectional flow area of an outlet of a remainder of the plurality of nozzles positioned away from the center of the lubrication manifold, and
wherein an upper end of the plurality of lubrication nozzles is recessed relative to the shaft support surface of adjacent arcuate pads, and
wherein the annular support ring has a lubricant delivery hole in fluid communication with the lubrication manifold and each of the plurality of lubrication nozzles.