GB1330317A - Method of centering a shaft in a bearing and hydrostatic bearing with high rigidity for carrying out this method - Google Patents

Abstract

1330317 Hydrostatic bearing AGENCE NATIONALE DE VALORISATION DE LA RECHERCHE 5 Oct 1970 [10 Oct 1969 24 Sept 1970] 47171/70 Heading F2A A shaft A is centred in a hydrostatic bearing having at least three circumferentially spaced fluid chambers 1, by feeding fluid to the chambers from a common source via a distributer which impedes the reduction in the supply to any chamber in which the pressure increases due to the movement of the shaft. The chambers are provided in a sleeve 6 which is surrounded by a ring 9 which has a limited radial clearance about the sleeve. Angular movement of the ring relative to the sleeve is prevented by a key 35. Cavities 10 are provided in the ring, which communicate with an annular supply chamber 12, there being a cavity corresponding to each chamber 1. Axial ducts 14, 15 are provided in the rings 7, 8 which surround the ring 9 and sleeve 6, the ducts allowing flow of fluid from the cavities 10 to their corresponding chambers 1 via nozzles 11. In operation, when the shaft is centred in the bearing the ring 9 is concentric with the sleeve and the supply of fluid to the chambers is uniform. When the shaft is radially displaced the pressure in the chamber towards which the shaft is displaced increases due to the restriction of the outlet passages. The increase in pressure is communicated to the corresponding cavity 10 and due to the unbalance of pressure on the ring 9, the ring moves radially to allow more fluid to flow from the cavity to the chamber, thereby tending to return the shaft to its normal position. The fluid leaving the chambers is collected in longitudinal grooves 2 and annular grooves 17, 18 and leaves the bearing via duct 29. The axial position of the shaft may be maintained by two opposing fluid thrust bearings (Fig. 5, not shown).