GB2202009A - Bearing structures - Google Patents
Bearing structures Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2202009A GB2202009A GB08702925A GB8702925A GB2202009A GB 2202009 A GB2202009 A GB 2202009A GB 08702925 A GB08702925 A GB 08702925A GB 8702925 A GB8702925 A GB 8702925A GB 2202009 A GB2202009 A GB 2202009A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- bush
- shaft
- support
- fluid
- interfaces
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 206010010904 Convulsion Diseases 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 230000002706 hydrostatic effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 230000002159 abnormal effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 21
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M Ilexoside XXIX Chemical compound C[C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(CC[C@@]3(C(=CC[C@H]4[C@]3(CC[C@@H]5[C@@]4(CC[C@@H](C5(C)C)OS(=O)(=O)[O-])C)C)[C@@H]2[C@]1(C)O)C)C(=O)O[C@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)CO)O)O)O.[Na+] DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M 0.000 abstract description 5
- 229910052708 sodium Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 5
- 239000011734 sodium Substances 0.000 abstract description 5
- 102000005393 Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase Human genes 0.000 abstract 1
- 108010006431 Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase Proteins 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 229910001347 Stellite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- AHICWQREWHDHHF-UHFFFAOYSA-N chromium;cobalt;iron;manganese;methane;molybdenum;nickel;silicon;tungsten Chemical compound C.[Si].[Cr].[Mn].[Fe].[Co].[Ni].[Mo].[W] AHICWQREWHDHHF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000013016 damping Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910001338 liquidmetal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 241000239290 Araneae Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C41/00—Other accessories, e.g. devices integrated in the bearing not relating to the bearing function as such
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C17/00—Sliding-contact bearings for exclusively rotary movement
- F16C17/12—Sliding-contact bearings for exclusively rotary movement characterised by features not related to the direction of the load
- F16C17/24—Sliding-contact bearings for exclusively rotary movement characterised by features not related to the direction of the load with devices affected by abnormal or undesired positions, e.g. for preventing overheating, for safety
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C32/00—Bearings not otherwise provided for
- F16C32/06—Bearings not otherwise provided for with moving member supported by a fluid cushion formed, at least to a large extent, otherwise than by movement of the shaft, e.g. hydrostatic air-cushion bearings
- F16C32/0629—Bearings not otherwise provided for with moving member supported by a fluid cushion formed, at least to a large extent, otherwise than by movement of the shaft, e.g. hydrostatic air-cushion bearings supported by a liquid cushion, e.g. oil cushion
- F16C32/064—Bearings not otherwise provided for with moving member supported by a fluid cushion formed, at least to a large extent, otherwise than by movement of the shaft, e.g. hydrostatic air-cushion bearings supported by a liquid cushion, e.g. oil cushion the liquid being supplied under pressure
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C2233/00—Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Magnetic Bearings And Hydrostatic Bearings (AREA)
Abstract
A hydrostatic bearing (12) for the lower end of the vertical shaft (10) of a sodium pump comprises a support shell (18) encircling the shaft (10) and a bush (20) located between the shell (18) and shaft (10). Liquid sodium is fed from the pump outlet to the bush/shaft and bush/shell interfaces to provide hydrostatic support. The bush outer surface and the shell inner surface are of complementary part-spherical shape and the bush floats relative to the shaft so that the bush can align itself with the shaft axis. Monitoring of the relative rotational speed of the bush with respect to the shaft (such rotation being introduced by the viscous drag forces present) is also performed for the purposes of detecting abnormal operation of the bearing or partial seizure, at least one magnet 30 is rotatable with the bush (20), and a magnetic sensor 32 provides an output having a frequency related to the speed of the bush. <IMAGE>
Description
Bearing Structures
This invention relates to bearing structures for use in the support of rotary shafts.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a rotary shaft-supporting bearing structure comprising a fixed support through which the shaft extends, a bush slidably mounted on the shaft so as to be interposed between the shaft and the inner periphery of the support, the bush and the support having generally complementary and spherical peripheral outer and inner surfaces respectively, and means for supplying fluid to the interfaces between the bush and the shaft on the one hand and the bush and the support on the other.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a rotary shaft-supporting bearing structure comprising a fixed support through which the shaft extends, a bush slidably mounted on the shaft so as to be interposed between the shaft and the inner periphery of the support, means for supplying fluid to the interfaces between the bush and the shaft on the one hand and the bush and the support on the other, and means for monitoring the rotational speed of the bush relative to the shaft whereby abnormal operation or partial seizure of the bush can be detected.
The supply of fluid to the bush/shaft and bush/support interfaces serves to produce a film of fluid between each pair of confronting surfaces and the arrangement is preferably such that the fluid supply to the interfaces provides hydrostatic support via the fluid at the interfaces. The fluid may be supplied to the interfaces via passageways in the support and the shaft respectively. The shaft may comprise the drive shaft of a pump and the fluid supplied to the interfaces may be derived from the fluid pumped by the pump itself.
The monitoring means may comprise a magnet or magnets rotatable with the bush and a sensor mounted on the support to detect the magnet(s) during rotation of the bush.
To promote further understanding of the invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a liquid metal pump for use in fast neutron nuclear reactor plant; and
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of part of the pump shown in Figure 1.
Referring now to the drawings, the pump shown in
Figure t is a liquid metal pump and includes a vertically disposed drive shaft 10 mounted adjacent to its lower end in a bearing structure 12 which is shown in greater detail in Figure 2. The structure 12 comprises a fixed annular support shell 14 mounted in the pump casing 16 via a spider support arrangement 18. The shaft 10 extends, with substantial clearance, through the support shell and a floating bush 20 is fitted within the clearance. The bush 20 has a cylindrical inner surface and is slidable axially on the shaft 10. The outer surface of the bush 20 is of generally part-spherical shape and the inner surface of the shell 14 is of complementary generally part-spherical shape, both surfaces being centred on the axis of the shaft.
Hydrostatic support films are formed, in operation of the pump, between the shaft/bush and bush/shell interfaces to allow the shaft to slide axially and rotate freely relative to the bush and shell while permitting the bush itself to swivel within the shell and rotate freely relative to the shell, rotation of the bush being induced by the drag forces acting on the bush as a result of shaft rotation. The fluid supplied to the interfaces may, in this case, be derived from the pumped fluid (typically sodium) and is supplied from the pump outlet to the interfaces, under pressure, along passageways 22, 24 in the shaft and shell. The overflow sodium from the interfaces eventually returns to the pool of sodium in which the pump is immersed.
As compared wtih known hydrostatic bearings used in sodium pumps in which there is a single interface between the shaft and support, the bearing structure of Figure 2 affords increased stiffness and damping while reducing the risk of bearing seizure when subjected to shock loads. In addition, the spherical shaping of the confronting surfaces of the bush and the shell allow the bush to align itself parallel with the shaft axis.
Because the bearing is self-aligning it is possible to use larger length/diameter ratio bearings with smaller radial clearances. This results in increased bearing stiffness and lower rubbing velocities in the event of surface contact. The double film gives increased damping and redundancy in the event that one surface seizes.
The bearing surfaces of the structure in Figure 2 are coated with a hard-wearing, anti-galling material such as Stellite 6. The bush itself may be cast in
Stellite 6 and subsequently machined to size.
During proper operation of the bearing, the confronting bearing surfaces will be substantially uniformly spaced from each other and any deviation from this condition will be indicative of abnormal operation or partial seizure of the bush; for example by contact with the shaft and/or the shell. In accordance with a feature of the invention such conditions are detected without the need for directly monitoring the clearances at the bush/shaft and bush/shell interfaces. Advantage is taken of the fact that, in the described bearing structure, the bush 20 is caused to rotate by the viscous drag forces created by the shaft via the coupling fluid.
For a given shaft speed under correct operating conditions, the bush rotational speed will have a well-defined value. Thus, in accordance with this feature of the invention, the bush speed is monitored to provide an indication of any deviation from normal operating conditions. As shown in Figure 2, the bush 20 has at least one magnet 30 embedded into its outer surface and the shell 14 is provided with a magnetic sensor 32 for producing an electrical output to remote monitoring equipment. The sensor 32 therefore provides an output having a frequency related to the instantaneous speed of the bush. The signal coupled with a signal indicating the rotational speed of the shaft may be monitored to enable abnormal operation or impending seizure to be detected.
Claims (8)
1. A rotary shaft-supporting bearing structure comprising a fixed support through which the shaft extends, a bush slidably mounted on the shaft so as to be interposed between the shaft and the inner periphery of the support, the bush and the support having generally complementary and spherical peripheral outer and inner surfaces respectively, and means for supplying fluid to the interfaces between the bush and the shaft on the one hand and the bush and the support on the other.
2. A rotary shaft-supporting bearing structure comprising a fixed support through which the shaft extends, a bush slidably mounted on the shaft so as to be interposed between the shaft and the inner periphery of the support, means for supplying fluid to the interfaces between the bush and the shaft on the one hand and the bush and the support on the other, and means for monitoring the rotational speed of the bush relative to the shaft whereby abnormal operation or partial seizure of the bush can be detected.
3. A structure as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the supply pf fluid to the bush/shaft and bush/support interfaces serves to produce a film of fluid between each gair of confronting surfaces and the arrangement is such that the fluid supply to the interfaces provides hydrostatic support via the fluid at the interfaces.
4. A structure as claimed in Claim 3 in which the fluid is supplied to the interfaces via passageways in the support and the shaft respectively.
5. A structure as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4 in which the shaft comprises the drive shaft of a pump and the fluid supplied to the interfaces is derived from the fluid pumped by the pump itself.
6. A structure as claimed in any one of Claims 1-5 in which the monitoring means comprises a magnet or magnets rotatable with the bush and a sensor mounted on the support to detect the magnet(s) during rotation of the bush.
7. A bearing structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
8. A pump incorporating a bearing structure as claimed in any one of Claims 1-7.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8702925A GB2202009B (en) | 1987-02-10 | 1987-02-10 | Bearing structures |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8702925A GB2202009B (en) | 1987-02-10 | 1987-02-10 | Bearing structures |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8702925D0 GB8702925D0 (en) | 1987-03-18 |
| GB2202009A true GB2202009A (en) | 1988-09-14 |
| GB2202009B GB2202009B (en) | 1991-03-27 |
Family
ID=10611985
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8702925A Expired - Fee Related GB2202009B (en) | 1987-02-10 | 1987-02-10 | Bearing structures |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2202009B (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1340865A (en) * | 1970-12-22 | 1973-12-19 | White B G | Gate for a waterway |
| GB1512952A (en) * | 1975-05-22 | 1978-06-01 | Glacier Metal Co Ltd | Journal bearing assembly |
-
1987
- 1987-02-10 GB GB8702925A patent/GB2202009B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1340865A (en) * | 1970-12-22 | 1973-12-19 | White B G | Gate for a waterway |
| GB1512952A (en) * | 1975-05-22 | 1978-06-01 | Glacier Metal Co Ltd | Journal bearing assembly |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8702925D0 (en) | 1987-03-18 |
| GB2202009B (en) | 1991-03-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |