Journal bearing design

1. A bushing for use with a journal bearing, the bushing comprising:

a cylindrical interior defining an interior bearing surface;

a longitudinal axis and an internal diameter ID;

a grooved region of the interior bearing surface having a length H along the longitudinal axis; and

a set of grooves in the grooved region of the interior bearing surface, wherein N is the number of grooves in the set of grooves;

wherein each groove is disposed at a helix angle θ offset from the longitudinal axis of the bushing; and

wherein:

tangent (θ)=(π×ID)/( N×H ).

2. A bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the set of grooves includes between one and ten grooves.

3. A bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the set of grooves includes between one and five grooves.

4. A bushing for use with a journal bearing, the bushing comprising:

a cylindrical interior defining an interior bearing surface;

a longitudinal axis running through the center of the cylindrical interior;

a grooved region of the interior bearing surface having a length H along the longitudinal axis; and

a set of helical grooves in the grooved region of the interior bearing surface;

wherein any straight line extending along the grooved region of the interior bearing surface in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis intersects one and only one groove of the set of helical grooves.

5. A bushing for use with a journal bearing, the bushing comprising:

a cylindrical interior defining an interior bearing surface, the cylindrical interior having a circumference;

a set of helical grooves in the interior bearing surface, the number of helical grooves defining a value N;

each groove in the set of helical grooves extending around a portion of the circumference; and

each groove of the set of helical grooves in the interior bearing surface having a turn, the turn of a groove defined as a fraction of the circumference over which the respective groove extends;

wherein the turn of each groove is one divided by N.

6. A bushing according to claim 5 , wherein the number of helical grooves in the set of helical grooves is between 1 and 10.

7. A bushing according to claim 5 , wherein the number of helical grooves in the set of helical grooves is between 1 and 5.

8. A bearing for use with rotating equipment, the bearing comprising:

the bearing having a longitudinal axis;

a bushing having a cylindrical interior defining an interior bearing surface, the cylindrical interior having a first diameter D 1 ;

a journal mounted on a rotating shaft and configured to rotate within the bushing, the journal having a cylindrical exterior defining an external bearing surface, the cylindrical exterior having a second diameter D 2 ;

a grooved region located on one surface, the one surface selected from the external bearing surface and the interior bearing surface, the grooved region having a length H along the longitudinal axis of the bearing; and

a set of grooves in the grooved region, wherein N is the number of grooves in the set of grooves;

each groove disposed at a helix angle θ offset from the longitudinal axis of the bearing;

wherein any straight line extending along the grooved region of a bearing surface in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis intersects one and only one groove of the set of grooves.

9. A bearing according to claim 8 , wherein:

the grooved region is located on the interior bearing surface of the bushing; and

wherein:

tangent (θ)=(π×D1)/( N×H ).

10. A bearing according to claim 8 , wherein:

the grooved region is located on the exterior bearing surface of the journal; and

wherein:

tangent (θ)=(π×D2)/( N×H ).

11. A bearing according to claim 8 , wherein the set of grooves includes between one and ten grooves.

12. A bearing according to claim 8 , wherein the set of grooves includes between one and five grooves.

13. A bearing according to claim 8 , wherein:

tangent (θ)=(π×(D1+D2))/(2× N×H ).

14. A bearing for use with rotating equipment, the bearing comprising:

a bushing having a cylindrical interior defining an interior bearing surface;

a journal mounted on a rotating shaft and configured to rotate within the bushing, the journal having a cylindrical exterior defining an external bearing surface;

a longitudinal axis running through the center of the cylindrical interior of the bushing;

a grooved region located on one surface, the one surface selected from the external bearing surface and the interior bearing surface, the grooved region of the bearing having a length H along the longitudinal axis; and

a set of helical grooves in the grooved region of the bearing surface;

wherein any straight line extending along the grooved region of the bearing surface in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis intersects one and only one groove of the set of helical grooves.

15. A bearing for use with rotating equipment, the bearing comprising:

a bushing having a cylindrical interior defining an interior bearing surface, the cylindrical interior having a first circumference C 1 ;

a journal mounted on a rotating shaft and configured to rotate within the bushing, the journal having a cylindrical exterior defining an external bearing surface having a second circumference C 2 ;

a set of helical grooves in one of the bearing surfaces, the number of helical grooves defining a value N;

each groove in the set of helical grooves extending around a portion of a circumference of the bearing surface selected from the first circumference C 1 and the second circumference C 2 ; and

each groove of the set of helical grooves in the interior bearing surface having a turn, the turn of a groove defined as the fraction of the circumference travelled by the respective groove;

wherein the turn of each groove is one divided by N.