Five-axial groove cylindrical journal bearing with pressure dams for bi-directional rotation
A five-axial groove cylindrical journal bearing assembly with pressure dams designed for bi-directional rotation for rotatably supporting a rotating body provided with a babbitted inner surface. The journal bearing assembly has two pressure dams that are substantially mirror images of each other along a centerline between the pressure dams and has two pressure dams each located substantially opposite the direction of two vector loads of the journal bearing assembly.
1. A cylindrical hydrodynamic journal bearing assembly, comprising:
an inner surface;
a first pressure dam and a second pressure dam machined into the inner surface,
wherein the first pressure dam and the second pressure dam are substantially mirror images of each other along a centerline between the first pressure dam and the second pressure dam; and
a plurality of axial grooves machined in the inner surface to form a plurality of fixed bearing pads,
wherein the axial grooves are substantially circumferentially and symmetrically positioned on the inner surface; and
wherein the first pressure dam, the second pressure dam and the plurality of axial grooves are positioned to permit bi-directional gearbox rotation.
2. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the first pressure dam is located substantially opposite the direction of a first vector load of the journal bearing assembly; and
the second pressure dam is located substantially opposite the direction of a second vector load of the journal bearing assembly.
3. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure dam and the second pressure dam are circumferential rectangular reliefs of uniform depth.
4. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein plurality of axial grooves are rectangular reliefs of non-uniform depth.
5. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of axial grooves comprises a first axial groove, a second axial groove, a third axial groove, a fourth axial groove and a fifth axial groove.
6. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fixed bearing pads comprises a first fixed bearing pad, a second fixed bearing pad, a third fixed bearing pad, a fourth fixed bearing pad, and a fifth fixed bearing pad.
7. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the journal bearing assembly comprises two halves.
8. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface includes a babbitted surface.
9. A hydrodynamic journal bearing assembly, comprising:
an inner surface;
a first pressure dam and a second pressure dam machined into the inner surface,
the first pressure dam is located substantially opposite the direction of a first vector load of the journal bearing assembly; and
the second pressure dam is located substantially opposite the direction of a second vector load of the journal bearing assembly;
and
a plurality of axial grooves machined in the inner surface to form a plurality of fixed bearing pads,
wherein the axial grooves are substantially circumferentially and symmetrically positioned on the inner surface;
wherein the first pressure dam, the second pressure dam and the plurality of axial grooves are positioned to permit bi-directional gearbox rotation.
10. The bearing assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first pressure dam and the second pressure dam are substantially mirror images of each other along a centerline between the first pressure dam and the second pressure dam.
11. The bearing assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first pressure dam and the second pressure dam are circumferential rectangular reliefs of uniform depth.
12. The bearing assembly of claim 9 , wherein plurality of axial grooves are rectangular reliefs of non-uniform depth.
13. The bearing assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of grooves comprises a first axial groove, a second axial groove, a third axial groove, a fourth axial groove and a fifth axial groove.
14. The bearing assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of fixed bearing pads comprises a first fixed bearing pad, a second fixed bearing pad, a third fixed bearing pad, a fourth fixed bearing pad, and a fifth fixed bearing pad.
15. The bearing assembly of claim 9 , wherein the journal bearing assembly comprises two halves.
16. The bearing assembly of claim 9 , wherein the inner surface includes a babbitted surface.
17. A method of manufacturing a hydrodynamic journal bearing assembly, wherein the journal bearing includes an inner surface, comprising:
machining a first pressure dam and a second pressure dam on the inner surface,
wherein the first pressure dam and the second pressure dam are substantially mirror images of each other along a centerline between the first pressure dam and the second pressure dam, and
wherein the first pressure dam and the second pressure dam permit bi-directional gearbox rotation; and
machining a plurality of axial grooves machined on the inner surface to form a plurality of fixed bearing pads,
wherein the axial grooves are substantially circumferentially and symmetrically positioned on the inner surface; and
wherein the axial grooves permit bi-directional gearbox rotation.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein
the first pressure dam is located substantially opposite the direction of a first vector load of the journal bearing assembly; and
the second pressure dam is located substantially opposite the direction of a second vector load of the journal bearing assembly.
19. The bearing assembly of claim 17 , wherein the first pressure dam and the second pressure dam are circumferential rectangular reliefs of uniform depth.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the journal bearing assembly comprises two halves.