Bearing having integrally formed components
Embodiments of a bearing having integrally formed parts are provided herein. In some embodiments, a damper assembly of a gas bearing may include a housing having a fluid filled cavity formed therein; a compliant seal disposed within an opening of the cavity to seal the cavity; a damper plunger disposed within the cavity, wherein the damper plunger is movable within the cavity; and a bearing pad disposed outside of the cavity and coupled to the damper plunger, wherein the damper plunger and bearing pad are integrally formed with one another.
1. A damper assembly of a gas bearing, comprising:
a housing having a fluid filled cavity formed therein;
a compliant seal disposed within an opening of the cavity to seal the cavity;
a damper plunger disposed within the cavity, wherein the damper plunger is movable within the cavity; and
a bearing pad disposed outside of the cavity and coupled to the damper plunger, wherein the damper plunger and bearing pad are integrally formed with one another.
2. The damper assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spring movably coupling the bearing pad to the housing.
3. The damper assembly of claim 2 , wherein the spring, bearing pad, and housing are integrally formed with one another.
4. The damper assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft coupling the bearing pad to the damper plunger, wherein the damper plunger, shaft and bearing pad are integrally formed with one another.
5. The damper assembly of claim 4 , wherein the shaft comprises a through hole fluidly coupling a gas inlet to a plenum formed in the bearing pad.
6. The damper assembly of claim 5 , wherein the bearing pad comprises a plurality of fluid distribution holes fluidly coupled to the plenum.
7. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the damper plunger and cavity have relative dimensions such that an end of the damper plunger and a wall of the cavity provide a resistive flow path of the fluid between a first control volume and second control volume of the cavity.
8. The damper assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spring coupling the damper plunger to the housing.
9. The damper assembly of claim 8 , wherein the spring, damper plunger, and housing are integrally formed with one another.
10. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the damper plunger comprises a plurality of cooling fins.
11. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing and compliant seal are integrally formed with one another.
12. A bearing, comprising:
an outer rim;
a housing;
a damper assembly, comprising:
a fluid filled cavity formed within the housing;
a compliant seal disposed within an opening of the cavity to seal the cavity;
a damper plunger disposed within the cavity, wherein the damper plunger is movable within the cavity;
a bearing pad defining an annular inner surface of the bearing and disposed outside of the cavity and coupled to the damper plunger;
a spring coupling the bearing pad to the housing; and
a shaft coupling the bearing pad to the damper plunger, wherein the outer rim, housing, compliant seal, damper plunger, bearing pad, spring and shaft are integrally formed with one another.
13. The bearing of claim 12 , wherein the damper plunger comprises a plurality of cooling fins.
14. The bearing of claim 12 , wherein the shaft comprises a through hole fluidly coupling a gas inlet to a plenum formed in the bearing pad.
15. The bearing of claim 12 , wherein the bearing pad comprises a plurality of fluid distribution holes fluidly coupled to the plenum.
16. The bearing of claim 12 , wherein the damper plunger and cavity have relative dimensions such that an end of the damper plunger and a wall of the cavity provide a resistive flow path of the fluid between a first control volume and second control volume of the cavity.
17. A bearing, comprising:
an outer rim;
a housing;
a damper assembly, comprising:
a fluid filled cavity formed within the housing;
a damper plunger disposed within the cavity, wherein the damper plunger is movable within the cavity;
a first spring coupling the damper plunger to the housing;
a bearing pad defining an annular inner surface of the bearing and disposed outside of the cavity;
a plunger coupling the bearing pad to the damper plunger; and
a second spring coupling the bearing pad to the housing, wherein the outer rim, housing, damper plunger, bearing pad, first spring and second spring are integrally formed with one another.
18. The bearing of claim 17 , wherein the damper plunger comprises a plurality of cooling fins.
19. The bearing of claim 17 , wherein the plunger comprises a through hole fluidly coupling a gas inlet to a plenum formed in the bearing pad.
20. The bearing of claim 17 , wherein the bearing pad comprises a plurality of fluid distribution holes fluidly coupled to the plenum.