A hydrodynamic bearing set, for use with a thrust disk disposed between planar surfaces of a housing, includes first and second topfoils disposed adjacent first and second thrust disk axial bearing surfaces and removably secured to the housing. An underspring is secured between each planar housing surface and the corresponding topfoil. Dual-leaf spring pairs attached to at least one topfoil periphery function to urge the topfoils away from the thrust disk axial bearing surfaces by applying a for...

A long travel constant contact side bearing for railway cars provides better handling characteristics, achieving improved tracking and curving through use of various combinations of features. The side bearing comprises a base and a generally cylindrical wall section extending upwardly from the base. A cup-shaped cap comprises a generally circular top section and a generally cylindrical wall section extending downwardly therefrom. The cap extends into the wall section of the base. At least one co...

A compliant support for an axial thrust air bearing between a shaft and a housing with an annular thrust runner extending radially from the shaft having a runner bearing surface. The housing has a housing bearing surface and an air inlet in communication with a source of pressurized air. An annular foil support sleeve is disposed on the housing bearing surface, having an air foil surface with an array of foils. The foils serve to conduct air from the air inlet forming a pressurized air curtain b...

An improved foil thrust bearing having a thrust runner and a thrust plate includes an underspring element positioned adjacent to the thrust plate. The underspring element comprises, in one embodiment, a plurality of alternating first apertures and spring portions, with at least one spring portion having a periodic configuration and comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge. The periodic configuration is defined by a plurality of pitches that vary between the leading and trailing edges. Also ...

A gas dynamic foil bearing comprises a plate (13) attached to a base (10), support members (14) fixed on the plate (13) at predetermined intervals, elastic foils (15) fixed to the support members (14) at one end thereof to overlap each other, a thrust disk (11) connected to a rotating rotor and placed on the elastic foils (15), and bent springs (17) interposed between the elastic foils (15) and the plate (13) in the overlapping area of the elastic foils (15) for supporting the elastic foils (15)...

A compliant foil fluid thrust bearing has a single sided or two sided thrust disk rotor, an integrally formed compliant foil member, and an underspring member. The non-rotating but compliant foils are located adjacent to the thrust face or faces or the rotatable disk and are formed as arcuate segments on washer-shaped disk members. The underspring member consists of three washer-shaped disk elements that together provide variable spring stiffness in both the circumferential and radial directions...

Constant contact side bearing support of a rail car body on a multi-axle rail car truck is provided for the purpose of restraining truck hunting and controlling car rocking. A bearing receiver or cage mounted on the truck bolster in laterally offset relationship to the truck center plate bowl supports wedge shaped bearing blocks on inclined surfaces within the cage. Biasing means, e.g., a long travel coil spring, biases the bearing blocks against the inclined surfaces of the cage, thereby mainta...

The top foil of a hydrodynamic fluid film thrust bearing is formed from a single flat annular disk with radial depressions extending from the outer diameter to the inner diameter of the disk that protrude toward the foil plate and define between adjacent depressions a working surface that is configured to complement the foil bumpers attached to the foil plate. The bump foils of the upper foil plate and the bump foils of the lower foil plates can be either in axial alignment or can be displaced r...

A wear and lubricating liner having a cup-shaped wear liner assembly which includes a first bottom plate portion. An aperture is formed centrally through such first bottom plate and a first upstanding wall portion is connected at a bottom thereof to an outer perimeter of such first bottom plate. A lubricating liner assembly having at least one substantially solid lubricating material with a bottom surface thereof disposed adjacent and in contact with an upper surface of such bottom plate and a v...

A bi-directional foil thrust bearing for use in a variety of turbomachinery devices and disposed between rotating and stationary members of the turbomachine. The thrust bearing comprises annular bearing stiffener, spring cluster, and follower spring disks, with each disk disposed coaxially about a centerline axis of the device. A plurality of generally trapezoidal foils are attached to the bearing stiffener disk and an equal number of generally trapezoidal spring sets are attached to the spring ...