To determine free field thrust of a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine may be attached to a movable support, and operated at a selected engine operating point. The thrust applied by the engine to the thrust cradle is measured. The gas turbine engine intake momentum drag generated by airflow into the gas turbine engine intake, the thrust cradle drag force generated by airflow past the moveable support of the thrust cradle, the base drag generated as a result of accelerating nozzle ejector...

A gas-lubricated thrust bearing employs relatively rigid inwardly cantilevered spokes carrying a relatively resilient annular member or annulus. This annulus acts as a beam on which are mounted bearing pads. The resilience of the beam mount causes the pads to accept the load and, with proper design, responds to a rotating thrust-transmitting collar by creating a gas film between the pads and the thrust collar. The bearing may be arranged for load equalization thereby avoiding the necessity of gi...

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 hybrid hydraulic-pneumatic thrust generator wherein pneumatic action is used for cocking and for cushioning while hydraulic action is used for providing the driving force. The thrust generator of this invention has a relatively flat thrust pattern making is especially suitable as a driving mechanism for high velocity water jets for fracturing concrete and the like.

A multi-pad thrust bearing has the pads mounted on a carrier through a hydrostatic oil pressure cushion regions, the oil in which has been pressurized hydrodynamically by rotation between the pad bearing surfaces and the load surface; the oil is led through the bearing pads to rear cavity where the oil cushion is established.

A thrust bearing includes an annular first retainer, an annular second retainer and a plurality of rollers. The first retainer and second retainer are secured together to form a bearing cage. Each retainer has a circular outer sidewall, a concentric circular inner sidewall, and a web that extends between the outer sidewall and the inner sidewall. The web has a planar interior surface with a plurality of openings each adapted to accommodate a radiused portion of one of the rollers. The use of a w...

The motor has a thrust cap fitted to its end cap by snap fit fingers. The thrust cap closes a hole in the bearing retainer of the end cap and provides a thrust bearing surface against which the end of the shaft contacts to limit axial movement or end play of the shaft. The thrust bearing surface is part of a metallic spring fixed to a body of the thrust cap.

The thrust bearing includes a thrust roller and cage assembly. Either one thrust race or two thrust races may be used. If one thrust race is used, it is made from sheet metal and formed to have at least one annular shoulder adapted to be contacted by the rollers to limit the radial movement of the thrust roller and cage assembly. If two thrust races are used, either one thrust race or both thrust races may be provided with one or more annular shoulders to limit the radial movement of the thrust ...

A thrust reverser for a gas turbine engine (10) comprises cascade structures (20,22) mounted in an engine cowl (12). The cascades (20,22) comprise a plurality of air deflecting vanes (24) arranged in fixed space relationship. At least one of the cascades (22) translates between a first inoperative position where the cascade (22) is stowed radially inward of the cowl (12) and a second operative position where the cascade (22) is clear of the cowl (12) to expose the air deflecting vanes (24). When...

A thrust reverser for a gas turbine engine (10) comprises cascade structures (20,22) mounted in an engine cowl (12). The cascades (20,22) comprise a plurality of air deflecting vanes (24) arranged in fixed space relationship. At least one of the cascades (22) translates between a first inoperative position where the cascade (22) is stowed radially inward of the cowl (12) and a second operative position where the cascade (22) is clear of the cowl (12) to expose the air deflecting vanes (24). When...