Batsch, F. F.

Laub, J. H.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 
WASIIINGTON. D C .  20546 
REPLY TO 
ATTN OF: July 27, 1970 
TO : USI/Scientific & Technical Information Division 
FROM GP/Office of Assistant General 
Attention: Miss Winnie M. Morgan 
Counsel for Patent Matters 
SUBJECT: Announcement of NASA-Owned 
U.S. Patents in STAR 
In accordance with the procedures contained in the Code GP 
to Code US1 memorandum on this subject, dated June 8, 1970, 
the attached NASA-owned U.S. patent is being forwarded for 
abstracting and announcement in NASA STAR, 
The following information is provided: 
U.S. Patent No. : 3,132,903 
Corporate Source : California Institute of Technology 
Supplementary 
Corporate Source : Jet Propulsion Laboratory 
NASA Patent Case NO.: ~.~P-00476 
Please note that this patent covers an invention made by an 
employee of a NASA contractor. Pursuant to Section 305(a) of 
the National Aeronautics and Space Act, the name of the 
Administrator of NASA appears on the first page of the patent; 
however, the name of the actual inventor (author) appears at 
the heading of Column No. 1 of the Specification, following the 
words ' I .  e with respect to an invention of. . . ' I  
.#cC=.-=--.P 
Gaqle Parker 
R n r l  ne i i rn  
N RU) 
09 
e 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19700029304 2020-03-17T02:15:00+00:00Z
May 12, I964 JAMES E. WEBB 3,132,90 
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS 
AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 
SLIT REGULATED GAS JOURNAI& BEARING 
Filed Sept. 18, 1 1 P 
3,132,903 United States Patent Office May 12, 1964 
1 
regulated gas journal bearing which has a low gas con- 
Another object of this invention is to provide a gas 
hmes  E * d ~ ~ s ~ a t o r  rQ- journal bearing which is easier to produce than existing 
5 gas journal bearings, resulting in a more competitive article 
of manufacture. Piled $e& 18, 1961, Ser. No. 182,698 
2 C b i h ~ .  (el. 308-9) Yet another object of this invention is to provide a slit 
regulated gas journal bearing upon which foreign matter 
This invention relates to a gas journal bearing, and in *e gas has a minimal effect. 
more particularly to a slit regulated gas journal bearing. 10 These and Other Objects and advantages of this in- 
Gas journal bearings are known to &e prior art. One vention will become more apparent upon reading the 
of the more successful types of gas journd bearings utilizes specification in conjunction with the accompanying draw- 
orifices for discharging fluid about the area of coaction ings. 
In the drawings: between relatively movable bearing members. These 
are normdly located in the stationary bearing 15 FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the slit regulated 
member and positioned circumferentially at equal spaced gas journal taken the axis Of rotation Of 
intervals. There may be several rows of these orifices the bearing; 
arranged along the axis of rotation of the bearing mem- FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the section 
bers. lines 11-11 of FIG. 1; 
Several problems are inherent in gas journal bearings, 20 FIG. 3 iS a Cross Sectional View taken along the section 
the orifice type of bearing being more susceptible to these lines lpI-Dx Of 
problems than the slit type bearing which forms the subject FIG. 4 is a segmental view taken along a section similar 
of the instant application. One such problem is that of to FIG. 2, but showing the utilization of gas slits rather 
turbine torque. With the orifice type bearing the radial than Orifices. 
alignment of the orifices must be precise to avoid portions 25 Basically, the slit regulated gas journal bearing con- 
of the fluid from acting tangentially thus creating turbine sists Of a stationary Pillow block in which is journalled a 
torque. Mso, any eccentricity in one of the bearing mem- rotor or rotating load supporting bearing member. The 
bers, primarily the rotor against which thgfldd-is direGt; pillow is constructed from a number of Plates which 
ed from the orifices, results in PEGased tuxbin; fbrqueb are fixed together by tie bolts passing therethrough. The 
with the orifice type amangemen" ,*~~r~&~-~~~~i25 30 end plates or outside plates and the plates which abut 
applies when a load is a p p l i e d g ~ e  rotor which causes the end plates have a shaft opening which receives the 
which include plates abutting the center plate as well as 
3,132,903 sumption. 
SLIT ATED GAS $0 
nau*ics * d ~ ~ ~ ~ a ~ ~ n ~  
invention ~f John H. L a ~ b  rand Frank F. Bats& 
an 
c J j & & + y & l h g  in an eccentric condi- 
invention. The slit provides means 
shaft of the rotor. The center plate and adjacent plates, 
plates intermediate the end plates and center plate, have 
whereby the discharge of fluid is continuous circum- 35 a central bore which receives the body or dmm of the 
ferentially. rotor. The gas slits as well as the plenum chambers are 
thus eliminated. formed in the plates before they are fixed together by the 
chambers which supply fluid to the gas slits. An inlet 
The problem of directing &e fluid radially is 
The turbine torque developed due to ec- 
It has been found that the stiffness factor of the slit type 
centricity is also lessened. tie bolts. Manifolding is provided between the plenum 
gas journal bearing is improved over that of the orifice 40 Passage iS connected wirh the manifolding to supply fluid 
type. Stiffness is a function of gap and load. Thus, vJith from the source. The gas Slits discharge fluid onto the 
a given load applied in a particular direction the movable area of Coaction between the Pillow block and the rotor. 
bearing member is displaced a smaller distmce with re- The gas slits form Conti~UOUS CirCUmfereIltial Openings. 
spect to the stationary bearing member under similar Separate Paths are provided for directing fluid against 
conditions. 45 the ends of the enlarged portion of the rotor. Exhaust 
Fluid consumption for a gas type bearing is of particular c o k m  rings and discharge orifices are also provided 
importance in space vehicles. Storage facilities must be at the ends Of the 
provided for the fluid or some Referring now more specifically to the details of the invention, FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the slit regulated 
found to consume less fluid tha The assembly I@ includes the rotor or movable bearing 
The dit regulated gas journal be member generally designated 11. The rotor P I  has a cylindrical shaft 12 which is adapted to extend beyond 
size for each of the orifices as well as maintain precise 55 operate to receive the load application. The center of 
circumferential spacing. the shaft 12 is edarged formhg the rotor body or drum 
Regardless of the filter system utilized, certain foreign 13. The drum 13 is of confiderable length and is in the 
matter is always present in Raid. In the orifice type gas form Of a right cylinder. 
joural bearing foreign matter may lodge in one of the The stator or pillow block S f  is a stationary member 
orifices greatly affecting the fluid distribution and fur- 60 and surrounds all but the extending ends of the shaft 12. 
ther increasing the tendencies to develop turbine torque. It is constructed from a series of ring-like plates clamped 
Foreign matter in the together. The pillow block includes end plates 16 and fluid of a slit regulated gas journal. lQa, the end abutting plates I7 and 17a, the 
65 and the center plate 20. The end p1a:es 16 and 1Qa, as is emitted along a continuous circumferential line. 
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a slit well as the other pairs of plates, are mirror images of 
regulated gas journal bearing which Will reduce turbine each o&ef. Each of the p!ates are provided with trans- 
torque. verse apertures adjacent their outer peripheries. There 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide are six of these apertures equally spaced about the circum- 
a Slit redated gas journal bearing which has a superior 70 ference of the plates, and are in transverse alignment. 
stiffness factor. These apertures receive the tie bolts 55. The ends of the 
tie bolts 55 are threaded and receive nuts 56 which when 
section Of the rotor- 
regulated gas journal bearing 0 o gas journal bearing which is designated generally as If). 
radially. It is also a problem to the opposite sides of the assembly. The extending ends 
bearing does not the Same problem since the fluid plates 18 and the center plates 19 and 19n 
Still another object of this invention is to provide a slit 
3,132, 
3 
tightened clamp the plates together forming the pillow 
block. 
The centers of the center plate 20, the center abutting 
Plates 19 and 1 9 ~  and the intermediate plates 18 and 
180 are bored out to form the drum opening 21. 
drum opening 21 has a dimension slightly greater than 
the rotor drum 13 to allow fluid to flow between the 
members providing circumferential support as well as lu- 
brication. This dimensional difference is termed the gap. 
It is also apparent from viewing FIG. 1 that the corn- 10 
bined thicknesses or the transverse dimension of these 
members is somewhat greater than the length of rotor 
drum 13. This provides for a gap between the end abut- 
ting plates 17 and 174 and for a cushion of fluid which 
controls axial movement of the rotor with respect to the 15 
pillow block. The end plates 16 and 1 6 ~  and the end 
abutting plates 17 and P7a have their center portions 
removed to form the shaft opening 22. Again, the shaft 
opening 22 is of a slightly greater dimension than the 
A fluid radially directed feed passage 23 (FIG. 1) is 
formed in the center plate 20. It extends radially inward 
to a point approximately half the radial dimension of the 
center plate. A hose or line coupling 24 is threaded to 
the center plate and communicates with the feed passage 25 
23. The coupling 24 is connected by appropriate tubing 
to a conventional fluid supply (not shown). The plenum 
manifold 25 is formed transversely across the center plate 
20 and communicates with the feed passage 23. The 
plenum manifold 25 also passes through the center abut- 30 
ting plates 19 and 1% as best shown in FIG. 1. The 
manifold 25 interconnects the annular plenum chambers 
26, 27, 28 and 29. As shown in FIG. 2, there may be 
several manifolds 25 positioned at equally spaced inter- 
vals about the circumference of the pillow block to facili- 35 
tate equal pressure distribution. Directed radially in- 
wardly from the annular plenum chambers 24, 27, 28 
and 29 are respectively gas slits 30, 31, 32 and 33. These 
gas slits open into the gap formed between the rotor 11 
and the pillow block IS. 
The reason for constructing the pillow block from a 
series of plates now becomes apparent. A portion of 
each of the intermediate plates, center abutting plates 
and the center plate are removed to form the gas slits 
as well as the plenum chambers. This can be done by 45 
a rather simple machining operation before the plates 
are assembled. Similarly, it is a simple matter to pro- 
vide the plates with the manifolding 25. The thickness 
of the plates can be varied to provide the desired posi- 
tion of the gas slits along the length dimension of the 50 
rotor drum 13. The spacing of the gas slits as shown 
in FIG. 1 has been found to provide a proper fluid dis- 
tribution, however, it is to be understood that it may not 
be optimum, any variation of the spacing being deemed 
Axial plenum chambers 35 and 41 are formed respec- 
tively in the end plates 16, 16a and abutting end plates 
17 and 17a. These plenum chambers are also annular 
and are located so as to be within the radial dimension 
of the rotor drum 13. Radial supply passages 36 and 60 
42 are connected with the respective plenum chambers 
35 and 41 and are in turn connected to supply line COU- 
plings 37 and 43. The couplings are utilized to form a 
connection between a conventional fluid supply (not 
shown). Gas slits or orifices 38 and 44 are formed 65 
transversely through the end abutting plates 17 and 17a 
respectively. These gas openings 38 and 44 communicate 
with the axial plenum chambers 35 and 41 respectively, 
and with the gap formed between the ends of the rotor 
drum 13 and the end abutting plates 17 and 17a. 
pressure pads 39 and 45 (FIG. l), which are merely 
annular countersunk portions, may be superimposed upon 
the openings 38 and 44 to increase the load carrying Ca- 
pacity of the bearing assembly. 
The 5 
shaft 12 to provide a gap for fluid support. 20 
40 
within scope of the invention. 55 
Annu- 70 
As stated above, the openings 38 and 44 may be slits 75 
903 
4 
or orifices. The latter form of opening will operate sat- 
isfactorily to restrain axial thrust; however, a slit type 
opening is preferable. If a slit type opening is utilized 
(FIG. 4) the lower portions of the end abutting plates 
which surround the rotor shaft 12 must be secured to the 
end plates 16 and 16a. This may be accomplished by a 
machine screw, spot welding or any conventional fasten- 
ing means. 
Exhaust collector rings 48 and 9.0 are formed in the 
end abutting plates 17 and 17a at the ends and adjacent 
the outer periphery of the rotor drum 13. These col- 
lector rings are annular in configuration and communi- 
cate with exhaust orifices 49 and 51 which are formed 
radially outwardly in the end abutting plates 17 and 17a 
respectively. It should be understood that the exhaust 
orifices 49 and 51 may be directed transversely through 
the end plates 16 and 16a. There are several of the 
exhaust orifices 49 and 51 as illustrated in FIG. 3 to facili- 
tate rapid dissipation of the exhaust gas to the atmos- 
phere or a collecting chamber as the situation demands. 
From the above description the operation of the slit 
regulated gas journal bearing becomes apparent. Fluid 
from an appropriate supply source enters the coupling 
24, passes through the feed passages 23 and manifolds 
25 to the plenum chambers 26, 27, 28 and 29. The fluid 
then travels through the gas slits 30, 31, 32 and 33, and 
is dixhwged %gain ithe mtor drum 13. The fluid is 
forced to move in a direction normal to the gas slits pro- 
viding a continuous flow of fluid between the surface of 
the rotor drum 13 and the rotor drum opening 21 formed 
in the pillow block 15. The fluid moves along the surface 
of the rotor drum 13 and is collected by the exhaust col- 
lectors 41 and 50, and directed to the outside of the pil- 
low block by the exhaust orifices 49 and 51. Although 
not shown, it is to be understood that within the broadest 
aspect d the invention, the slit regulated gas journal bear- 
ing may be utilized with a closed fluid system. With this 
arrangement the bearing assembly would be mounted in- 
side a collecting chamber. The exhaust fluid would then 
be collected and pass through appropriate apparatus 
whereby the fluid could be reused. The above described 
operation of the fluid resists and controls the radial move- 
memt OC the mtar wi$h wqp& to the pillow block. 
The fluid directed through the couplings 37 and 43, 
supply passages 36 and 42, the axial plenum chambers 
35 and 41 and the gas openings 38 and 44 regulate the 
axial movement of the rotor with respect to the pillow 
block. The fluid emitted from the openings 38 and 44 
travels along the ends of the rotor drum 13 and escapes 
via the clearance between the rotor shaft 12 and the shaft 
opening 22 formed in the pillow block. The fluid may 
also be exhausted from the exhaust collector rings 48, 50 
and their associated exhaust orifices. 
The above described invention provides a device which 
develops a minimum of turbine torque. Since a con- 
tinuous circumferential flow of fluid is emitted from the 
gas slits the factors normally causing turbine torque in 
an orifice regulated gas journal bearing are eliminated. 
The bearing of this invention is easier to make than the 
orifice type. It is rather a simple matter to machine or 
otherwise work away a portion of the annular plates 
which when clamped together form the gas slits. In the 
orifice type bearing the radial alignment of the orifice 
must be preoise io prevent the possibility of tmbine torque. 
It is also diffcult to maintain equal hole size or concen- 
tricity as well as maintaining the proper circumferen- 
tial sparing. The gw consumption of the dit mgulated 
gas journal bearing is less than that of the orifice type, 
The consumption is less since there is a greater fluid 
resistance for o. &wen area. The bearing d this inmu- 
tion is also superior in performance. The stiffness which 
is a function of the change in gap to the change of load 
or weight, expressed as 
Ah (height or gap) 
=Aw (weight or load) 
3,132,903 
is greater in a slit regulated gas journal bearing than in a rotor having an enlarged body portion journalled in 
the orifice type. This means that for a given load there said pillow block; first gas slits communicating with said 
will be less deviation of the rotor from a desired true con- rotor formed in said pillow block and surrounding said 
centric position with respect to the pillow block. Also rotor body, second gas slits communicating with the ends 
any dirt which may be carried by the fluid will not, as a 5 of said rotor body; exhaust passages formed in said pillow 
rule, have the adverse &eat upon the slit type bearing that blocks at the ends of said rotor body; plenum chambers 
it might iupoin, a31  omi if ice type bearing. If la dirt pmticle for  supplying fluid to said gas dits; manifold meam fbr 
should obs@uut one of h e  mifioes in an o&ce type bear- interconnecting said plenum chambers of said first gas 
ing there is a segment of some size about the circum- slits; and means for supplying fluid to said manifold 
fwence of the rotor from which fluid emission is- eliai- 10 means and to said plenum chambers of said second gas 
nated. This immediately leads to unbalance in the fluid slits. 
distr3biution iresuiting tin turbine torque and eccentricity 2. A gas journal bearing as in claim 1 wherein said pil- 
of the rotor. The bearing of this invention has been low block is constructed from a number of plates con- 
found to be quite successful, for example, for supporting nected together by tie bolts, portions of the sides of 
the gimbal axis of gyros and accelerometers in inertial 15 plates being worked away and when joined together form- 
guiding systems. Since gyros and accelerometers are pre- ing certain of said gas slits. 
cision instruments the bearing with the advantages of the 
instant invention is believed to provide a true contribu- References Cited in the file of this patent 
UNITED STATES PATENTS tion to the state of the art. 
present invention are possible in the light of t+e above 176299577 IClahn --------------- May 2 4 ~  1927 
teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that wi+n 29671~7Q0 seyffert --------------- Mar. 99 lgS4 
the scope of the appended claims the invention may be 3,026150 BucHeY et al. --------- Mar. 20, 1962 
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the 20 
FOREIGN PATENTS practiced otherwise than specifically described herein. What is claimed is: 25 
1. A gas journal bearing comprising: a pillow block, 688,152 Great Britain _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  Feb. 25, 1953 


Slit regulated gas journal bearing Patent

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