AUTOMATIC REGULATION OF CLEARANCE IN A TILTING PAD JOURNAL BEARING

Abstract

Hydrodynamic tilting pad journal bearing with an automatic control of the clearance between the journal and pads is described in the paper. The clearance can be controlled by measuring the hydrodynamic force acting on the supporting pin of the pad. Analysis of operation of the bearing shows higher possibilities of bearings with automatic control. At assembly of that type of not controlled bearing it is impossible to achieve small clearance between the pad and the journal at journal rotation with high frequency because in the case of static state, it is when the journal is not rotating, the bearing pads should grasp the journal with high interference force, and the bearing could not start working at such conditions. Control of hydrodynamic forces acting between the pads and the journal enables to regulate the clearance at starting and at operation.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.mech.18.2.1567