THRUST BEARING ASSEMBLY Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC F16C17/04 F16C32/06 

FIELD: machine building.

SUBSTANCE: thrust bearing assembly consists of axial bearing and thrust bearing (7) made of nonmagnetic material. Axial bearing is composed of housing (1) with cylindrical recess and flat bottom formed by circular ledge (2) extending over perimeter of housing (1). Resilient washer (3) is arranged on cylindrical recess bottom with ring-shape gas bearing resting thereon and made of nonmagnetic material and separated to sectors (5) by radially directed straps (6) of the same thickness secured to housing (1). Flange (8) making the recess is arranged at perimeter of sector (5), on the side facing the thrust bearing (7). Recess of every sector (5) locked are sector poles of high magnetic permeability material with sector permanent magnets (9, 10) with tangential opposite magnetisation located there between. Cross-section of washers (6) is shaped to T shape, their flanges being arranged to engage the radial collars (8). Magnets (9, 10) are shaped to trapezoids with their wide base facing the recess surface while narrow base of every magnet (9, 10) contacts with wedge (14) made of strip of nonmagnetic material and rigidly secured with adjacent sector poles (12, 13). Outer surface of wedges (14) and poles (12, 13) make a single plane to form therewith a working clearance (15). Inside said sectors (5) a system of communicating channels (18) is made to feed compressed air therein from external source, system outlets being connected with through holes in poles (12, 13), connected in their turn, with working gap (15).

EFFECT: higher bearing capacity under working conditions, reliable start and outage of turbomachine.

7 cl, 5 dwg