ROTATING MACHINERY WITH ADAPTIVE BEARING JOURNALS AND METHODS OF OPERATING Russian patent published in 2018 - IPC F16C25/02 F16C17/02 F16C33/10 

FIELD: machine building.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to rotating machinery, in particular but not exclusively, to turbine installations, such as gas turbines, steam turbines, axial and centrifugal compressors. In particular, the present invention relates to improvements relating to bearings for rotors of such machinery. Disclosed is a method of operating rotating machinery. Machinery comprises a rotor, rotor shaft (1) and at least one journal bearing (5) supporting rotor shaft (1). Bearing (5) comprises housing (7), a bearing surface in the housing, sleeve (13), axially and torsionally mounted on shaft (1) and having an outer surface facing the bearing surface of the bearing and an inner surface facing the shaft, and a lubricating oil film filling the gap between the outer surface of sleeve (13) and the bearing surface of the bearing. Method includes step of changing the clearance by changing the radial dimension of the outer surface of sleeve (13) as a function of the rotational speed of shaft (1). Radial dimension of the outer surface of sleeve (13) is changed by at least one of: at least under the action of the centrifugal forces generated by the rotation of shaft (1) and by the fluid under pressure between bearing (5) and shaft (1).

EFFECT: technical result: improvement of journal bearing characteristics in various operating modes.

17 cl, 11 dwg