TILTING PAD BEARING

Abstract

The invention relates to a tilting pad bearing (10) comprising tilting pads (1, 2, 3), which are retained and positioned so that they can tilt in a housing body (8) with a frame-type spring unit (8), such that, during operation of the tilting pad bearing (10), converging bearing gaps are created between the tilting pads (1,2,3) and a rotor body (4) that is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation. In order to improve the functioning and/or manufacturing of the tilting pad bearing (10), the tilting pad bearing (10) is characterised by rolling elements (6, 7) arranged between the housing body (5) and the tilting pads (1,2, 3).

Claims

1. A tilting pad bearing (10) comprising tilting pads (1, 2, 3), which are positioned and held so that the tilting pads can tilt in a housing body (8) by a frame-type spring device (8) in order, during operation of the tilting pad bearing (10), to produce converging bearing gaps between the tilting pads (1, 2, 3) and a rotor body (4) mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, characterized by rolling elements (6, 7; 20; 24; 44) arranged between the housing body (5) and the tilting pads (1, 2, 3).

2. The tilting pad bearing as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the rolling elements (24; 44) are embodied as rollers.

3. The tilting pad bearing as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the rolling elements (6, 6; 20) are embodied as balls.

4. The tilting pad bearing as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cage (9) which serves to hold the rolling elements (6, 7; 20) in position between the housing body (5) and the tilting pads (1, 2, 3).

5. The tilting pad bearing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cage (9) has through-holes (19; 26; 51-52) in which the rolling elements (6, 7; 20; 24; 44) are accommodated with play in such a way that the rolling elements (6, 7; 20; 24; 44) have rolling contact both with the housing body (5) and with a respective tilting pad (1, 2, 3) outside the through-holes (19; 26; 51-52).

6. The tilting pad bearing as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the cage (9) comprises at least one simple annular body (11, 12; 31, 32; 45).

7. The tilting pad bearing as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tilting pads (1, 2, 3) are each assigned a respective spring element (13, 14, 15; 23; 27; 43) in order to position and hold a respective tilting pad (1, 2, 3) so that the respective tilting pad can tilt in the housing body (5).

8. The tilting pad bearing as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the spring element (13, 14, 15; 23; 27; 43) fits around the respective tilting pad (1, 2, 3) at ends which are opposite in the circumferential direction.

9. The tilting pad bearing as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the spring element (23; 43) comprises at least one spring tab (21; 25), which is biased inward against the respective tilting pad (1).

10. (canceled)

11. The tilting pad bearing as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the spring element (23; 43) comprises at least one spring tab (21; 25), which is biased inward against the respective tilting pad (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In the drawing:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a tilting pad bearing having three tilting pads, each of which is assigned two spherical rolling elements;

[0017] FIG. 2 shows an illustration similar to that in FIG. 1, each tilting pad being assigned a spherical rolling element;

[0018] FIG. 3 shows an illustration similar to that in FIG. 2, each tilting pad being assigned a roller-shaped rolling element;

[0019] FIG. 4 shows an illustration similar to that in FIG. 3 with a cage comprising only one annular body;

[0020] FIG. 5 shows the tilting pad bearing from FIG. 4 with a housing body shown in half-section; and

[0021] FIG. 6 shows a perspective illustration of a sheet metal strip which can advantageously be used to produce a cage for rolling elements of a tilting pad bearing of the kind illustrated in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] FIGS. 1 to 5 show a tilting pad bearing 10 schematically and in perspective in various exemplary embodiments. The same reference signs are used in FIGS. 1 to 5 to designate identical or similar parts. First, the common features of the individual exemplary embodiments will be discussed. After this, the differences between the individual exemplary embodiments are explained.

[0023] The tilting pad bearing 10 is embodied as a radial bearing with three tilting pads 1, 2, 3. A rotor body 4 is mounted radially inside the tilting pads 1, 2, 3 so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The rotor body 4 is, for example, a shaft or a shaft section having a shaft.

[0024] The tilting pads 1, 2, 3 can each be tilted about a pivot point or a tilting axis or pivot axis with the aid of rolling elements 6, 7; 20; 24; 44. In FIG. 1, two rolling elements 6, 7, which are embodied as balls, are assigned to each tilting pad 1 to 3. In FIGS. 2 to 5, each tilting pad 1 to 3 is assigned precisely one rolling element 20; 24; 44. The rolling elements 20 are embodied as balls. The rolling elements 24; 44 are embodied as rollers.

[0025] The tilting pads 1 to 3 are positioned and held relative to one another and to the rotor body 4 within a housing body (5 in FIG. 5) by a spring device 8. The spring device 8 is combined with a cage 9.

[0026] In FIG. 1, the cage 9 comprises two annular bodies 11, 12. The spring device 8 comprises three spring elements 13, 14, 15. Each spring element 13, 14, 15 is assigned precisely one tilting pad 1, 2, 3.

[0027] The spring elements 13, 14, 15 are arranged between the two annular bodies 11, 12 in the axial direction. The spring elements 13, 14, 15, the tilting pads 1, 2, 3 and the annular bodies 11, 12 are each of the same design. In addition, the abovementioned individual parts are of simple construction and can thus be produced inexpensively.

[0028] The spring element 13 comprises a holding section 16, 17 at each of its ends which are opposite in the circumferential direction. The spring element 13 fits around the assigned tilting pad 1 by means of the holding sections 16, 17. The spring element 13 is positioned between the two annular bodies 11, 12 in the axial direction. In addition, the spring element 13 has a spring tab 18, which is biased radially outward against the housing body (5 in FIG. 5).

[0029] The annular bodies 11, 12 each comprise a through-hole 19 for accommodating a rolling element 6, 7 embodied as a ball. The ball 6 is accommodated with play in the through-hole 19, which is embodied, for example, as an elongate hole.

[0030] The tilting pads 1 to 3 illustrated have an inside diameter and an outside diameter. As a departure from the illustration, the tilting pads 1 to 3 can also assume virtually any desired shape. If they are embodied as ring segments, for example, the tilting pads 1 to 3 can be produced inexpensively by dividing up a ring.

[0031] In FIG. 2, each of the tilting pads 1 to 3 is assigned a rolling element 20 embodied as a ball. A spring element 23 assigned to the tilting pad 1 comprises a through-hole 22, in which the ball 20 is accommodated with play. The through-hole 22 is of circular design. In addition, the spring element 23 has a spring tab 21, which in FIG. 2 is biased radially inward against the rotor body 4.

[0032] The cage 9 comprises two annular bodies 31, 32, which, in the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, serve only to position the spring elements 23; 27 in the axial direction. In contrast to the annular bodies 11, 12 in FIG. 1, the annular bodies 31, 32 are not provided with through-holes (19 in FIG. 1) for the rolling elements.

[0033] In FIG. 3, a rolling element 24 embodied as a roller is arranged in a through-hole 26 of a spring element 27, which is assigned to the tilting pad 1. As in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a spring tab 25 is biased radially inward against the rotor body 4. The arrangement of the spring tab 25 in the vicinity of the rolling element 24 provides the advantage, inter alia, that the rolling element 24 is advantageously used for aligning or positioning the spring device 8 and the cage 9.

[0034] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cage 9 comprises only one annular body 45. The annular body 45 is arranged centrally in the axial direction with respect to the tilting pad bearing 10. In contrast to the preceding exemplary embodiments, the spring elements 43 are provided with two holding sections 41, 42 at each circumferential end. The spring element 43 fits around the tilting pad 1 at its circumferential end, which is visible in FIG. 1, by means of the holding sections 41, 42. The holding sections 41, 42 are arranged axially adjacent to the annular body 45 arranged therebetween.

[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates in perspective the tilting pad bearing 10 from FIG. 4 together with a housing body 5 illustrated in half-section. The housing body 5 comprises a housing bore 48, in which the tilting pad bearing 10 is accommodated. A positioning tab 46 is angled radially outward from the spring element 43.

[0036] The positioning tab 46 engages in a through-hole 47, which is provided in the housing body 5 for this purpose. Adjacent to the positioning tab 46, the spring element 43 comprises a through-hole (not designated) for the rolling element 44. A corresponding through-hole is provided for the rolling element 44 in the annular body 45, which is arranged radially between the tilting pad 1 and the spring element 43.

[0037] The positioning tab 46 serves to form an anti-rotation device in the housing bore 48 of the housing body 5. As a departure from the illustration, the positioning tab 46 can also engage in a corresponding groove or recess in the housing body 5.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows how the annular body (45 in FIG. 5) can be produced inexpensively from a sheet-metal strip 57 in a simple manner. The sheet-metal strip 57 comprises through-holes 51 to 53 and 54 to 56, which can be produced in the sheet-metal strip 57 by punching, for example. The through-holes 51 to 53 each serve to accommodate a rolling element (44 in FIG. 5).

[0039] The through-holes 54 to 56 serve for the passage of spring tabs which start from the spring elements of the spring device (8 in FIG. 5) and are biased against the rotor body (4 in FIG. 5). The sheet-metal strip 57 with the through-holes 51 to 56 can also be considered as a development 50 or as an intermediate product during the production of the annular body (45 in FIG. 5).