BEARING SYSTEM WITH ACTIVE RESERVOIR BETWEEN TWO AXIALLY SPACED HYDRODYNAMIC BEARINGS

摘要

A bearing system comprises two hydrodynamic bearings (5, 7) by means of which two bodies (1, 3) having two cooperating bearing surfaces (9, 11) are supported for rotation relative to one another about an axis of rotation (2). At least one of the bearing surfaces of each of the bearings has patterns (13, 15) of helical grooves for building up pressure in a lubricant between the bearing surfaces during rotation. Further, the bearing system comprises a chamber (17) which is arranged between the hydrodynamic bearings and, which serves as a reservoir for an additional amount of lubricant, which chamber is bounded by two cylindrical wall portions (19, 21). The two cylindrical wall portions are off-centred from each other to build up pressure in the lubricant in the chamber during rotation Figure 1.