Rotatable shaft mounting for thrust load measurement - has two thrust bearings and thrust rings adjacently disposed around shaft resiliently biassed to central position between bearings

摘要

The device measures thrust loads on a rotatably mounted shaft in which the loading is in either axial direction. The rotatably mounted shaft has two shoulders facing in opposite axial directions which cooperate with a pair of thrust bearings to constrain the shaft to a limited range of axial movement. Thrust rings associated with the shoulders are positioned between the shoulders. The bearings are biassed towards the bearings by resilient members to resist the axial movement of the shaft between the bearings. Sensing systems are arranged to measure the axial displacement of the shaft and provide input to thrust monitoring and control systems. The thrust rings are resiliently held by springs which are positioned between the radial surfaces and the thrust rings.