SELF-ALIGNING SHAFT ASSEMBLY

摘要

A working end of a rotary shaft extends through a bearing supported at a distal end of a cantilever housing, the shaft's working end being subjected to transverse loading. The bending stiffness of the system is matched so that the angular deflection of the shaft and supporting cantilever housing are coordinated to minimize angular misalignment at the bearing. A cantilever system provides for apparatus and methodology demonstrating arrangements characterized by an operational ease for submersion of the working end in a fluid and ease of access to the bearing. Mitigation of misalignment enables the use of radial bearings.

主权项

1. A self-aligning shaft assembly for rotatably supporting a fluid energy extracting device at a working end thereof, comprising:
an elongate housing cantilevered from and extending from a base to an unsupported distal end, the elongate housing having a nominal longitudinal axis of rotation at rest and a first bending stiffness resistant to a transverse load applied to the distal end; a rotating shaft extending generally through the elongate housing and out through the distal end, the shaft being rotatable about the nominal longitudinal axis of rotation; and a distal bearing disposed between the shaft and the distal end of the elongate housing for rotatably and simply supporting the shaft, the shaft cantilevered from the distal bearing to an unsupported working end, the rotating shaft having a second bending stiffness resistant to a transverse load applied to the shaft's working end; wherein the first bending stiffness of the elongate housing and the second bending stiffness of the shaft are such that an angular deflection of the shaft and of the elongate housing from the nominal longitudinal axis of rotation under the transvers load are the same, maintaining alignment between the shaft and the elongate housing at the distal bearing.