HYDRODYNAMIC BEARING WITH REDUCED TEMPERATURE SENSITIVITY

摘要

A hydrodynamic bearing of a conical design (19) having a fixed shaft (11) and a conical sleeve (30, 32) whose surface facing the shaft flares inwardly toward a center region (66), the flared conical sections facing inwardly tapered regions of the shaft (34, 36). The sleeve and shaft define at the axial center thereof a connection region (66) which is concave in shape and preferably faces a flat surface (64) of the shaft to define a concave connection region. A collapsible tube (80) is provided in the concave region which collapses under increased pressures as the operating environment changes. Collapse of the tube causes withdrawal of some of the lubricating fluid from between the facing surfaces of the conical bearing, reducing the wetted surface region between the bearings.