United States Patent [191

Swearingen
[54] SHAFT MOUNTING DEVICE AND METHOD

[11]
[45]

4,287,758
Sep. 8, 1981

[75] Inventor:

Judson S. Swearingen, Malibu, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Roto?ow Corporation, Inc., Los

Angeles, Calif.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lyon & Lyon [57] ABSTRACT A device for accommodating and measuring thrust
loads on a rotatably mounted shaft wherein the thrust

[21] Appl. No.: 58,859

[22] Filed:
[51] [52]

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 bear
ings to constrain the shaft to a limited range of axial

Jul. 19, 1979

Int. Cl.3 .............................................. .. G01L 5/12 .......... .. 73/815249; 308/160

[58]

Field of Search ........... .. 73/140, 136 A; 308/160,

308/ 161, 162

movement. Thrust rings associated with the shoulders are positioned between the shoulders and the bearings and are biased toward the bearings by resilient members
to resist the axial movement of the shaft between the bearings. Sensing systems are arranged to measure the

[56]
1,998,450
2,043,790

References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4/1935
6/1936

axial displacement of the shaft and provide input to

thrust monitoring and control systems. A method for
.. 308/160

Davis .................................. .. 73/140

Baker ........... ..

preventing damage to labyrinth seals on the shaft during start up of the equipment is also provided.

3,828,610

8/1974

Swearingen ........................ .. 73/140

Primary ExaminerDonald O. Woodiel

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures

74
I

00

02
OPERA TOR

OVERR/DE
CIRCUIT

___L___

US. Patent

Sep. 8, 1981

Sheet 2 of2

4,287,758

4,287,758

SHAFT MOUNTING DEVICE AND METHOD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the mounting of a rotatable shaft with particular attention to the thrust

pumps, and the like. A modi?cation to the shaft may also be employed as a means for conditioning the output

signal resulting from axial displacement of the shaft.

The measurements thus obtained can be used to help

loading and control thereof.

It is often advantageous to measure the thrust load carried by the thrust bearings of a rotating shaft. The monitoring of such loads can enable the operator to avoid damaging thrust conditions and thereby substan

protect the shaft assembly, the bearings, and the seals. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved shaft mounting system. Another object of the present invention is to provide
a method for reducing start-up damage to a rotating shaft.

tially extends the life of the bearings and other equip

ment subjected to these loads. Such devices have

Other and further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

tended to be of marginal effectiveness unless they in

cluded very sophisticated measuring equipment for

measuring the displacement of the shaft under axial load. This sophisticated equipment was necessary be
cause of the very limited axial travel afforded such

FIG. 1 is a partially diagrammatic view in longitudi

nal cross-section of a rotary apparatus having a thrust detection and control system in accordance with the

present invention.

devices disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 3,828,610 and 3,895,689 to Swearingen entitled THRUST BEARING

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken were often associated with propulsion devices such as 20 along line 22 of FIG. 1. screw shafts on ships and propeller shafts on airplanes. FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail of a second embodiment Consequently, these devices have been designed to of the shaft measurement section and related detector sense thrust load only in one direction. For the forego actuator means. ing reasons, early thrust metering devices have lacked FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail similar to that of FIG. 3 25 the versatility, accuracy and reliability desired. showing a third embodiment of the shaft measurement To overcome a number of the foregoing dif?culties, section.

assemblies. Furthermore, thrust monitoring systems

LUBRICANT MEASUREMENT AND BALANCE were developed. These devices employed the measure
ment of lubricant pressures as a means of sensing axial

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail similar to those of FIGS. 3 and 4 showing a fourth embodiment of the shaft mea surement section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a rotary apparatus in the form of a centrifugal compressor.

thrust. However, it is often desirable to employ a me chanical means for accomplishing such measurement.

Furthermore, certain axial displacement of such shafts

can be used advantageously to protect the shaft assem bly, bearings and seals.

While the invention is particularly well adapted for use in connection with rotary fluid handling devices such as

turboexpanders, compressors, and the like, it can be used in connection with any rotary device subject to varying thrust loads, whether balanced or unbalanced. system capable of resiliently mounting a shaft against The environment of the preferred embodiment in thrust loads in either direction. The system includes cludes, by way of example, a compressor having a rotor means for accurately and simply measuring the magni 10 and a surrounding rotor housing 12. The rotor 10 is tude of the applied thrust loads. Means are also pro driven by a shaft 14 which in turn is driven by a motor vided for using the thrust measurement to control the thrust loads during start-up and full speed operation. 45 16. The rotor housing 12 has a generally axially directed inlet 18 for receipt of gases to be compressed. The inlet Thrust bearings are used in conjunction with oppositely 18 communicates with inlet ports 20a of a series of facing shoulders located on the associated shaft to hold passageways 20 through the rotor 10. The passageways the shaft axially against anticipated thrust loads. Resil 20 are curved along their length to form a generally ient devices bias the shaft to a central position between axial orientation at their inlet ports 20a and a generally the bearings while the shaft is allowed to move to a radial orientation at their outlet ports 20b. The outlet limited extent against the resilient devices. ports 20b are in communication with a surrounding Through the arrangement of the present invention, annular space or volute 22 in the housing 12, which in several advantages are obtained. First, the axial move turn communicates with a housing outlet 24. As is well ment of the shaft in response to thrust loads is magni?ed through the presence of the resilient devices. Thus, less 55 known in the art, the rotation of a rotor 10 driven by the shaft 14 draws gases through the passageways 20 for sophisticated sensing equipment is necessary for moni centrifugal compression. toring the movement of the shaft in an axial direction. The rotor 10 is sealed with respect to the rotor hous By reducing the necessary sophistication of the meter ing 12 by a pair of annular labyrinth-type seals 26 and 28 and equipment, reliability and accuracy can be in located on the circumferential surfaces on either side of creased. The resilient devices may also be of a non-lin the outlet ports 20b. The shaft 14 has a tapered section ear nature to provide maximum and minimum axial 14a with the smaller end adjacent the rotor 10. A corre displacement to best suit the controls and sensors associ sponding tapered labyrinth-type seal 30 is provided in ated with this system. Furthermore, the resilient devices the rotor-housing 12 about the shaft section 14a. The may also be so structured as to provide a wide range of preload including no preload at all on the thrust bear 65 foregoing labyrinth seals 26, 28 and 30 are of a type

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a shaft mounting

ings. The bi-directional sensing capabilities of the sys

tem make the present invention useful with many de

designed to permit some ?uid leakage. The leakage

through seals 26 and 28 would be in a direction longitu dinally outwardly from the high pressure area 22. Such

vices such as turboexpanders, compressors, centrifugal

4,287,758

leakage can create a variation in the thrust imparted to the shaft 14 and can provide a means for controlling

such axial thrust. The high pressure ?uid leaking past

the seal 26 simply becomes entrained in the incoming
gas to re-enter the rotor passageways 20. However, when ?uid leaks past the seal 28, it enters an area 32

The bearing member 48 and the thrust ring 50 are designed to permit axial movement with the shaft 14. However, it is preferred that the thrust ring 50 rotate with the shaft 14. Consequently, the shoulder 42 in
cludes three circumferentially spaced recesses, one of which is shown at 42c, extending into the shoulder 42.

behind the rotor 10. This area 32 is substantially closed

by the seal 30. Consequently, ?uid pressure may build

Likewise, the surface 50b of the ring 50 has three reces ses 500, each of which is aligned with a respective one of the recesses 42c. Pins 52 are slideably received in the up in the area 32. It is this pressure in the area 32 which can contribute to variation in thrust loading on the rotor 0 aligned recesses 42c and 500 for coupling the thrust ring 50 to the shaft 14. These pins allow a certain amount of 10 and can also be used to control the thrust if selec axial displacement between the shaft 14 and the thrust tively vented. For this purpose, a passageway 34 ex ring 50. As more fully described below, an annular tends from the area 32 to the relatively low pressure spring is disposed in the space between the shoulder 42 area formed by the inlet 18 of the housing 12. A throt and the surface 50b of the thrust ring 50. This spring 54 tling valve 36 is provided in the line 34. By increasing has three holes 540 to permit the pins 52 to pass there the opening through the valve 36, relatively high pres
sure ?uid in area 32 can be vented to the housing inlet 18. This permits an increase in thrust on the shaft 14 in

through as best seen in FIG. 2.

a right-hand direction as the apparatus is viewed in

FIG. 1. Conversely, by further closing valve 36, ?uid

pressure can be permitted to build up in space 32. This
exerts a left-hand thrust on the shaft 14 also as viewed in

The second bearing means, which coaxially sur rounds the shaft section 14b, is substantially identical to but the mirror image of the ?rst bearing means de scribed immediately above. In particular, the second
bearing means includes a bearing member 56 associated with a thrust ring 58. This bearing member 56 is also
25

FIG. 1. This arrangement is more fully described in US. Pat. No. 3,895,689, the disclosure of which is in

corporated herein by reference.

The major portion of the shaft 14 is encased in the

housing formed by the portion of the rotor housing 12 opposite the inlet 18 and by two additional housing
sections 38 and 40 af?xed to the housing 12 in any suit able manner. The shaft 14 has an enlarged central cylin drical section 14b de?ning at its opposite ends a pair of annular shoulders 42 and 44. These shoulders 42 and 44

rigidly carried by the housing and has an axially in wardly facing thrust bearing surface 56a and a radially inwardly facing radial bearing surface 56b. The thrust ring 58 is positioned between the bearing member 56
and the shoulder 44. The thrust ring 58 has an axially

outwardly facing thrust bearing surface 580 which op

poses the surfaces 56 to support thrust loads between the shaft 14 and the housing. In this manner, this second bearing means supports thrust loads in a second direc tion, i.e. to the left as seen in FIG. 1.

face axially outwardly in opposite directions. Naturally,

the arrangement of the shoulders may be rearranged to

As with the ?rst thrust ring 50, circumferentially better ?t the needs of the system. It is required only that 35 spaced pins 60 are disposed in opposed recesses 44c and 58c to ?x the thrust ring 58 to rotate with the shaft 14. the shoulders be facing in the opposite direction from Spring 62 is provided with three holes for receiving the one another to provide thrust surfaces for the bearings. pins 60. Adjacent the shoulder 42 there is a relatively small
diameter cylindrical section 14c of the shaft 14 which
The springs 54 and 62 are designed to act as resilient

extends outwardly through the housing section 40 and is sealed relative to the housing section 40 by a labyrinth

members between the shaft and the bearing means. Forced axial movement of the shaft 14 will result in compression of one or the other of springs 54 and 62 to type seal 46. Adjacent to the shoulder 44 there is a resist axial movement of the shaft and transmit the load cylindrical shaft section 140. This section 14d intercon to the thrust rings 50 or 58. The spring illustrated in the nects the large central section 14b with the tapered 45 preferred embodiment includes an annular wave form section 14a. compression spring disclosed in the annular space be The shaft 14 is supported in the housing for rotation tween the shoulders and the thrust rings. relative thereto by longitudinally spaced ?rst and sec The positioning of the springs between the thrust ond bearing means. The actual bearings may be of any rings and the shoulders located on the shaft provide conventionalthrust type mechanism capable of being substantial advantage to the present invention. Without amended to receive the devices employed here. The some form of resilient means, the amount of axial move ?rst bearing means includes in this preferred embodi ment resulting from any thrust load will be very small ment an annular bearing member 48 coaxially surround

ing the shaft section 140 and rigidly carried by the hous ing sections 38 and 40. Adjacent this ?rst bearing means, there is a thrust ring 50 which also coaxially
surrounds the shaft section 140 between bearing mem

and dif?cult to measure. However, with the resilient means in place, the reaction strain of the shaft to any

ber 48 and shoulder 42. The radially inwardly facing

surface 481) of the bearing member 48 serves as a bearing

given thrust load is substantially greater and can be more readily observed. Furthermore, the spacing pro vided by the springs allows for substantial thermal ex pansion without reaching an interference condition.

surface to cooperate with the opposed outer surface of the shaft section 140 to support the thrust imposed by the shaft. To this end, the opposed axially facing sur faces 48a and 50a of the bearing member 48 and the thrust ring 50 serve as the thrust bearing surfaces for supporting the thrust loads between the shaft 14 and the housing 12, 38 and 40 when the shaft is forced to the 65 right. In accordance with standard practice in the art, the bearing may be supplied with a suitable lubricating

Ignoring any preloading, the springs and bearings act

independently as thrust resistors. The springs may also
be placed in an initial preloaded condition to ensure substantial resistance to movement where desired. Non linear springs may also limit axial movement where desired. One example of a non-linear type spring com

patible with the present system is the Belleville-type

spring.
The axial movement of the shaft 14 may be detected by means of an anomaly on the cylindrical surface of the

system.

4,287,758
5 .

shaft such as a central section 14b of the shaft 14 which

is provided with a radially extending ?ange 64. The flange 64 de?nes a radially extending surface which will
move with the shaft under thrust loads. A means for

caused by various factors involved in the normal opera tion of the rotating device. However, the system is also useful in detecting excessive wear of the bearing mem bers. As the thrust bearing surfaces 500, 48a, 56a and
58a wear, the load supporting clearance between re

sensing axial displacement of the shaft 14 in the form of a proximity transducer 66 is mounted in a ?xed position with respect to the housing section 38. This device 66 is

spective pairs of these surfaces are enlarged permitting greater axial play in the shaft 14. Since the proximity
transducer 66 is designed to detect axial thrust via mea surement of the axial shaft movement, it can also detect other factors such as the aforementioned bearing wear.

capable of monitoring the distance between the detector

face 66a thereof and the measurement 64a of the flange
64. In this way, axial movement of the shaft 14 can be

detected and translated into the thrust loading.

The axial play of the shaft may be observed by noting

the readout device 70. Furthermore, if the wear be comes pronounced, the drift in the shaft 14 will activate may be transmitted via a lead wire 68 from the trans the operator 80 and shut down the apparatus. ducer to a number of control devices or sub-systems. In various systems it may be desirable to provide The ?rst of these is a readout device 70 which provides 5 different types of mathematical relationships between a visible indication of the direction and magnitude of the output signal of the proximity transducer 66 and the unbalanced thrust loads on the shaft. As diagrammati movement of the shaft 14. For example, it may be de cally indicated by the line 72, the signal from the trans sired that the output signal of the proximity transducer ducer 66 may also be conveyed, via a suitable circuit 74 to the valve 36. As previously mentioned, the direction 20 66 be of a non-linear function of thrust or axial shaft movement. It may be desired that'the signal from the and magnitude of thrust on therotor 10, and conse

The signal supplied by the proximity transducer 66

quently on the attached shaft 14, may be adjusted by

throttling of the valve 36. When an unbalanced thrust load is imposed on shaft 14, the appropriate one of the

proximity transducer 66 increase non-linearly with shaft

movement to provide relatively large increments of

opening and closing of the valve 36 when the thrust is
25 near the upper end of the range accommodated by the

springs will yield providing shaft movement. Since such movement is detected by the proximity transducer 66,
and its signal is immediately to the value 36, a restor ative force for balancing the thrust load can be initiated
before the bearing becomes overloaded. '

springs 54 and 62. The present invention permits this to

be done by mechanical means, and without expensive or complicated electronic circuitry or the like. For exam

ple, springs 54 and 62 may be non-linear springs, either

The circuitry 74 which operates the valve 36 in ac 30 of the type shown or of some other type such as Belle ville springs. cordance with the signal from the transducer 66 is de Another means of mechanically varying the relation signed to correlate the signalling and the throttling of ship between shaft movement and the output signal of the valve so as to keep the thrust on the rotar l0 and the

the proximity transducer 66 is accomplished by varying shaft 14 during ordinary operation. When the thrust load is so balanced, the central section 14b of the shaft 35 the con?guration of the measurement section of the shaft 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the shaft 14 is provided is centered in the housing section 38 and the tapered with a tapered or frusto-conical measurement section shaft section 14a has its outer surface disposed in fairly 84. The outer surface of the section 84 would be linear close proximity to the labyrinth seal 30 of the housing. in longitudinal cross-section. The proximity transducer However, during startup of the apparatus, the shaft may be subject to some unsteady state conditions detrimental 40 66 differs from the device 66 in FIG. 1 in that its detec to the seal. Consequently, it may be desirable to urge the - tor face 660 faces radially inwardly, rather than axially to oppose the tapered measurement section 84 of the shaft slightly to the right during startup to enlarge the
clearance between the section 140 and the seal 30 to
shaft 14. As section 84 moves axially relative to the face

avoid damage. For this purpose, the circuit 74 is shown

66a the distance between the latter face and the portion

to be provided with an override feature. The cone angle 45 of section 84 immediately aligned therewith will vary.

of the seal 30 and the allowed axial displacement of the

shaft 14 must be such that neither excessive space is
allowed nor jamming of the seal can occur.

Although the output signal of the pressure transducer

66 will be a linear function of axial shaft movement, the

As diagrammatically, indicated at 76, a suitable device

ratio between the signal magnitude and the amount of such movement can be varied by changing the angle of
inclination of the surface 84. FIG. 4 likewise shows a proximity transducer 66

is provided for monitoring the rotational speed of the

shaft 14 and transmitting that information as indicated at 78 to the circuit 74. In accordance with well known

whose face 66a faces radially inwardly with respect to the shaft 14". Like shaft 14 in FIG. 3, the shaft 14" has principles of electronics, the circuit 74 is designed so a radially and longitudinally tapered measurement sec that it will override the signal of the transducer 66 when the speed of the shaft is below a certain limit. This 55 tion 86. However, section 86 is not strictly frusto-coni cal, and thus not linear in longitudinal cross-section, but serves to keep the value 36 in an open position so that rather is curved near its longitudinal extremities as indi the shaft 14 can drift slightly to the right. When the cated at 86a and 86b. Thus, the relationship between the signal from the device 76 indicates that the shaft has distance from the proximity transducer face 66a and reached its full operational speed, the override will be deactivated so that the signal from the detector-actuator 60 the immediately aligned portion of the measurement surface de?ned by section 86 would not be linear. Ac 66 will again control the operation of the valve 36. cordingly, the output signal of the proximity transducer To automatically prevent bearing overload, an opera 66 would be a non-linear function, eg an exponential tor 80 may be placed in the line 82 controlling the motor function, of axial shaft movement. 16. When the signal from the transducer 66 reaches a certain level, the motor may be shut off by the operator 65 FIG. 5 illustrates still another modi?cation in which
' 80.

the shaft 14" has a measurement section 88 with an

The foregoing discussion has been directed to the

detection and control of thrust loads which may be

outer surface which is saw-toothed in longitudinal sec tion. This surface would de?ne a series of concavities

4,287,758

88a alternating with a series of apexes 8817. However, the diameters of the concavities 88a are incremently decreased from left to right as are the diameters of the

apexes 8812. Thus, the output signal of the proximity

transducer 66' would increase or decrease in step-like 5 increments with the axial movement of the shaft 14". Numerous other modi?cations of the preferred em
bodiments disclosed above will suggest themselves to
those of skill in the art. These may include not only additional variations in the modi?cation of the measure

two thrust rings slideably disposed on said shaft adja cent said radial surfaces, said thrust bearing mem bers each abutting one said thrust ring; means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring
spaced axially on said shaft from- said radial sur

faces;
means ?xed relative to said housing for sensing axial displacement of said shaft, said means ?xed relative to said housing for sensing the axial displacement
of said shaft including a proximity transducer, said shaft including an anomaly on the surface thereof

ment section of the shaft, but also modi?cations of other portions of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. More

the position of which is sensed by said proximity

transducer. I

generally, the invention could be applied not only to other types of rotary ?uid handling devices, such as turboexpanders, but to any type of apparatus having
one or two pairs of thrust bearing members which may

8. The shaft mounting device of claim 7 wherein said

anomaly includes a raised cylindrical ridge.

9. The shaft mounting device of claim 7 wherein said anomaly includes a tapered section on said shaft. 10. The shaft mounting device of claim 9 wherein said

be subjected to varying loads in use. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the present invention be limited only by that of the appended claims.
What is claimed is:

tapered section is frusto conical.

20

11. The shaft mounting device of claim 9 wherein said

tapered section is contoured to induce a non-linear re

1. A shaft mounting device comprising

a housing;

sponse in said proximity transducer responsive to axial

movement of said shaft.

two thrust bearing members ?xed in said housing;

a shaft rotatably mounted in said thrust bearing mem

12. A shaft mounting device comprising

25
a housing; ;

bers and being slideably disposed therein, said shaft including two radial surfaces thereon facing in

two thrust bearing members ?xed in said housing;

a shaft rotatably mounted in said thrust bearing mem

opposite axial directions;

two thrust rings slideably disposed on said shaft adja cent said radial surfaces, said thrust bearing mem 30 bers each abutting one said thrust ring; means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring spaced axially on said shaft from said radial surface; means ?xed relative to said housing for sensing
axial displacement of said shaft. _

bers and being slideably disposed therein, said shaft

including two radial surfaces thereon facing in
opposite axial directions; .

two thrust rings slideably disposed on said shaft adja

cent said radial surfaces, said thrust bearing mem berseach abutting one said thrust ring; means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring spacedaxially on said shaft from said radial sur

2. The shaft mounting device of claim 1 wherein said

two radial surfaces on said shaft are shoulders on a

35

faces;
means for ?xing said thrust rings to rotate with said

section of said shaft of increased diameter. 3. The shaft mounting device of claim 1 further in cluding means for ?xing said thrust rings to rotate with said shaft. 4. The shaft mounting device of claim 1 wherein said

shaft, said thrust ring ?xing means including pin slideably extending into cavities in said thrust rings
and said shaft. .

13. A shaft mounting device comprising

a housing;

means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring in~ cludes springs positioned between said radial surfaces and said thrust rings. 45 5. The shaft mounting device of claim 4 wherein said springs have a non-linear force-displacement relation

two thrust bearing members ?xed in said housing;

a shaft rotatably mounted in said thrust bearing mem

bers and being slideably disposed therein, said shaft

including two radial surfaces thereon facing in
opposite axial directions;

ship.
6. The shaft mounting device of claim 1 wherein said means ?xed relative to said housing for sensing the axial displacement of said shaft includes a proximity trans ducer.

two thrust rings slideably disposed on said shaft adja cent said radial surfaces, said thrust bearing mem bers each abutting one said thrust ring; means for resiliently holding each said thrust ring spaced axially on said shaft from said radial surface;
55

7. A shaft mounting device comprising

a housing;

two thrust bearing members ?xed in said housing;

a shaft rotatably mounted in said thrust bearing mem

means ?xed relative to said housing for sensing axial displacement of said shaft, said shaft including an anomaly on the surface thereof the position of which is sensed by said means ?xed relative to said

bers and being slideably disposed therein, said shaft including two radial surfaces thereon facing in opposite axial directions;

housing for sensing the axial displacement of said

shaft.
* * * * *

65