Waukesha Bearings - Tilt Pad Thrust Bearings

Each bearing consists of a series of pads supported in a carrier ring (retainer). Each pad is free to tilt, resulting in a self-forming hydrodynamic film. The self-equalizing design balances the load between the pads and accommodates misalignment or deflection between the bearing and collar.

The carrier ring may be in one piece or in halves, and the size and number of pads are selected to suit the operating conditions. In addition, pads can be supplied with center pivots for bi-directional running or offset pivots for increased load capacity and lower pad temperatures.

Temperature sensors are typically installed in two pads per thrust bearing.

Flooded Lubrication

The conventional method of lubricating tilt pad thrust bearings is to flood the housing with oil, using an orifice on the outlet to regulate the flow and maintain pressure. To minimize leakage, seal rings are required where the shaft passes through the housing.

‘Directed Lubrication’

Where mean sliding speeds in excess of 50 m/s are expected, the high power losses caused by turbulence in the oil in flooded lubrication systems can be largely eliminated by employing the Waukesha Bearings system of ‘Directed Lubrication’.

As well as reducing power loss by (typically) 50%, ‘Directed Lubrication’ reduces bearing surface temperatures and in most cases oil flow. No seal rings are required on the shaft.

Self-equalizing thrust bearings are typically supplied with ‘Directed Lubrication’ even at relatively low sliding speeds to avoid the need for oil seals.

Standard pads are steel backed with a babbitt lining. High operating speeds and loads, as well as high oil inlet temperatures, increasingly take bearing design beyond the limits of babbitt, however, as do applications using lubrication by process fluids.

Waukesha Bearings offers the widest choice of materials to accommodate operating conditions, and leads in the industry in the design, development and application of advanced materials.

Alternative material options for tilt pad thrust bearings include:

• Copper chrome backed pads faced with babbitt
• Steel-backed pads faced with aluminum tin
• Steel-backed pads faced with polymer
• Solid polymer pads
• Steel-backed pads faced with ceramic or cermet

• Proven designs for non-equalizing and self-equalizing tilt pads
• Compact designs to save space
• Pad number, pivot offset and pad material designed to suit specific application
• Pad optimization provides low frictional drag and improved oil circulation
• Industry-standard ‘Directed Lubrication’