Bearing Arrangement

• US 20180172069A1
• Filed: 07/06/2016
• Published: 06/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grant Prideco Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Oilwell Varco Norway AS (National Oilwell Varco Incorporated)
• Inventors: ASKESTAD, Sigmund
• Granted Patent: US 10,228,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/507 with mooring turrets
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 21/00 Combinations of sliding-contact bearings with ball or roller bearings, for exclusively rotary movement F16C17/24, F16C19/52 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 23/08 self-adjusting
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2300/14 Large applications, e.g. bearings having an inner diameter exceeding 500 mm
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 39/02 using mechanical means

Abstract

Disclosed is a bearing arrangement for a bearing wheel in a turret, the bearing arrangement being providable between the bearing wheel and a wheel shaft around which the bearing wheel is rotatably connectable. The bearing arrangement includes a slide bearing enabling the bearing wheel to slide axially on the shaft. The bearing arrangement further includes a roller bearing. A plurality of bearing arrangements may form a bearing system that is employed in a turret of a vessel.

A method for mounting a bearing arrangement in a bearing system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A bearing arrangement for a bearing wheel in a turret, said bearing arrangement being providable between the bearing wheel and a wheel shaft around which the bearing wheel is rotatably connectable and comprising

a slide bearing enabling said bearing wheel to slide axially on said shaft, said bearing arrangement comprising:

two roller bearings provided with an axial distance therebetween; and

an insert hub configured to support and/or connect said slide bearing and said roller bearings between said bearing wheel and said wheel shaft

2. A bearing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said bearing arrangement comprises a spherical roller bearing.

4. A bearing arrangement according to claim claim 1, wherein said bearing arrangement comprises one cylindrical roller bearing and one spherical roller bearing.

5. A bearing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said bearing arrangement comprises a tapered roller bearing.

6. A bearing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a slide bearing is connected on the inside of said insert hub, and wherein the outside of said insert hub is adapted to support said roller bearing(s).

7. A bearing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said insert hub is formed with recesses for accommodating said slide bearing(s) and roller bearings.

8. A bearing arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said bearing arrangement is provided with locking means for locking said insert hub so as to prevent said insert hub from rotating relative to said shaft.

9. A bearing arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said locking means is selectively engageable.

10. A bearing arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said bearing arrangement is provided with spacing means arranged between said roller bearings.

11. A bearing system for a turret comprising a plurality of bearing arrangements according claim 1.

12. A turret comprising a bearing system according to claim 11.

13. A vessel comprising a turret according to claim 12.

14. A method for mounting a bearing arrangement according claim 1 between a bearing wheel and a shaft in a bearing system comprising a plurality of such bearing arrangements, the method comprising:

assembling the bearing arrangement and the wheel as one unit prior to mounting the unit onto the shaft.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

using an insert hub for connecting and/or supporting the bearings of the bearing arrangement between the bearing wheel and the shaft.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

shrink fitting at least one of the slide bearing and roller bearings to the inside of the wheel; and

shrink fitting the other one of the slide bearing and the roller bearings to the inside of the insert hub.

3. A bearing arrangement according to claim, wherein said bearing arrangement comprises a cylindrical roller bearing.