Contra-rotating bearing device for contra-rotating propeller

• US 6,056,509 A
• Filed: 08/10/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nitta, Keiichi, Ohta, Kazuhide, Shibuya, Hideki, Ashida, Satoshi, Matsuda, Masayasu, Ohtani, Shinichi, Nakayama, Mikihiko, Keirimbo, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryznic, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/809,339
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 416/128, 416/129, 416/174, 416/124, 384/97, 384/98, 384/100, 384/114, 184/6, 440/75, 440/79, 440/80, 440/81, 440/83
• US Class Current: 416/128
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2005/106 with drive shafts of second or further propellers co-axially passing through hub of first propeller, e.g. counter-rotating tandem propellers with co-axial drive shafts
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2023/323 Bearings for coaxial propeller shafts, e.g. for driving propellers of the counter-rotative type
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/386 for handling lubrication liquids in machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 23/321 Bearings or seals specially adapted for propeller shafts
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 5/10 of coaxial type, e.g. of counter-rotative type
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/028 with fixed wedges to generate hydrodynamic pressure, e.g. multi-lobe bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/30 Ships, e.g. propelling shafts and bearings therefor in general B63H
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 32/0651 Details of the bearing area per se
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/1065 Grooves on a bearing surface for distributing or collecting the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/1075 Wedges, e.g. ramps or lobes, for generating pressure

Abstract

A hollow portion is provided on the core of an inner shaft (2) to form an oil feed port (3), a plurality of oil feed holes (4) which are connected with both of the outer peripheral face of the inner shaft (2) within a range (L) of the bearing surface of the inner shaft (2) and the oil feed port (3) are radially provided in a line , and axial oil grooves (5) each of which includes an inner shaft surface side opening portion (4a) of the oil feed hole (4) are provided on the outer peripheral face of the inner shaft to form a contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller which causes the inner shaft (2) and an outer shaft (2) to contra-rotate mutually. In place of the oil grooves, a plurality of concave-convex portions may be formed in the axial direction of a contra-rotating bearing on the inner peripheral face of the bearing and circular portions may be provided on both axial ends of the concavo-convex portions to form the contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller. Thus, a sufficient oil film is formed on the bearing surface of the contra-rotating bearing in an area where the inner shaft and the outer shaft rotate in mutually opposite directions at almost equal speeds so that an excellent bearing function can be obtained.

Claims

1. A contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller comprising an inner shaft for driving a rear propeller and an outer shaft for driving a front propeller, both shafts rotating in mutually opposite directions,

wherein a hollow portion is provided on the core of the inner shaft to form an oil feed port, a plurality of oil feed holes which are connected with both of the outer peripheral face of the inner shaft within the range of the bearing surface of the inner shaft and the oil feed port are radially provided, and oil grooves each of which includes an inner shaft surface side opening portion of the oil feed hole are provided on the outer peripheral face of the inner shaft, each oil groove having ends thereof.

2. The contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of oil feed holes are radially provided in a line, and axial oil grooves each of which includes an inner shaft surface side opening portion of the oil feed hole is provided on the outer peripheral face of the inner shaft.

3. The contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of oil feed holes are radially provided, the oil feed holes being axially provided in a plurality of lines, and circumferential oil grooves or axial oil grooves each of which includes an inner shaft surface side opening portion of the oil feed hole are provided on the outer peripheral face of the inner shaft.

13. The contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller as defined in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cross sectional area of the oil groove varies substantially along the entire length of the groove from the opening portion of the oil feed hole to the ends thereof.

4. A contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller comprising an inner shaft for driving a rear propeller and an outer shaft for driving a front propeller, both shafts rotating in mutually opposite directions,

wherein a hollow portion is provided on the core of the inner shaft to form an oil feed port, a plurality of oil feed holes which are connected with both of the outer peripheral face of the inner shaft within the range of the bearing surface of the inner shaft and the oil feed port are radially provided, the oil feed holes being axially provided in a plurality of lines which are offset circumferentially, and circumferential oil grooves or axial oil grooves each of which includes an inner shaft surface side opening portion of the oil feed hole are provided on the outer peripheral face of the inner shaft.

5. The contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller as defined in claim 4, wherein the cross sectional area of the oil groove varies substantially along the entire length of the groove from the opening portion of the oil feed hole to ends thereof.

6. A contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller comprising an inner shaft for driving a rear propeller and an outer shaft for driving a front propeller, both shafts rotating in mutually opposite directions,

wherein a plurality of tapered lands are formed on the outer peripheral face of the inner shaft within the range of the bearing surface of the inner shaft;

and

wherein a hollow portion is provided on the core of the inner shaft to form an oil feed port, a plurality of oil feed holes which are connected with both of the outer peripheral face of the inner shaft and the oil feed port are radially provided, and an inner shaft surface side opening portion of the oil feed hole is provided on a valley part of a tapered portion of each of the tapered lands.

7. A contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller comprising an inner shaft for driving a rear propeller and an outer shaft for driving a front propeller, both shafts rotating in mutually opposite directions,

wherein the outer peripheral face of the inner shaft is entirely formed of circular arc portions having radius centers different from a center of the inner shaft.

8. A contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller comprising an outer shaft having a front propeller, an inner shaft which is fitted in the outer shaft, rotates in the direction opposite to the outer shaft, and has a rear propeller, and a contra-rotating bearing provided between the inner shaft and the outer shaft,

wherein an oil feed port is provided by forming a hollow portion on the inner shaft, and a plurality of radial oil feed holes which are connected with the oil feed port are formed, lubrication oil which generates a static pressure load carrying capacity is fed from the inner shaft to the inner peripheral face of the bearing through the oil feed port and the radial oil feed holes, a plurality of concavo-convex shaped portions which generate a dynamic pressure load carrying capacity and a plurality of land faces concentric with the inner shaft are formed on and alternate circumferentially about the inner peripheral face of the bearing in the axial direction of the bearing, and circular portions are provided on both ends of the concavo-convex shaped portions provided in the axial direction of the bearing.

9. A contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller comprising an outer shaft having a front propeller, an inner shaft which is fitted in the outer shaft, rotates in the direction opposite to the outer shaft, and has a rear propeller, and a contra-rotating bearing provided between the inner shaft and the outer shaft,

wherein an oil feed port is provided by forming a hollow portion on the inner shaft, and a plurality of radial oil feed holes which are connected with the oil feed port are formed, lubrication oil which generates a static pressure load carrying capacity is fed from the inner shaft to the inner peripheral face of the bearing through the oil feed port and the radial oil feed holes, a plurality of concavo-convex shaped portions which generate a dynamic pressure load carrying capacity are formed on the inner peripheral face of the bearing in the axial direction of the bearing, and circular portions are provided on both ends of the concavo-convex shaped portions provided in the axial direction of the bearing, and

wherein the radial oil feed holes are provided backward from a central position in the axial direction of the bearing by L/6 to L/4 for a length L of the bearing.

10. A contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller comprising an outer shaft having a front propeller, an inner shaft which is fitted in the outer shaft, rotates in the direction opposite to the outer shaft, and has a rear propeller, and a contra-rotating bearing provided between the inner shaft and the outer shaft,

wherein an oil feed port is provided by forming a hollow portion on the inner shaft, and a plurality of radial oil feed holes which are connected with the oil feed port are formed, lubrication oil which generates a static pressure load carrying capacity is fed from the inner shaft to the inner peripheral face of the bearing through the oil feed port and the radial oil feed holes, a plurality of concavo-convex shaped portions which generate a dynamic pressure load carrying capacity are formed on the inner peripheral face of the bearing in the axial direction of the bearing, and circular portions are provided on both ends of the concavo-convex shaped portions provided in the axial direction of the bearing, and

wherein the radial oil feed holes are provided backward from a central position in the axial direction of the bearing by L/6 to L/4 for a length L of the bearing.

11. A contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller comprising an outer shaft having a front propeller, an inner shaft which is fitted in the outer shaft, rotates in the direction opposite to the outer shaft, and has a rear propeller, and a contra-rotating bearing provided between the inner shaft and the outer shaft,

wherein an oil feed port is provided by forming a hollow portion on the inner shaft, and a plurality of radial oil feed holes which are connected with the oil feed port are formed, lubrication oil which generates a static pressure load carrying capacity is fed from the inner shaft to the inner peripheral face of the bearing through the oil feed port and the radial oil feed holes, a plurality of concavo-convex shaped portions which generate a dynamic pressure load carrying capacity are formed on the inner peripheral face of the bearing in the axial direction of the bearing, and circular portions are provided on both ends of the concavo-convex shaped portions provided in the axial direction of the bearing, and

wherein the total length of the circular portions is L/48 to 24L/48 for the length L of the bearing.

12. A contra-rotating bearing device for a contra-rotating propeller comprising an outer shaft having a front propeller, an inner shaft which is fitted in the outer shaft, rotates in the direction opposite to the outer shaft, and has a rear propeller, and a contra-rotating bearing provided between the inner shaft and the outer shaft,

wherein an oil feed port is provided by forming a hollow portion on the inner shaft, and a plurality of radial oil feed holes which are connected with the oil feed port are formed, lubrication oil which generates a static pressure load carrying capacity is fed from the inner shaft to the inner peripheral face of the bearing through the oil feed port and the radial oil feed holes, a plurality of concavo-convex shaped portions which generate a dynamic pressure load carrying capacity are formed on the inner peripheral face of the bearing in the axial direction of the bearing, and circular portions are provided on both ends of the concavo-convex shaped portions provided in the axial direction of the bearing, and

wherein the total length of the circular portions is 2L/48 to 10L/48 for the length L of the bearing.