KINGSBURY, INC. INTRODUCES IMPROVED LEG™ THRUST BEARING

PHILADELPHIA, PA, December 11, 2000 - Kingsbury, Inc. announces the introduction of a design improvement to its patented Leading-Edge-Groove (LEG) tilt-pad thrust bearing to extend its overall operating range. The enhanced design will be provided on all new bearing orders and represents a one-to-one dimensional replacement to the original design. In a paper co-authored by Kingsbury's Director of Engineering, Joseph Wilkes, and delivered at the 29th Turbomachinery Symposium in Houston on September 21, the new LEG design eliminates a phenomenon common to all tilt-pad fluid-film bearings at the high-speed, low load end of the operating range. The observable indication is that in high-speed applications, the thrust bearing babbitt temperature is much higher than expected at low load conditions. It then drops to normal levels as the thrust load is further increased. In solving the problem, Kingsbury modified the pad geometry to maintain a proper tilt angle over the range of operation which subsequently eliminated the high temperature phenomenon. Kingsbury accomplished the goal by engineering a tapered region on the leading edge of the pad. This tapered region creates hydrodynamic film pressure on the leading edge of the pad, which then creates a moment opposite to the viscous drag moment. Once a higher load is applied, the oil film pressures dominate the moments and the bearing operates as it normally would. This most recent improvement in Kingsbury's advanced LEG product line reflects the company's commitment to maintaining an engineering and performance standard that all of its customers have come to expect.