Kingsbury Manufacturing Precision Makes the Difference

Each standard pivoted shoe journal bearing consists of five journal shoes supported in a precisely machined aligning ring. The shoes are held axially and circumferentially by shoe retaining plates.

The aligning ring, manufactured from heat treated 4100 class alloy steel, is axially split to allow easy assembly of the bearing around the shaft. Both halves are doweled for positive realignment and secured with socket head cap screws, while a hardened steel dowel on the cylindrical outside diameter prevents rotation of the bearing assembly in the housing.

An oil distribution annulus is machined into the outside of the aligning ring, and feed holes direct cool oil from the distribution annulus to the spaces between adjacent journal shoes. Custom designed aligning rings with flanges or adjustment pads to suit special requirements can be provided on a special-order basis.

Each journal shoe is manufactured from heat treated 4100-class alloy steel, high-tin babbitt, per Federal Spec QQ·T·390 Grade 2 (ASTM B·23 Gr 2), is centrifugally cast, metallurgically bonded, then precisely machined to create the bearing surface. Proprietary manufacturing processes provide a uniform babbitt thickness across each journal shoe, while tight design tolerances permit interchangeability of shoes, both within a single bearing and between different bearings of the same size. (Each shoe is etched with its actual dimensions.)

The back of each journal shoe is contoured in two directions. This double radius design allows each shoe to adjust itself to the hydrodynamic forces generated by the rotating shaft, even under conditions of axial misalignment. The combination of hardened alloy steel and moderate Hertzian stresses allows the standard Kingsbury pivoted shoe journal bearing to be used in high shock load applications.

The shoe retaining plates are manufactured from tempered aluminum plate. They are axially split and precision bored to regulate oil discharge from the bearing assembly. Locating pins at the ends of each journal shoe match corresponding holes in the retaining plates to provide accurate circumferential positioning, and to retain shoes when the bearing assembly is split for installation or inspection. The standard retaining plates can be replaced to provide special seal provisions or thrust faces. See Optional Features.

Figure 4-1: Double Radius Shoe Construction

Clearance and Preload

Bearing clearance and preload are defined by relations between the shaft. shoe and bearing radii (see Fig. 5-1). In Kingsbury's pivoted shoe journal bearings, the babbitted shoes are precisely machined to curvature Rp. Installation in the aligning ring moves the shoes radially inward to assembled radius Rb. The difference between radius R and shaft radius Rs is the bearing's assembled radial clearance Cb. The assembled clearance allows space for thermal expansion, shoe tilt, and oil films. It also affects the quantity of oil flowing through the film, which removes heat generated by shear.

The inward relocation of the shoes from concentric positions preloads the bearing. The mathematical expression for preload defines a relationship between the surface curvatures and the assembled clearance. Kingsbury's standard pivoted shoe journal bearings are manufactured to provide a positive preload. This increases bearing stiffness by reducing the assembled clearance, Cb. The positive preload profile provides a larger clearance at the leading edge of the shoe, protecting against failure due to oil starvation. This assures that a converging oil wedge is always present to develop hydrodynamic forces.

Both the assembled clearance and the preload affect the operating characteristics of the bearing, such as power loss, oil and shoe temperatures, film thickness, dynamic stiffness, and damping coefficients. This catalog provides data for bearing selection based on standard values. Since the bearings are part of the machine's dynamic system, assembled clearance and preload can be tailored to suit your specific application.

Please do not hesitate to contact our engineers for additional Information.

Figure 5-1: Bearing Preload

Installation Type

Three standard mounting configurations can be selected from this catalog.

Installation Code P: Pin Located

This is the most widely used mounting configuration. In this design, a hardened steel dowel protrudes from the aligning ring. Once this dowel is located in a hole or slot in the bearing housing, it holds the bearing both axially and circumferentially.

Installation Code F: Flange Located

In this design, a hardened steel dowel is used to prevent rotation of the bearing in the housing. The shoe retaining plates extend beyond the aligning ring to locale the bearing axially.

Installation Code B: Bolted Flange Located

This design is most commonly used for assembly when the housing is not split. One of the shoe retaining plates is extended to locate the bearing axially. Holes are provided in the flange so that the bearing can be secured to the housing.

Load Vector Orientation

The standard 5-shoe journal bearing can be oriented in either of two positions. The position is determined by the location of the housing's pin slot for installation codes P and F, or by the housing's bolt pattern for installation code B.

With the load shared between two shoes, the bearing can support greater radial loads. This is accompanied by a larger static shaft drop. With the load supported on a single shoe, static shaft drop is minimized. This configuration provides for a higher vertical stiffness than the load between shoes orientation.

Figure 7-1: Pin Located Bearing (Code P)

Figure 7-2: Flange Located Bearing (Code F)

Figure 7-3: Bolted Flange Located Bearing (Code B)

Figure 7-4: Load on One Shoe (Code S)

Figure 7-5: Load on Two Shoes (Code DJ)

General Information

Quality assurance.

Kingsbury's quality assurance program, particularly in the field of close-tolerance manufacture, meets or exceeds the requirements of industry. Our quality assurance program is approved for nuclear applications and military applications by the United States government. We have resident government inspection and we manufacture in accordance with Quality Assurance Specification MIL-Q-9858, Inspection Specification MIL-I- 45208, and Calibration Specification MIL-STD-45662.

These standards, along with coordinate measurement equipment driven by the most sophisticated computer programs, assure that Kingsbury bearings represent the highest quality in bearing manufacture.

Lube oil.

All of the information in this catalog is based on the use of ISO VG32 oil (150SSU @ 100°F) with a recommended supply temperature of 120°F (50°C). While you can use lubricants having other viscosities with Kingsbury pivoted shoe journal bearings, rated loads and performance data will vary with lubricant type and supply temperature.

The normal supply pressure at the bearing is approximately one bar (14psig). The aligning ring feed holes are sized to accommodate the largest oil flow required for bearing operation. We recommend that the bearing supply line be orificed to achieve proper oil pressure and flow, and that the supply line include an oil filter no larger than 20 microns, since bearing longevity is dependent on the cleanliness of the oil.

Field service.

Kingsbury's staff of experienced field service engineers are available to supervise installation of new bearings, help with adjustments or modifications to existing bearings, and to troubleshoot rotor dynamic problems. Our field service engineers are expertly trained and must have more than ten years of experience in the fluid film bearing industry before they are allowed to supervise field applications.

Our field service engineers can make minor repairs in the field, or supervise parts repairs at machine shops in your area. In addition, they are supported by Kingsbury's complete staff of fluid film bearing designers and manufacturing craftsmen in our factories in Philadelphia, PA and Oshkosh, WI.

Installation and operating instructions.

Kingsbury will supply installation and operation manuals for your application, upon request. With various preload configurations, and an odd number of shoes, it is extremely difficult for the OEM or end user to measure bearing clearance. For your convenience, Kingsbury has published pamphlet CM, which illustrates techniques for measuring bearing clearance. This pamphlet is available upon request.

Recommended spare parts.

Although Kingsbury, Inc. carries a large inventory of replacement parts, in order to minimize emergency downtime, we recommend that you carry at least one set of spare shoes and one set of seal rings (where applicable) for each bearing size installed. Kingsbury will quickly fill all of your other replacement parts requirements.

Manufacturing capabilities.

Kingsbury's state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Philadelphia. PA and Oshkosh, WI supply the world's marketplace. With highly specialized CAD/CAM systems and computer numerically controlled machine tools, we have manufactured journal bearings as small as one inch in diameter, and larger than four feet in diameter, as well as thrust bearings up to 10 feet in diameter. Our advanced computer systems and experienced workforce allow Kingsbury to meet delivery schedules and provide consistent, high quality bearings.

Special designs and retrofits.

At Kingsbury, we've designed, refined and raised the state of the art of fluid film bearings for over 75 years, but we aren't complacent. We will carry our tradition of design excellence into the 21st century with continued refinement of our leading-edge groove (LEG) bearings and development of a complete family of magnetic bearings.

We can also design and manufacture special bearings of all types, whether for retrofit in upgraded machines or for new machines. In either case, you can be sure the bearings will combine convenient packaging with the highest performance and most advanced technology.

For details, please consult our Applications Engineering department. They'll gladly discuss your particular bearing needs.

Optional Features

Floating seals, Code FS

When oil flow out of the bearing along the shaft has to be controlled, floating seal rings are recommended. Both shoe retaining plates are fitted with floating seal rings (Fig. 9-1).

Instrumentation, Code MT

Journal shoes are instrumented with thermocouples or RTD's to monitor bearing temperatures. The type of instrumentation required and sensing position (shoe center or trailing edge) should be indicated (Fig 9-2). Specify both on the 'Inquiries' form, page 29.

Proximity Probes, Code PP

Customer furnished proximity probes are mounted radially on special shoe retaining plates. The probes are mounted 90° apart for monitoring shaft position or orbit (Fig. 9-3).

High Pressure Lift, Code HL

Shoes are modified for the injection of high pressure oil to establish an oil film at start-up or during very low speed operation (Fig 9-4 ). Kingsbury can also supply high pressure lift systems if required (see Catalog W).

Thrust Capability

Thrust bearing capability can be incorporated in a pivoted shoe journal bearing with suitable shoe retaining plate modifications.

Code TF

Thrust face with flat land, babbitted bumper incorporated into one or both of the shoe retaining plates (Fig. 11-1).

Code TT

Same as flat face bumper except with taper land design to handle higher axial loads (Fig. 11-1).

Code TS

Thrust shoes (NE style bearing) mounted on one or both shoe retaining plates (Fig 11-2) For more information, refer to section on Journal Thrust.

Figure 9-1: Roaring Seals (Code FS)

Figure 9-2: Instrumentation Locations

Figure 9-3: Proximity Probes (Code PP)

Figure 9-4: High Pressure Lift (Code HL)

Design Customization

This catalog documents the popular, standard bearing selections. However, should your application require special consideration, Kingsbury can supply custom bearings to satisfy individual requirements. Please contact our Engineering Department during your preliminary design stages so we can assist in providing a bearing particularly suited for your equipment.

Bearing size and B/A ratio.

In addition to the standard bearings shown in this catalog, Kingsbury has supplied bearings with various B/A ratios and for shaft diameters from 1.25" to 56”. An appropriate bearing can be designed to accommodate special applications with envelope restrictions and unusual load characteristics.

Shoe backing material.

Standard shoe backing material is heat treated alloy steel. Under certain operating conditions, steel shoes can yield unacceptably high temperatures. In such cases, a chrome­copper material can be substituted.

Chrome-copper has an excellent thermal conductivity, which makes it very effective in removing heat from the babbitt. This property allows significant reductions in temperature for applications where steel backed shoes run too hot; e,g., high speed, high load. Chrome-copper is also used to keep temperatures low in applications where specifications place limits on shoe temperatures.

Other materials are available for high ambient or inlet oil temperatures.

Inlet orifice.

Oil flows for standard bearings are intended to be controlled by an orifice in the supply line to the bearing. If required, individual orifices can be provided in the radial feed holes of the bearing.

LEG^TM bearing.

Pivoted shoe journal bearings are available with Kingsbury's exclusive, patented leading edge groove shoes to reduce the volume of oil required, yielding more efficient operation.

Figure 10-1: B/A Ratio

Figure 10-2: Orificed Supply Line

Figure 10-3: Orificed Feed Holes

Journal bearings with thrust capabilities.

Kingsbury, Inc. specializes in packaging thrust and journal bearings to meet the needs of original equipment manufacturers. We can add thrust capacity to our standard pivoted shoe journal bearings simply by removing the standard shoe retaining plates and replacing them with either flat or taper land thrust plates.

You can order flat land thrust plates by specifying optional feature "TF," and taper land thrust plates by specifying optional feature "TT." Flat thrust faces can carry loads up to 80 psi; taper land thrust faces can carry loads up to 250 psi.

If greater thrust capacities are needed, a special aligning ring, optional feature "TS,” has been developed to hold thrust shoes. Tilting or pivoted-shoe thrust bearings can be used on either or both ends of the aligning ring.

For further information on Kingsbury's non-equalizing thrust bearings, see catalog NE. Our standard equalizing bearings can also be mounted on one or both ends of the aligning ring. For performance data, we refer you to catalog EQH.

The thrust capabilities for pivoted shoe journal bearings are tailored to meet your special requirements. If you order this type of bearing, we recommend consultation with our Engineering Department.

Figure 11-1: Thrust Face With Flat Land (Code TF) or Taper Land (Code TT)

Figure 11-2: Thrust Shoes (Code TS)

Bearing parameters affecting system dynamics.

The standard bearing configurations listed in this catalog were selected to provide good overall bearing operation and performance. Because bearing selection is also an integral part of the total system dynamics, variations from the standards are sometimes required. The following are design parameters that can be selected to optimize the bearing characteristics. Bearing stiffness and damping coefficients are available from our Engineering Department upon request. Please contact us for more specific information on the application of these special designs.

Number of shoes.

The five-shoe bearing was selected as standard because of the wide range of applications suited to this design. Four shoe bearings are another popular design (see discussion in following section). The number of shoes is often selected to obtain required dynamic performance.

In certain cases, selection is based on shoe proportions. On units with short axial lengths, more than five shoes may be required Bearings with as many as ten or more shoes have been supplied for special applications.

Bearing orientation.

Bearing orientation should be considered for machines with varying load magnitude and direction. For these classes of machines, both the number of shoes and bearing orientation can be selected to obtain the best combination to handle the loads (Fig 12-1).

Clearance and preload.

Clearance and preload were defined on page 5. Kingsbury's standard average preload value is 0.25. If required, clearance and preload other than standard can be provided to refine bearing operation and overall system dynamics.

B/A ratio.

The B/A ratio is another method used to change the dynamic characteristics of the bearing. By increasing or decreasing the diameter "An and/or axial length "B," bearing stiffness and damping can be altered to achieve the desired response.

Offset pivots.

Standard bearings are supplied with a centrally located shoe pivot suitable for bi-rotational equipment (Fig 12- 2). For applications with one direction of rotation, the pivot can be offset (Fig 12-3) The offset provides a better oil film wedge and yields lower shoe temperatures.

Figure 12-1: Bearing Orientation Modified to Suit Variable Load

Figure 12-2: Shoe with Standard Central Pivot

Figure 12-3: Shoe with Optional Offset Pivot

Kingsbury's Pivoted 4-Shoe Journal Bearings

Because of its asymmetrical geometry, a 5-shoe journal bearing's vertical stiffness exceeds its horizontal stiffness. At low loads, preload can be introduced in Kingsbury's pivoted shoe journal bearings to increase stiffness. If horizontal stiffness requirements are high, a pivoted 4-shoe journal bearing provides a horizontal stiffness equal to the vertical stiffness.

Four-shoe bearings will virtually eliminate the potential of an elliptical orbit. In fact, with a preload factor of approximately 0.50, the bearing will constrain the shaft to a relatively small circular orbit. Because 4-shoe journal bearing shoes have a longer arc than those in the 5-shoe bearing, they also generate a thicker oil film, which will improve bearing damping characteristics.

As with the 5-shoe bearing, the 4-shoe bearing is available in installation codes P, F, and B. For light loads, a B/A ratio of 0.4 is recommended. If the bearing must carry heavier loads, however, we recommend a B/A ratio of 0.6. Kingsbury 4-shoe journal bearings can be supplied for all envelope dimensions shown in this catalog and various optional features can also be ordered. Consult our Engineering Department for details.

Figure 13-1: Typical Four-Shoe Journal Bearing

Size Selection for Standard 5-Shoe Bearings.

To select the proper bearing size, determine the shaft diameter, the required load, and the operating speed With these parameters noted, enter Table 15-1 or 15-2 with nominal shaft diameter. Select the combination of journal shoe length (i.e. B/A ratio) and load vector type (load on one shoe [S] or between two shoes [D] that provide adequate load capacity for the application. After selecting journal length and load vector go to following sections and use the appropriate curves to determine power loss and required oil flow. If you find that your application involves bearing operation outside the nominal range shown in these curves, consult Kingsbury's Engineering Department to make final bearing selection.

Oil Grade

Bearing capacity and power loss values are based on oil grade ISO VG32, supplied at an inlet temperature of 120°F (48.9°C). The recommended oil flow is based on an oil outlet temperature of 150°F (65.6°C), and assumes standard Kingsbury preload and clearances.

For power loss, oil flow, and bearing capacity using oil grades and operating temperatures other than those given above, or using preload and clearances different from standard, contact Kingsbury's Engineering Department.

Dimensions

Once you've selected the proper bearing size. you can use the dimension tables that correspond to the selected B/A ratio to determine bearing dimensions and housing requirements (see following sections)

A note about metric dimensions: For metric applications, bearings are manufactured to match standard nominal metric shaft diameters, as shown in the first column of Tables 23-1, 25-1 and 27-1 (+0 0000, -0.0127mm) All other bearing dimensions are obtained by converting from the corresponding English units in the adjacent table.