The main types of tilting pad bearings are thrust and journal bearings.  These two types are further divided into fixed profile (for thrust only), tilting-pad flooded lubrication, and tilting-pad directed lubrication categories, based on designs needed to meet higher performance challenges.  These bearings operate by providing a coating of oil between a rotating component and the static bearing. 

Directed lubrication is the current performance leader for handling higher pressures of 2.76+ MPa, temperatures typically up to 135°C, and speed requirements of over 14,000 RPM.  The groove in the LEG bearing, (an acronym for leading-edge groove) in the tilting pad category provides the best oil circulation.  

Additionally, these bearings typically have babbitted working surfaces on the tilting pad consisting of a layer of softer metal like tin alloys which act to protect the underlying surface and can easily be replaced. In some cases, this babbitting material is a limiting factor to the maximum performance and in other cases it is the integrity of the oil. 

Recent Changes in Tilting Pad Bearings:

• Kingsbury has added a new category of tilting pad bearing called the G-MD, which is a European-style modular thrust bearing with the highest design flexibility.
• Kingsbury offers a new advanced-material bearing most visitors are unaware of which uses a Vespel coating in order to enable process fluids as the lubricant. This is particularly well suited to petrochemical industry applications.