Abstract
An externally pressurized gas journal bearing with an asymmetric gas supply mechanism has been developed. This type of bearing has a large load capacity compared with the conventional symmetric gas supply bearing because pressurized gases are supplied to the loaded and counter-loaded side bearing surfaces via asymmetrically arranged gas supply holes. The bearing load capacity of the developed bearing is considerably larger than that of conventional symmetric-type bearings. The load capacity increases owing to the asymmetry of the gas supply holes. Rotational test was conducted using eccentric rotor taking advantage of this property. The bearing diameter and length were 60 and 120 mm, respectively. Rotational vibration amplitude decreased at high rotational frequency in the proposed bearing configuration, although the amplitude increase monotonically with the frequency in the conventional bearing. The rotor of the test rig was safely supported by this bearing, and effective data for practical operation were obtained.
