High speed hybrid bearing comprising a fluid bearing & a rolling bearing connected in series

Claim 2

A hybrid bearing comprising a fluid film bearing comprising first and second elements first and second substantially parallel and opposed surfaces on said first and second elements respectively, and a rolling element bearing including an inner and an outer race, one of said races being mounted on said second element whereby said rolling element bearing is connected in series with said fluid bearing so that said second element rotates at a fraction of the speed of said first element when the driving torque through said fluid film bearing equals the restraining torque of said rolling element bearing.

Claim 3

A hybrid bearing according to claim 1, wherein said fluid film bearing surfaces support both radial and axial loads.

Claim 4

A hybrid bearing according to claim 2, wherein said fluid film bearing surfaces are conical in shape.

Claim 5

A hybrid bearing according to claim 1, wherein said rolling element bearing is a ball bearing.

Claim 6

A hybrid bearing according to claim 1, wherein said rolling element bearing is a combination ball and roller bearing.

Claim 7

A hybrid bearing comprising a rotatable first element having a first smooth surface thereon, a second element having a second smooth surface aligned in a substantially parallel and opposed relationship with said first smooth surface, means for forming a fluid film between said first and second surfaces, an inner race secured to said second element remote from said second surface, a fixedly mounted outer race surrounding said inner race in spaced relationship, and a plurality of rolling elements interposed between said inner and outer races so that when the driving torque through the fluid film equals the restraining torque of said rolling elements the second element rotates at a constant speed which is less than the rotational speed of said first element.

Claim 8

A hybrid bearing comprising a rotatable first element having a first smooth surface thereon, a second element having a second smooth surface aligned in a substantially parallel and opposed relationship with said first smooth surface, means for forming a fluid film between said first and second surfaces, an inner race secured to said second element remote from said second surface, a fixedly mounted outer race surrounding said inner race in spaced relationship, and a plurality of rolling elements interposed between said inner and outer races so that when the driving torque through the fluid film equals the restraining torque of said rolling elements the second element rotates at a constant speed which is less than the rotational speed of said first element.

Claim 9

A hybrid bearing according to claim 6, wherein said substantially parallel opposed surfaces are conical in shape having their apices at the axis of rotation of said bearing.