Regular and Reversible Rotation-Type Gas-Lubricated Herringbone-grooved Journal Bearing. Case of Herringbone Grooves Cut in Regular and Reverse Directions.

A new type of gas-lubricated herringbone-grooved journal bearing which produces a gas film bearing pressure with a shaft or bearing rotation in either direction is proposed in this paper. A numerical analysis of the bearing characteristics using the narrow groove theory confirmed that the radial load component (related to stability) and the load capacity of this bearing are increased with a small hole connecting the negative pressure region and the atmospheric pressure, and they do not differ greatly from those of a conventional bearing. The optimum number and the optimum location of small holes of this bearing are also determined numerically.