Cage-positioned tilting pad bearing for turbochargers
This patent covers a precision bearing designed for high-speed rotating machines like turbochargers. The bearing uses a cage — machined as a single piece of high-temperature metal — that holds multiple tilting pads in position around a rotating shaft. O-rings temporarily secure the pads during assembly and, when retained, help direct lubricating oil and reduce leakage. The single-billet cage construction and integrated oil-groove system are designed to improve reliability and manufacturability in demanding thermal and high-RPM environments.
What you could build
A drop-in bearing unit for automotive and industrial turbochargers, sold to turbocharger OEMs or aftermarket suppliers seeking improved bearing life and easier assembly; buyers include turbocharger manufacturers serving passenger vehicle, commercial truck, and power generation markets.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based defense and aerospace contractors, as well as commercial vehicle suppliers near the I-81 and Hampton Roads industrial corridors, could find applications in turbomachinery and propulsion systems.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- R. Gordon Kirk, William Songer
- Granted
- July 19, 2016
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 9394914
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.