Literature & Knowledge Center
Trusted technical guidance on Kingsbury products, technologies, and applications.
Kingsbury has organized decades of bearing expertise into catalogs, technical papers, case studies, how-to guides, and videos so you can solve real problems and make confident decisions.
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Catalogs and Product Guides
PRODUCT GUIDEA General Guide to Hydrodynamic Bearings
A guide to fluid film bearing fundamentals, common applications, and what to look for in design, operation, and troubleshooting.
PRODUCT GUIDELEG Directed Lubrication Thrust & Journal Bearings
An overview of LEG directed lubrication thrust and journal designs that reduce hot oil carryover, lower operating temperature, and cut…
PRODUCT GUIDEKingsbury Journal Bearings
An overview of tilting pad journal bearing designs, options, and application guidance focused on stability, load capacity, and misalignment tolerance.…
PRODUCT GUIDEKingCole Directed Lubrication Thrust Bearings
An overview of KingCole directed lubrication thrust bearing designs for demanding thrust loads, improved temperature margin, and efficient oil use.…
PRODUCT GUIDELow-Profile Directed Lubrication Thrust Bearings
An overview of slim, low-profile LEG thrust bearings for tight axial envelope constraints, with the performance benefits of directed lubrication.…
PRODUCT GUIDEEqualizing Thrust Bearings
An overview of equalizing thrust bearing designs that distribute axial load across pads to improve reliability and reduce localized wear.…
PRODUCT GUIDEEuropean-Type Thrust Bearings
An overview of European style thrust bearing designs and sizes, with application notes for common OEM configurations and retrofit needs.…
SERVICES GUIDERepair & Service Guide
A full range of aftermarket services for total customer support, including fluid film bearing repair, upgrades, and retrofits that help…
PRODUCT GUIDEEqualizing Bearings, Horizontal & Vertical
An overview of equalizing bearing assemblies for horizontal and vertical machines, covering common configurations, design features, and selection notes.
PRODUCT GUIDEEqualizing Bearings, Marine & Industrial
An overview of equalizing bearing designs for marine and industrial duty, with hardware and lubrication considerations for real operating conditions.
PRODUCT GUIDEVertical Hydro Thrust Bearings
An overview of vertical thrust bearing designs for hydro units, including load sharing, thermal performance, and system integration considerations.
PRODUCT GUIDESelf-Lubricating Thrust/Journal Combination Bearings
An overview of combination thrust and journal bearing assemblies with self-contained lubrication features for specific retrofit and package applications.
Technical Articles and Case Studies
TECHNICAL PAPERThe Basics of Axial Clearance in Thrust Bearings
Getting thrust bearing end play right is the key to reliable oil film formation, proper alignment, and long-term bearing health.…
TECHNICAL PAPEREvolution of a High‑Speed, Light‑Load Phenomenon in Tilting‑Pad Thrust Bearings
Tilting‑pad thrust bearings are normally prized for their stability, yet under very light load and high rotational speed they can…
TECHNICAL PAPERThe Effect of Shoe-Backing Material on the Thermal Performance of aTilting-Pad Thrust Bearing
Tilting‑pad thrust bearings rely on babbitted shoes that become vulnerable as temperatures rise, making heat management a key performance factor.…
TECHNICAL PAPERUnusual Conditions in High-Speed Turbomachinery Bearings
High‑speed turbomachinery bearings can behave unpredictably even under conditions that appear normal. This paper highlights four such cases—including reverse rotation…
TECHNICAL PAPERReducing Power Losses in Tilting Pad Bearings
This paper explores how shear-dependent non-Newtonian lubricants can reduce power losses in tilting pad thrust bearings while maintaining reliability. Test…
TECHNICAL PAPERA Review of Thrust Bearings Used in Rotary Air Preheaters
Author: Bruce R. FabijonasProceedings of the 22nd Tribo‑Pprime Workshop (2023) A Review of Thrust Bearings Used in Rotary Air Preheaters…
Troubleshooting
PRODUCT GUIDEA General Guide to the Principles,Operation and Troubleshooting of Hydrodynamic Bearings
This technical catalog serves as a clear, working reference to the principles, operation, and troubleshooting of hydrodynamic bearings. It explains…
TROUBLESHOOTINGFluid Film Bearings – Selection, Troubleshooting and Repair
During every second of every day, machines all over the world are working to provide the products we demand. These…
TROUBLESHOOTINGAxial Subsychronous Vibration
Axial subsynchronous vibration (SSV) can appear suddenly in turbomachinery and reach amplitudes large enough to threaten rotor components, thrust bearings,…
TROUBLESHOOTINGNumerical and Experimental Analysis of Starvation in a Tilting Pad Journal Bearing
This paper presents experimental and computational work aimed at understanding how individual pads behave in a tilting pad journal bearing…
TROUBLESHOOTINGTroubleshooting Tilting Pad Thrust Bearings
Tilting pad thrust bearings are generally reliable, but when distress occurs, understanding the underlying cause is essential for preventing recurrence.…
History
HistoryBold Ideas Require Bold Testing
Dr. Albert Kingsbury changed the course of heavy machinery with a bold new idea. This story follows the invention of…
HistoryDr. Albert Kingsbury
This catalog offers a detailed portrait of Albert Kingsbury, tracing the life, work, and character of the inventor whose tilting‑pad…
HistoryThe Kingsbury Bearing Centennial Celebration
This commemorative catalog traces the first ninety years of Kingsbury’s engineering legacy, from Albert Kingsbury’s original fluid film thrust bearing…
HistoryKingsbury: Celebrating 90 years of innovation.1912-2002
This commemorative catalog traces the first ninety years of Kingsbury’s engineering legacy, from Albert Kingsbury’s original fluid film thrust bearing…
HistoryThe Kingsbury Bearing at Holtwood
This catalog documents the origin and enduring impact of the first Kingsbury fluid‑film thrust bearing, installed at the Holtwood Hydroelectric…
Videos
Archives
ARCHIVESKingsbury Bearings for Turbines, Steam and Gas
This catalog details Kingsbury thrust and journal bearings designed specifically for steam and gas turbine service. It explains bearing fundamentals,…
ARCHIVESKingsbury Bearings for Centrifugal Pumps
This catalog documents Kingsbury thrust and journal bearing designs developed specifically for centrifugal pump service. It covers horizontal and vertical…
ARCHIVESThe Kingsbury Guide Book
This guide presents a comprehensive overview of Kingsbury thrust and journal bearings for industrial and marine applications. It explains the…
ARCHIVESKingsbury Bearings for Dredge Pumps & Dredge Propulsion
This catalog focuses on Kingsbury thrust and journal bearings developed for heavy‑duty dredge pump and dredge propulsion service. It explains…
ARCHIVESKingsbury Bearings for Marine Propulsion
This catalog documents Kingsbury thrust and journal bearings designed specifically for marine propulsion service. It covers bearing selection, mounting, lubrication,…
ARCHIVESSelf‑Aligning Equalized Thrust Bearings for Horizontal and Vertical Applications
This catalog documents the dimensions, load capacities, and typical mountings of Kingsbury self‑aligning equalized thrust bearings for both horizontal and…
Articles and Technical Papers