| Creator: |
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| Date of birth: |
1870 |
| Date of death: |
1959 |
| Biography: |
Anthony G M Michell (1870 – 1959) is renowned internationally for his brilliant invention of the Tilting Pad Thrust Bearing, which carries the fore-and-aft load on ship propeller shafts. It overcame lubrication failure, which was a major shortcoming of existing bearings hindering ship development in the early twentieth century.
The Michell bearing rapidly spread worldwide, notwithstanding a competing invention and patent, which effectively locked out the US market. The commercialisation process of the thrust bearing was undertaken through a joint venture of Michell Bearings Ltd with H B Scott that was based in Newcastle on Tyne, UK.
The genius of Michell’s thrust bearing lies in it having one of the mating faces replaced by a bracelet of tilting pads that face the direction of circular motion and adjust themselves to a wide range of fluid dynamic loadings. In this way even severe operating conditions are supported without lubrication break down and consequent bearing failure.
Michell is remembered as one of the School’s most distinguished alumni graduating with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1895 and a Master of Civil Engineering in 1899. He was awarded the Kernot medal of the University of Melbourne in 1939 and the 1942 Watts Medal from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. |
| Activities/Occupation: |
Engineers |
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