Resilient Support Member Patents (Class 384/581)
  • Patent number: 11371435
    Abstract: A device for centring and rotationally guiding a turbomachine shaft, including a rolling bearing including an outer ring, a bearing mount, a band interposed between the outer ring and the bearing mount and a device for connecting the outer ring to the bearing mount, including a device for the axial retention of the outer ring including an axial thrust flange downstream of and in contact with the fixing flange of the connecting device, and including a fixing hole for fixing together the fixing flange, the bearing mount and the axial thrust flange, which latter further includes a lug extending between two successive tabs of the elastically deformable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Arnaud Bessy, Laurent Leeder
  • Patent number: 11268573
    Abstract: A bearing assembly comprises a first bearing axially spaced from a second bearing, each bearing having an inner race disposed on a shaft and having an outer race. The bearings are mounted to a mounting sleeve having an outer sleeve surface and an inner sleeve surface engaging the outer race of each bearing. The mounting sleeve has an outer surface engaged with an inner bearing support of a bearing housing having an enclosed chamber. A housing oil inlet is in fluid communication with the enclosed chamber. The mounting sleeve includes an axially extending sleeve oil passage in fluid communication with the housing oil inlet. The mounting sleeve has a first outlet in the vicinity of the first bearing and the sleeve oil passage has a second outlet in the vicinity of the second bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Guy Lefebvre, Francois Doyon
  • Patent number: 10871216
    Abstract: A gear unit is described as having a first and a second housing part, an intermediate shaft of the gear unit being mounted via two bearings in a bushing accommodating the bearings, the bushing centering the first housing part against the second housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Miki Tegeltija, Oliver Bühn
  • Patent number: 10844746
    Abstract: There is disclosed a bearing assembly for a gas turbine engine including at least two bearings axially spaced from one another relative to a central axis, and a squirrel cage secured to a casing of the gas turbine engine. The squirrel cage supports respective bearing loads of the at least two bearings. The squirrel cage has a frangible section between the bearings configured to preferentially fail upon application of a load greater than a preselected threshold bearing load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Guy Lefebvre, Remy Synnott, François Doyon
  • Patent number: 10731748
    Abstract: A speed reducer includes two intermediate lines for a turboprop engine, the reducer including: an input line including an input shaft bearing an input gear wheel, a first intermediate line including a first intermediate shaft bearing a first intermediate gear wheel, a second intermediate line including a second intermediate shaft bearing a second intermediate gear wheel, a spring held by a frame, the spring surrounding a longitudinal portion of the input shaft in order to allow a movement of the input gear wheel towards an equilibrium position corresponding to an equal distribution of the transmission of the power coming from the input shaft to the first intermediate shaft of the first intermediate line and the second intermediate shaft of the second intermediate line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Antoine Mathieu, Benjamin Feraud, Boris Pierre Marcel Morelli
  • Patent number: 10675972
    Abstract: A drive shaft bearing support assembly is disclosed. The assembly may include a bearing support housing structured to be mountable to a portion of a vehicle. The bearing support housing may define a cavity structured for receiving a portion of a bearing therein. The assembly may also include a bearing support housing cap structured to be securable to the bearing support housing to secure the bearing in the cavity. The bearing support housing cap may be structured to contact the bearing only along two discrete regions of contact when the bearing support housing cap is secured to the bearing support housing to secure the bearing in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel J. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 10458277
    Abstract: A bearing assembly comprises a housing that includes a first housing surface and a second housing surface. The first and second housing surfaces are substantially axially parallel with respect to a rotor centerline. The bearing assembly also comprises a damped outer race that includes a first outer race surface radially adjacent to and opposing the first housing surface which is located radially interior to the first outer race surface. A second outer race surface is radially adjacent to and opposing the second housing surface which is located radially exterior to the second outer race surface. The housing comprises an oil passage that is configured to provide oil from an outlet to a first space between the first outer race surface and the first housing surface, and configured to provide oil to a second space radially between the second outer race surface and the second housing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Kaleb Von Berg
  • Patent number: 10451108
    Abstract: In a squeeze film damper bearing device, a pair of annular projections projecting toward an inner periphery of a bearing retaining member are provided on an outer periphery of opposite end parts in an axial direction of an outer race. When a load in a radial direction acting on a rotating shaft is less than a predetermined value, a state in which an extremity face of the annular projection is not in contact with the inner periphery of the bearing retaining member is maintained. When the load in the radial direction acting on the rotating shaft is the predetermined value or greater, the extremity face of the annular projection is in contact with the inner periphery of the bearing retaining member. The annular projection does not abut against the inner periphery of the bearing retaining member at a time other than when a large load is inputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio Nakayama, Kenji Saito
  • Patent number: 10436065
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing support ring with a first annular body and a second annular body disposed radially inward of the first annular body. A radial spring is connected to the first annular body and the second annular body. The gas turbine engine includes a frame with a case that extends around the first annular body. The frame includes an annular member connected to the case and positioned radially between the radial spring and the second annular body. A fluid port extends radially through the annular member. A seal is disposed around the annular member and forward of the fluid port. A first fluid passage extends through the case. A second fluid passage is formed between the bearing support ring and the frame and extends from the first fluid passage to the fluid port. A bearing outer race is disposed inward of the second annular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Patent number: 10215052
    Abstract: A sleeve is provided for supplying lubricant to an inter-shaft bearing mounted between co-axially mounted inner and outer shafts of a gas turbine engine. The sleeve has a sleeve annular outer surface and a sleeve annular inner surface. At least one lubricant supply connecting member extends from the sleeve outer surface for connection to a lubricant supply. At least one sleeve channel fluidly links the sleeve annular inner surface to the lubricant supply connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Ian A. MacFarlane
  • Patent number: 10041534
    Abstract: A retention housing for the outer race of a bearing of a gas turbine engine includes a spring finger housing connected to and overlying a bearing housing that is connected to the outer race of the bearing. The spring finger housing includes an arrangement of spring fingers that yields a lightweight housing capable of withstanding very high radial loads combined with very high torsional windup and axial thrust load. Dowel pins extending radially from the bearing housing and through the engine's interface shell limit the deflection and self-arrest the distortion of the housing. A gas turbine engine includes the retention housing described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Bruce Alan Carter, Charles Andrew Corman
  • Patent number: 9982564
    Abstract: A structural case assembly comprises a frame, fairing and heat shield. The frame is fabricated from a material having a temperature limit below an operating point of a gas turbine engine, and comprises an outer ring, an inner ring and a plurality of struts extending therebetween to define a flow path. The fairing is fabricated from a material having a temperature limit above the operating point of the gas turbine engine, and comprises a ring-strut-ring structure that lines the flow path. The heat shield is disposed between the frame and the fairing to inhibit radiant heat transfer therebetween. The heat shield may block all line-of-sight between the fairing and the frame. The frame may be produced from CA-6NM alloy. A method for designing a turbine case structure includes selecting a frame material having a temperature limit below the operating point of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William Yeager, Jonathan Ariel Scott
  • Patent number: 9976442
    Abstract: A turbine exhaust case employed in an industrial gas turbine engine includes a frame, a fairing and a heat shield. The frame includes an outer ring, an inner ring, and struts connected between the outer ring and the inner ring. The fairing includes a fairing outer ring, a fairing inner ring, and fairing struts connected between the fairing outer ring and the fairing inner ring. The heat shield is located between the frame outer ring and the fairing outer ring and provides a thermal barrier between the fairing outer ring and the frame outer ring, wherein the heat shield includes an aft portion having a flange that interfaces with the frame outer ring to form an air dam that directs cooling airflow forward along the frame outer ring within an outer diameter cavity formed between the frame outer ring and the heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William Yeager, Conway Chuong, Matthew Budnick
  • Patent number: 9926975
    Abstract: An assembly includes a bearing having an annular shape, a bearing support radially outward from the bearing, a squeeze film damper having a first end adjacent the bearing and a second end adjacent the bearing support with the second end forming a squeeze film damping surface, and a first spring between the bearing and the bearing support with the first spring configured to resist a movement of the bearing to center a shaft radially inward from the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Adam G. Smedresman, Jacek G. Stec
  • Patent number: 9890659
    Abstract: A mid-turbine frame for a gas turbine engine includes a vane assembly supported within a case. The vane assembly directs airflow between a first turbine and a second turbine. A support rod extends through the vane assembly and is secured to the case by a retaining nut. The retaining nut extends through a guide attached to the vane assembly for aligning the vane assembly relative to the case portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Jaisukhlal V. Chokshi
  • Patent number: 9841053
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing assembly having a back-up bearing (2), which has an outer ring (4) arranged in a housing construction (12) in a flexible manner. The flexibility has angle-dependent extreme values, namely at least one minimum and at least one maximum. According to the invention, this bearing assembly is characterized in that, within 360° with respect to the circumference of the outer ring (4), there are more than two angles at which there is at least one local extreme value of the flexibility of the outer ring (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Siebke, Stefan Ruhl
  • Patent number: 9708931
    Abstract: A device for centring and guiding the rotation of a turbine engine shaft, in which the outer race of a bearing is retained axially upstream and downstream by a retaining mechanism cooperating with a bearing bracket and with a coupling mechanism including elastically deformable mechanism connecting the outer race to the bearing bracket, the retaining mechanism being separate from a protecting ring of the device. A method of assembling such a device is also described. The retaining mechanism is pre-assembled with the coupling mechanism prior to the final assembly of the coupling mechanism with the bearing bracket. The device and the method have the combined advantages of axially retaining the outer race in two opposing directions and having a particularly straightforward assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Regis Eugene Henri Servant, Serge Louis Antunes, Julie Bellay, Fabrice Cretin, Damien Lourit
  • Patent number: 9341079
    Abstract: A structure for an aircraft turbojet including a rolling bearing including an outer ring, a bearing bracket, a retaining ring interposed between the ring and the bracket, a mechanism to connect the ring onto the bracket incorporating an attaching flange installed on the bearing bracket, a flexible connection attached to the ring and to the flange, and a mechanism enabling axial retention of the ring, in event the flexible connection fractures. The mechanism enabling axial retention includes a first stop securely attached to the retaining ring and capable of axially retaining this retaining ring relative to the bracket, and a second stop securely attached to the retaining ring, and capable of axially retaining the ring relative to the retaining ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Serge Louis Antunes, Michel Brault
  • Patent number: 9086092
    Abstract: In An AC generator for a vehicle in which a bearing is inserted into a bearing box formed in a bracket and the bearing is fixed and retained by a retainer, the retainer (8, 10) has a cylindrical shape and a threaded portion (81, 101) is formed on the cylindrical section thereof, a threaded portion (111, 112) is formed on the bearing box, and the threaded portion of the retainer is directly screwed to the threaded portion of the bearing box in order to fix and retain the bearing (3), so that the gap between the outer circumference surface of the bearing box or the outer circumference surface of the retainer and the opposing side of a cooling fan is made uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Takahashi, Hideyuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9016952
    Abstract: A roller bearing that includes a number of rolling elements located between an inner ring and an outer ring, a housing component to which the outer ring is non-rigidly attached, wherein the outer ring is designed in a single piece and comprises a track section that abuts against the housing component, a spring section comprising radial inner and radial outer spring rods and a flange that is bolted to the housing component, wherein the radial inner springrods are connected together with the radial outer spring rods by way of a single connecting ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Johannes Bedenk
  • Publication number: 20140369830
    Abstract: A bearing arrangement is disclosed. The bearing arrangement includes first and second bearings, with each bearing including a respective support element and a respective set of rolling elements and defining a respective load path extending through the respective support element and rolling elements. The support elements are coupled such that a load applied to either support element is transmitted through both the first and second load paths. The arrangement further includes a pair of superelastic titanium alloy elements located in the respective load paths to provide resilient movement between the bearings when a load is applied to the bearing arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Paul FLETCHER, John Richard WEBSTER, Alan Robert MAGUIRE
  • Patent number: 8911154
    Abstract: A tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body that can include a sidewall that defines a top and a bottom. The sidewall can include an upper unformed band and a lower unformed band opposite the upper unformed band. A plurality of shoulderless wave structures can protrude radially from the sidewall between the upper unformed band and the lower unformed band. Each shoulderless wave structure can be connected only to the upper unformed band and the lower unformed band. The sidewall of the tolerance ring can also include a plurality of unformed sections and a gap that extends along the entire axial length of the body. Each unformed section can be located between a pair of adjacent shoulderless wave structures. Moreover, the gap can establish a split in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Adam Sandey, Llewelyn Pickering
  • Patent number: 8851227
    Abstract: A bearing assembly is for a mechanism including a housing and a rotatable shaft disposed within the housing. The bearing assembly includes a sleeve disposable within the housing and having an inner circumferential surface defining a bore and a radial surface extending radially inwardly from the inner surface. A bearing is disposed within the bore and includes inner and outer races and rolling elements disposed between the races, the inner race being coupleable with the shaft such that the shaft and the inner race rotate as a single unit. Further, a biasing member biases the outer race generally against the sleeve radial surface or a housing radial surface to prevent axial displacement of the outer race during shaft rotation. Preferably, a retainer couples the biasing member with the outer race to retain the bearing and the biasing member within the bore when the assembly is separate from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Christophe Houdayer, Jacques Charpentier, Benoit Arnault, Yves Liverato, Sylvain Bussit, Carole Girardin
  • Patent number: 8783962
    Abstract: A rolling bearing arrangement with at least one outer bearing ring and at least one inner bearing ring and with rolling bodies guided in raceways between the bearing rings. At least one damping body is provided for mechanical vibration damping. The damping body reduces the vibration transmission to at least one component following in the force flux. At least one damping body is materially bonded to at least one of the bearing rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Herbert Schimschal
  • Patent number: 8777490
    Abstract: An architecture making it possible to provide sufficient absorption of shocks for a power shaft while maintaining rigidity at front bearings so as to not compromise meshing of power teeth of a drive pinion. A compressible dynamic shock absorption is provided in alignment with a downstream shock absorber of an additional meshing. An assembly for dynamically absorbing shocks for a power shaft includes upstream and downstream bearings including power rollers mounted on two casings and flanking a speed-reducing teeth meshing. The downstream bearing is coupled to at least one additional roller bearing associated with a compressible shock absorber to form a downstream shock absorber axially offset relative to the upstream bearing opposite the teeth meshing. Both downstream bearings are connectable by a flexible frame mounted on the common casing. The architecture can be used for power-transmission shafts, for example supercritical shafts in turbine engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Turbomeca
    Inventors: David Cazaux, Sylvain Pierre Votie
  • Patent number: 8727632
    Abstract: A bearing support cage includes: an annular forward ring; an annular aft ring; an annular mounting flange disposed between the forward and aft rings; an annular array of axially-extending first spring fingers interconnecting the forward ring and the aft ring; and an annular array of axially-extending second spring fingers interconnecting the mounting flange and the aft ring, wherein the first spring fingers are interdigitated with the second spring fingers. The forward and aft rings, the mounting flange, and the spring fingers are all part of a single monolithic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Do, Benjamin Johannes Seppala, David Garry Kerry, Alper Uyar, Ali Isler
  • Patent number: 8662756
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bearing assembly (1) for a rotatable shaft (2). The bearing assembly comprises a bearing housing (10); a bearing (20) located within the bearing housing (10) and arranged in use to receive a rotatable shaft (2); and a damper (14) that couples the bearing (20) to the bearing housing (10) for damping vibrations of the rotatable shaft (2). The damper (14) comprises a shape memory alloy (40). This arrangement allows the bearing assembly to damp vibrations of the rotatable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Ian C. D. Care, Seamus Garvey, Shakir Jiffri
  • Patent number: 8646978
    Abstract: A decoupling system for a rotary shaft of an aircraft turbojet, the decoupling system including: a rolling bearing including rolling elements inserted between a first ring fastened to a stationary bearing support and a second ring mounted in a mounting chamber fastened to a rotary shaft; a transmission mechanism transmitting rotary torque from the rotary shaft to the second ring; a mechanism allowing the second ring to move radially relative to the mounting chamber when a static force associated with an unbalance affecting the rotary shaft exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a plurality of leaktight flexible bags interposed between the second ring and the mounting chamber and each including a heterogeneous structure including a porous capillary solid matrix and an associated liquid relative to which the matrix is lyophobic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Edouard Joseph Jadczak, Cedric Magret, Pierrick Ollivier, Arnaud Fabrice Quenardel
  • Publication number: 20130315523
    Abstract: A roller bearing, in particular of a gas turbine, comprising a number of rolling elements (4) located between an inner ring (2) and an outer ring (3),a housing component (8) to which the outer ring (3) is non-rigidly attached, wherein the outer ring (3) is designed in a single piece and comprises a track section (7) that abuts against the housing component (8), a spring section (9) comprising radial inner and radial outer spring rods (12,14) and a flange (10) that is bolted to the housing component (8), wherein the radial inner spring rods (12) are connected together with the radial outer spring rods (14) by way of a single connecting ring (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Johannes Bedenk
  • Patent number: 8591117
    Abstract: A hydraulic bushing having at least two chambers and at least one channel connecting the chambers. The bushing is made of a high durometer rubber or other polymer to increase durability. The bushing further includes a center bearing press fit in the center of the annular bushing. The bushing is further press fit into an annular seal operable to seal the fluid within the chambers and channels. The bearing, bushing, and seal assembly is then press fit into a bracket which is subsequently mounted to the vehicle. The center bearing is operable to hold the prop shaft wherein the center bearing is free to rotate within the bushing thereby allowing the prop shaft to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Trelleborg Automotive USA
    Inventors: Alain Rene Regis Giraud, Travis Jon Grassmid, Donald Paul Price
  • Patent number: 8585297
    Abstract: A rolling-bearing mounted apparatus includes a shaft, and at least one rolling bearing supporting the shaft in a section of the apparatus. The rolling bearing includes at least one inner ring arranged on the shaft, an outer ring arranged on the section, and rolling elements arranged between the inner and outer rings. A sleeve is provided between the outer ring and the section to permit an axial and/or radial displacement of the outer ring of the rolling bearing when exposed to an axially and/or radially directed force. The sleeve has at least two rows of recesses, with hollow-drilled rolling elements being arranged in the recesses of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Felix Butz
  • Publication number: 20130089284
    Abstract: An architecture making it possible to provide sufficient absorption of shocks for a power shaft while maintaining rigidity at front bearings so as to not compromise meshing of power teeth of a drive pinion. A compressible dynamic shock absorption is provided in alignment with a downstream shock absorber of an additional meshing. An assembly for dynamically absorbing shocks for a power shaft includes upstream and downstream bearings including power rollers mounted on two casings and flanking a speed-reducing teeth meshing. The downstream bearing is coupled to at least one additional roller bearing associated with a compressible shock absorber to form a downstream shock absorber axially offset relative to the upstream bearing opposite the teeth meshing. Both downstream bearings are connectable by a flexible frame mounted on the common casing. The architecture can be used for power-transmission shafts, for example supercritical shafts in turbine engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Turbomeca
    Inventors: David Cazaux, Sylvain Pierre Votie
  • Patent number: 8388232
    Abstract: There is provided a rolling bearing which comprises at least: an outer ring 10 and an inner ring 20 disposed rotatable relative to each other; and plurality of rolling elements 40 respectively interposed rollably between the outer and inner rings. The outer ring is fitted into a housing (not shown) and the inner ring is fitted with a shaft (not shown), whereby the rolling bearing supports rotation between the shaft and housing. Between the fitting surface (not shown) of the housing and the outer circumferential surface 13 of the outer ring and/or between the fitting surface of the shaft and the inner circumferential surface 23 of the inner ring, there is interposed an O-ring 30 made of an elastic member having a reduced friction coefficient between the fitting surface of the housing and the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring or between the fitting surface of the shaft and the inner circumferential surface of the inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Iida, Ryuya Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20130028732
    Abstract: A roller bearing device in particular in a turbocharger having a housing component having a bearing hole having an inner circumference and a rolling bearing received therein on an outer race having an outer circumference. In order to implement a component such as a rotor assembly of a turbocharger that can rotate on the inner circumference with great smoothness and that is protected against imbalance, a hydraulic damping device made of reservoirs filled with a hydraulic fluid and alternating along the circumference facing the outer periphery and the inner periphery is provided in an annular gap between the outer periphery of the outer race and the inner periphery of the bearing hole by radially pretensioning the outer race relative to the bearing hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Eduard Golovatai-Schmidt, Kurt Kirsten
  • Patent number: 8337090
    Abstract: A bearing support ring includes a plurality of contact pads radially protruding from inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the ring. Flexible portions of the ring are defined between the contact pads and have a radial thickness less than that of the ring at the contact pads, such as to permit elastic deflection of the ring in a radial direction between the contact pads. Openings sized to permit unrestricted oil flow are provided, such as within the flexible portions of the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Jason Herborth, Lena Raykowski, Dave Beamish
  • Patent number: 8322038
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bearing housing comprising: selecting a configuration for housing and manufacturing the housing the configuration. The selected housing configuration comprises a bearing section and a base having a cylindrical shape. The bearing section and base are substantially aligned centrally along an axis. A plurality of members extends between the bearing section and the base. The plurality of members has a length and a width, and, in the configuration, each of the plurality of members has a side that is substantially non-perpendicular with respect to the bearing section and the base. At least one of the plurality of members extends at an angle from the bearing section to the base; the plurality of members having a curve relative to the axis; and the width of the plurality of members decreasing or increasing along the length of the plurality of members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mohammad A. Heidari, Adrian Stanescu
  • Patent number: 8282285
    Abstract: A bearing support provides a circumferentially-extending structure to substantially transmit a radial bearing load to a housing when a radial deflection/deformation of the circumferentially-extending structure caused by the radial bearing load, is within a predetermined limit. The bearing support provides a direct support link bypassing the circumferentially-extending structure to transmit an over-limit portion of the radial bearing load to the housing when the radial deflection/deformation of the circumferentially-extending structure reaches the predetermined limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Louis Brillon
  • Patent number: 8267592
    Abstract: A compact bearing support operable for supporting and damping movement of a bearing assembly. The bearing support includes a plurality of flexible elements engaging the bearing assembly in a plurality of locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd A. Godleski
  • Patent number: 8262353
    Abstract: A rotor decoupler system for a gas turbine engine is disclosed, comprising a load reduction system disposed between a bearing system and the bearing support. The load reduction system comprises a fuse and a damper such that the damper transfers at least a part of the radial load from the rotor to the bearing support when a fuse fails. In one exemplary embodiment the damper comprises a wire mesh, disposed around the outer race of the bearing. In another exemplary embodiment the damper comprises a rope damper assembly. In yet another exemplary embodiment, a load reduction system is disposed between a support structure and a frame, comprising an extensional fuse and a damper disposed between the support structure and the frame such that the damper transfers at least a part of the unbalance load to the frame when an extensional fuse fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Albert Frank Storace
  • Patent number: 8206039
    Abstract: A support device for a bearing assembly includes a housing with a bore and a centerline and a bearing having a bore for receiving a rotatable shaft. The support device has an annular body disposable within the housing bore and having a central axis and inner and outer surfaces extending circumferentially about the axis, the inner surface defining a central bore for receiving the bearing. One or more first integral spring portions extend generally between the inner and outer surfaces and have a first stiffness and one or more second integral spring portions are each spaced circumferentially from the first spring(s). The second spring extends generally between the inner and outer surfaces and has a second, greater stiffness. The body is adjustably angularly positionable about the body axis to adjust a position of the shaft axis with respect to the housing centerline when disposed within the support bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: Martin Donald Maier
  • Patent number: 8202003
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine bearing assembly for a portion of a shaft that rotates around an axis, including a substantially cylindrical bearing having a length extending between a first end and a second end along the axis of the rotating shaft. A plurality of segmented damper springs are positioned around an exterior perimeter of a portion of the cylindrical bearing. Each spring has a width along the axis of the rotating shaft and a portion of each spring defines an outer spherically contoured joint. The width of each spring is less than the length of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Arlen Klusman, Preston Earl Light
  • Patent number: 8182156
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine bearing cage assembly includes: a first bearing cage having: an annular first bearing support ring; an annular first mounting flange; and an annular array of axially-extending first spring arms interconnecting the first bearing support ring and the first mounting flange, the first spring arms defining an outer diameter; and a second bearing cage having: an annular second bearing support ring; an annular second mounting ring, the second mounting ring defining an inner diameter greater that the outer diameter; and an annular array of axially-extending second spring arms interconnecting the second bearing support ring and the second mounting ring, the second spring arms defining spaces therebetween. The bearing cages are sized such that the first bearing cage can be received within the second bearing cage. The spaces are positioned to receive the first spring arms, permitting independent flexing motion of the first and second spring arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ray Harris Kinnaird, Ning Fang
  • Patent number: 8182153
    Abstract: A bearing damper includes: (a) an annular sleeve having spaced-apart grooves formed in a radially-facing surface therein; (b) an annular bearing race received in the sleeve; and (c) a resilient seal ring disposed in each of the grooves, wherein the seal rings cooperate with the sleeve and a radially-facing surface of the bearing race to define a closed annular gap, and further wherein the seal rings are sized so as to urge the bearing race towards a coaxial position relative to the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anant Pal Singh, Michael Slusher, Albert Frank Storace, James C. Austrow, Tony Metz
  • Patent number: 8136999
    Abstract: A support for a bearing that guides a shaft in a turbomachine is disclosed. The support includes an annular part made of a shape memory material which retains an initial shape when the load applied to it remains below a threshold value and which deforms, absorbing energy when the applied load becomes at least equal to the threshold value. The annular part is capable of reverting at least approximately to its initial shape when the applied load drops back below the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Claude Marcel Mons, Laurent Raberin, Jean-Marc Rongvaux, Stephane Rousselin
  • Patent number: 8128339
    Abstract: To provide a bearing support structure and a gas turbine that prevent damage of device induced by a rotor shaft when the rotor shaft is unbalanced, the bearing support structure and the gas turbine includes: a casing (7) formed in a cylindrical shape; a bearing unit (8) formed in a cylindrical shape and housed in the casing (7); a rotation shaft (5) rotatably supported by the bearing unit (8); and a reaction-force decreasing unit (13) that connects the casing and the bearing unit, and is configured to decrease a radial reaction force on the bearing unit side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Kondo, Hiroji Tada, Osamu Morii, Tadayuki Hanada, Hirokazu Hagiwara, Kunihiro Shimizu, Tomohiro Imae
  • Patent number: 8100587
    Abstract: An outer ring for a rolling element bearing has three mounting pads on its outer surface. The inner surface of the ring is arranged to be non-circular, with its effective radius being at a minimum at the three points midway between adjacent pairs of mounting pads. This provides a preload on the rolling elements of the bearing in use, preventing skidding, but because the ring is not supported between the pads it can still flex under loads. The ring may be oriented in use so that transient loads are directed through one of the mounting pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Graham P. Morton, Stephen T. McDonagh
  • Publication number: 20110157743
    Abstract: A bearing device includes a shaft having an axis, plural rolling bearings arranged at axially separated positions and rotatably supporting the shaft, a first cylindrical member for supporting the rolling bearings therein and having a first screw on a part of an outer surface thereof, a second cylindrical member having a second screw engaging with the first screw on an inner surface thereof and mounted to the outer surface of the first cylindrical member by engaging the first screw with the second screw, a restricting member provided on the outer surface of the second cylindrical member for preventing relative axial movement of the second cylindrical member with respect to the first cylindrical member when a portion of the second member contacts the restricting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventor: Kunihiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7927020
    Abstract: A decoupling device for the bearing arrangement of a shaft carried in a housing, in particular a shaft of a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission with a chain that functions as the belt. The decoupling device includes an outer bearing ring configured with a circularly cylindrical outer surface and within which the shaft is mounted, and an inner surface of a housing that encloses the bearing ring outer surface. At least one radial ondular washer is arranged between the bearing ring outer surface and the housing inner surface, which allows a limited relative radial movement between the housing inner surface and the bearing ring outer surface by elastic deformation of the washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Betelligungs KG
    Inventors: Hartmut Faust, Oswald Friedmann, André Linnenbrügger, Ronald Glas, Christian Bauer, Hans-Walter Wodtke
  • Publication number: 20110085754
    Abstract: An auxiliary bearing including a bearing mount disposed circumferentially about a shaft. A support wall may extend radially inward from the bearing mount, and the support wall may define a first annular cavity. An outer race may be coupled to a radially inner surface of the support wall. An inner race may be rotatably coupled to the outer race, and a plurality of rolling elements may be disposed between the inner and outer races. A pool of lubricant may be disposed within the first annular cavity, and at least a lowermost one of the plurality of rolling elements may be at least partially disposed in the pool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: William C. Maier, Joseph A. Tecza
  • Patent number: 7901142
    Abstract: A bearing hanger assembly for coupling rotating shaft components is disclosed which includes a mounting assembly for mounting the bearing hanger assembly to a supporting structure, a bearing assembly for supporting axial rotation of coupled shaft components, and a flexible diaphragm plate supported by the mounting assembly and operatively connected to the bearing assembly so as to accommodate misalignment of the coupled shaft components relative to the supporting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Mathis