Shaft Bearing Combined With Or Retained By Arm Or Vane In Surrounding Working Fluid Space Patents (Class 415/142)
  • Patent number: 4428713
    Abstract: A turbine suitable for a gas turbine engine is provided with a bearing support member which is interconnected with the turbine casing by means of an annular array of aerofoil guide vanes. The whole assembly of support member and aerofoil guide vanes is maintained in a state of tension. The degree of tension in the assembly is controlled so as to be substantially constant throughout the normal operating cycle of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Limited
    Inventors: John F. Coplin, Edward S. Hadaway
  • Patent number: 4417850
    Abstract: A vertical column hydraulic pump is disclosed having an impeller secured to a vertical rotary shaft within a water passageway. A diffuser surrounds the shaft adjacent the impeller. The pump is provided with a first bearing surrounding the shaft adjacent the impeller and a second bearing surrounding the shaft adjacent a shaft coupling. Means are provided to raise the shaft to present a gap at the coupling through which the second bearing may be removed. A bearing cartridge is provided secured to the top of the diffuser and extending downwardly to the first bearing, the first bearing is secured to the cartridge. The cartridge may be lifted to expose the first bearing whereby the first bearing may be removed through the gap without the need to remove the pump impeller from the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation
    Inventors: Richard K. Hacker, James F. Tesch
  • Patent number: 4369016
    Abstract: A turbine intermediate case in which the outer case element carries a series of inwardly extending struts that position the bearing support centrally within the outer case element and these struts support the inner case element within and in spaced relation to the outer case element. The inner case element carries seals at opposite ends, a diaphragm and a support ring for the row of turbine vanes downstream of the case. The struts provide a vent for the air cavity formed by the diaphragm and carry a baffle to control heat transfer between strut and vent air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1983
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: William T. Dennison
  • Patent number: 4332518
    Abstract: Presented is a singular device for providing multifunctional means as a fluid impeller or rotor support structure, fluid actuated yaw positioning, and stabilizing means and TARP augmented flow directing or channelling means about a TARP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Inventor: Alfred L. Weisbrich
  • Patent number: 4321007
    Abstract: A turbine intermediate case in which a turbine bearing support and an inner case are supported centrally within an outer case by radially inward extending hollow struts. An inner case carrying a diaphragm and seals which defines a vent cavity surrounding a bearing compartment. Air leaking past seals is collected in this vent cavity and flows through the hollow struts to be utilized for impingement cooling of the outer surface of the outer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Dennison, David K. Jan
  • Patent number: 4304522
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising an annular casing and a bearing housing located concentrically with the casing and in spaced relation thereto. An annular exhaust gas duct is formed between the bearing housing and the outer annular casing. The bearing housing includes a pair of concentric spaced-apart rings connected in a cantilevered manner. The outer ring is supported to the outer casing by angularly, spaced-apart, radially extending support members, and the inner ring includes a cylindrical inner surface to which a concentric bearing support member is tightly fitted therein. The concentric bearing support member includes angularly, spaced-apart, support contact means tightly engaging the inner cylindrical surface of the inner ring while the remainder of the bearing support is out of radial contact with the inner ring of the housing to allow for minimum thermal conduction, yet stressed for relief in the tightly fitting support member within the bearing support housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Aircraft of Canada Limited
    Inventor: Allan B. Newland
  • Patent number: 4288202
    Abstract: Several embodiments of high efficiency fans having lightweight housings supported and interconnected with their impellers by star-shaped frames disposed inside the fans, or in other words inside the areas defined by the fan housings, are illustrated herein. The use of a support frame inside the fan permits a much lighter construction than is possible with an outside frame, because the support members are in tension rather than compression and bending forces on different portions of the housing balance each other. To further minimize weight, the fans include hollow support rings and diffusers that receive air from the fan impeller and are partially supported by that air against fan pressure loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignee: Aerojet-General Corporation
    Inventor: Paul S. Buckmann
  • Patent number: 4034560
    Abstract: A small gas turbine engine having a small, high speed shaft assembly including a central shaft member, a radial outflow compressor rotor secured to one end of the central shaft member with its inlet end disposed outboard of the shaft assembly, and a radial inflow turbine rotor secured to the other end of the central shaft member with its discharge end disposed outboard of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly is supported at its ends, outboard of the rotors, by a pair of bearings which are axially secured but allow limited radial movement of the shaft assembly. An annular combustor is disposed between the turbine and compressor rotors in encircling relation to the central shaft member. Fuel is supplied to the combustor chamber from the exhaust end of the turbine through an axial passage in the shaft assembly opening at one end outboard of the exhaust end bearing and communicating at its other end with radial ports in the central shaft member arranged to sling fuel into the combustor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1972
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Chute