US 10,066,505 B2 · Fluid-filled damper for gas bearing assembly

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a gas-lubricated bearing assembly for a gas turbine engine and method of damping same. The bearing assembly includes a bearing pad for supporting a rotary component and a bearing housing attached to or formed integrally with the bearing pad. The bearing housing includes a first fluid damper cavity, a second fluid damper cavity in restrictive flow communication with the first fluid damper cavity via a restrictive channel configured as a clearance gap, and a damper fluid configured within the first and second fluid damper cavities. More specifically, the damper fluid of the present disclosure is configured to withstand the high temperature environment of the engine. Thus, the bearing housing is configured to transfer the damper fluid from the first fluid damper cavity to the second fluid damper cavity via the restrictive channel in response to a force acting on the bearing pad.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A bearing assembly for a gas turbine engine, the bearing assembly comprising:

a bearing pad for supporting a rotary component;
and
a bearing housing attached to or formed integrally with the bearing pad, the bearing housing comprising:
a first fluid damper cavity positioned adjacent to the bearing pad;
a second fluid damper cavity spaced from the first fluid damper cavity and in restrictive flow communication with the first fluid damper cavity via a restrictive channel configured as a clearance gap;
and
a damper fluid configured within the first and second fluid damper cavities, the bearing housing configured to transfer the damper fluid from the first fluid damper cavity to the second fluid damper cavity via the restrictive channel in response to a force acting on the bearing pad;
wherein each of the first and second fluid damper cavities comprises a fill hole to allow the first and second fluid damper cavities to be filled, respectively.

5 more elements

A method for providing damping to a gas-lubricated bearing assembly of a gas turbine engine, the bearing assembly having a bearing pad for supporting a rotary component and a bearing housing attached to or formed integrally with the bearing pad, the method comprising:

filling a first fluid damper cavity of the bearing housing positioned adjacent to the bearing pad with a damper fluid;
filling a second fluid damper cavity of the bearing housing spaced from the first fluid damper cavity with the damper fluid, the second fluid damper cavity in restrictive flow communication with the first fluid damper cavity via a restrictive channel;
and
allowing the damper fluid to flow between the first and second fluid damper cavities via the restrictive channel in response to a force acting on the bearing pad, the flow of damper fluid providing damping to the gas-lubricated bearing assembly;
wherein each of the first and second fluid damper cavities comprises a fill hole to allow the first and second fluid damper cavities to be filled, respectively.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluid-filled damper for gas bearing assembly

Life of this patent

Fluid-filled damper for gas bearing assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19