Back to results
US 10,309,256 B2Granted
Non-linear bumper bearings
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsLoc Quang Duong, Xiaolan Hu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bumper bearing assembly includes a bearing housing having a level of radial spring stiffness, wherein the bearing housing defines a bearing seat. A bumper bearing is connected to the bearing housing by a spring having a level of radial spring stiffness lower than that of the bearing housing. The bumper bearing is configured to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the spring against a rotor with the bumper bearing spaced apart from the bearing seat. The bearing housing is configured to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the bearing housing against the rotor with the bumper bearing seated against the bearing seat.
Claims20
A bumper bearing assembly comprising:
- a bearing housing having a level of radial spring stiffness, wherein the bearing housing defines a first bearing seat and a second bearing seat;
- and
- a bumper bearing connected to the bearing housing by a spring having a level of radial spring stiffness lower than that of the bearing housing, wherein the bumper bearing is configured to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the spring against a rotor with the bumper bearing spaced apart from the first bearing seat, and wherein the bearing housing is configured to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the bearing housing against the rotor with the bumper bearing seated against the first bearing seat;
- and
- a second bumper bearing opposed to the bumper bearing and connected to the bearing housing by a second spring having a level of radial spring stiffness lower than that of the bearing housing, wherein the second bumper bearing is positioned to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the second spring in a second radial direction opposed to the first radial direction against the rotor with the second bumper bearing spaced apart from the second bearing seat, and wherein the bearing housing is configured to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the bearing housing against the rotor with the second bumper bearing seated against the second bearing seat, wherein each of the first and second bumper bearings is individually tuned so the first and second bumper bearings differ from one another in respective level of radial spring stiffness of the bearing housing.
2 more elements
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a casing;
- a rotor mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis relative to the casing;
- and
- a bumper bearing assembly mounted to the casing, the bumper bearing assembly including:
- a bearing housing having a level of radial spring stiffness, wherein the bearing housing defines first and second bearing seats;
- a first bumper bearing connected to the bearing housing by a first spring having a level of radial spring stiffness lower than that of the bearing housing, wherein the first bumper bearing is positioned to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the first spring in a first radial direction against the rotor with the first bumper bearing spaced apart from the first bearing seat, and wherein the bearing housing is configured to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the bearing housing against the rotor with the first bumper bearing seated against the first bearing seat;
- and
- a second bumper bearing opposed to the first bumper bearing and connected to the bearing housing by a second spring having a level of radial spring stiffness lower than that of the bearing housing, wherein the second bumper bearing is positioned to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the second spring in a second radial direction opposed to the first radial direction against the rotor with the second bumper bearing spaced apart from the second bearing seat, and wherein the bearing housing is configured to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the bearing housing against the rotor with the second bumper bearing seated against the second bearing seat, wherein each of the first and second bumper bearings is individually tuned so the first and second bumper bearings differ from one another in respective level of radial spring stiffness of the bearing housing.
5 more elements
A bumper bearing assembly comprising:
- a bearing housing having a level of radial spring stiffness, wherein the bearing housing defines first and second bearing seats;
- a first bumper bearing connected to the bearing housing by a first spring having a level of radial spring stiffness lower than that of the bearing housing, wherein the first bumper bearing is positioned to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the first spring in a first radial direction against a rotor with the first bumper bearing spaced apart from the first bearing seat, and wherein the bearing housing is configured to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the bearing housing against the rotor with the first bumper bearing seated against the first bearing seat;
- and
- a second bumper bearing opposed to the first bumper bearing and connected to the bearing housing by a second spring having a level of radial spring stiffness lower than that of the bearing housing, wherein the second bumper bearing is positioned to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the second spring in a second radial direction opposed to the first radial direction against the rotor with the second bumper bearing spaced apart from the second bearing seat, and wherein the bearing housing is configured to apply the level of radial spring stiffness of the bearing housing against the rotor with the second bumper bearing seated against the second bearing seat, wherein each of the first and second bumper bearings is individually tuned so the first and second bumper bearings differ from one another in respective level of radial spring stiffness of the bearing housing.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.