# US 10,480,572 B2 · Bearing centering spring and damper > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,572 B2 - Document ID: US10480572B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/041,041 - Filed: 2018-07-20 - Published: 2019-10-24 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-18 - Assignees: United Technologies Corporation - Applicants: United Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Adam G. Smedresman; Sean P. McGee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480572B2 ## CPC - F16C 27/045: {with a fluid film, e.g. squeeze film damping} - F01D 25/164: {Flexible supports; Vibration damping means associated with the bearing} - F01D 25/183: {Sealing means} - F16C 33/66: Special parts or details in view of lubrication - F04D 29/283: {rotors of the squirrel-cage type} - F16C 19/28: with two or more rows of rollers - F16C 2360/23: Gas turbine engines - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) ## Abstract A machine has a first member, a second member, a bearing, and a spring. The bearing inner race is mounted to the second member. A spring first end portion is mounted to the first member. The bearing outer race is mounted to a spring second end portion. The spring has a flexible portion between the first end portion and the second end portion. A first annular seal is carried by an outer diameter first groove in an outer diameter surface of the second end portion and seals with an inner diameter surface of a sealing portion of the first member. A second annular seal carried by an inner diameter second groove in the first member and seals with an outer diameter surface of the second end portion. A fluid outlet in the first member opens to a chamber between the first annular seal and the second annular seal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine comprising: a first member; a second member; a bearing having an inner race mounted to the second member and an outer race; and a spring comprising: a first end portion mounted to the first member; a second end portion, the bearing outer race mounted to the second end portion; and a flexible portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, and further comprising: an outer diameter first groove in an outer diameter surface of the second end portion; a first annular seal carried by the first groove and sealing with an inner diameter surface of a sealing portion of the first member; an inner diameter second groove in the first member; a second annular seal carried by the second groove and sealing with an outer diameter surface of the second end portion; and a fluid outlet in the first member to a chamber between the first annular seal and the second annular seal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1 wherein: the first annular seal is cast iron; and the second annular seal is steel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1 further comprising: a wave spring between the second annular seal and a radially-extending face of the second groove. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1 wherein: there is only a single outer diameter groove in the outer diameter surface of the second end portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1 wherein: the spring comprises a first piece and a second piece; the first end portion is a first end portion of the first piece; the second end portion is a second end portion of the second piece; the first piece has a second end portion; and the second piece has a first end portion fastened to the second end portion of the first piece. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The machine of claim 5 wherein: the flexible portion is a flexible portion of the first piece between the first piece first end portion and the first piece second end portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1 wherein: the flexible portion comprises a circumferential array of longitudinal beams. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first end portion, the second end portion, and the flexible portion are of a single metallic piece. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first end portion comprises a radially outwardly protruding mounting flange having a plurality of mounting holes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the flexible portion comprises at least one of steel and titanium alloy. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1 wherein: the first seal is under hoop compression; and the second seal is under hoop tension. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1 being a gas turbine engine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method for using the machine of claim 1, the method comprising: introducing a fluid to a radial clearance between the second end portion and the inner diameter surface of the sealing portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the fluid biases: the second annular seal against a side of the second groove; and the first annular seal against a side of the first groove. ### Claim 15 A machine comprising: a first member; a bearing; a bearing spring support/damping apparatus comprising: a first end portion; a second end portion having an inner surface mounting the bearing and an outer surface radially inward of an inner surface of the first member; and a flexible portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein: a first seal seals between the outer surface of the second end portion and the inner surface of the first member to a first axial side of a fluid outlet in the inner surface of the first member; and a second seal seals between the second end portion and an axially facing radial face of the first member to a second axial side of the fluid outlet axially opposite the first axial side to form a damper. ### Claim 16 A machine comprising: a first member; a bearing; a bearing spring support/damping apparatus comprising: a first end portion; a second end portion having an inner surface mounting the bearing and an outer surface radially inward of an inner surface of the first member; and a flexible portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein: a first seal seals between the outer surface of the second end portion and the inner surface of the first member to a first axial side of a fluid outlet in the inner surface of the first member; a second seal seals between the second end portion and a radial face of the first member to a second axial side of the fluid outlet axially opposite the first axial side to form a damper; and the second seal is partially in a radially inwardly open groove of the first member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The machine of claim 16 wherein: the radial face is a surface of a side of the radially inwardly open groove of the first member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The machine of claim 16 wherein: the first seal is under hoop compression; and the second seal is under hoop tension.