Balancing of axial thrust forces within a gas turbine engine
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsDavid A Edwards, Stewart T Thornton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thrust balancing mechanism for balancing axial loads on a rotor thrust bearing 3 is described. The mechanism comprises a piston arrangement 6 axially mounted on a stationary structure 2, about a center axis arranged, in use, in coaxial alignment with a rotating shaft 1 carrying the rotor thrust bearing 3. A hydrodynamic thrust bearing 8 is mounted, in use, between the piston 6 and the rotor thrust bearing 3. The piston 6 is pressurized so as to impart to the rotor thrust bearing 3, via the hydrodynamic thrust bearing 8, an axial load which counters an axial load imparted to the rotor thrust bearing 3 by the rotating shaft 1.
Claims13
A thrust balancing mechanism for balancing axial loads on a rotor thrust bearing, the mechanism comprising:
- at least one piston axially mounted on a stationary structure, about a center axis arranged, in use, in coaxial alignment with a rotating shaft carrying the rotor thrust bearing;
- one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearings mounted, in use, between the at least one piston and the rotor thrust bearing, the at least one piston pressurized so as to impart to the rotor thrust bearing via the one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearings an axial load which counters an axial load imparted to the rotor thrust bearing by the rotating shaft;
- and
- an annular plate arranged, in use, axially between the one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearings and the rotor thrust bearing arranged such that the at least one piston transmits an axial load via the one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearings to the annular plate which is fixedly mounted to the rotating shaft, the one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearings each having an axially facing surface that faces an axially facing surface of the annular plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.