Thermally compensated bore guide systems and methods
AssigneeAi Alpine US Bidco Inc
InventorsJulian R. Knudsen, Wayne G. Seaberg
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Abstract
A thermally compensated bore guide system for a shaft, the shaft configured to translate along a longitudinal axis, is provided. The thermally compensated bore guide system includes an inner bore defined within a component. The inner bore is configured to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the shaft, wherein the inner bore is non-linear in response to the thermally compensated bore guide system being at a first thermal condition and wherein the inner bore is configured to be linear and to define a bore axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis in response to the thermally compensated bore guide system being at a second thermal condition.
Claims20
A method of forming a thermally compensated bore guide system for a machine, the method comprising:
- manufacturing an inner bore defined within a component;
- and
- positioning a shaft such that at least a portion of the shaft is circumferentially surrounded by the inner bore, wherein the shaft is configured to translate along a longitudinal axis, and wherein:
- the inner bore has a first geometry that is non-linear in response to the component being at a first thermal condition, and
- the inner bore is configured to change to a second geometry that is linear and to define a bore axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis in response to the component being at a second thermal condition, wherein the second thermal condition has a higher temperature than the first thermal condition.
A thermally compensated bore guide system for a shaft, the shaft configured to translate along a longitudinal axis, the thermally compensated bore guide system comprising:
- an inner bore defined within a component, the inner bore configured to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the shaft, wherein:
- the inner bore has a first geometry that is non-linear in response to the thermally compensated bore guide system being at a first thermal condition, and
- the inner bore is configured to change to a second geometry that is linear and to define a bore axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis in response to the thermally compensated bore guide system being at a second thermal condition, wherein the second thermal condition has a higher temperature than the first thermal condition.
A machine comprising:
- a component comprising a sidewall that defines an outer bore within the component;
- a sleeve positioned within the outer bore, the sleeve at least partially defines an inner bore;
- and
- a shaft comprising at least a portion circumferentially surrounded by the inner bore, the shaft configured to translate along a longitudinal axis, wherein:
- the inner bore has a first geometry that is non-linear in response to the component being at a first thermal condition, and
- the inner bore is configured to change to a second geometry that is linear and to define a bore axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis in response to the component being at a second thermal condition, wherein the second thermal condition has a higher temperature than the first thermal condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.