# US 11,078,962 B2 · Bearing assembly support > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,962 B2 - Document ID: US11078962B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/757,704 - Filed: 2015-12-23 - Published: 2016-07-14 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-23 - Assignees: Cummins Inc. - Applicants: Cummins Ltd - Inventors: Philip Wild; Richard Goodyear; Christopher Normington - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078962B2 ## CPC - F16C 33/6685: {Details of collecting or draining, e.g. returning the liquid to a sump} - F01D 25/16: Arrangement of bearings; Supporting or mounting bearings in casings (bearings per se F16C) - F01D 25/162: {Bearing supports} - F01D 25/18: Lubricating arrangements (of machines or engines in general F01M) - F16C 19/08: with two or more rows of balls - F16C 35/042: {Housings for rolling element bearings for rotary movement} - F05D 2220/30: in turbines - F05D 2220/40: in turbochargers - F05D 2240/54: Radial bearings - F05D 2260/98: Lubrication - F16C 19/184: {in O-arrangement} - F16C 2360/00: Engines or pumps - 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) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A bearing assembly support comprises a body, the body defining: a thrust surface; an aperture extending through the body; and at least one passageway along which a lubricant can flow away from the thrust surface during use. The thrust surface is suitable for contacting an end of a bearing assembly. The aperture is suitable for receipt of a shaft when supported by the bearing assembly. Each passageway may be defined by a recess on the thrust surface or a cut away section that extends through the body from the thrust surface to an opposite surface of the body. The body may be a housing for receipt of a bearing assembly or an end cap for a housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bearing assembly support, comprising a body, the body defining: a thrust surface for contacting an end of a bearing assembly; an aperture extending through the body for receipt of a shaft when supported by the bearing assembly; and at least one passageway along which a lubricant can flow away from the thrust surface during use; wherein the or each passageway is defined by either: a recess on the thrust surface; or a cut away section that extends through the body from the thrust surface to an opposite surface of the body; wherein the at least one passageway comprises a plurality of passageways defined by the body, each passageway extending from a different region of the thrust surface, the plurality of passageways being angularly spaced around an axis of the body; and wherein the thrust surface comprises a plurality of sections and the passageways that extend from the regions within one of the plurality of sections are different from the passageways that extend from the regions within the or each other section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly support of claim 1, wherein, when the or each passageway is defined by a cut away section, the cut away section forms an extension of the aperture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly support of claim 1, wherein the or each passageway extends generally radially outwards from the aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly support of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the or each passageway extends radially outboard of the thrust surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly support of claim 1, wherein the body is a housing, the body comprising a bore for receipt of the bearing assembly and wherein the thrust surface defines an internal end of said bore. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bearing assembly support of claim 5, wherein the bore is a stepped bore extending through the body, the stepped bore comprising: a first bore section for receipt of a shaft; a second bore section of different diameter to the first bore section for receipt of the bearing assembly arranged to support the shaft; and a shoulder between the first and second bore sections which defines an internal end of the second bore section, the second bore section defining the aperture, and the shoulder defining the thrust surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly support of claim 1, wherein the body is an end cap for a bearing housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bearing assembly support of claim 7, wherein the body comprises a cylindrical portion for insertion into a bore of the bearing housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly support of claim 1, wherein two passageways that extend from regions within a given section of the plurality of sections are identical in shape and dimensions and the shape and/or dimensions of two passageways that extend from regions within at least one other section of the plurality of sections is different. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly support of claim 1, wherein a spacing of the plurality of passageways that extend from the regions within a given section of the plurality of sections is even and a spacing of the plurality of passageways that extend from the regions within at least one other section of the plurality of sections is different. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly support of claim 1, wherein one or more passages connect two or more of the plurality of passageways such that they are in fluid communication. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly support of claim 1, wherein the or each passageway tapers in a radial direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The bearing assembly support of claim 12, wherein an angular extent of the or each passageway tapers outwards from a radially inner side of that passageway to a radially outer side of that passageway. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The bearing assembly support of claim 12, wherein an angular extent of the or each passageway tapers inwards from a radially inner side of that passageway to a radially outer side of that passageway. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The bearing assembly support of claim 12, wherein an axial extent of the or each passageway tapers either inwards or outwards from a radially inner side of that passageway to a radially outer side of that passageway. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly support of claim 1, wherein in section through a plane perpendicular to an axis of the bearing assembly support, the or each passageway is rectangular in shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly support of claim 1, wherein in section through a plane perpendicular to an axis of the bearing assembly support, the or each passageway spirals outwards in a radial direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly support of claim 1, further comprising a lubricant drain bore that connects an outer surface of the bearing assembly support to one of the at least one passageways. ### Claim 19 A turbomachine comprising: a shaft; a bearing assembly arranged to support the shaft for rotation about an axis; a turbine wheel connected to the shaft; and a bearing assembly support comprising a body, the body defining: a thrust surface in contact with an end surface of the bearing assembly; an aperture extending through the body for receipt of the shaft; wherein at least one passageway is defined by at least one of the body of the bearing support and the bearing assembly, along which a lubricant can flow away from the bearing assembly during use, wherein the or each passageway is defined by either: a recess on the thrust surface of the bearing assembly support; a cut away section that extends through the body of the bearing assembly support from the thrust surface to an opposite surface of said body; or a recess provided on the end surface of the bearing assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The turbomachine of claim 19, wherein the turbomachine comprises: an expansion turbine; a turbocharger; or a turbocompound. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) An engine assembly comprising a turbomachine according to claim 19. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The turbomachine of claim 19, further comprising a second bearing assembly support comprising a second body, the second body defining: a second thrust surface in contact with a second end surface of the bearing assembly; a second aperture extending through the second body for receipt of the shaft; wherein at least one passageway is defined by at least one of the second body of the second bearing support and the bearing assembly, along which a lubricant can flow away from the bearing assembly during use, wherein the or each passageway is defined by either: a recess on the second thrust surface of the second bearing assembly support; a cut away section that extends through the second body of the second bearing assembly support from the second thrust surface to an opposite surface of said second body; or a recess provided on the second end surface of the bearing assembly. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The turbomachine of claim 22, wherein the body of the bearing assembly support is a housing, the body comprising a bore for receipt of the bearing assembly and wherein the thrust surface defines an internal end of said bore. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The turbomachine of claim 22, wherein the second body of the second bearing assembly support is an end cap for a bearing housing. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1, 22) The turbomachine of claim 22, wherein at least one of the bearing assembly support and the second bearing assembly support comprises the bearing assembly support of claim 1. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The turbomachine of claim 19, wherein, when the or each passageway is defined by a cut away section, the cut away section forms an extension of the aperture. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The turbomachine of claim 19, wherein the or each passageway extends generally radially outwards from the aperture. ### Claim 28 (depends on 19) The turbomachine of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the or each passageway extends radially outboard of the thrust surface. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The turbomachine of claim 23, wherein the bore is a stepped bore extending through the body, the stepped bore comprising: a first bore section for receipt of a shaft; a second bore section of different diameter to the first bore section for receipt of the bearing assembly arranged to support the shaft; and a shoulder between the first and second bore sections which defines an internal end of the second bore section, the second bore section defining the aperture, and the shoulder defining the thrust surface. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The turbomachine of claim 24, wherein the second body comprises a cylindrical portion for insertion into a bore of the bearing housing. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) A method of manufacturing a housing with a lubricant drain, said method comprising the steps of: providing a bearing assembly support as claimed in claim 1 as part of the housing, wherein the at least one passageway comprises a plurality of passageways defined by the body, the plurality of passageways being angularly spaced around an axis of the body; selecting one or more of the plurality of passageways; and forming a lubricant drain bore in the housing, wherein said lubricant drain bore connects the one or more selected passageways to an outer surface of the housing. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein the step of selecting one or more of the plurality of passageways involves a selection that is dependent upon how the housing will be orientated in use. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method as claimed in claim 32 wherein during the step of selecting one or more of the plurality of passageways, a passageway is selected that, in use, is the lowest passageway.