Axial damper and displacement limit for turbomachine with rolling element bearings
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorsAllan Douglas Kelly, Kurt Henderson, Michael Sean Ward
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a turbocharger having a rolling element bearing (REB) assembly contained within a bearing housing includes an axial damper configured to dampen and limit axial displacement of the REB assembly. The axial damper can include different embodiments, including an elastomeric axial damper, wire mesh, or oil film, for interrupting contact between the bearing assembly and a displacement limit when an axial displacement force exceeds a preload force. Further, the axial damper can include an apparatus having at least two axially compressible rings, where one of the axially compressible rings includes a displacement limit feature.
Claims15
A turbocharger including:
- a rotating assembly including a shaft and a turbine wheel attached to one end of the shaft;
- a bearing housing including a bearing bore having an interior diameter;
- a rolling element bearing assembly supported in said bearing housing, the rolling element bearing assembly comprising an inner race in connection to the shaft, an outer race in connection to the interior diameter of the bearing housing directly or indirectly with a damper cup, a series of rolling elements circumferentially spaced between the inner and outer race, each rolling element in contact with the inner and outer race;
- and
- an axial damper comprising:
- a first axially compressible ring including an annular wave spring having circumferentially spaced axially oriented undulations, and
- a second axially compressible ring comprising a washer configured for a constant preload engagement with the wave spring in spaced contact regions on one axial side of the washer, the washer including axially extending projections, each projection being circumferentially spaced from any one of the contact regions, each of the projections extending from the one axial side toward the wave spring, each projection being axially spaced from physical contact with the wave spring until an axial preload force is exceeded, and the projections providing an axial displacement limit of compression of the wave spring against the washer, wherein the axial damper is configured for damping and limiting axial displacement of the rolling element bearing assembly contained within the bearing housing.
An axial damper apparatus for damping and limiting axial displacement of a rolling element bearing assembly contained within a bearing housing, comprising:
- a first axially compressible ring comprising an annular wave spring configured to preload a bearing assembly, the wave spring including a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially oriented undulations;
- and
- a second axially compressible ring comprising a washer configured for a constant preload engagement with the wave spring in spaced contact regions on one axial side of the washer, the washer including axially extending projections, each projection being circumferentially spaced from any one of the contact regions, each of the projections extending from the one axial side toward the wave spring, each projection being axially spaced from physical contact with the wave spring until an axial preload force is exceeded, and the projections providing an axial displacement limit of compression of the wave spring against the washer.
An axial damper for damping and limiting axial displacement of a rolling element bearing assembly contained within a bearing housing, comprising:
- a first axially compressible ring comprising an annular wave spring configured to preload a bearing assembly, the wave spring including a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially oriented crests and troughs;
- a second axially compressible ring comprising an annular wave spring configured to preload a bearing cartridge, the wave spring including a plurality of circumferentially spaced crest and troughs, wherein the troughs of the second axially compressible ring are configured for a constant preload engagement with the crests of the first axially compressible ring;
- and
- at least one elastomeric displacement stop bonded between the crests of the second axially compressible ring and the troughs of the first axially compressible ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.