Additive manufactured bearing cap for temperature reduction on bearing cap wetted wall
AssigneeSolar Turbines Incorporated
InventorsJorge Hernandez, Makarand A Sovani, Warner Tse, Geoffrey A Potts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a traditional bearing cap, the temperature of the oil-wetted surface that defines the oil sump may experience high temperatures, which can result in oil degradation, oil varnish, and coking. Accordingly, a bearing cap is disclosed that reduces the temperatures experienced by the oil-wetted surface. In particular, the bearing cap may comprise one or more air insulation cavities, between the surface that is exposed to heated air and the oil-wetted surface that defines the oil sump, to provide a thermal barrier between the two surfaces.
Claims17
A bearing cap for a gas turbine engine, the bearing cap comprising:
- a first surface on a first side, wherein the first surface is annular around a longitudinal axis;
- a second surface on a second side that is opposite and downstream from the first side, wherein the second surface is annular around the longitudinal axis;
- one or more air insulation cavities between the first surface and the second surface, wherein each of the one or more air insulation cavities is annular around the longitudinal axis;
- and
- an annular mixed air cavity upstream from the one or more air insulation cavities.
A bearing cap for a gas turbine engine, the bearing cap comprising:
- a first surface on a first side, wherein the first surface is annular around a longitudinal axis;
- a second surface on a second side that is opposite and downstream from the first side, wherein the second surface is annular around the longitudinal axis;
- one or more air insulation cavities between the first surface and the second surface, wherein each of the one or more air insulation cavities is annular around the longitudinal axis;
- wherein, in a cross-sectional plane that includes the longitudinal axis, a radially outer first portion of at least a first one of the one or more air insulation cavities extends away from the longitudinal axis and towards the second side at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and a radially inner second portion of the first air insulation cavity extends away from the longitudinal axis and towards the first side at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.
A bearing cap for a gas turbine engine, the bearing cap comprising:
- a first surface on a first side, wherein the first surface is annular around a longitudinal axis;
- a second surface on a second side that is opposite and downstream from the first side, wherein the second surface is annular around the longitudinal axis and defines an oil sump on the second side;
- and
- a plurality of air insulation cavities between the first surface and the second surface, wherein each of the plurality of air insulation cavities is annular around the longitudinal axis, and wherein the plurality of air insulation cavities comprises
- a first air insulation cavity that, in a cross-sectional plane that includes the longitudinal axis, comprises a radially outer first portion that extends away from the longitudinal axis and towards the second side at a first non-zero angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and a radially inner second portion that extends away from the longitudinal axis and towards the first side at a second non-zero angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein a profile of the first air insulation cavity matches a profile of the oil sump, and
- a second air insulation cavity positioned downstream from a radially innermost end of the first air insulation cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.