Anisotropic support damper for gas turbine bearing
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsMohsiul Alam, Doug K. Spencer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method that provides a flexible anisotropic support, which may accommodate open, closed, or re-circulating squeeze film damper in parallel, has improved internal rolling element clearances, limits maneuver and blade loss responses by limiting rotor excursion, and has a rotor centering feature. This is accomplished through the combination of beam and ring arrangement, which provides support anisotropy that produces beneficial cross-coupling stiffness for the support to control synchronous and non-synchronous vibration.
Claims28
An apparatus for supporting and stabilizing a rotating shaft in a machine comprising;
- a rotor group supported by at least two bearing assemblies;
- and
- a support housing surrounding said bearing assemblies and connected to an engine case, wherein said support housing has a non-concentric ring, which centers the rotor against the static deflection of the bearing due to the weight of the rotor;
- wherein said support housing accommodates an anisotropic support damper comprised of at least two rings connected by asymmetrically arranged beams, wherein said anisotropic damper is removably attached to said support housing and interfaces said bearing assemblies and said support housing.
An apparatus for supporting and stabilizing a rotating shaft in a machine comprising;
- a rotor group supported by at least two bearing assemblies;
- at least one anisotropic support damper;
- an engine case;
- support housing surrounding said bearing assemblies and connected to said engine case, wherein said support housing has an inner and outer diameter;
- at least two nuts and at least two studs for attaching said anisotropic support damper to said support housing;
- an anisotropic support damper comprised of an aft ring and variable diameter forward ring, wherein said aft ring and said variable diameter forward ring are connected by at least two asymmetrically arranged beams and said variable diameter forward ring forms the outer race for said bearing assembly;
- an inner race for said bearing assembly;
- and
- a hydraulic mount formed by the gap between said support housing's inner diameter and said anisotropic support damper.
An apparatus for supporting and stabilizing a rotating shaft in a machine comprising;
- a rotor group supported by at least two bearing assemblies, wherein said bearing assemblies contain at least one roller bearing with an inner race and an outer race;
- at least one anisotropic support damper, comprised of an aft ring and variable diameter forward ring, wherein said aft ring and said variable diameter forward ring are connected by at least two asymmetrically arranged beams and said variable diameter forward ring forms the outer race for said roller bearing;
- an engine case;
- at least one support housing surrounding said bearing assemblies and connected to an engine case, wherein said support housing accommodates squeeze film damper in parallel and has an oil supply line contained therein for the delivery of oil through an annular grove to a hydraulic mount, said hydraulic mount being a closed mount formed by a gap between said support housing's inner diameter and said anisotropic support damper and having piston ring grooves;
- and
- at least two nuts and at least two studs for attaching said anisotropic support damper to said support housing.
A method of rotatably supporting a rotor structure with a stationary machine frame including:
- mounting a bearing assembly for supporting a rotor within a movable member;
- suspending the member from the machine frame upon at least two bearing assemblies;
- establishing a fluid damping film between the member and the machine frame;
- and
- centering the movable member with cross-coupling stiffness to guard against instability force, enhancing modal damping through the softness of the support and limiting deflection of the rotor components during high maneuver and blade loss.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.