Gas turbine engine, machine and self-aligning foil bearing system
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorSteven A. Klusman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique machine. A further embodiment is a unique self-aligning foil bearing system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for machines and self-aligning foil bearing systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
Claims20
A gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a compressor;
- a turbine;
- a static structure having a bearing pilot feature configured to pilot a bearing system;
- and
- a self-aligning foil bearing system operative to transmit rotor loads from at least one of the compressor and the turbine to the static structure, wherein the foil bearing system includes:
- a foil bearing;
- a housing configured to receive the foil bearing and configured to be at least partially received within the bearing pilot feature;
- a fulcrum disposed between the housing and the bearing pilot feature;
- and
- an axial spring configured to impart an axial load on the housing and to generate a predetermined radial frictional damping characteristic of the housing,
- wherein the self-aligning foil bearing system is operative to align the foil bearing with an axis of rotation of the at least one of the compressor and the turbine.
A machine, comprising:
- a rotor;
- a component having a bearing pilot feature;
- a self-aligning foil bearing system operative to transmit rotor loads from the rotor to the component, wherein the foil bearing system includes:
- a foil bearing;
- a housing configured to receive the foil bearing and configured to be at least partially received within the bearing pilot feature;
- a fulcrum disposed between the housing and the bearing pilot feature;
- and
- a spring configured to impart a load on the housing and to generate a predetermined frictional damping characteristic of the housing,
- wherein the self-aligning foil bearing system is operative to align the foil bearing with an axis of rotation of the rotor.
A self-aligning foil bearing system for a machine, the foil bearing system comprising:
- a foil bearing operative to transmit rotor loads from a rotor of the machine to another component of the machine;
- and
- means for aligning the foil bearing with an axis of rotation of the rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.