# US 2018/0320741 A1 · Bearing with Non-Uniform Cage Clearance

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- Number: US 2018/0320741 A1
- Document ID: US20180320741A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/589,036
- Filed: 2017-05-08
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-08
- Assignees: United Technologies Corporation
- Applicants: United Technologies Corporation
- Inventors: Reade W. James; Kevin M. Duffy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180320741A1

## CPC

- F16C 33/3887: {Details of individual pockets, e.g. shape or ball retaining means}
- F16C 33/605: {with a separate retaining member, e.g. flange, shoulder, guide ring, secured to a race ring, adjacent to the race surface, so as to abut the end of the rolling elements, e.g. rollers, or the cage}
- F16C 17/18: with floating brasses or brushing, rotatable at a reduced speed {(F16C17/03, F16C17/06 take precedence)}
- F16C 19/02: with bearing balls essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows
- F16C 19/06: with a single row or balls
- F16C 19/22: with bearing rollers essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows, e.g. needle bearings
- F16C 19/26: with a single row of rollers
- F16C 33/3806: {Details of interaction of cage and race, e.g. retention, centring}
- F16C 33/467: {Details of individual pockets, e.g. shape or roller retaining means}
- F16C 33/583: {Details of specific parts of races}
- F16C 33/585: {of raceways, e.g. ribs to guide the rollers}
- F16C 33/586: {outside the space between the races, e.g. end faces or bore of inner ring}
- F16C 33/6681: {Details of distribution or circulation inside the bearing, e.g. grooves on the cage or passages in the rolling elements}
- F16C 17/02: for radial load only
- F16C 33/1075: {Wedges, e.g. ramps or lobes, for generating pressure}
- F16C 33/4605: {Details of interaction of cage and race, e.g. retention or centring}
- F16C 33/64: Special methods of manufacture
- F16C 2360/23: Gas turbine engines
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

## Abstract

A bearing with non-uniform cage clearance is provided. The bearing may comprise an inner ring having a first inner ring surface radially opposite a second inner ring surface; bearing elements in contact with the first inner ring surface; an outer bearing ring surrounding the inner bearing ring and the bearing elements; and a bearing cage having a first bearing cage surface radially opposite a second bearing cage surface and configured to surround and retain the bearing elements. At least one of the first inner ring surface, the first bearing cage surface, the second bearing cage surface, or a second outer ring surface of the outer ring may comprise an out of round shape having one or more peaks and one or more valleys relative to a radial centerpoint of the bearing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bearing, comprising:
an inner ring having a first inner ring surface radially opposite a second inner ring surface; and
a bearing cage having a first bearing cage surface radially opposite a second bearing cage surface, wherein the second bearing cage surface is configured to engage with the first inner ring surface, and wherein the first inner ring surface comprises an out of round shape having a peak and a valley relative to a radial centerpoint of the bearing.

### Claim 2

(canceled)

### Claim 3

(canceled)

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The bearing of claim 1, wherein the first inner ring surface proximate the peak is a first distance from the second bearing cage surface and the first inner ring surface proximate the valley is a second distance from the second bearing cage surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The bearing of claim 4, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The bearing of claim 1, wherein the peak comprises between 2 peaks to 10 peaks and the valley comprises between 2 valleys to 10 valleys.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The bearing of claim 1, further comprising a bearing element in contact with the first inner ring surface of the inner ring and surrounded by the bearing cage, and an outer ring in contact with the bearing element radially opposite the inner ring.

### Claim 8

A gas turbine engine comprising:
a shaft;
an inner bearing ring coupled to the shaft;
a plurality of bearing elements in contact with a first inner ring surface of the inner bearing ring;
an outer bearing ring surrounding the inner bearing ring and the bearing elements, wherein the shaft and the inner bearing ring are configured to rotate within the outer bearing ring; and
a bearing cage having a first bearing cage surface radially opposite a second bearing cage surface, wherein the bearing cage is configured to surround the bearing elements and engage with at least one of the inner bearing ring or the outer bearing ring, and wherein at least one of the first inner ring surface or a second outer ring surface of the outer bearing ring comprise an out of round shape having a peak and a valley relative to a radial centerpoint defined between the inner bearing ring and the outer bearing ring.

### Claim 9

(canceled)

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The gas turbine engine of claim 8, wherein in response to the bearing cage engaging the inner bearing ring and the first inner ring surface being out of round, the first inner ring surface proximate the peak is a first distance from the second bearing cage surface and the first inner ring surface proximate the valley is a second distance from the second bearing cage surface.

### Claim 11

(canceled)

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The gas turbine engine of claim 8, wherein in response to the bearing cage engaging the outer bearing ring and the second outer ring surface being out of round, the second outer ring surface proximate the valley is a first distance from the first bearing cage surface and the second outer ring surface proximate the peak is a second distance from the first bearing cage surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The gas turbine engine of claim 8, wherein the peak comprises between 2 peaks to 10 peaks and the valley comprises between 2 valleys to 10 valleys.

### Claim 14

A bearing, comprising:
an outer ring having a first outer ring surface radially opposite a second outer ring surface; and
a bearing cage having a first bearing cage surface radially opposite a second bearing cage surface, wherein the first bearing cage surface is configured to engage with the second outer ring surface, and wherein the second outer ring surface comprises an out of round shape having a peak and a valley relative to a radial centerpoint of the bearing.

### Claim 15

(canceled)

### Claim 16

(canceled)

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The bearing of claim 14, wherein the second outer ring surface proximate the valley is a first distance from the first bearing cage surface and the second outer ring surface proximate the peak is a second distance from the first bearing cage surface.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The bearing of claim 17, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The bearing of claim 14, wherein the peak comprises between 2 peaks to 10 peaks and the valley comprises between 2 valleys to 10 valleys.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The bearing of claim 14, further comprising a bearing element in contact with the second outer ring surface of the outer ring and surrounded by the bearing cage, and an inner ring in contact with the bearing element radially opposite the outer ring.