Thermally compensated bore guide systems and methods
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJulian R. Knudsen, Wayne G. Seaberg
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Abstract
A thermally compensated bore guide system for a shaft, the shaft configured to translate along a longitudinal axis, is provided. The thermally compensated bore guide system includes an inner bore defined within a component. The inner bore is configured to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the shaft, wherein the inner bore is non-linear in response to the thermally compensated bore guide system being at a first thermal condition and wherein the inner bore is configured to be linear and to define a bore axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis in response to the thermally compensated bore guide system being at a second thermal condition.
Claims20
A thermally compensated bore guide system for a shaft, the shaft configured to translate along a longitudinal axis, said thermally compensated bore guide system comprising:
- an inner bore defined within a component, said inner bore configured to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the shaft, wherein:
- said inner bore is non-linear in response to said thermally compensated bore guide system being at a first thermal condition, and
- said inner bore is configured to be linear and to define a bore axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis in response to said thermally compensated bore guide system being at a second thermal condition.
A machine comprising:
- a component comprising a sidewall that defines an outer bore within said component;
- a sleeve positioned within said outer bore, said sleeve at least partially defines an inner bore;
- and
- a shaft comprising at least a portion circumferentially surrounded by said inner bore, said shaft configured to translate along a longitudinal axis, wherein:
- said inner bore is non-linear in response to said component being at a first thermal condition, and
- said inner bore is configured to be linear and to define a bore axis substantially aligned with said longitudinal axis in response to said component being at a second thermal condition.
A method of forming a thermally compensated bore guide system for a machine, said method comprising:
- forming an inner bore defined within a component;
- and
- positioning a shaft such that at least a portion of the shaft is circumferentially surrounded by the inner bore, wherein the shaft is configured to translate along a longitudinal axis, and wherein:
- the inner bore is non-linear in response to the component being at a first thermal condition, and
- the inner bore is configured to be linear and to define a bore axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis in response to the component being at a second thermal condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.