Axial Damper And Displacement Limit For Turbomachine With Rolling Element Bearings

An axial damper apparatus for damping and limiting axial displacement of a rolling element bearing assembly contained within a bearing housing, comprising:

• a first axially compressible ring comprising an annular wave spring configured to preload a bearing assembly, the wave spring including a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially oriented undulations;
• and
• a second axially compressible ring comprising a washer configured for a constant preload engagement with the wave spring in spaced contact regions on one axial side of the washer, the washer including axially extending projections, each projection being circumferentially spaced from any one of the contact regions, each of the projections extending from the one axial side toward the wave spring, each projection being axially spaced from physical contact with the wave spring until an axial preload force is exceeded, and the projections providing an axial displacement limit of compression of the wave spring against the washer.

The axial damper apparatus 11, wherein the first ring further comprises a constraining spring having a first and second axial side, a viscoelastic layer having a first and second axial side, wherein said second axial side of said constraining spring is in contact with the first axial side of said viscoelastic constrained layer, and the second axial side of said viscoelastic constrained layer is in contact with an axial side of wave spring.