US 5,106,209 AGranted

Multi-plane lubricated bearing assembly

AssigneeGeneral Electric Company

InventorsEdward Atkinson, Essam E. Salama

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A bearing assembly includes a split inner race having first and second inner race halves joined together at a split line. A plurality of center feed passages are provided at the split line, and at least one radial pilot passage is provided in one of the inner race halves and axially spaced from the center feed passages. A bifurcated distribution manifold is disposed at the split line and includes a center distribution manifold disposed in flow communication with the center feed passages, and a pilot distribution manifold disposed in flow communication with solely the pilot passage. The bifurcated distribution manifold ensures the independent channeling of lubricating oil to both the center feed passages and the pilot passage under centrifugal force upon rotation of the inner race.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A bearing assembly comprising a rotatable split inner race mountable to a rotor shaft including:

a first inner race half including at least one radially extending oil pilot passage;
a second inner race half joined to said first inner race half at a split line;
a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending oil center feed passages spaced axially from said pilot passage, and disposed at said split line;
and
a circumferentially extending and bifurcated oil distribution manifold disposed at said split line and including a center distribution manifold disposed in flow communication with said center feed passages for channeling oil therethrough under centrifugal force upon rotation of said inner race, and a pilot distribution manifold disposed in flow communication with solely said pilot passage for channeling oil therethrough under centrifugal force upon rotation of said inner race, said center and pilot distribution manifolds being sealed from each other for preventing oil flow therebetween.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/741,696Filed 7 Aug 1991
Granted: 21 Apr 1992
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F16C 33/6674
Details of supply of the liquid to the bearing, e.g. passages or nozzles: related to the amount supplied, e.g. gaps to restrict flow of the liquid
F16C 33/586
Details of specific parts of races: outside the space between the races, e.g. end faces or bore of inner ring
F16C 33/60
Raceways; Race rings: divided or split, e.g. comprising two juxtaposed rings
F16C 33/6677
Details of supply of the liquid to the bearing, e.g. passages or nozzles: from radial inside, e.g. via a passage through the shaft and/or inner ring