Method and apparatus for centering rotor assembly damper bearings
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsBala Corattiyil, Barry Lynn Allmon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine including a bearing centering sub-assembly that facilitates reduces an effect of radial forces transmitted to a bearing assembly is described. The bearing assembly supports a rotor shaft with a rolling element positioned radially inward from an outer race. The bearing centering sub-assembly is coupled to the outer race and includes a plurality of first springs and a plurality of second springs extending circumferentially in rows. Each first springs is coupled between a second spring and the outer race such that each first spring is radially aligned with respect to each second spring.
Claims20
A method for reducing dynamic loading of a gas turbine engine rotor assembly, the engine including a rotor shaft, a support frame, and a bearing assembly including a bearing centering sub-assembly and a damper bearing, the bearing centering sub-assembly including a plurality of first springs and a plurality of second springs, said method comprising the steps of:
- supporting the rotor shaft on the support frame with the bearing assembly;
- coupling the bearing centering sub-assembly first spring to the bearing assembly second spring such that the each of the first springs is radially aligned with respect to each of the second springs;
- and
- operating the gas turbine engine such that radial forces within the rotor shaft are transmitted through the bearing centering sub-assembly to the support frame.
A bearing assembly for a gas turbine engine rotor, said bearing assembly comprising:
- a damper bearing configured to support the rotor;
- and
- a bearing centering sub-assembly configured to position said bearing relative to the rotor, said bearing centering apparatus sub-assembly comprising a plurality of first springs and a plurality of second springs, each of said first springs radially aligned with respect to each of said second springs.
A rotor assembly comprising:
- a rotor shaft;
- and
- a bearing assembly configured to support said rotor shaft on a support frame such that dynamic loads to the support frame are reduced, said bearing assembly comprising a bearing centering sub-assembly and a damper bearing, said bearing centering sub-assembly configured to position said bearing relative to said rotor shaft, said bearing centering sub-assembly comprising a plurality of first springs and a plurality of second springs, each of said first springs radially aligned with respect to each of said second springs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.