Carbon-carbon clutch bearing engagement mechanism

A bearing system for supporting a rotating shaft on a housing, comprising:

• a pair of primary bearings and one or more auxiliary bearings, the auxiliary bearing comprising an outer race, an inner race located adjacent and coaxial to the shaft, a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the races, and a retainer ring for constraining the rolling elements;
• an axially outward end of the inner race being tapered;
• the primary bearings being operative to support the shaft during normal operation in a first shaft position such that in the auxiliary bearing system, the inner race is in near contact with a shaft runner securely attached to the shaft;
• and
• the auxiliary bearing being configured so that upon sufficient axial and/or radial displacement of the shaft in a direction from the first shaft position to a second shaft position the inner race contacts the shaft runner whereby the shaft is supported by the auxiliary bearing.

A bearing system for supporting an axially loaded shaft on a housing, the bearing system comprising:

• a pair of primary bearings for supporting the shaft under normal conditions during which the shaft rotates in a first axial and radial position, each primary bearing being fixedly mounted on the housing;
• at least one auxiliary bearing for supporting and centering the shaft in a second axial and/or radial position upon failure of at least one of the primary bearings;
• the auxiliary bearing comprising a ball bearing having an outer race, an inner race, and a plurality of balls there between, and wherein the inner races is configured so that when the shaft is in the first position, the inner race in not in contact with the shaft;
• and,
• an axially outward end of the inner-race being tapered.

A bearing engagement mechanism for a rolling element bearing comprising:

• a rolling element bearing comprising an inner and outer race;
• a rolling element bearing housing;
• the bearing outer race being soft mounted in the bearing housing;
• a carbon-carbon ring being mounted on the inner race of the rolling element bearing;
• means for axially urging the rolling element bearing in one axial direction;
• and
• means for moving the rolling element bearing in a second axial direction.

A bearing engagement mechanism for a rolling element bearing comprising:

• a rolling element bearing comprising an inner and outer race;
• the inner race being inwardly tapered towards the axial and radial center of the rolling element bearing;
• a rolling element bearing housing;
• the bearing outer race being soft mounted in the bearing housing;
• a shaft located coaxial with and within the rolling element bearing;
• a shaft runner located on the shaft adjacent the rolling element bearing;
• a carbon-carbon ring mounted on the shaft runner, the carbon-carbon ring being inwardly tapered towards the axial and radial center of the rolling element bearing at a like angle of taper as the inner race taper;
• means for axially urging the rolling element bearing in one axial direction;
• means for moving the rolling element bearing in a second axial direction.