Hybrid bearing turbomachine
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsUlf J. Jonsson, Bruce P. Biederman, Frederick J. Cogswell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turbomachine includes a housing and a rotatable shaft, where at least a portion of the rotatable shaft is located in the housing. The turbomachine also includes a magnetic thrust bearing that axially positions the rotatable shaft and a radial bearing that centers the rotatable shaft. The turbomachine includes a flexure including a first portion secured to the housing and a second portion axially moveable relative to the first portion. The second portion of the flexure is connected to the radial bearing, and the second portion moves axially to eliminate thrust loads on the radial bearing and allow the magnetic thrust bearing to carry axial loads.
Claims21
A turbomachine comprising:
- a housing;
- a rotatable shaft, wherein at least a portion of the rotatable shaft is located in the housing;
- a magnetic thurst bearing that axially positions the rotatable shaft;
- a radial bearing that centers the rotatable shaft;
- and
- a flexure including a first portion secured to the housing and a second portion axially moveable relative to the first portion, wherein the second portion contacts the radial bearing, and the second portion moves axially to eliminate thrust loads on the radial bearing and to allow the magnetic thrust bearing to carry axial loads, wherein the flexure is planar.
A turbomachine comprising:
- a housing;
- a rotatable shaft, wherein at least a portion of the rotatable shaft is located in the housing, and the rotatable shaft is substantially vertical when the turbomachine is in use;
- a magnetic thurst bearing that axially positions the rotatable shaft;
- a radial bearing that centers the rotatable shaft, wherein the turbomachine is employed in a system that employs a working fluid, and the working fluid lubricates the radial bearing;
- and
- a flexure including a first portion secured to the housing and a second portion axially moveable relative to the first portion, wherein the second portion contacts the radial bearing, and the second portion moves axially to eliminate thrust loads on the radial bearing and to allow the magnetic thrust bearing to carry axial loads, wherein the flexure is planar.
A method of reducing thrust loads on a radial bearing of a turbomachine, the method comprising the steps of:
- rotating a shaft located in a housing of a turbomachine;
- axially positioning the shaft with a magnetic thurst bearing;
- securing a first portion of a flexure to the housing, wherein the flexure is planar;
- and
- axially moving a second portion of the flexure relative to the first portion of the flexure to axially translate radial bearing to eliminate axial loads on the radial bearing created by the magnetic thrust bearing and to allow the magnetic thrust bearing to carry axial loads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.