Bearing assembly, in particular for a turbomachine, and turbomachine having such a bearing assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10329952-B2
Application number	US-201715661162-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2017
Priority date	Jul 29, 2016
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

A bearing assembly (2) is provided, in particular for a turbomachine, including: an inner bearing race (3); an outer bearing race (4) having at least one cooling channel (15) formed within it or in its outer surface; rolling elements (7) made of ceramic and disposed between the inner bearing race (3) and the outer bearing race (4); and a surrounding bearing ring (9) connected to the outer bearing race (4) and configured to form a squeeze film (10) of oil between its outer surface and an opposite inner surface of a housing (1) in which the bearing assembly can be mounted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bearing assembly comprising:
an inner bearing race;
an outer bearing race disposed opposite the inner bearing race and having at least one cooling channel;
rolling elements made of ceramic and disposed between the inner bearing race and the outer bearing race; and
a surrounding bearing ring connected to the outer bearing race and configured to form a squeeze film of oil between an outer surface of the bearing ring and an opposite inner surface of a housing in which the bearing assembly can be mounted.

2. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner bearing race or the outer bearing race is provided with residual compressive stress, the residual compressive stress being induced in the inner bearing race or the outer bearing race.

3. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein the residual compressive stress is induced by a nitriding process.

4. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein the residual compressive stress is further induced by an additional heat treatment.

5. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one cooling channel is formed within the outer bearing race or in a bearing race outer surface of the outer bearing race.

6. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein the at least one cooling channel in the bearing race outer surface of the outer bearing race is formed using a mechanical machining process, or the at least one cooling channel within the outer bearing race is formed using an additive manufacturing process.

7. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein the at least one cooling channel is formed within the outer bearing race using laser melting or laser sintering.

8. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the cooling channel is circular, triangular, semicircular, slot-shaped, oval or polygonal in cross section; the dimensions or shape of the cross section of the cooling channel is constant or varying along the length of the cooling channel.

9. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the bearing ring has at least one oil distribution groove in the outer surface.

10. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein a seal is provided on the outer surface of the bearing ring in order to seal the two ends of the squeeze film; the bearing ring being provided on the outer surface with a receiving recess and a sealing element received therein.

11. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein the sealing element is located at both ends of the squeeze film in order to seal the squeeze film.

12. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the bearing ring is provided at one side with a coolant feed duct coupled to the at least one cooling channel of the outer bearing race for supplying coolant.

13. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the coolant feed duct supplies the coolant through a coolant distribution groove; with oil being used as the coolant.

14. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the bearing ring has a coolant supply passage for supplying oil of the squeeze film to the cooling channel; the coolant supply passage extending from the outer surface of the bearing ring to the at least one cooling channel of the outer bearing race, or to a connecting channel of the outer bearing race to the at least one cooling channel.

15. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the outer bearing race has a coolant drain duct connected to the at least one cooling channel for draining coolant from the cooling channel to the exterior.

16. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner bearing race has at least one coolant supply duct.

17. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 16 wherein the inner bearing race is made in one piece or in two pieces.

18. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner bearing race or the outer bearing race has at least one receptacle for receiving a sensor.

19. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 18 wherein the sensor is a thermocouple.

20. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the bearing ring and outer bearing race are joined by an interlocking or frictional connection.

21. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the bearing ring and outer bearing race are joined by an interference fit, a threaded connection, a welded connection, interlocking teeth or a keyed connection.

22. A turbomachine comprising the bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 .

23. The turbomachine as recited in claim 22 further comprising a housing, the bearing assembly disposable in the housing for supporting a shaft of the turbomachine.

24. An aircraft engine or a gas turbine comprising the turbomachine as recited in claim 23 .

25. A stationary gas turbine comprising the turbomachine as recited in claim 23 .

26. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the squeeze film is sealed laterally between the housing and the bearing ring to prevent the oil from escaping laterally.

27. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising lateral seals between the bearing ring and the housing and sealing the squeeze film of oil laterally.

28. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner bearing race has a coolant supply duct.

29. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a cage between the inner race and the outer race.

30. The bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner race has a groove, the rolling elements running in the groove.

Assignees

• MTU Aero Engines AG
• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Flouros Michael
• Gloeckner Peter
• Mirring Patrick
• Martin Matthias

Classifications

• F16C33/6659 Primary

  Details of supply of the liquid to the bearing, e.g. passages or nozzles · CPC title

• F16C37/007

  of rolling bearings · CPC title

• F16C33/583

  Details of specific parts of races · CPC title

• F01D25/16 Primary

  Arrangement of bearings; Supporting or mounting bearings in casings (bearings per se F16C) · CPC title

• F16C33/64

  Special methods of manufacture · CPC title