Bearing centering spring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10494950-B2
Application number	US-201715852380-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2017
Priority date	Dec 22, 2017
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A bearing support assembly includes a bearing assembly, a housing, and a centering spring. The centering spring is coupled to the bearing assembly and the housing. The centering spring includes a plurality of spiral beams. A first of the plurality of spiral beams is defined by a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end correspond to a first circumferential location that is defined relative to a longitudinal centerline of the bearing support assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bearing support assembly comprising:
a bearing assembly;
a housing; and
a centering spring coupled to the bearing assembly and the housing,
wherein the centering spring includes a plurality of spiral beams, and
wherein a first of the plurality of spiral beams is defined by a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end corresponding to a first circumferential location that is defined relative to a longitudinal centerline of the bearing support assembly.

2. The bearing support assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one beam of the plurality of spiral beams includes at least one loop.

3. The bearing support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spiral beams includes at least three spiral beams.

4. The bearing support assembly of claim 1 , wherein a second of the plurality of spiral beams is defined by a third end and a fourth end, the third end and the fourth end corresponding to a second circumferential location that is defined relative to the longitudinal centerline of the bearing support assembly.

5. The bearing support assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first circumferential location is offset from the second circumferential location.

6. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a rotatable shaft; and
a bearing support assembly coupled to the shaft, the bearing support assembly including
a bearing assembly;
a housing; and

a centering spring coupled to the bearing assembly and the housing,
wherein the centering spring includes a plurality of beams,
wherein a first of the plurality of beams is spiral-shaped, and
wherein the bearing support assembly is defined about a longitudinal centerline, and wherein the first of the plurality of beams is defined by a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end and the second end correspond to a first circumferential location that is defined relative to the longitudinal centerline.

7. The gas turbine engine of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of beams is spiral-shaped.

8. The gas turbine engine of claim 6 , wherein a second of the plurality of beams is defined by a third end and a fourth end, and wherein the third end and the fourth end correspond to a second circumferential location that is defined relative to the longitudinal centerline.

9. The gas turbine engine of claim 8 , wherein a third of the plurality of beams is defined by a fifth end and a sixth end, and wherein the fifth end and the sixth end correspond to a third circumferential location that is defined relative to the longitudinal centerline.

10. The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the first circumferential location, the second circumferential location, and the third circumferential location are different circumferential locations.

11. The gas turbine engine of claim 10 , wherein the first circumferential location is offset from the second circumferential location by one-hundred twenty degrees, and wherein the second circumferential location is offset from the third circumferential location by one-hundred twenty degrees, and wherein the third circumferential location is offset from the first circumferential location by one-hundred twenty degrees.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 6 , wherein the first end corresponds to a first axial location relative to the longitudinal centerline, and the second end corresponds to a second axial location relative to the longitudinal centerline that is different from the first axial location.

13. The gas turbine engine of claim 6 , wherein a second of the plurality of beams is circular in cross-section.

14. The gas turbine engine of claim 6 , wherein a second of the plurality of beams is rectangular in cross-section.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Kovacik Ronnie K
• Duffy Kevin

Classifications

• F01D25/164 Primary

  Flexible supports; Vibration damping means associated with the bearing · CPC title

• F16C27/00

  Elastic or yielding bearings or bearing supports, for exclusively rotary movement (shock-damping bearings for watches or clocks G04B31/02) · CPC title

• F16C35/04

  in the case of ball or roller bearings · CPC title

• F05D2240/60

  Shafts · CPC title

• F16F15/123

  Wound springs {(F16F15/1213, F16F15/1216, F16F15/127 take precedence)} · CPC title