Lube spacer bearing with pressure loading channel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9303529-B2
Application number	US-201113008273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2011
Priority date	Jan 18, 2011
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A lube spacer bearing for a lube and scavenge pump includes a bearing body defining a bore with a central axis. The bearing body has a first axial side, a second axial side, an outer radial side, and an inner radial side at the bore. The outer radial side includes an arcuate portion. A channel is defined in the arcuate portion of the outer radial side and extends a circumferential length about the outer radial side. The channel has a channel width (CW) defined between a first channel wall and a second channel wall and a bearing length (BL) defined between the first axial side and the second axial side. A ratio of CW/BL is between 0.45 and 0.70.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lube spacer bearing for a lube and scavenge pump, comprising:
a bearing body defining a bore with a central axis, a first axial side, a second axial side, an inner radial side at the bore, and an outer radial side including an arcuate portion and a planar portion extending between each end of the arcuate portion; and
a channel defined in the arcuate portion of the outer radial side between the first axial side and the second axial side and extending a circumferential length around the outer radial side, wherein a channel width (CW) is defined between a first channel wall and a second channel wall and a bearing length (BL) is defined between the first axial side and the second axial side, wherein a ratio of CW/BL is between 0.45 and 0.70; wherein the circumferential length is a circumferential arc angle beginning at a position 180° from the planar portion of the bearing body and extending 90° to 120° about the arcuate portion.

2. The lube spacer bearing of claim 1 , wherein the channel is centered between the first axial side and the second axial side along the arcuate portion, and a channel wall thickness (CWT) being defined between each of the first axial side and the first channel wall and the second axial side and the second channel wall.

3. The lube spacer bearing of claim 2 , wherein a ratio of CWT/BL is between 0.15 and 0.28 on each side of the channel width.

4. The lube spacer bearing of claim 2 , wherein a ratio of CWT/CW is between 0.21 and 0.61.

5. The lube spacer bearing of claim 1 , wherein the bearing body includes a first distance (R) defined between the central axis of the bore and a channel floor, and a second distance (C) defined between the central axis of the bore and the outer radial side, such that a channel depth (CD) is defined between the first distance and the second distance, wherein a ratio of CD/C is between 0.02 and 0.12.

6. The lube spacer bearing of claim 1 , wherein the bearing body includes a first distance (R) defined between the central axis of the bore and a channel floor, and a second distance (C) defined between the central axis of the bore and the outer radial side, wherein a ratio of first distance/second distance, R/C is between 0.88 and 0.98.

7. The lube spacer bearing of claim 1 , wherein the bearing body includes a first distance defined between the central axis of the bore and a channel floor, and a second distance defined between the central axis of the bore and the outer radial side, wherein a channel depth (CD) is defined between the first distance and the second distance, wherein a ratio of CD/CW is between 0.10 and 0.50.

8. The lube spacer bearing of claim 1 , wherein the bearing body includes a first face cut on the first axial side of the bearing body and a second face cut on the second axial side of the bearing body.

9. The lube spacer bearing of claim 8 , wherein a portion defined in the bearing body separates the first face cut and the second face cut, wherein the circumferential arc angle ends at the portion such that the channel abuts the portion and does not overlap with the first face cut and the second face cut.

10. A lube and scavenge gear pump comprising:
a housing along a central axis;
a scavenge section within the housing in fluid communication with an outlet to remove fluid from the pump;
a lube section within the housing and in fluid communication with an inlet to receive fluid;
a plurality of shafts, within the lube section and the scavenge section, that run parallel to the central axis and that are in communication with a plurality of gears, each of the plurality of shafts being supported by a bearing set;
a first lube spacer bearing within the lube section having an inlet side generally aligned with the inlet and an outlet side opposite the inlet side, wherein the first lube spacer bearing spaces apart the plurality of gears, wherein the first lube spacer bearing defines a first axial side, a second axial side, an outer radial side, and an inner radial side defining a bore extending parallel to the central axis and receiving one of said plurality of shafts, wherein the outer radial side of the first lube spacer bearing includes an arcuate portion and a planar portion extending between each end of the arcuate portion; and
a channel defined in the arcuate portion of the outer radial side between the first axial side and the second axial side and extending a circumferential length around the outer radial side, wherein a channel width (CW) is defined between a first channel wall and a second channel wall and a bearing length (BL) is defined between the first axial side and the second axial side, wherein a ratio of CW/BL is between 0.45 and 0.70; wherein the circumferential length is a circumferential arc angle beginning at a position 180° from the planar portion of the bearing body and extending 90° to 120° about the arcuate portion.

11. The lube and scavenge pump of claim 10 , further comprising a second lube spacer bearing within the lube section spacing apart the plurality of gears, wherein the second lube spacer bearing defines a first axial side, a second axial side, an outer radial side, and an inner radial side defining a bore extending parallel to the central axis and receiving one of said plurality of shafts, wherein the outer radial side of the second lube spacer bearing includes an arcuate portion, wherein the second lube spacer bearing has a channel in the arcuate portion of the outer radial side between the first axial side and the second axial side of the second lube spacer bearing, the channel extending a circumferential length around the outer radial side, wherein a second channel width (CW 2 ) is defined between a first channel wall and a second channel wall of the second lube spacer bearing and a second bearing length (BL 2 ) is defined between the first axial side and the second axial side of the second lube spacer bearing, wherein a ratio of CW 2 /BL 2 is between 0.45 and 0.70.

12. The lube and scavenge pump of claim 11 , wherein each radially inner side and one of the plurality of shafts defines a bore clearance such that each radially inner side is unloaded by the one of the plurality of shafts.

13. The lube and scavenge pump of claim 11 , wherein the inlet is defined in the housing, the first lube spacer bearing and the second lube spacer bearing include an inlet side generally adjacent to the inlet in the housing and an outlet side opposite the inlet side, wherein the channel is positioned only in the outlet side.

14. The lube and scavenge pump of claim 13 , wherein each channel is fluidly connected to the inlet in the housing, wherein the fluid moves from the inlet side to an outlet side opposite the inlet and into the channel at a rate greater than fluid leaking from the channel.

15. The lube and scavenge pump of claim 13 , wherein the outer radial sides of both the first lube spacer bearing and the second lube spacer bearing are in contact with at least a portion of a housing inside bore on the inlet side.

16. The lube and scavenge pump of claim 13 , wherein the bore of the first lube spacer bearing and the bore of the second lube spacer bearing each define a second axis parallel to the central axis, wherein a first distance is defined between the second axis of the bore and a floor of the channel, and a second distance is defined between the second axis of the bore and the outer radial side, wherein a channel depth (CD) is defined between the first distance and the second distance, wherein a third distance is defined between the outer radial side and a housing inside diameter bore, wherein a

Assignees

• Schelonka Michael D
• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Schelonka Michael D

Classifications

• F01D25/20 Primary

  using lubrication pumps · CPC title

• F05D2240/50

  Bearings · CPC title

• Y10T29/49236

  Fluid pump or compressor making · CPC title