Systems and methods for engine bearings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9784128-B2
Application number	US-201414575464-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Apr 24, 2014
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for bearings in a gas turbine engine. A bearing system may include a squirrel cage and a bearing support cage coupled to the squirrel cage. The bearing support cage may include an outer race and a fenestrated cone. The bearing support cage may include a support cage anti-rotation tab adjacent to the outer race. The bearing system may include a housing coupled to the squirrel cage. The housing may include a housing anti-rotation tab. The support cage anti-rotation tab and the housing anti-rotation tab may prevent the bearing system from twisting.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bearing system in an aircraft engine comprising:
a squirrel cage comprising a plurality of squirrel cage beams extending between a squirrel cage housing flange located aft of the plurality of squirrel cage beams and a squirrel cage support flange located forward of the plurality of squirrel cage beams, wherein the plurality of squirrel cage beams form a fenestrated cylinder; and
a bearing support cage comprising an outer race comprising a support cage anti-rotation tab extending in an aft direction from the outer race, a plurality of bearing support cage beams extending in a forward direction from the outer race, and a bearing support cage flange coupled to a forward end of the plurality of bearing support cage beams, wherein the bearing support cage flange is coupled to the squirrel cage support flange, wherein the plurality of bearing support cage beams form a fenestrated cone; and
a housing coupled to the squirrel cage, the housing comprising a seat circumscribing the outer race, and a housing anti-rotation tab extending in the aft direction from the seat and radially inward from the seat, wherein the housing anti-rotation tab is configured to contact the support cage anti-rotation tab and decrease twisting of the bearing system.

2. The bearing system of claim 1 , wherein the support cage anti-rotation tab is adjacent to an aft surface of the outer race.

3. The bearing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bearing support cage beams define a plurality of support cage windows.

4. The bearing system of claim 1 , wherein the housing anti-rotation tab is located adjacent to an aft surface of the outer race.

5. The bearing system of claim 1 , wherein the housing anti-rotation tab and the support cage anti-rotation tab are configured to prevent the outer race from rotating.

6. A bearing system in an aircraft engine comprising:
a bearing support cage comprising:
a support cage flange;
an outer race;
a fenestrated cone adjoining the support cage flange and the outer race, the fenestrated cone comprising a plurality of bearing support cage beams; and
a support cage anti-rotation tab adjacent to the outer race and extending in an aft direction from the outer race;

a squirrel cage comprising:
a squirrel cage support flange;
a fenestrated cylinder comprising a plurality of squirrel cage beams; and
a housing flange; and

a housing coupled to the housing flange, wherein the housing comprises a seat circumscribing the outer race and a housing anti-rotation tab extending in the aft direction from the seat and radially inward from the seat, wherein the housing anti-rotation tab is configured to contact the support cage anti-rotation tab and decrease twisting of the bearing system.

7. The bearing system of claim 6 , wherein the seat and the outer race form a damper gap.

8. The bearing system of claim 6 , wherein the fenestrated cone defines a plurality of support cage windows.

9. The bearing system of claim 6 , wherein the support cage anti-rotation tab is adjacent to an aft surface of the outer race.

10. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a spool and a bearing system supporting the spool, the bearing system comprising:
a bearing support cage, wherein the bearing support cage comprises an outer race, a fenestrated cone adjacent to the outer race, and a support cage anti-rotation tab adjacent to the outer race and extending in an aft direction from the outer race, wherein the fenestrated cone comprises a plurality of bearing support cage beams;
a squirrel cage coupled to the bearing support cage, wherein the squirrel cage comprises a fenestrated cylinder comprising a plurality of squirrel cage beams; and
a housing comprising a seat circumscribing the outer race, and a housing anti-rotation tab extending in the aft direction from the seat and radially inward from the seat, wherein the housing anti-rotation tab is configured to contact the support cage anti-rotation tab and decrease twisting of the bearing system.

11. The gas turbine engine of claim 10 , wherein the support cage anti-rotation tab is adjacent to an aft surface of the outer race.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 10 , wherein the housing is coupled to the squirrel cage.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Long Wesley P
• Marquis Julie J

Classifications

• F16C2226/50

  Positive connections · CPC title

• F16C19/06

  with a single row or balls · CPC title

• F16C33/586

  outside the space between the races, e.g. end faces or bore of inner ring · CPC title

• F05D2240/50

  Bearings · CPC title

• F16C33/581

  integral with other parts, e.g. with housings or machine elements such as shafts or gear wheels · CPC title