Air Bearing Compressor Housing Assembly With Reduced Tolerance Stack-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbomachines face performance issues due to excessive tolerance stack-up in the fluid gap between the rotating group and the housing, leading to inefficiencies and manufacturing challenges.
Innovation Solution
A turbomachine design with a reduced number of components and a compact housing assembly, where the bearing housing is flush with the axial surfaces and radially aligned, minimizing the axial and radial tolerance stack-up and allowing for precise control of the fluid gap dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple housing members and bearings are assembled to support the rotating group, then the rotating group is properly supported and housed, but the tolerance stack-up increases leading to larger fluid gap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple housing members (first housing member, bearing housing, second housing member) into a more integrated assembly where the bearing housing is flush with the axial surfaces of the other housing members. This merging reduces the number of interfaces and cumulative tolerances, directly addressing the fluid gap dimension control while maintaining proper support of the rotating group.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing housing acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the first and second housing members. By positioning the bearing housing to be substantially flush with the axial surfaces of the other housing members, it serves as a reference surface that minimizes tolerance stack-up and enables precise control of the fluid gap between the wheel and shroud surface.
2Ease of operation
If traditional housing assembly with multiple components is used, then the rotating group is supported, but the tolerance stack-up is excessive affecting performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bearing housing with the axial surfaces of the other housing members, creating a more compact and integrated assembly. This reduces the cumulative tolerance effects that would otherwise degrade performance, thereby improving productivity and efficiency while maintaining ease of rotation support for the rotating group.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional design with separate bearing housing is used, then the bearing is housed properly, but the axial and radial tolerance stack-up increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing housing is designed to be substantially flush with the axial surfaces of the first and second housing members, merging the interfaces and reducing the number of mating surfaces. This design maintains ease of manufacture through modular assembly while significantly reducing axial and radial tolerance stack-up, achieving better manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing housing serves as an intermediary that establishes a precise reference frame between the first and second housing members. By being flush with their axial surfaces, it mediates the alignment and minimizes cumulative tolerances in both axial and radial directions, improving manufacturing precision without complicating the manufacturing process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design results in more efficient and manufacturable turbomachines with reduced fluid gaps, enabling high-volume production of turbomachines with improved performance by minimizing the variability in fluid gap dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
an air bearing that supports rotation of the rotating group within the housing assembly about an axis of rotation
Data Source
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AI summary
A turbomachine includes a housing assembly having a first housing member with a shroud surface, a bearing housing, and a second housing member. The turbomachine further includes a bearing that supports rotation of a rotating group within the housing assembly. The first housing member has a first axial surface and the bearing housing has a second axial surface that is substantially flush with the first axial surface. The second housing member has a third axial surface facing in an axial direction opposite that of the first and second axial surfaces. The first housing member has a first radial surface and the bearing housing has a second radial surface. The first housing member and the bearing housing are attached to the second housing member. The first and second axial surfaces abut against the third axial surface, and the first radial surface abutting against the second radial surface.