Bearing Support with Flexible Circumferential Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bearing supports for gas turbine engines are often over-engineered to accommodate maximum forces, leading to higher costs, as they are designed to handle forces beyond typical operating conditions, where more compliant bearings would suffice.
Innovation Solution
A bearing support design featuring a flexible circumferentially-extending structure and radial support members that transmit loads through this structure within a predetermined limit, then bypass it to directly link the load to the housing when exceeding that limit, allowing for efficient absorption of radial loads and vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bearing support is designed to accommodate maximum attainable forces, then reliability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing support transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system with two distinct operational states: a flexible first portion for normal loads and a rigid second portion for overload conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the structure to optimize its mechanical properties based on real-time loading conditions, achieving high reliability across varying force magnitudes without requiring the entire structure to be over-engineered for maximum capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the bearing support are assigned different mechanical properties: the first portion is designed with high flexibility to absorb normal vibrations and shocks, while the second portion is designed with high rigidity to handle extreme overload forces. This spatial differentiation of mechanical qualities allows each region to be optimized for its specific functional requirement, reducing overall material costs while maintaining system-wide reliability.
2Strength
If bearing support is designed with higher capacity for maximum forces, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing support is divided into two distinct structural portions: a first portion with flexible characteristics for normal operation and a second portion with rigid characteristics for overload protection. This segmentation allows each portion to be independently optimized for its specific load range, simplifying the design of each individual component while achieving comprehensive strength coverage through their combination.
Solution Approach 2:
The circumferentially-extending structure serves as an intermediary element between the bearing and housing, providing a controlled flexibility mechanism that mediates the transition between normal and overload conditions. This intermediary structure allows the system to handle a wide range of forces without requiring the entire bearing support assembly to be complex and over-engineered.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If circumferentially-extending structure is used to provide flexibility, then vibration absorption is improved, but load transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two load transmission paths: through the flexible circumferentially-extending structure for normal loads to absorb vibrations, and through the rigid radial support members for overload conditions to ensure efficient force transmission. This dynamic path selection optimizes both vibration absorption and load transmission efficiency depending on the operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid load transmission function is extracted from the flexible circumferentially-extending structure and placed into separate radial support members. This extraction allows the circumferential structure to specialize in vibration absorption without compromising overall load transmission efficiency, as the radial members provide a dedicated stiff path for force transmission when needed.
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 reduces costs by optimizing bearing support flexibility, effectively absorbing dynamic loads and vibrations within the predetermined limits, thereby minimizing stress on the housing while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
causing a radial deflection/deformation of the first portion within a predetermined limit
Implementation Method 2
the radial support members provide a direct link radially crossing the annulus and bypassing the circumferentially-extending structure to transmit an over-limit portion of the radial bearing load to the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing support provides a circumferentially-extending structure to substantially transmit a radial bearing load to a housing when a radial deflection/deformation of the circumferentially-extending structure caused by the radial bearing load, is within a predetermined limit. The bearing support provides a direct support link bypassing the circumferentially-extending structure to transmit an over-limit portion of the radial bearing load to the housing when the radial deflection/deformation of the circumferentially-extending structure reaches the predetermined limit.