Non-Axisymmetric Bearing Support Assembly for Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bearing support assemblies in gas turbine engines do not effectively vary stiffness around the circumference to optimize support for rotating shafts, leading to inefficiencies and potential wear.
Innovation Solution
The bearing support assembly varies stiffness around the circumference by altering material, construction, orientation, thickness, and inclusion of gaps or ribs to provide non-symmetric support, allowing for continuous or load-dependent stiffness adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If uniform stiffness is provided around the bearing support circumference, then manufacturing is simplified, but load distribution and bearing support efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing support assembly incorporates ribs with varying stiffness characteristics at different circumferential locations. Specifically, the assembly includes a first rib and a second rib where the second rib has greater stiffness than the first rib, allowing different parts of the bearing support to have different mechanical properties optimized for their specific load conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing support assembly deliberately introduces asymmetric stiffness distribution around the circumference by configuring ribs with different stiffness values. This asymmetric design allows the stiffer ribs to support higher loads in specific directions while softer ribs accommodate lower loads, optimizing overall load distribution and bearing support efficiency.
2Productivity
If stiffness is varied around the circumference to optimize load distribution, then bearing support efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The variation in stiffness is achieved through localized modifications to the rib structures rather than changing the entire bearing support assembly. By adjusting rib dimensions, materials, or configurations only where needed, the design achieves optimized load distribution while maintaining simplicity in other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The ribs are integrated into a single bearing support assembly structure, combining multiple functions into one unified component. This merging approach allows the varying stiffness ribs to work together as a cohesive unit, achieving complex load distribution patterns without requiring multiple separate components or complex assembly mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing support assembly to support one or more bearings on a shaft. The bearing support assembly includes a bearing support frame configured to be coupled to a static frame, a plurality of ribs connected to the bearing support frame, and a bearing support connected to the plurality of ribs and configured to support a bearing of the one or more bearings. The bearing support assembly has a non-axisymmetric stiffness around a circumference of the bearing support assembly.