Eccentric Sleeve Bearing Alignment for Small Turbine Engines
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Solution Overview
Problem
In small turbine engines, it is challenging to implement tie rod arrangements to adjust the location of bearings due to limited space between the engine case and the bearing housing, making it difficult to achieve concentric alignment of bearings.
Innovation Solution
A bearing assembly featuring a sleeve with an eccentric bore that aligns the bearing concentrically with the shaft, allowing for the use of a rolling element bearing between an inner and outer ring, mounted to the sleeve and shaft, which accommodates the eccentricity between housing bores, enabling precise alignment and adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If tie rod arrangements are used to adjust bearing location, then bearing concentricity can be achieved, but device complexity increases and space requirements are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adjustment function from the complex tie rod arrangement and concentrates it into a single eccentric sleeve component. The eccentric sleeve incorporates the offset adjustment mechanism internally, eliminating the need for multiple tie rods and their associated adjustment mechanisms, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining bearing concentricity adjustment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of location, support, and concentricity adjustment into a single eccentric sleeve component. The sleeve combines the structural support function with the eccentric offset mechanism, integrating multiple functions that would traditionally require separate components into one unified element, thereby simplifying the overall device
2Manufacturing precision
If tie rod arrangements are used to adjust bearing location, then bearing concentricity can be achieved, but the space required is not available in small turbine engines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nesting principle by placing the eccentric sleeve inside the bearing housing, within the existing space between the engine case and the bearing. The sleeve is nested within the housing bore, utilizing the available internal space rather than requiring external space, thus accommodating the adjustment mechanism within the constrained geometry of small turbine engines
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a linear/external adjustment mechanism (tie rods extending outward) to a rotational/dimensional adjustment mechanism. The eccentric sleeve uses rotational positioning of the bearing relative to the housing bore to achieve concentricity adjustment, utilizing angular dimension rather than linear extension, thereby fitting within the limited space available
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional bearing location methods are used, then assembly is simpler, but alignment precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through the self-aligning capability of the eccentric sleeve mechanism. The bearing can be rotated within the eccentric sleeve to automatically achieve concentric alignment with the housing bore, eliminating the need for complex external alignment tools or procedures. The mechanism itself provides the alignment function, making the assembly process simpler while maintaining high precision
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing assembly includes a sleeve and a bearing located within a bore of the sleeve. The sleeve extends between an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface at least partially defines the bore, which extends through the sleeve. The inner surface is configured eccentric to the outer surface. The bearing includes a plurality of rolling elements arranged between an inner ring and an outer ring. The outer ring is mounted to the sleeve.