Flexible Bearing Support Ring for Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for reducing vibrations in gas turbine engines, such as squeeze film oil dampers, add significant weight, complexity, and cost due to the required hardware and modifications to the oil system.
Innovation Solution
A bearing support arrangement featuring a ring with alternating contact pads and flexible portions that allow elastic deflection, enabling the ring to absorb vibrations and misalignment while allowing unrestricted oil flow, thus decoupling the bearing from the engine casing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If squeeze film oil dampers are used to reduce vibrations, then vibration damping is improved, but weight and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing support ring is segmented into alternating rigid contact pads and flexible portions. The contact pads provide vibration damping through controlled elastic deflection, while the flexible portions allow oil flow and accommodate misalignment. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex squeeze film damper hardware while maintaining vibration reduction benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing support ring incorporates flexible portions with reduced radial thickness that elastically deflect under load to absorb vibrations. These flexible sections act as simple elastic elements rather than complex damping mechanisms, significantly reducing device complexity while providing effective vibration isolation between the bearing and engine casing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid bearing supports are used to maintain bearing centralization, then positional stability is improved, but vibration transmission to the engine casing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing support ring exhibits different mechanical properties at different circumferential locations: rigid contact pads provide stable load support and maintain bearing centralization, while flexible portions between the pads provide vibration absorption. This local differentiation of mechanical properties allows the same component to simultaneously achieve bearing centralization and vibration reduction.
3Strength
If thick bearing support ring is used to provide structural strength, then load bearing capacity is improved, but flexibility to absorb misalignment and vibration decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing support ring is divided into thick rigid contact pads for strength and load bearing, and thin flexible portions for adaptability and vibration absorption. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated component.
Solution Approach 2:
Different radial thicknesses are provided at different circumferential locations of the bearing support ring. The contact pads have greater radial thickness for structural strength and load capacity, while the flexible portions have reduced radial thickness to enable elastic deflection and accommodate bearing misalignment and vibrations.
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 solution effectively reduces vibrations without the need for heavy and complex damping systems, providing a cost-effective and simpler alternative that maintains bearing centralization and reduces hydraulic stiffening.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible portions permitting elastic deflection of the ring in a radial direction between adjacent ones of the first and second pads
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of openings extending transversely across the flexible portions of the ring, the openings sized to permit a substantially unrestricted flow of oil between radially inner and outer sides of said ring
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing support ring includes a plurality of contact pads radially protruding from inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the ring. Flexible portions of the ring are defined between the contact pads and have a radial thickness less than that of the ring at the contact pads, such as to permit elastic deflection of the ring in a radial direction between the contact pads. Openings sized to permit unrestricted oil flow are provided, such as within the flexible portions of the ring.