Generator Bearing Liner and Retainer for High Axial Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional generator assemblies fail to manage high axial vibration inputs effectively, leading to extreme resonant responses and potential failure of bearing components under high frequency operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
The generator assembly incorporates a bearing liner providing axial clearance and a bearing retainer with a damper to absorb and dampen axial movement, reducing vibration amplitude and preventing damage from harmonic vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional ball bearings with spring washers are used to support the rotor, then the bearing structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but under high axial vibration input (20g), the rotor displacement exceeds internal bearing clearance causing the rotor to become fully clamped and generate extreme resonant response
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing support system is divided into multiple independent elements: an outer bearing, an inner bearing, and a resilient bearing mount positioned between them. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific aspects of the vibration and load, preventing the rotor from becoming fully clamped while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
A resilient bearing mount is introduced as an intermediary element between the inner and outer bearings. This mount acts as a buffer that absorbs axial vibrations and prevents direct transmission of high-frequency vibrations to the rotor, thereby reducing resonant response while maintaining structural integrity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the rotor is fully clamped by the bearing structure, then axial position is fixed, but rotor momentum generates very high loads on bearing liner and bearing retainer causing surrounding parts to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly is designed with adjustable parameters including bearing preload, resilient mount stiffness, and clearance specifications. These parameters are optimized to allow controlled axial movement that absorbs vibration energy while maintaining sufficient positional stability for operation, thereby reducing peak loads on bearing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient bearing mount provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing axial vibrations before they can be fully transmitted to the rotor and bearing components. This pre-cushioning effect reduces the peak loads generated by rotor momentum during high-frequency vibration conditions.
3Stability of the object's composition
If bearing clearance is reduced to prevent rotor movement, then axial stability improves, but vibration amplitudes increase causing extreme resonant response
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing system transitions from a static clearance-based design to a dynamic system where the resilient bearing mount can deform elastically in response to vibration inputs. This dynamic response allows the system to maintain axial stability during normal operation while absorbing vibration energy during high-frequency excitation, thereby reducing resonant amplitudes.
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
The solution significantly reduces vibration amplitudes in generator components, preventing damage and maintaining operational safety even at high input frequencies, as demonstrated by reduced response amplitudes in housing and shaft during testing.
Implementation Method 1
a bearing retainer with a damper to absorb and dampen axial movement, reducing vibration amplitude
Data Source
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AI summary
A generator assembly may include a bearing liner and a bearing retainer configured to reduce vibration response in a bearing assembly under high frequency operation of a rotor. The bearing liner may be configured to provide a clearance between the bearing assembly and an adjacent housing/ bearing liner to prevent high vibration output from the bearing assembly on for example, the rotor shaft. The bearing retainer may include a recess to accommodate axial movement of the bearing assembly in response to rotation of the rotor. In some embodiments, the bearing retainer may include a dampener to dampen contact of the bearing assembly with the retainer.