Outer Sleeve Bearing Assembly With Squeeze Film Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft engine bearings lack effective means to dampen vibrations, particularly in configurations where squeeze film dampers are not used, necessitating improved solutions for radial and axial motion control.
Innovation Solution
An outer sleeve is secured to the outer race of a conventional bearing, incorporating a squeeze film damper between the sleeve and the bearing housing, with anti-rotation and axial retention features to prevent relative motion and provide damping capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional bearing is used without a squeeze film damper, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but vibration damping capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a conventional bearing with an outer sleeve that integrates a squeeze film damper, merging two separate components (bearing and damper) into a single integrated assembly. This allows the bearing to gain vibration damping capability without requiring a completely separate damper system, thus improving ease of manufacture while reducing harmful vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer sleeve serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the bearing, incorporates the squeeze film damper for vibration damping, and includes sealing features. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate damping components, improving ease of manufacture while addressing vibration issues.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an outer sleeve with squeeze film damper is added to a conventional bearing, then vibration damping capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the bearing and squeeze film damper into a single integrated assembly, the patent reduces the number of separate components that would otherwise need to be assembled and maintained. Although the sleeve itself is complex, the overall device complexity is managed by eliminating the need for separate damper assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer sleeve is designed as a multi-functional component that provides structural support, vibration damping, and sealing in one element. This universality reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple separate components to achieve these functions.
3Reliability
If seals are added to the outer sleeve to contain damping fluid, then damping effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seals are integrated directly into the outer sleeve structure, merging the sealing function with the damper housing. This integration ensures that the damping fluid is contained effectively while avoiding the need for separate sealing components, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while improving damping effectiveness.
4Stability of the object's composition
If anti-rotation features are incorporated into the outer sleeve, then relative motion control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-rotation features are integrated into the outer sleeve structure, merging the motion control function with the damper housing. This integration ensures stable relative motion control while avoiding the need for separate locking or positioning mechanisms, thus managing device complexity while improving stability.
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 transforms conventional bearings into those with integrated damping capabilities, reducing vibrations and maintaining structural integrity while saving costs and simplifying assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a squeeze film damper including an annulus defined radially between the outer sleeve and a portion of the bearing housing and axially between seals, the annulus having a damping fluid in the annulus
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An aircraft engine (10) has: a shaft (16, 18) rotatable about a central axis (11); a bearing housing (25) extending around the shaft (16, 18) and defining a bearing cavity (29); a bearing (21) located within the bearing cavity (29), the bearing (21) rotatably supporting the shaft (18, 18), the bearing (21) having rolling members (24) disposed radially between an inner race (22) engaged to the shaft (16, 18) and an outer race (23); an outer sleeve (30) secured to and extending around the outer race (23) of the bearing (21), a radially-inner face (31A) of the outer sleeve (30) abutting a radially-outer face (23A) of the outer race (23); and a squeeze film damper (26) including an annulus (27) defined radially between the outer sleeve (30) and a portion of the bearing housing (25) and axially between seals (28), the annulus (27) having a damping fluid in the annulus (27).