Roller Bearing Spring Section for Gas Turbine Oscillation Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roller bearings for gas turbines lack optimal spring and damping properties, particularly in supporting fast-moving turbine shafts, leading to inefficient oscillation damping and transfer to the housing.
Innovation Solution
A roller bearing design featuring a single-piece outer ring with a U-shaped spring section comprising radial inner and outer spring rods connected by a non-elastic connecting ring, providing flexible elasticity and non-linear spring characteristics to effectively dampen oscillations through a squeeze-film damper and flange attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a damping cavity filled with damping medium is used, then oscillation damping is improved, but the spring properties and flexibility of the outer ring are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the damping cavity with the spring section into an integrated outer ring structure. The damping cavity is formed within the spring section, combining oscillation damping functionality with spring support functionality in a single component, thereby achieving both improved damping and maintained spring properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring section is divided into multiple spring rods that are connected through a connecting ring. This segmentation allows each spring rod to contribute to the overall spring characteristics while the damping cavity provides additional oscillation damping, creating a composite structure with superior performance in both areas.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the outer ring is rigidly attached to the housing, then structural stability is improved, but oscillation transfer to the housing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer ring transitions from a rigid attachment to a dynamic, flexible attachment through the spring section. The spring rods and connecting ring create a compliant connection that allows the outer ring to move dynamically with oscillations while maintaining structural stability, thereby reducing harmful oscillation transfer to the housing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple connecting elements are used in the spring section, then flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple spring rods are merged into a single integrated spring section with a unified connecting ring. This merging approach maintains the flexibility benefits of multiple elements while reducing overall complexity by integrating them into a cohesive structure rather than separate components.
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 design enhances damping and spring properties, effectively reducing oscillations in critical resonance ranges and cushioning their transfer to the housing, improving the overall performance of the roller bearing in gas turbines.
Implementation Method 1
a squeeze-film damper located between the outer ring and the housing so that any oscillations arising in the critical resonance ranges of the turbine shaft are dampened
Implementation Method 2
a spring section that comprises radial inner and radial outer spring rods
Data Source
AI summary
A roller bearing that includes a number of rolling elements located between an inner ring and an outer ring, a housing component to which the outer ring is non-rigidly attached, wherein the outer ring is designed in a single piece and comprises a track section that abuts against the housing component, a spring section comprising radial inner and radial outer spring rods and a flange that is bolted to the housing component, wherein the radial inner springrods are connected together with the radial outer spring rods by way of a single connecting ring.