Spiral Centering Spring Beams for Bearing Stress Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional centering spring beams in engine bearing support assemblies face a trade-off between stress reduction and weight/efficiency, as longer beams reduce stress but increase weight and space consumption, while shorter beams reduce weight but may compromise stress and lifetime.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating spiral-shaped centering spring beams with multiple loops, which can be longer without increasing axial length, thereby reducing stress and allowing for space savings by maintaining the same overall dimensions as conventional beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the centering spring beam is made longer, then stress is reduced and lifetime is increased, but weight increases and space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centering spring beam is formed as a spiral structure where the beam path is nested within a compact radial envelope. Multiple loops of the spiral allow the beam to achieve greater effective length while remaining contained within a limited axial and radial space, thereby reducing stress without proportionally increasing weight or space consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending the beam length in a straight axial direction, the beam is configured to spiral around the bearing assembly, utilizing the circumferential dimension. This transforms a one-dimensional length problem into a three-dimensional spatial configuration, allowing the beam to achieve sufficient length for stress reduction while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
2Reliability
If the centering spring beam is made longer, then stress is reduced and lifetime is increased, but axial space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral configuration allows the beam to be nested within a compact axial envelope. The beam loops back on itself multiple times within a limited axial distance, effectively nesting the beam path within a small axial space while achieving the required beam length for stress reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam transitions from an axial extension to a circumferential spiral path. By utilizing the circumferential dimension for beam length development, the axial length requirement is significantly reduced while maintaining sufficient beam length for stress reduction and improved lifetime.
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 spiral-shaped centering spring beams reduce stress and allow for a smaller, lighter design without compromising engine performance, achieving a balance between stress reduction and space efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The bearing support assembly (in particular, the centering spring) is used to isolate vibration. For example, vibration that may be caused by rotation of engine hardware may be isolated by the centering spring; the centering spring may bend/deflect in response to loads experienced by the bearing assembly 216.
Implementation Method 2
the centering spring may bend/deflect in response to loads experienced by the bearing assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing support assembly includes a bearing assembly, a housing, and a centering spring. The centering spring is coupled to the bearing assembly and the housing. The centering spring includes a plurality of spiral beams. A first of the plurality of spiral beams is defined by a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end correspond to a first circumferential location that is defined relative to a longitudinal centerline of the bearing support assembly.