Additively Manufactured Thrust Air Bearing With Integrated Vibration Damping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas bearings in gas turbine engines require a substantial number of components to handle static and dynamic forces, leading to increased complexity, weight, and size, which limits their application in aerospace and space-constrained environments.
Innovation Solution
A thrust air bearing with a reduced number of components, featuring a bearing pad with a thrust face and a housing that includes a working gas delivery system and a fluid damper cavity with semi-rigid walls to provide pressurized gas flow and axial vibration damping, respectively, formed using additive manufacturing for a compact and efficient design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional gas bearings use multiple components to handle static and dynamic forces, then reliability and load capacity are improved, but device complexity, weight, and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple bearing components into a single integrated thrust bearing assembly. The bearing pad, housing, working gas delivery system, and fluid damper cavity are merged into one unified structure, eliminating the need for separate radial bearings, thrust bearings, and damper assemblies while maintaining the ability to handle both static and dynamic forces
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated thrust bearing performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides thrust support through the bearing pad, delivers working gas through the integrated delivery system, and dampens vibrations through the fluid damper cavity. This multi-functional design replaces what would traditionally require separate specialized components for each function
2Reliability
If conventional gas bearings use multiple components, then load support capability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple load-supporting components into a single integrated structure, the patent eliminates redundant materials and fasteners while maintaining load support capability through the combined bearing pad and housing structure
3Reliability
If conventional gas bearings use multiple components, then functionality is improved, but size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The working gas delivery system and fluid damper cavity are nested within the housing structure of the thrust bearing. The delivery system channels and the damper cavity are integrated into the housing volume, allowing multiple functional elements to occupy the same spatial envelope without increasing overall bearing size
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 effectively supports rotary components by reducing weight and size while maintaining functionality, enabling the bearing to handle static and dynamic forces efficiently within space-limited gas turbine engines.
Implementation Method 1
providing a flow of pressurized working gas to the thrust face of the bearing pad
Implementation Method 2
non-oil lubricated bearings
Implementation Method 3
providing a dampening of the axial vibration supported by the thrust face of the bearing pad
Implementation Method 4
fluid damper cavity for providing a dampening of the axial vibration
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A bearing (100) including a bearing pad (104) and a housing (102) is provided. The bearing pad (104) has a thrust face (108) for supporting a vibration along an axial direction of the bearing. Additionally, the housing (102) is formed integrally using an additive manufacturing process and is attached to or formed integrally with the bearing pad (104). The housing (102) defines a working gas delivery system (116) for providing a flow of pressurized working gas to the thrust face (108) of the bearing pad (104) and a fluid damper cavity (126). The fluid damper cavity (126) provides a dampening of the axial vibration supported by the thrust face (108) of the bearing pad (104) along the axial direction.