Roller element bearing with preloaded hydrodynamic cage guides

• US 10,641,332 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Nonato de Paula, Fabio, Ertas, Bugra Han, Hallman, Darren Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilensky, Moshe
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ribadeneyra, Theodore C
• Application Number:
  US15/370,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20180156274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/162 Bearing supports
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/06 Arrangements of bearings bearings F16C; Lubricating of turbo machines F01D25/18; of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/36 Power transmission arrangements between the different shafts of the gas turbine plant, or between the gas-turbine plant and the power user F02C3/107 - F02C3/13 and F02C7/32 take precedence; couplings for transmitting rotation F16D; gearing in general F16H
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 19/002 Axial flow fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/056 Bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/028 with fixed wedges to generate hydrodynamic pressure, e.g. multi-lobe bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/04 for radial load mainly
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/225 Details of the ribs supporting the end of the rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/24 for radial load mainly
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/26 with a single row of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/52 with devices affected by abnormal or undesired conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2360/23 Gas turbine engines in general F02C
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2360/24 Turbochargers in general F02C6/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/61 Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts in general F16H57/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/3806 Details of interaction of cage and race, e.g. retention, centring
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/4605 Details of interaction of cage and race, e.g. retention or centring
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/4623 formed as one-piece cages, i.e. monoblock cages
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/6614 in recesses or cavities provided in retainers, races or rolling elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/6651 in recesses or cavities provided in retainers, races or rolling elements

Abstract

A bearing includes an inner ring having an outer surface and a cage having both an inner surface and an outer surface. The cage inner surface is positioned to be in opposition to the inner ring outer surface. The bearing further includes an outer ring having both an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer ring inner surface is positioned to be in opposition to the cage outer surface. One or more of the inner ring outer surface, the cage inner surface, the cage outer surface, and the outer ring inner surface defines a non-circular circumferential profile.

Claims

1. A bearing defining a longitudinal centerline extending therethrough, said bearing comprising:

an inner ring comprising an outer surface;

a cage comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said cage inner surface in opposition to said inner ring outer surface;

an outer ring comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer ring inner surface in opposition to said cage outer surface; and

a plurality of rollers positioned within said cage to facilitate relative rotation between said outer ring and said inner ring, wherein one of said inner ring, said cage, and said outer ring comprises a plurality of lobes defining a non-circular circumferential profile, said plurality of lobes comprising a first lobe comprising a substantially circular edge and a lobe edge radially spaced from said substantially circular edge, said lobe edge defining an arc having a substantially constant arcual angularity with respect to a longitudinal line extending through said bearing, wherein the longitudinal line is one of substantially parallel to and substantially coincident with the longitudinal centerline.

2. The bearing in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said inner ring comprises an inner ring shoulder; and

said outer ring comprises an outer ring shoulder.

3. The bearing in accordance with claim 2, wherein one of said inner ring outer surface, said inner ring shoulder, said cage inner surface, said cage outer surface, said outer ring inner surface, and said outer ring shoulder comprises said plurality of lobes defining the non-circular circumferential profile.

4. The bearing in accordance with claim 3, wherein a fluid is disposed between each of said inner ring outer surface, said inner ring shoulder, said cage inner surface, said cage outer surface, said outer ring inner surface, and said outer ring shoulder, and wherein the non-circular circumferential profile is configured to facilitate stabilization of said cage by inducing reaction forces between at least one of:

said cage inner surface and said inner ring outer surface;

said cage inner surface and said inner ring shoulder;

said cage outer surface and said outer ring inner surface; and

said cage outer surface and said outer ring shoulder.

5. The bearing in accordance with claim 3, wherein the non-circular circumferential profile is configured to induce reaction forces to increase clearance locally and reduce rubbing between at least one of:

said cage inner surface and said inner ring outer surface;

said cage inner surface and said inner ring shoulder;

said cage outer surface and said outer ring inner surface; and

said cage outer surface and said outer ring shoulder.

6. The bearing in accordance with claim 3, wherein the non-circular circumferential profile and said cage are formed of one or more of a metallic material and a polymer, and wherein the non-circular circumferential profile and said cage are formed by one or more manufacturing technique.

7. A gearbox comprising:

a central gear; and

a plurality of planetary gears positioned circumferentially about said central gear, each planetary gear of said plurality of planetary gears comprising a bearing, a first planetary gear of said plurality of planetary gears comprising a first bearing defining a longitudinal centerline extending therethrough, said first bearing comprising;

an inner ring comprising an outer surface;

a cage comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said cage inner surface in opposition to said inner ring outer surface;

an outer ring comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer ring inner surface in opposition to said cage outer surface; and

a plurality of rollers positioned within said cage to facilitate relative rotation between said outer ring and said inner ring, wherein one of said inner ring, said cage, and said outer ring comprises a plurality of lobes defining a non-circular circumferential profile, said plurality of lobes comprising a first lobe comprising a substantially circular edge and a lobe edge radially spaced from said substantially circular edge, said lobe edge defining an arc having a substantially constant arcual angularity with respect to a longitudinal line extending through said bearing, wherein the longitudinal line is one of substantially parallel to and substantially coincident with the longitudinal centerline.

8. The gearbox in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

said inner ring comprises an inner ring shoulder; and

said outer ring comprises an outer ring shoulder.

9. The gearbox in accordance with claim 8, wherein one of said inner ring outer surface, said inner ring shoulder, said cage inner surface, said cage outer surface, said outer ring inner surface, and said outer ring shoulder comprises said plurality of lobes defining the non-circular circumferential profile.

10. The gearbox in accordance with claim 9, wherein a fluid is disposed between each of said inner ring outer surface, said inner ring shoulder, said cage inner surface, said cage outer surface, said outer ring inner surface, and said outer ring shoulder, and wherein the non-circular circumferential profile is configured to facilitate stabilization of said cage by inducing reaction forces between at least one of:

said cage inner surface and said inner ring outer surface;

said cage inner surface and said inner ring shoulder;

said cage outer surface and said outer ring inner surface; and

said cage outer surface and said outer ring shoulder.

11. The gearbox in accordance with claim 9, wherein the non-circular circumferential profile is configured to induce reaction forces to increase clearance locally and reduce rubbing between at least one of:

said cage inner surface and said inner ring outer surface;

said cage inner surface and said inner ring shoulder;

said cage outer surface and said outer ring inner surface; and

said cage outer surface and said outer ring shoulder.

12. The gearbox in accordance with claim 9, wherein the non-circular circumferential profile and said cage are formed of one or more of a metallic material and a polymer, and wherein the non-circular circumferential profile and said cage are formed by one or more manufacturing techniques.

13. A rotary machine comprising:

a fan section;

a low-pressure turbine section; and

a gearbox coupled between said fan section and said low-pressure turbine section, said gearbox comprising a plurality of planetary gears positioned circumferentially about a central gear, each planetary gear of said plurality of planetary gears comprising a bearing, a first planetary gear of said plurality of planetary gears comprising a first bearing defining a longitudinal centerline extending therethrough, said first bearing comprising;

an inner ring comprising an outer surface;

a cage comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said cage inner surface in opposition to said inner ring outer surface;

an outer ring comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer ring inner surface in opposition to said cage outer surface; and

a plurality of rollers positioned within said cage to facilitate relative rotation between said outer ring and said inner ring, wherein one of said inner ring, said cage, and said outer ring comprises a plurality of lobes defining a non-circular circumferential profile, said plurality of lobes comprising a first lobe comprising a substantially circular edge and a lobe edge radially spaced from said substantially circular edge, said lobe edge defining an arc having a substantially constant arcual angularity with respect to a longitudinal line extending through said bearing, wherein the longitudinal line is one of substantially parallel to and substantially coincident with the longitudinal centerline.

14. The rotary machine in accordance with claim 13, wherein:

said inner ring comprises an inner ring shoulder; and

said outer ring comprises an outer ring shoulder.

15. The rotary machine in accordance with claim 14, wherein one of said inner ring outer surface, said inner ring shoulder, said cage inner surface, said cage outer surface, said outer ring inner surface, and said outer ring shoulder comprises said plurality of lobes defining the non-circular circumferential profile.

16. The rotary machine in accordance with claim 15, wherein a fluid is disposed between each of said inner ring outer surface, said inner ring shoulder, said cage inner surface, said cage outer surface, said outer ring inner surface, and said outer ring shoulder, and wherein the non-circular circumferential profile is configured to facilitate stabilization of said cage by inducing reaction forces between at least one of:

said cage inner surface and said inner ring outer surface;

said cage inner surface and said inner ring shoulder;

said cage outer surface and said outer ring inner surface; and

said cage outer surface and said outer ring shoulder.

17. The rotary machine in accordance with claim 15, wherein the non-circular circumferential profile is configured to induce reaction forces to increase clearance locally and reduce rubbing between at least one of:

said cage inner surface and said inner ring outer surface;

said cage inner surface and said inner ring shoulder;

said cage outer surface and said outer ring inner surface; and

said cage outer surface and said outer ring shoulder.

18. The rotary machine in accordance with claim 15, wherein the non-circular circumferential profile and said cage are formed of one or more of a metallic material and a polymer, and wherein the non-circular circumferential profile and said cage are formed by one or more manufacturing techniques.