ANTIFRICTION BEARING WITH A DUAL CONTROL SEPARATOR
First Claim
1. An antifriction bearing for use in a high speed, high temperature environment such as a gas turbine engine or the like, comprising in combination, a ferrous metal inner race having a first circumferential control land, a ferrous metal concentric outer race having a second circumferential control land, a complement of antifriction elements disposed between and rollably engageable with said races, a nonferrous separator having end rings with first and second circumferential control lands, said separator having a thermal coefficient of expansion appreciably higher than that of said races and being controlled only by said first control surface engaging said first control land on said inner race under low speed, low temperature starting conditions of a gas turbine or the like, and only by said second control surface engaging said second control land on said outer race under high speed, high temperature operating conditions of a gas turbine or the like, and a plurality of windows in said separator receiving said complement of antifriction elements, said windows being sufficiently larger than said antifriction elements so that said antifriction elements are circumferentially spaced by said separator without imparting control to said separator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An antifriction bearing is provided with a separator having a first control surface for guiding the separator from the inner race at low speeds and temperatures and a second control surface for guiding the separator from the outer race at high temperatures and speeds.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. An antifriction bearing for use in a high speed, high temperature environment such as a gas turbine engine or the like, comprising in combination, a ferrous metal inner race having a first circumferential control land, a ferrous metal concentric outer race having a second circumferential control land, a complement of antifriction elements disposed between and rollably engageable with said races, a nonferrous separator having end rings with first and second circumferential control lands, said separator having a thermal coefficient of expansion appreciably higher than that of said races and being controlled only by said first control surface engaging said first control land on said inner race under low speed, low temperature starting conditions of a gas turbine or the like, and only by said second control surface engaging said second control land on said outer race under high speed, high temperature operating conditions of a gas turbine or the like, and a plurality of windows in said separator receiving said complement of antifriction elements, said windows being sufficiently larger than said antifriction elements so that said antifriction elements are circumferentially spaced by said separator without imparting control to said separator.
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2. The antifriction bearing as defined in claim 1 wherein said first control surface is on a radially inwardly projecting shoulder on one end ring of said separator and said second control surface is on a radially outwardly projecting shoulder on the other end ring of said separator.
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3. The antifriction bearing as defined in claim 2 wherein the cross-sectional area of said radially inwardly projecting shoulder is greater than the cross-sectional area of said radially outwardly projecting shoulder to equalize the centrifugal loading thereon.
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4. The antifriction bearing as defined in claim 3 wherein said separator is made from a polyimide plastic.
Specification