Epicyclic gear system with load share reduction
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A journal bearing comprising:
- a main body extending radially outward from a central cavity to an interface surface; and
a connection portion extending axially from the main body at an end thereof and extending radially about the central cavity, wherein the connection portion has a dimension selected as a proportion of a reference dimension of the main body to achieve a desired spring rate for the journal bearing, and wherein the reference dimension is a total length of the interface surface of the main body, wherein the dimension selected is a radial thickness of the connection portion and the radial thickness is proportionally between about 0.20 and 0.30 of the total length of the interface surface of the main body.
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Abstract
A journal bearing includes a main body and a connection portion. The main body extends radially outward from a central cavity to an interface surface. The connection portion supports an end of the main body and extends radially around the central cavity. The connection portion has a dimension selected as a proportion of a reference dimension of the main body to achieve a desired spring rate for the journal bearing.
32 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A journal bearing comprising:
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a main body extending radially outward from a central cavity to an interface surface; and a connection portion extending axially from the main body at an end thereof and extending radially about the central cavity, wherein the connection portion has a dimension selected as a proportion of a reference dimension of the main body to achieve a desired spring rate for the journal bearing, and wherein the reference dimension is a total length of the interface surface of the main body, wherein the dimension selected is a radial thickness of the connection portion and the radial thickness is proportionally between about 0.20 and 0.30 of the total length of the interface surface of the main body. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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2. A journal bearing comprising:
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a main body extending radially outward from a central cavity to an interface surface; and a connection portion extending axially from the main body at an end thereof and extending radially about the central cavity, wherein the connection portion has a dimension selected as a proportion of a reference dimension of the main body to achieve a desired spring rate for the journal bearing, and wherein the reference dimension is a total length of the interface surface of the main body, wherein a radial thickness of the main body is proportionally between about 0.65 and 0.85 of the total length of the interface surface of the main body. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A journal bearing comprising:
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a main body extending radially outward from a central cavity to an interface surface; and a connection portion extending axially from the main body at an end thereof and extending radially about the central cavity, wherein the connection portion has a dimension selected as a proportion of a reference dimension of the main body to achieve a desired spring rate for the journal bearing, and wherein the reference dimension is a total length of the interface surface of the main body, and wherein the dimension selected is an axial length of the connection portion and the axial length is proportionally between about 0.10 and 0.30 of the total length of the interface surface of the main body. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. An epicyclic gear assembly, comprising:
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an assembly having a ring gear, sun gear, and at least one star gear enmeshed between the ring gear and sun gear; a carrier disposed adjacent the rotatable sun gear and star gear; and a journal bearing disposed within each star gear and supported by the carrier via a connection portion, the journal bearing having a main body extending radially outward from a central cavity to an interface surface which interfaces with the star gear; wherein the connection portion has a dimension selected as a proportion of a reference dimension of the main body to achieve a desired spring rate for the journal bearing and star gear such that the assembly more effectively distributes and balances torque, and wherein the reference dimension is a total length of the interface surface of the main body, wherein the dimension selected is a radial thickness of the connection portion and the radial thickness is proportionally between about 0.20 and 0.30 of the total length of the interface surface of the main body. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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9. An epicyclic gear assembly, comprising:
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an assembly having a ring gear, sun gear, and at least one star gear enmeshed between the ring gear and sun gear; a carrier disposed adjacent the rotatable sun gear and star gear; and a journal bearing disposed within each star gear and supported by the carrier via a connection portion, the journal bearing having a main body extending radially outward from a central cavity to an interface surface which interfaces with the star gear; wherein the connection portion has a dimension selected as a proportion of a reference dimension of the main body to achieve a desired spring rate for the journal bearing and star gear such that the assembly more effectively distributes and balances torque, and wherein the reference dimension is a total length of the interface surface of the main body, wherein a radial thickness of the main body is proportionally between about 0.65 and 0.85 of the total length of the interface surface of the main body. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An epicyclic gear assembly, comprising:
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an assembly having a ring gear, sun gear, and at least one star gear enmeshed between the ring gear and sun gear; a carrier disposed adjacent the rotatable sun gear and star gear; and a journal bearing disposed within each star gear and supported by the carrier via a connection portion, the journal bearing having a main body extending radially outward from a central cavity to an interface surface which interfaces with the star gear; wherein the connection portion has a dimension selected as a proportion of a reference dimension of the main body to achieve a desired spring rate for the journal bearing and star gear such that the assembly more effectively distributes and balances torque, and wherein the reference dimension is a total length of the interface surface of the main body, and wherein the dimension selected is an axial length of the connection portion and the axial length is proportionally between about 0.10 and 0.30 of the total length of the interface surface of the main body. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An epicyclic gear assembly, comprising:
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an assembly having a ring gear, sun gear, and at least one star gear enmeshed between the ring gear and sun gear; a carrier disposed adjacent the rotatable sun gear and star gear; and a journal bearing disposed within each star gear and supported by the carrier via a connection portion, the journal bearing having a main body extending radially outward from a central cavity to an inerface surface which interfaces with the star gear, the connection portion having a radial thickness proportionally between about 0.20 and 0.30 of a total length of the interface surface of the main body.
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Specification