Bearing oiling system

• US 8,517,612 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Metzger, Mark A., Gantt, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R
• Application Number:
  US13/173,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20130004109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 384473-475
• US Class Current: 384/475
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/26 with a single row of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2360/23 Gas turbine engines
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/58 Raceways; Race rings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/583 Details of specific parts of races
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/66 Special parts or details in view of lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/664 Retaining the liquid in or near the bearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/6651 in recesses or cavities provided in retainers, races or rolling elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/6677 from radial inside, e.g. via a passage through the shaft and/or inner ring

Abstract

An inner ring of an under race lubricated bearing assembly that includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner race formed on the outer surface of the inner ring. A plurality of circumferentially spaced axial slots is formed on the inner surface of the inner ring, and a first set of circumferentially spaced partial circumferential slots is formed on the inner surface of the inner ring adjacent a first end of the inner ring. Each partial circumferential slot intersects at least one of the axial slots. The inner ring also includes a first set of radial holes, where each radial hole extends from the outer surface of the inner ring to one of the partial circumferential slots.

Claims

1. A bearing assembly comprising:

an outer ring having an outer surface and an inner surface, and an outer race formed on the inner surface;

an inner ring having an outer surface and an inner surface, and an inner race formed on the outer surface of the inner ring;

bearing elements disposed between the outer race and the inner race, and adapted to rotatably move between the inner ring and the outer ring about a central axis of the bearing assembly;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial slots formed on the inner surface of the inner ring;

a first set of circumferentially spaced partial circumferential slots formed on the inner surface of the inner ring adjacent a first end of the inner ring, each partial circumferential slot intersecting at least one of the axial slots; and

a first set of radial holes, each radial hole extending from the outer surface of the inner ring to one of the partial circumferential slots.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the axial slots does not intersect any of the partial circumferential slots.

3. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a second set of circumferentially spaced partial circumferential slots adjacent a second end of the inner ring, each partial circumferential slot intersecting at least one of the axial slots; and

a second set of radial holes, each radial hole extending from the outer surface of the inner ring to one of the second set partial circumferential slots.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the partial circumferential slots of the second set intersect axial slots not intersected by the partial circumferential slots of the first set.

5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the axial slots extend from the first end of the inner ring to the second end of the inner ring.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the partial circumferential slots extends across more of a circumference of the inner surface of the inner ring than each of the axial slots.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner ring is configured to be mounted onto a shaft.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the partial circumferential slots has a radial depth greater than a radial depth of the axial slots.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the partial circumferential slots has a curved surface.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the curved surface of the partial circumferential slots has a center of curvature offset from the central axis of the bearing assembly.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein an axial width of the bearing assembly is less than twice an axial width of the bearing elements.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the axial slots are configured to be fluidly connected to a lubricating fluid source.

13. An inner ring of an under race lubricated bearing assembly comprising:

an outer surface and an inner surface, and an inner race formed on the outer surface of the inner ring;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial slots formed on the inner surface of the inner ring;

a first set of circumferentially spaced partial circumferential slots formed on the inner surface of the inner ring adjacent a first end of the inner ring, each partial circumferential slot intersecting at least one of the axial slots; and

a first set of radial holes, each radial hole extending from the outer surface of the inner ring to one of the partial circumferential slots.

14. The inner ring of claim 13, wherein the radial holes are circumferentially misaligned from the axial slots.

15. The inner ring of claim 13, wherein the partial circumferential slots are each wider circumferentially than the axial slots.

16. The inner ring of claim 13 further comprising:

a second set of circumferentially spaced partial circumferential slots adjacent a second end of the inner ring, each partial circumferential slot intersecting at least one of the axial slots; and

a second set of radial holes, each radial hole extending from the outer surface of the inner ring to one of the second set partial circumferential slots.

17. An inner ring of an under race lubricated bearing assembly comprising:

an outer surface and an inner surface, and an inner race formed on the outer surface of the inner ring;

a first axial slot formed on the inner surface of the inner ring;

a first partial circumferential slot formed on the inner surface of the inner ring, the first partial circumferential slot intersecting the first axial slot, and the first partial circumferential slot being circumferentially wider than the first axial slot; and

a first radial hole extending from the outer surface of the inner ring to the first partial circumferential slot.

18. The inner ring of claim 17 further comprising:

a second axial slot formed on the inner surface of the inner ring;

a second partial circumferential slot formed on the inner surface of the inner ring, the second partial circumferential slot intersecting the second axial slot, and the second partial circumferential slot being circumferentially wider than the second axial slot; and

a second radial hole extending from the outer surface of the inner ring to the second partial circumferential slot.

19. The inner ring of claim 18, wherein the first partial circumferential slot is positioned adjacent a first end of the inner ring and the second circumferential slot is positioned adjacent a second end of the inner ring.

20. The inner ring of claim 18, wherein the first partial circumferential slot and the second partial circumferential slot are circumferentially spaced and are positioned adjacent a first end of the inner ring.