Dynamically-lubricated bearing and method of dynamically lubricating a bearing
First Claim
1. A dynamically-lubricated bearing comprising:
- a rotating inner race having an inner race groove between a pair of inner race cage lands;
an outer race that does not rotate and circumscribes the inner race so as to define an annular-shaped cavity therebetween, the outer race having an outer race groove that is between a pair of outer race cage lands and opposes the inner race groove;
rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer races and in rolling contact with the inner and outer race grooves;
a cage disposed between the inner and outer races to maintain separation between the rolling elements, the cage comprising side rails and spacers therebetween that, in combination, define pockets in which each of the rolling elements is individually received, the side rails defining a pair of outer diametrical surfaces of the cage that face the outer race cage lands of the outer race and an oppositely-disposed pair of inner diametrical surfaces of the cage that face the inner race cage lands of the inner race;
means for introducing a lubricant into the cavity between the inner and outer races; and
features in the cage for enabling air to ingress into the pockets of the cage, wherein the features comprise through-hole features through at least one of the side rails of the cage, the through-hole features directly fluidically interconnecting the inner diametrical surfaces of the cage to an external environment surrounding at least one of a pair of axial ends of the bearing, wherein the features in the cage are configured so that air that is ingressed into the pockets thereby causes the lubricant to exit the cavity of the bearing,wherein the through-hole features include a first opening in one of the side rails of the cage, at least a second opening in the inner diameter of the cage, and the first and second openings are directly fluidically interconnected by a passage therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Dynamically-lubricated bearings and methods of dynamically lubricating bearings, including bearings used in gas turbine engines. Such a bearing includes an inner race having an inner race groove, an outer race having an outer race groove that opposes the inner race groove, rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer races and in rolling contact with the inner and outer race grooves, and a cage disposed between the inner and outer races to maintain separation between the rolling elements. A lubricant is introduced into a cavity between the inner and outer races, and rotation of the inner race relative to the outer race causes air to enter pockets of the cage that contain the rolling elements, which in turn causes the lubricant to exit the cavity of the bearing.
25 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A dynamically-lubricated bearing comprising:
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a rotating inner race having an inner race groove between a pair of inner race cage lands; an outer race that does not rotate and circumscribes the inner race so as to define an annular-shaped cavity therebetween, the outer race having an outer race groove that is between a pair of outer race cage lands and opposes the inner race groove; rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer races and in rolling contact with the inner and outer race grooves; a cage disposed between the inner and outer races to maintain separation between the rolling elements, the cage comprising side rails and spacers therebetween that, in combination, define pockets in which each of the rolling elements is individually received, the side rails defining a pair of outer diametrical surfaces of the cage that face the outer race cage lands of the outer race and an oppositely-disposed pair of inner diametrical surfaces of the cage that face the inner race cage lands of the inner race; means for introducing a lubricant into the cavity between the inner and outer races; and features in the cage for enabling air to ingress into the pockets of the cage, wherein the features comprise through-hole features through at least one of the side rails of the cage, the through-hole features directly fluidically interconnecting the inner diametrical surfaces of the cage to an external environment surrounding at least one of a pair of axial ends of the bearing, wherein the features in the cage are configured so that air that is ingressed into the pockets thereby causes the lubricant to exit the cavity of the bearing, wherein the through-hole features include a first opening in one of the side rails of the cage, at least a second opening in the inner diameter of the cage, and the first and second openings are directly fluidically interconnected by a passage therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification