ANNULAR BEARING SUPPORT DAMPERS, GAS TURBINE ENGINES INCLUDING THE SAME, AND METHODS FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF
First Claim
1. A gas turbine engine, comprising:
- engine housing;
a rotor assembly disposed within the engine housing;
a rotor bearing supporting the rotor assembly within the engine housing; and
an annular bearing support damper positioned between the rotor bearing and the engine housing, the annular bearing support damper comprising;
an annular housing assembly fixedly coupled to the engine housing;
a damping fluid annulus formed within the annular housing assembly and fillable with a damping fluid; and
an array of circumferentially-spaced damper pistons movably coupled to the annular housing assembly and in fluid communication with the damping fluid annulus, the array of circumferentially-spaced damper pistons fixedly coupled to the rotor bearing and moving in conjunction therewith to force the flow of damping fluid around the damping fluid annulus during operation of the gas turbine engine to reduce the transmissions of vibrations to the engine housing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of a gas turbine engine are provided, as are embodiments of an annular bearing support damper and embodiments of a method for manufacturing an annular bearing support damper. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine includes engine housing and a rotor assembly disposed within the engine housing. A rotor bearing supports the rotor assembly within the engine housing, and an annular bearing support damper is positioned between the rotor bearing and the engine housing. The support damper includes an annular housing assembly having a damping fluid annulus. An array of circumferentially-spaced damper pistons is movably coupled to the annular housing assembly and fluidly communicates with the damping fluid annulus. The damper pistons are fixedly coupled to the rotor bearing and moves in conjunction therewith to force the flow of damping fluid around the annulus during engine operation to reduce the transmissions of vibrations to the engine housing.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A gas turbine engine, comprising:
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engine housing; a rotor assembly disposed within the engine housing; a rotor bearing supporting the rotor assembly within the engine housing; and an annular bearing support damper positioned between the rotor bearing and the engine housing, the annular bearing support damper comprising; an annular housing assembly fixedly coupled to the engine housing; a damping fluid annulus formed within the annular housing assembly and fillable with a damping fluid; and an array of circumferentially-spaced damper pistons movably coupled to the annular housing assembly and in fluid communication with the damping fluid annulus, the array of circumferentially-spaced damper pistons fixedly coupled to the rotor bearing and moving in conjunction therewith to force the flow of damping fluid around the damping fluid annulus during operation of the gas turbine engine to reduce the transmissions of vibrations to the engine housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An annular bearing support damper configured to be positioned between a static structure and a rotor bearing supporting a rotor assembly, the annular damping support comprising:
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an annular housing assembly configured to be fixedly coupled to the static structure; a damping fluid annulus formed within the annular housing assembly and fillable with a damping fluid; and an array of circumferentially-spaced damper pistons movably coupled to the annular housing assembly and in fluid communication with the damping fluid annulus, the array of circumferentially-spaced damper pistons configured to be fixedly coupled to the rotor bearing and moving in conjunction therewith to force the flow of damping fluid around the damping fluid annulus during rotation of the rotor assembly to dampen vibrations transmitted between the rotor bearing and the static structure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for manufacturing an annular bearing support damper, the method comprising:
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providing an annular housing assembly having a damping fluid annulus; placing an array of circumferentially-spaced damper pistons in fluid communication with the damping fluid annulus; and sealingly coupling a plurality of bellows between the annular housing assembly and the array of circumferentially-spaced damper pistons. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification