Cutlery
Patent
1980-08-28
1982-05-11
Footland, Lenard A.
Cutlery
308189A, 308196, 308197, F16C 1908
Patent
active
043290000
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention pertains to rolling element bearing assemblies, and in particular to ball and bearing assemblies for high speed equipment.
BACKGROUND ART
Bearing assemblies for gas turbines, turbochargers, and other high speed equipment are often required to withstand high rotational speeds as well as high temperatures. Such bearings are subjected to shaft whip, radial play, or sub-harmonic orbiting. Prior art devices include sleeve bearings and associated oil film provided therebetween, which films can damp some of the shaft whip. However, such devices do not always effectively deal with the shaft whip problem and, in addition, the sleeve bearings introduce undesirable friction losses into the assembly.
Preloaded ball bearing assemblies have been used in the past in such high speed equipment in order to eliminate shaft whip or orbital wobbling and axial play and to increase the accuracy of the machine. An example of such a device is reported in an article published by the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. entitled "Turbochargers and Turbocharged Engines," Article No. SP-442, February 1979. In that article, a rotor suspension system includes two sets of preloaded ball bearings which provide for the damping of shaft whip and additionally allow for thermal expansion caused by high speeds and hot exhaust gases without affecting the accuracy of the system.
However, this rotor suspension system does not always ensure that damping fluid is properly located between the bearings and housing thereof. Also, this device does not contain a convenient means for ensuring that lubricating fluid is metered to the ball bearings. Further, the system is not self-contained, and thus parts must be assembled separately within the high speed equipment. Such on-the-site assembly always introduces the possibilities of misassembly and contamination from the surrounding environment.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the invention, a self-contained rolling element bearing assembly adapted to be inserted into a housing comprises a first set of balls, and a second set of balls. The assembly further includes a common inner race, a common inboard outer race, and first and second outboard outer races. A first retainer associates the first outboard outer race with the common inboard outer race and includes a device for biasing the first outboard outer race toward the inboard outer race. Also included is a second retainer for associating the second outboard outer race with said common inboard outer race and including a device for biasing the second outboard outer race toward the inboard outer race. The assembly further includes means for introducing fluid between the housing and the first and second retainers.
In the above aspect of the invention, the ball bearing assembly is self-contained as the first and second sets of balls share a common inner race which can be used to accommodate the high speed shaft. Further, the assembly provides for proper damping as it allows for the introducing of fluid between the housing and the first and second retainers. The biasing device ensures that the accuracy of the assembly is not affected by thermal expansion.
In another aspect of the invention, a ball bearing assembly comprises an inner race having a pair of inner grooves and an outer race having a pair of outer grooves. Further, means are provided for biasing at least one of the pairs of grooves, i.e. axially preloading the balls in their grooves. A housing is located about and spaced from the outer race and means are provided for introducing fluid into the space between the housing and the outer races. Further, means are provided for bleeding fluid from between the housing and said outer retainer, which means is spaced from the introducing means.
The above another aspect of the invention provides for the damping of shaft whip which can be associated with such devices. Further, the bleeding means ensures that a
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Zehnder, "Development of Turbochargers", etc., 9-13-78, p. 1.
Soc. Auto. Eng's., "Turbochargers", etc., Feb. 1979, pp. 102-104.
Caterpillar Tractor Co.
Footland Lenard A.
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