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Title: Centrifugally decoupling touchdown bearings

Abstract

Centrifugally decoupling mechanical bearing systems provide thin tensioned metallic ribbons contained in a support structure. This assembly rotates around a stationary shaft being centered at low speeds by the action of the metal ribbons. Tension springs are connected on one end to the ribbons and on the other end to the support structure. The ribbons pass through slots in the inner ring of the support structure. The spring preloading thus insures contact (or near-contact) between the ribbons and the shaft at rotation speeds below the transition speed. Above this speed, however, the centrifugal force on the ribbons produces a tensile force on them that exceeds the spring tensile force so that the ribbons curve outward, effectively decoupling them from mechanical contact with the shaft. They still remain, however, in position to act as a touchdown bearing in case of abnormally high transverse accelerations.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1135721
Patent Number(s):
8760021
Application Number:
13/118,857
Assignee:
Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F16 - ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS F16C - SHAFTS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10T - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
DOE Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2011 May 31
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats

Post, Richard F. Centrifugally decoupling touchdown bearings. United States: N. p., 2014. Web.
Post, Richard F. Centrifugally decoupling touchdown bearings. United States.
Post, Richard F. Tue . "Centrifugally decoupling touchdown bearings". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1135721.
@article{osti_1135721,
title = {Centrifugally decoupling touchdown bearings},
author = {Post, Richard F},
abstractNote = {Centrifugally decoupling mechanical bearing systems provide thin tensioned metallic ribbons contained in a support structure. This assembly rotates around a stationary shaft being centered at low speeds by the action of the metal ribbons. Tension springs are connected on one end to the ribbons and on the other end to the support structure. The ribbons pass through slots in the inner ring of the support structure. The spring preloading thus insures contact (or near-contact) between the ribbons and the shaft at rotation speeds below the transition speed. Above this speed, however, the centrifugal force on the ribbons produces a tensile force on them that exceeds the spring tensile force so that the ribbons curve outward, effectively decoupling them from mechanical contact with the shaft. They still remain, however, in position to act as a touchdown bearing in case of abnormally high transverse accelerations.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2014},
month = {6}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Lighting devive
patent, September 1989


Magnetically controlled bearing unit
patent, August 1992


Compliant foil fluid film bearing with eddy current damper
patent-application, June 2002


Passive Magnetic Bearing Configurations
patent-application, October 2008


Energy Storage
patent-application, September 2010


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