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}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
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- Zaugg, Alain; Legeret, Benoit; Marechal, Sylvain
- US Patent Document 9,690,256