초록 ▼

A rotary machine 10 includes a rotor shaft 40 and a support system 63 for the shaft. The support system includes a spring 68 and viscous damper 70. Means for removing oil from the damper at preselected rotor speeds is provided and in one embodiment permits operating the engine over a rotor speed ran

A rotary machine 10 includes a rotor shaft 40 and a support system 63 for the shaft. The support system includes a spring 68 and viscous damper 70. Means for removing oil from the damper at preselected rotor speeds is provided and in one embodiment permits operating the engine over a rotor speed range which avoids critical speeds.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of operating a rotary machine which includes a stator assembly and rotor shaft extending axially in the machine, the rotor shaft being rotatable about an axis of rotation at a first speed and a second speed, the machine having a bearing which engages the shaft and which is supported by a su

A method of operating a rotary machine which includes a stator assembly and rotor shaft extending axially in the machine, the rotor shaft being rotatable about an axis of rotation at a first speed and a second speed, the machine having a bearing which engages the shaft and which is supported by a support system which includes a spring support extending in the machine for supporting the bearing and a circumferentially continuous damping chamber disposed circumferentially about the bearing for damping vibrations in the shaft, comprising: flowing a pressurized damping medium to the damping chamber and from the chamber at rates which insure the damper is filled with damping medium at the first speed of the shaft to activate the damper, the damping medium having a viscous damping characteristic which damps vibrations in the shaft and a stiffness characteristic that transmits vibratory forces from the shaft through the damping medium to the stator structure; and, blocking the flow of damping medium to the damping chamber and allowing flow from the chamber to inactivate the damper at the second speed of the shaft such that the damping chamber is empty of damping medium to such an extent that the medium has no stiffness characteristic to transmit vibratory forces from the rotating shaft to the stator structure and has no viscous damping characteristic to provide damping by the medium to the rotor shaft; wherein the method of operating the engine provides a support system having a mechanical spring and viscous damper to support the shaft at the first speed and removes the viscous damper from the support system at the second speed.