초록 ▼

A support arrangement for a rotor shaft (10) includes a bearing (28) radially interposed between the shaft and a support frame (26). The bearing has a durable support (100) and a destructible support (104). The destructible support is nested within a circumferentially extending channel (78) having t

A support arrangement for a rotor shaft (10) includes a bearing (28) radially interposed between the shaft and a support frame (26). The bearing has a durable support (100) and a destructible support (104). The destructible support is nested within a circumferentially extending channel (78) having three-dimensionally curved surfaces (82, 84). An adjacent oil seal (44) has similar three-dimensionally curved surfaces (52, 54) In the event that the rotor becomes unbalanced during operation, the destructible support disengages from its housing (76) and glides radially within the channel to restrain the rotor longitudinally while precluding the transmission of imbalance forces from the rotor to the frame. The curved character of the seal surfaces preserves the integrity of the seal so that loss of oil will not prevent continued, low speed operation of the rotor. An optional, temporarily operable damper (148) attenuates especially severe vibrations immediately following the onset of the imbalance. A recentering system (164), also optional, applies a modest restorative force to recenter the disabled rotor and alter its natural frequency thereby inhibiting resonant oscillations at low rotational frequencies.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A support arrangement for a rotor including a shaft rotatable about a longitudinally extending axis, comprising:a nonrotatable support frame; anda bearing, radially interposed between the shaft and the frame for supporting the shaft on the frame, the bearing having a durable suppor

[ We claim:] [1.] A support arrangement for a rotor including a shaft rotatable about a longitudinally extending axis, comprising:a nonrotatable support frame; anda bearing, radially interposed between the shaft and the frame for supporting the shaft on the frame, the bearing having a durable support affixed to one of the shaft and the frame and a destructible support nested within a circumferentially extending channel in a housing attached to the other of the shaft and the frame, so that upon application of a radial force in excess of a predefined threshold the destructible support disengages to accommodate abnormal deflection of the shaft while providing longitudinal support thereof.