초록 ▼

A touchdown bearing and actuator ring assembly for selectively biasing a ball bearing into direct engagement with a rotating shaft subject to significant axial thrust forces. The Actuator ring assembly includes a pair of relatively rotatable ring members abutting the bearing assembly. Confronting fa

A touchdown bearing and actuator ring assembly for selectively biasing a ball bearing into direct engagement with a rotating shaft subject to significant axial thrust forces. The Actuator ring assembly includes a pair of relatively rotatable ring members abutting the bearing assembly. Confronting faces of the ring members include protuberances. As the ring members undergo relative rotation, the protuberances come into alignment, wedging-apart the ring members and biasing the bearing assembly into contact with the rotating shaft. A disengagement actuator selectively rotates the ring members in the opposite direction until the protuberances are out of alignment, allowing a restraining spring to bias the bearing assembly away from the rotating shaft. The present invention provides an assembly capable of quickly and repeatedly engaging and disengaging the touchdown bearing with the rotating shaft, using a minimum of envelop space and weight.

대표청구항 ▼

A touchdown bearing and actuator ring assembly for selectively biasing a ball bearing into direct engagement with a rotating shaft subject to significant axial thrust forces. The Actuator ring assembly includes a pair of relatively rotatable ring members abutting the bearing assembly. Confronting fa

A touchdown bearing and actuator ring assembly for selectively biasing a ball bearing into direct engagement with a rotating shaft subject to significant axial thrust forces. The Actuator ring assembly includes a pair of relatively rotatable ring members abutting the bearing assembly. Confronting faces of the ring members include protuberances. As the ring members undergo relative rotation, the protuberances come into alignment, wedging-apart the ring members and biasing the bearing assembly into contact with the rotating shaft. A disengagement actuator selectively rotates the ring members in the opposite direction until the protuberances are out of alignment, allowing a restraining spring to bias the bearing assembly away from the rotating shaft. The present invention provides an assembly capable of quickly and repeatedly engaging and disengaging the touchdown bearing with the rotating shaft, using a minimum of envelop space and weight.