IP Library › Granted Patent US 12680471
Granted Patent B2
US 12680471 · App. 18/909,614 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Bearing assembly housing for an aircraft propulsion system

Inventors: Lorenzo Sanzari (Montreal, CA); Guy Lefebvre (St-Bruno, CA)
Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
F01D25/162B64D35/00F05D2220/323F05D2240/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680471
App. No.
18/909,614
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An engine includes a bearing assembly. The bearing assembly includes a bearing compartment housing, a first bearing, and a second bearing. The bearing compartment housing extends circumferentially about a rotational axis. The bearing compartment housing includes an outer housing body, an inner housing body, and a plurality of struts. The outer housing body surrounds and forms a bearing compartment. The inner housing body extends between and to an inner radial side and an outer radial side. The inner housing body forms a plurality of transverse slots extending through the inner housing body from the inner radial side to the outer radial side. The plurality of struts connect the inner housing body and the outer housing body. The first bearing is mounted on the inner housing body at a first axial position. The second bearing is mounted on the inner housing body at a second axial position.

Claims (29)

1 . An engine for an aircraft propulsion system, the engine comprising:

a rotational assembly including a shaft, and the shaft is rotatable about a rotational axis; and

a bearing assembly including a bearing compartment housing, a first bearing, and a second bearing,

the bearing compartment housing extends circumferentially about the rotational axis, the bearing compartment housing includes an outer housing body, an inner housing body, and a plurality of struts, the outer housing body surrounds and forms a bearing compartment, the inner housing body is disposed within the bearing compartment, the inner housing body extends between and to an inner radial side and an outer radial side, the inner housing body forms a plurality of transverse slots extending through the inner housing body from the inner radial side to the outer radial side, and the plurality of struts extend radially between and connect the inner housing body and the outer housing body at the outer radial side,

the first bearing is mounted on the inner housing body at a first axial position, and the first bearing is rotationally engaged with the shaft, and

the second bearing is mounted on the inner housing body at a second axial position, different than the first axial position, and the second bearing is rotationally engaged with the shaft;

wherein the outer housing body is disposed radially outward of and extends axially coincident with the inner housing body, the first bearing, the second bearing, the plurality of struts, and the plurality of transverse slots.

2 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the inner housing body extends axially between and to a first axial side and a second axial side, the first bearing is disposed at the first axial side, and the second bearing is disposed at the second axial side.

3 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of struts are disposed axially between the first bearing and the second bearing.

4 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transverse slots are disposed axially coincident with the plurality of struts.

5 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of transverse slots is disposed circumferentially between each circumferentially adjacent pair of the plurality of struts.

6 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein more than one of the plurality of transverse slots is disposed circumferentially between each circumferentially adjacent pair of the plurality of struts.

7 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transverse slots are axially closer to the first bearing than the second bearing.

8 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of struts have a strut center plane orthogonal to the rotational axis, and

each of the plurality of transverse slots extends axially between and to a first axial end and a second axial end, each of the plurality of transverse slots has a length extending axially between and to the first axial end and the second axial end, the length has a first length portion and a second length portion, the first length portion extends between and to the first axial end and the strut center plane, and the second length portion extends between and to the strut center plane and the second axial end.

9 . The engine of claim 8 , wherein the first length portion is greater than the second length portion.

10 . The engine of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of transverse slots extends between and to a first circumferential end and a second circumferential end, each of the transverse slots has a width extending between and to the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end, and the width varies along the length.

11 . An engine for an aircraft propulsion system, the engine comprising:

a rotational assembly including a shaft, and the shaft is rotatable about a rotational axis; and

a bearing assembly including a bearing compartment housing, a first bearing, and a second bearing,

the bearing compartment housing extends circumferentially about the rotational axis, the bearing compartment housing includes an outer housing body, an inner housing body, and a plurality of struts, the outer housing body surrounds and forms a bearing compartment, the inner housing body is disposed within the bearing compartment, the inner housing body extends between and to an inner radial side and an outer radial side, the inner housing body forms a plurality of transverse slots extending through the inner housing body from the inner radial side to the outer radial side, each of the plurality of transverse slots is disposed circumferentially between a circumferentially adjacent pair of the plurality of struts, and the plurality of struts extend radially between and connect the inner housing body and the outer housing body at the outer radial side, and

the first bearing and the second bearing are mounted on the inner housing body and rotationally engaged with the shaft;

wherein each of the plurality of transverse slots are separate from each other and have a rectangular shape.

12 . The engine of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of transverse slots are axially closer to the first bearing than the second bearing.

13 . The engine of claim 11 , wherein:

the plurality of struts have a strut center plane orthogonal to the rotational axis,

each of the plurality of transverse slots extends axially between and to a first axial end and a second axial end, each of the plurality of transverse slots has a length extending axially between and to the first axial end and the second axial end, the length has a first length portion and a second length portion, the first length portion extends between and to the first axial end and the strut center plane, and the second length portion extends between and to the strut center plane and the second axial end.

14 . The engine of claim 13 , wherein the first length portion is greater than the second length portion.