Bearing device and turbomachine having a bearing device
A bearing device, for example in a turbomachine is provided. Between bearing races of the anti-friction bearings and a casing component positioned adjacent the bearing races is arranged a device for converting an axial force between the anti-friction bearings into a torque at the bearing races in the manner of a ball screw or planetary screw assembly. The bearing races are connected to one another by a feedback mechanism such that a torque at one bearing race can be converted into an opposite torque at the other bearing race.
1. A bearing device, comprising:
a two-row arrangement of anti-friction bearings, each having a bearing race,
a casing component positioned adjacent the bearing races;
a converting device for converting an axial force between the anti-friction bearings into a torque at the bearing races, the converting device operatively positioned between the bearing races and the casing component and including:
a screw mechanism engaging between the casing component and the bearing races for converting an axial load on at least one of the bearing races into a rotary movement of the at least one of the bearing races;
a feedback mechanism connecting the bearing races to one another such that a torque at a first one of the bearing race can be converted into an opposite torque at a second one of the bearing races.
2. The bearing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the screw mechanism includes a ball screw assembly having at least one first groove with a thread pitch in each of the first one and the second one of the bearing races and a second groove in the casing component, the second groove including a first portion with a thread pitch matched to the thread pitch of the first groove of the first one of the bearing races and a second portion with a thread pitch matched to the thread pitch of the first groove of the second one of the bearing races, with compensating rolling elements being arranged between the first and second grooves.
3. The bearing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the feedback mechanism includes a compensating rocker, where a torque of one of the first one and the second one of the bearing races is converted using the compensating rocker into a leverage to apply an opposite torque at the other of the first one and the second one of the bearing races.
4. The bearing device in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the compensating rocker includes a beam element which engages a counter bearing on the casing component acting as a pivot point for the leverage effect of the compensating rocker.
5. The bearing device in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the compensating rocker includes lever arms of different lengths.
6. The bearing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the screw mechanism includes rollers and the feedback mechanism includes a deflecting device for deflecting the rollers of the screw mechanism associated with one of the first one and the second one of the bearing races against rollers of the screw mechanism associated with the other of the first one and the second one of the bearing races.
7. The bearing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the feedback mechanism further comprises:
a counter bearing connected to the casing component;
an inclined plane arranged on each of the first one and the second one of the bearing races opposing one another and facing toward the counter bearing; and
a roller positioned between the counter bearing and the inclined planes to be operatively related to the inclined plane at one of the first one and the second one of the bearing races and to the opposing inclined plane at the other one of the first one and the second one of the bearing races, such that a torque transmitted via one of the inclined planes is converted to an opposite torque at the other of the inclined planes.
8. The bearing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the feedback mechanism further comprises a hydraulic mechanism for receiving a torque at one end and hydraulically converting the torque to an opposite torque at another end.
9. The bearing device in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the hydraulic mechanism is U-shaped to convert the torque to the opposite torque.
10. The bearing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the screw mechanism includes a groove in each of the first one and the second one of the bearing races and pitches of the grooves is from 0.2 to 5°.
11. The bearing device in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the pitches of the grooves is from 0.5 to 2°.
12. The bearing device in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the pitches of the grooves in each of the bearing races differ.
13. The bearing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the converting device is coupled to an outer bearing race.
14. The bearing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the two anti-friction bearings are of different configuration.
15. The bearing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein one of the two anti-friction bearings is a radial bearing and the other of the two anti-friction bearings is an axial bearing.
16. The bearing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the screw mechanism includes rolling elements and the rolling elements are at least one chosen from spherical, barrelled, tapered and cylindrical.
17. The bearing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one of the anti-friction bearings includes a split inner race.
18. A turbomachine, comprising at least one bearing device in accordance with claim 1 .
19. The turbomachine in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the turbo machine is an aircraft engine having at least one chosen from a three-shaft configuration and a two shaft configuration; wherein, where the aircraft engine is of the three-shaft configuration, the at least one bearing device is arranged at least one chosen from between a low-pressure shaft and an intermediate-pressure shaft, and between an intermediate-pressure shaft and a high-pressure shaft; wherein, where the aircraft engine is of the two-shaft configuration, the at least one bearing device is arranged between a low-pressure shaft and a high-pressure shaft.
20. A bearing device, comprising:
a two-row arrangement of anti-friction bearings, each having a bearing race,
a casing component positioned adjacent the bearing races;
a converting device for converting an axial force between the anti-friction bearings into a torque at the bearing races, the converting device operatively positioned between the bearing races and the casing component and including:
a screw mechanism engaging between the casing component and the bearing races;
a feedback mechanism connecting the bearing races to one another such that a torque at a first one of the bearing races can be converted into an opposite torque at a second one of the bearing races;
wherein the screw mechanism includes a ball screw assembly having at least one first groove with a thread pitch in each of the first one and the second one of the bearing races and a second groove in the casing component, the second groove including a first portion with a thread pitch matched to the thread pitch of the first groove of the first one of the bearing races and a second portion with a thread pitch matched to the thread pitch of the first groove of the second one of the bearing races, with compensating rolling elements being arranged between the first and second grooves.
21. A bearing device, comprising:
a two-row arrangement of anti-friction bearings, each having a bearing race,
a casing component positioned adjacent the bearing races;
a converting device for converting an axial force between the anti-friction bearings into a torque at the bearing races, the converting device operatively positioned between the bearing races and the casing component and including:
a screw mechanism engaging between the casing component and the bearing races;
a feedback mechanism connecting the bearing races to one another such that a torque at a first one of the bearing races can be converted into an opposite torque at a second one of the bearing races;
wherein the feedback mechanism includes a compensating rocker, where a torque of one of the first one and the second one of the bearing races is converted using the compensating rocker into a leverage to apply an opposite torque at the other of the first one and the second one of the bearing races.
22. A bearing device, comprising:
a two-row arrangement of anti-friction bearings, each having a bearing race,
a casing component positioned adjacent the bearing races;
a converting device for converting an axial force between the anti-friction bearings into a torque at the bearing races, the converting device operatively positioned between the bearing races and the casing component and including:
a screw mechanism engaging between the casing component and the bearing races;
a feedback mechanism connecting the bearing races to one another such that a torque at a first one of the bearing races can be converted into an opposite torque at a second one of the bearing races;
wherein the screw mechanism includes rollers and the feedback mechanism includes a deflecting device for deflecting the rollers of the screw mechanism associated with one of the first one and the second one of the bearing races against rollers of the screw mechanism associated with the other of the first one and the second one of the bearing races.
23. A bearing device, comprising:
a two-row arrangement of anti-friction bearings, each having a bearing race,
a casing component positioned adjacent the bearing races;
a converting device for converting an axial force between the anti-friction bearings into a torque at the bearing races, the converting device operatively positioned between the bearing races and the casing component and including:
a screw mechanism engaging between the casing component and the bearing races;
a feedback mechanism connecting the bearing races to one another such that a torque at a first one of the bearing races can be converted into an opposite torque at a second one of the bearing races;
wherein the feedback mechanism further comprises:
a counter bearing connected to the casing component;
an inclined plane arranged on each of the first one and the second one of the bearing races opposing one another and facing toward the counter bearing; and
a roller positioned between the counter bearing and the inclined planes to be operatively related to the inclined plane at one of the first one and the second one of the bearing races and to the opposing inclined plane at the other one of the first one and the second one of the bearing races, such that a torque transmitted via one of the inclined planes is converted to an opposite torque at the other of the inclined planes.
24. A bearing device, comprising:
a two-row arrangement of anti-friction bearings, each having a bearing race,
a casing component positioned adjacent the bearing races;
a converting device for converting an axial force between the anti-friction bearings into a torque at the bearing races, the converting device operatively positioned between the bearing races and the casing component and including:
a screw mechanism engaging between the casing component and the bearing races;
a feedback mechanism connecting the bearing races to one another such that a torque at a first one of the bearing races can be converted into an opposite torque at a second one of the bearing races;
wherein the feedback mechanism further comprises a hydraulic mechanism for receiving a torque at one end and hydraulically converting the torque to an opposite torque at another end.