Compact bearing support

1. A compact squirrel-cage bearing support comprising:

a first end portion;

a second end portion axially spaced from the first end portion; and

a plurality of beams interconnecting the first end portion to the second end portion, the beams having a length that is greater than an axial spacing between the first end portion and the second end portion, each of the beams extending along a respective helical path.

2. The bearing support as defined in claim 1 , wherein each beam is connected to the first end portion at a first respective location and to the second end portion at a second respective location, the first and second locations being angularly offset from each other about a central axis.

3. The bearing support as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first and second end portions are coaxial with a central axis, the beams being axisymmetrical about the central axis.

4. The bearing support as defined in claim 1 , wherein all beams have the same length.

5. A self-centering bearing support comprising:

a first annular member;

a second annular member, the second annular member being coaxial with and spaced-apart from the first annular member, the first annular member and the second annular member having similar outer diameters;

elongated beam members interconnecting the first annular member and the second annular member to form a generally cylindrical body therewith, each beam member extending along a path that deviates from a direction that is parallel to a central axis common to the first annular member and the second annular member.

6. The bearing support as defined in claim 5 , wherein at least one of the beam members has a helical shape.

7. The bearing support as defined in claim 5 , wherein the beam members are axisymmetrically distributed on the first and second annular members.

8. The bearing support as defined in claim 7 , wherein all beam members have a same length.

9. The bearing support as defined in claim 5 , wherein each beam member is connected to the first annular member at a first respective location and to the second annular member at a second respective location, the first and second locations being angularly offset from each other about the central axis.

10. The bearing support as defined in claim 9 , wherein the beam members are equally spaced from one another.

11. A resilient bearing support comprising:

a fixed end portion;

a free end portion coaxial with the fixed end portion, the free end portion being configured and disposed to receive a bearing therein, the fixed portion and the free end portion having similar outer diameters;

a plurality of elongated members located between the fixed end portion to the free end portion to form a generally cylindrical body therewith, each elongated member being connected to the fixed end portion at a first respective location and to the free end portion at a second respective location, the first and second locations being angularly offset from each other with reference to a central axis.

12. The bearing support as defined in claim 11 , wherein each elongated member extends along a respective helical path.

13. The bearing support as defined in claim 11 , wherein the elongated members are evenly distributed about the central axis.

14. The bearing support as defined in claim 11 , wherein the fixed end portion is connected to a component of a gas turbine engine.

15. The bearing support as defined in claim 11 , wherein the support is made from a single workpiece machined into a final shape where both end portions and the elongated members are made integral with each other.