Axial thrust foil air bearing with thrust sensor
An axial thrust load sensor for an axial thrust foil bearing used in a small gas turbine engine, the axial thrust load sensor having a axial thrust foil bearing plate and an intermediate washer plate and a load sensor plate arranged face to face to form the load sensor. The load sensor plate has three pedestals on a front side and three pedestals on a back side so that all six pedestals alternate at equal spacing. Next to each pedestal is a strain gauge connected to a controller. The controller regulates a supply of cooling air to the axial thrust bearing in order to control a thrust balance.
1. An axial thrust load sensor for a gas turbine engine comprising:
an axial thrust foil bearing plate;
an intermediate washer plate;
a load sensor plate;
the axial thrust foil bearing plate having a plurality of flexible fingers each with a bump foil to provide for a spring force; and,
the load sensor plate includes a plurality of strain gauges on a front side and a back side at an equal spacing.
2. The axial thrust load sensor of claim 1 , and further comprising:
the strain gauges are connected to a controller that regulates a flow of cooling air to the axial thrust foil bearing in order to regulate a thrust balance.
3. The axial thrust load sensor of claim 1 , and further comprising:
the load sensor plate includes three pedestals on the front side and three pedestals on the back side.
4. The axial thrust load sensor of claim 1 , and further comprising:
the load sensor plate includes a strain gauge for each of the pedestals.
5. The axial thrust load sensor of claim 4 , and further comprising:
the strain gauges are located adjacent to the respective pedestal.
6. The axial thrust load sensor of claim 1 , and further comprising:
each of the three plates include a number of slots that open on the outer sides of the plates; and,
a shoulder bolt for each of the slots to secure the three plates together but allow for axial movement of the three plates.