Snecma

Patrice Fonteyn

Philippe Bourdin

Laurent Collongeat

Charles Marciquet

In a disengageable axial abutment for a rotary machine fitted with fluid bearings, an outer ring () comprises first and second outer half-rings (A,B) centered in the casing () by a flexible suspension system, with the outer half-rings (A,B) being held in the axial direction between a static abutment member () and a pre-loading system () exerting a predetermined axial force such that, so long as the axial load exerted on the axial abutment via a synchronization cone () is greater than a given threshold, each rolling element () presents a single line () of two points of contact (A,B) with an inner ring () and with the first outer half-ring (A) respectively, and the inner ring () is driven in rotation by the synchronization cone (), whereas, when the axial load exerted on the axial bearing becomes smaller, a gap () is created between the outer half-rings (A,B) and a second line () of two additional points of contact (A,B) is created between each rolling element () and the inner ring () and the second outer half-ring (B) respectively, such that the axial abutment is disengaged.

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Vernon, France

Patrice Fonteyn