General Electric Company

Stephanie Frances Drummond

Ravindra Shankar Ganiger

Bruce Alan Carter

Daryl Scott Schneider

Vivek Nema

A bearing support housing for a gas turbine engine includes: an annular mounting flange; a first bearing cage including: an annular first bearing support ring; and an annular array of axially-extending first spring arms interconnecting the first bearing support ring and the mounting flange; and a second bearing cage including: an annular second bearing support ring; and an annular array of axially-extending second spring arms interconnecting the second bearing support ring and the mounting flange, the second spring arms defining spaces therebetween. The first spring arms are received between the second spring arms, and the bearing cages are sized so as to permit independent flexing motion of the first and second spring arms.

Dual spring bearing support housing

A damper bearing assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The damper bearing assembly is designed to define forward and aft axial gaps which allow for normal deflection under standard operating thrust loads, but then close during a fan blade out event to allow the increased load to transfer to the damper housing. Frictional forces between contacting parts limit torsional windup and increase torsional resistance with increasing load. The damper bearing assembly includes a damper housing configured substantially within a U-shaped spring finger housing and a spanner nut with a radial hook portion coupled to the spring finger housing. The damper housing is coupled to the spring finger housing such that it is substantially confined within the U-shaped void. The spanner nut is coupled to the spring finger housing such that the radial hook portion is configured to limit the deflection of the spring finger housing and damper housing during a fan blade out event.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Stephanie Frances Drummond