GB1202692A - Bearing assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

1,202,692. Bearings. ROLLS ROYCE Ltd. 29 Aug., 1967 [2 July, 1966], No. 29792/66. Heading F2A. A bearing assembly for a rotary shaft 16 includes a ball bearing 14 with an outer race 13 supported by oil in a space or "clearance" 17 associated with a fixed annular seating 11, rotation of said race being prevented by a spring 19, which under normal conditions holds a tooth 23 against a face 24 upon a fixed cover 12. Additional friction caused by wear partially rotates the race 13 to bring the tooth into abutment with a face 25, thereby increasing the rate of flow of lubricant to the bearing and producing a signal indicating impending failure. Normally oil is directed by a pump 27 through an annular groove 29, radial ducts 30 and orifices 31 into an annular channel 33 in a member 32 fixed to the shaft. Oil overflows into a space 35 whence it is forced into the bearing through radial ducts 37 by compressed air flowing through a labyrinth seal 39. When the tooth contacts the face 25 an outlet 47 in each of the ducts 30 is opened to increase the flow of oil into the channel 33. A switch 44 operates when the flow increases to provide the signal. Axial thrust is balanced by oil in a space 54, which is charged through a duct 55 extending into the channel 33. Oil leaking across an interface 52 escapes into the channel 30 through ducts (49), Fig. 2 (not shown). The oil in the space 17 absorbs vibrations.