Bearing Housing for an Engine with Stress and Stiffness Control

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a bearing section capable of receiving bearings, a base, and a plurality of members. The bearing section and the base have a cylindrical shape and are substantially aligned centrally along an axis. The plurality of members extend between the bearing section and the base and have a length and a width. Each of the plurality of members has a side that is substantially non-perpendicular with respect to the bearing section and the base.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a bearing section having a cylindrical shape and capable of receiving bearings;   a base having the cylindrical shape, wherein the bearing section and the base are substantially aligned centrally along an axis; and   a plurality of members extending between the bearing section and the base, wherein the plurality of members have a length, a width, and wherein each of the plurality of members has a side that is substantially non-perpendicular with respect to the bearing section and the base.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of members have a configuration selected from at least one of the plurality of members extending at an angle from the bearing section to the base; the plurality of members having a curve relative to the axis; and
 the width of the plurality of members decreasing and increasing along the length of the plurality of members to form a bowtie shape to form a selected configuration.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the curve is selected from at least one of outward from the axis and inward to the axis. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of members have the length from the bearing section to the base and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of members have a change in the width along the length. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing section has a channel capable of receiving the bearings. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a bearing system. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the bearings comprise at least one of a plurality of balls and a plurality of rollers. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the channel is a first channel, and further comprising:
 an inner structure having a second channel, wherein the bearings are located between the first channel and the second channel.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a shaft associated with the inner structure. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing section, the base, and the plurality of members form a bearing housing. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the bearing housing is comprised of a material selected from one of metal, a composite material, aluminum, steel, a steel alloy, titanium, a nickel alloy, a ceramic material, and a plastic material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the bearing housing is located in a platform selected from one of a mobile platform, a stationary platform, a land-based structure, an aquatic-based structure, a space-based structure, an aircraft, a surface ship, a tank, a personnel carrier, a train, a spacecraft, a space station, a satellite, a submarine, an automobile, a power plant, a bridge, a dam, a manufacturing facility, and a building. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the bearing housing is located in an aircraft engine. 
     
     
         14 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method for manufacturing a bearing housing, the method comprising:
 selecting a configuration for the bearing housing, wherein the bearing housing comprises a bearing section having a cylindrical shape and capable of receiving bearings; a base having the cylindrical shape, wherein the bearing section and the base are substantially aligned centrally along an axis; and a plurality of members extending between the bearing section and the base, wherein the plurality of members have a length and a width, and wherein, in the configuration, each of the plurality of members has a side that is substantially non-perpendicular with respect to the bearing section and the base, and further wherein the configuration for the bearing housing is selected from a number of configurations comprising at least one of the plurality of members extending at an angle from the bearing section to the base; the plurality of members having a curve relative to the axis; and the width of the plurality of members decreasing or increasing along the length of the plurality of members, wherein each of the plurality of members have a side that is substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis; and   manufacturing the bearing housing using the configuration.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the curve is selected from at least one of outward from the axis and inward to the axis. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of members have the length from the bearing section to the base and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of members have a change in the width along the length. 
     
     
         27 . A method for manufacturing a bearing housing, the method comprising:
 selecting a configuration for the bearing housing, wherein the bearing housing comprises a bearing section having a cylindrical shape and capable of receiving bearings; a base having the cylindrical shape, wherein the bearing section and the base are substantially aligned centrally along an axis; and a plurality of members extending between the bearing section and the base, wherein the plurality of members have a length and a width, and wherein, in the configuration, each of the plurality of members has a side that is substantially non-perpendicular with respect to the bearing section and the base, and further wherein the configuration for the bearing housing is selected from a number of configurations comprising at least one of the plurality of members extending at an angle from the bearing section to the base; the plurality of members having a curve relative to the axis; and the width of the plurality of members decreasing or increasing along the length of the plurality of members, wherein each of the plurality of members have a side that is substantially parallel with respect to the axis; and   manufacturing the bearing housing using the configuration.