Flexible damped bearing assembly

Abstract

A flexible damped bearing arrangement for rotatably mounting a shaft wherein the shaft bearing is supported within a movable member suspended from a stationary frame by means of a series of resilient springs adapted to permit the member to move radially in reference to the shaft. A squeeze film cavity, provided with high pressure fluid, is established between the movable member and the stationary frame to dampen the bearing's response to the shaft. Seals are provided outside the damping cavity and are arranged to act perpendicular to the direction of movement of the member whereby the interaction of the seals with the squeeze film damping is substantially minimized.

What is claimed is: .[. 
     
       1.  In a flexible damped bearing, for rotatably supporting a shaft, of the type wherein the bearing is mounted within a movable member that is suspended from a stationary frame upon a series of flexure springs and having a cavity containing a fluid film located between the movable member and the stationary frame for damping the bearing reaction, the improvement comprising seals for maintaining the fluid film within the cavity, said seals being located outside of the damping cavity and being positioned in respect to the movable member to prevent the seals from being compressed by the movable member as said member moves in compliance with the shaft whereby the seals are precluded from interacting with the fluid film to contribute unwanted damping to the system..]. .[.2. The flexible damped bearing of claim 1 wherein the seals are positioned between adjacent radially extended side walls carried by the movable member and the stationary frame to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween..]. .[.3. The flexible damped bearing of claim 1 wherein the seals are compressed against radially extended flanges carried upon the movable member whereby the force of compression is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the member..]. .[.4. The flexible damped bearing of claim 3 wherein the seals are annular rings formed of a material having a low surface tension whereby the friction generated between the seal and the movable member is minimized..]. .[.5. The flexible damped bearing of claim 4 wherein the seal is capable of maintaining oil within the cavity at pressures sufficiently high enough to prevent the damping film from rupturing under dynamic forces produced under operating conditions..]..Iadd. 6. In a flexible damped bearing, for rotatably supporting a shaft, of a type wherein the bearing is mounted within a movable member that is suspended from a stationary frame upon a series of flexure springs and having a cavity containing a fluid film located between the movable member and the stationary frame for damping the bearing reaction, and seals for maintaining the fluid film within the cavity, the improvement comprising:   the stationary frame includes   an outer housing defining a first bolting surface axially forward of the movable member,   a bolting ring defining a second bolting surface axially forward of the movable member and contiguous to and separable from the first bolting surface, and   securing means extending through the first and second bolting surfaces to releasably connect the bolting ring to the outer housing;   the flexure springs are connected to the bolting ring and to the movable member; and   said seals are located outside of the damping cavity and are positioned in respect to the movable member to prevent the seals from being compressed by the movable member as said member moves in compliance with the shaft whereby the seals are precluded from interacting with the fluid film to contribute unwanted damping to the system. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 7. The flexible damped bearing of claim 6 wherein the improvement further comprises:   the first bolting surface defines a first radial plane; and   the second bolting surface defines a second radial plane axially forward of the first radial plane..Iaddend.