US 11,835,088 B2
Thrust bearing for a rotating machine
Timothy Unton, Noblesville, IN (US); and Sean Andrew Morgan, Indianapolis, IN (US)
Assigned to Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed by Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed on May 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/303,435.
Prior Publication US 2022/0381182 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. F16C 25/08 (2006.01); F01D 25/16 (2006.01); F16C 39/06 (2006.01); F16C 32/04 (2006.01); F16C 27/04 (2006.01); F16C 19/16 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 25/086 (2013.01) [F01D 25/16 (2013.01); F16C 19/16 (2013.01); F16C 27/04 (2013.01); F16C 32/0476 (2013.01); F16C 39/063 (2013.01); F05D 2240/515 (2013.01); F05D 2240/52 (2013.01); F16C 2360/23 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotating machine comprising:
a first rotor configured to rotate relative to a second rotor concentric with the first rotor;
a thrust bearing comprising a first race, a second race, and a plurality of ball bearings, wherein:
the first race is configured to receive an axial thrust from the first rotor when the first rotor rotates relative to a structural component of the rotating machine, and
the plurality of ball bearings are configured to transfer the axial thrust to the second race; and
a magnetic component affixed to at least one of the first rotor or the second rotor, wherein the magnetic component is configured to cause a magnetic force between the first rotor and the second rotor to cause the first race to exert an axial force on the ball bearings in the direction of the axial thrust.
 
16. A rotating machine comprising:
a first rotor configured to rotate relative to a second rotor concentric with the first rotor;
a thrust bearing comprising a first race configured to rotate synchronously with the first rotor, a second race, and a plurality of ball bearings, wherein:
the first race is configured to receive an axial thrust from the first rotor when the rotor rotates relative to a structural component of the rotating machine, and
the plurality of ball bearings are configured to transfer the axial thrust to the second race; and
a magnetic component affixed to the second rotor, wherein:
the magnetic component is configured to generate a magnetic field to exert a magnetic force on the first rotor
to cause the first race to exert an axial force on the ball bearings in the direction of the axial thrust, and
the second race is configured to transfer the axial thrust to the structural component.
 
19. A method comprising:
generating a magnetic field using a magnetic component affixed to at least one of a first rotor of a rotating machine or a second rotor concentric with the first rotor, the rotating machine having a thrust bearing comprising a first race, a second race, and a plurality of ball bearings between the first race and the second race, wherein, when the first rotor rotates relative to a structural component of the rotating machine, the first rotor exerts an axial thrust on the first race and the plurality of ball bearings transfer the axial thrust to the second race; and
causing, using the magnetic field, a magnetic force between the first rotor and the second rotor to cause the first race to exert an axial force on the ball bearings in the direction of an axial thrust.