Preloaded bearings

摘要

A preloaded bearing assembly for use between two concentric and relatively rotatable members (such as the main shafts in gas turbine engines) which are also liable to axial movement relative to each other. The bearing has two rows of ball-elements with their respective races. The outer race of the first row is fixed, while the inner races of both rows are part of a common carrier member which rotates with the inner of the concentric members but is free to slide axially on it. The outer race of the second row is slidingly located on the outer concentric member and is spring-loaded in the direction of the outer race of the first row. This pre-load acts to prevent skidding of the bearings because the loading is transferred through the second row balls to the carrier member and back through the first row balls tothe fixed race.