Patent ID: 7832938
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
1. In a turbomachine including a center housing disposed axially between a drive element and a driven element, and a shaft extending through said center housing and interconnecting said drive and driven elements, a floating bearing cartridge for rotationally supporting said shaft within said center housing, said floating bearing cartridge comprising: a pair of angular contact bearings each having an inner race for mounting onto said shaft for rotation therewith, an outer race, and a complement of bearing balls interposed between said inner and outer races; an inner spacer sleeve for axially spacing said inner races of said pair of angular contact bearings by a first predetermined dimension; and an outer spacer sleeve for mounting within said center housing, said outer space sleeve carrying a pair of opposed faces for respectively engaging said outer races of said pair of angular contact bearings, said pair of opposed faces being axially separated by a second predetermined dimension; said first predetermined dimension being at least slightly elongated relative to said second predetermined dimension, whereby said angular contact bearing are subjected to a negative pre-load when the turbomachine is in a static condition.