Patent ID: 8267650

Claim:
A sequential stiffness support for a bearing assembly of a jet engine, the sequential stiffness support positioned within a support housing and comprising: an inner ring configured to be disposed around the bearing assembly and to extend axially along a portion thereof and to deflect and abut against a portion of the support housing each time the jet engine accelerates to a speed greater than a first engine speed range, the abutting surfaces of the inner ring and the portion of the support housing lubricated by oil directed thereto to provide a journal bearing type action; an outer ring spaced apart from the inner ring and extending radially outwardly relative thereto; and a means for coupling the inner ring to the outer ring, wherein the sequential stiffness support is configured to provide a first stiffness support to the bearing assembly at the first engine speed range and a second stiffness support to the bearing assembly at the speed greater than the first engine speed range, and wherein the bearing assembly includes an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed therebetween.