NO. 5,752,774 | Zero Clearance Auxiliary Bearing for Providing Rotor Shock Tolerances

NO. 5,752,774 | Zero Clearance Auxiliary Bearing for Providing Rotor Shock Tolerances

An auxiliary bearing for temporarily receiving rotor load when the main bearings are unable to receive rotor load. A plurality of rollers or sets of rollers are spaced circumferentially around the rotor. At least some of the rollers are movable between first radial positions which afford clearance between the rollers and the rotor and second radial positions for receiving by the rollers of rotor load. The movement of one roller toward the second radial position in response to contact therewith by the rotor effects movement of all of the at least some rollers toward the second radial positions to close the clearance and receive the rotor load. The rollers then disengage when the rotor load is again taken by the main bearings.