Abstract

The present invention relates to turbomachines and to a support for the bearing casing used in such machines. One end of a turbomachine housing is rigidly supported by a support member while the second end is supported by the inboard end of a bearing case. The inboard end of the bearing case is supported by an inboard support which permits horizontal movement of the bearing case in a direction parallel to the turbomachine shaft. The outboard support has a flange on which the bearing case rests and a base connected to and positioned below the flange. The flange contains flange bores through which rods attached on their first end to and protruding downwardly from the bearing case pass. The rods are optionally prevented from moving upwardly through the flange bore by a retainer, such as a nut or nut and washer combination, which is attached to the rod's second end. The retainer is mounted on the rod so that a gap is created between the upper surface of the retainer and the bottom surface of the flange. The support can further include a spacer mounted on the rod inside the flange bore and fitted between the retainer and the bearing case. The spacer has a length greater than the thickness of the flange and, thus, defines the size of the gap. The gap permits limited upward vertical movement of the bearing case. In this manner, the outboard support element maintains the alignment of the bearing case with the turbine shaft during operation of the turbomachine at elevated temperatures when differential heating of the supports causes them to undergo unequal vertical expansion.