Gearbox coupling in a turbomachine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11085515-B2
Application number	US-201916280568-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2019
Priority date	Feb 20, 2019
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

An engine includes a static frame member; a spool configured to rotate relative to the static frame member during operation of the engine; a gearbox coupled to the spool; and a gearbox coupling assembly mounting the gearbox to the static frame member using a plurality of moveable connection members, each moveable connection member including a sliding connection allowing for movement of the gearbox relative to the static frame member in a plane perpendicular to an axial direction of the engine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An engine defining an axial direction including a forward direction closer to an engine inlet and an aft direction closer to an engine exhaust, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, the engine comprising:
a static frame member;
a spool configured to rotate relative to the static frame member during operation of the engine;
a gearbox coupled to the spool;
a gearbox coupling assembly mounting the gearbox to the static frame member using a plurality of moveable connection members; and
a bearing positioned between the static frame member and the spool at a location forward of the gearbox,
wherein each moveable connection member allows for sliding movement of the gearbox relative to the static frame member in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the engine,
wherein the engine defines a sump, and
wherein the bearing and the gearbox are each positioned within the sump.

2. The engine of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of moveable connection members comprises a forward piece and an aft piece,
wherein the forward piece is slidably coupled to the aft piece such that the forward piece is moveable relative to the aft piece in the plane perpendicular to the axial direction.

3. The engine of claim 2 ,
wherein the plurality of moveable connection member further comprises a middle piece comprising a first side and an opposite section side,
wherein the forward piece is positioned adjacent to the first side of the middle piece,
wherein the aft piece is positioned adjacent to the second side of the middle piece,
wherein the forward piece and middle piece together form a first slidable interface, and
wherein the middle piece and aft piece together form a second slidable interface.

4. The engine of claim 3 ,
wherein the first slidable interface extends in a first direction,
wherein the second slidable interface extends in a second direction, and
wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

5. The engine of claim 4 ,
wherein the first direction is parallel to the radial direction, and
wherein the second direction is also parallel to the radial direction.

6. The engine of claim 4 , wherein the first slidable interface, the second slidable interface, or both comprise a groove and a correspondingly shaped linear ridge slidably positioned within the groove.

7. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the gearbox comprises a sun gear, a ring gear, and a plurality of planet gears.

8. The engine of claim 7 ,
wherein the spool is coupled to the sun gear, and
wherein the gearbox coupling assembly mounts the plurality of planet gears to the static frame member.

9. The engine of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of moveable connection members comprises a forward piece, an aft piece, and a middle piece, wherein the forward piece is coupled to the plurality of planet gears, and wherein the aft piece is coupled to the static frame member.

10. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of moveable connection members comprises a forward piece, an aft piece, and a middle piece, wherein the forward piece, the aft piece, and the middle piece together define an opening therethrough extending along the axial direction, and wherein the engine includes one or more shafts extending through the opening.

11. The engine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lubrication oil system comprising a scavenge line, wherein the static frame member comprises a drain extension defining a drain for collecting lubrication oil from the bearing and the gearbox within the sump, and wherein the scavenge line is in fluid communication with the drain.

12. The engine of claim 11 , wherein the scavenge line extends through the gearbox.

13. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the gearbox further comprises a planet gear carrier, and wherein plurality of planet gears are coupled to the static frame member through the planet gear carrier.

14. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the engine is a turbofan engine.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Moniz Thomas Ory
• Stuart Alan Roy

Classifications

• F16H2057/02039

  Gearboxes for particular applications · CPC title

• F16H57/082 Primary

  Planet carriers · CPC title

• F05D2260/98

  Lubrication · CPC title

• F16H35/06 Primary

  Gearings designed to allow relative movement between supports thereof without ill effects  (special means compensating for misalignment of axes F16H1/26, F16H1/48) · CPC title

• F16D3/04

  specially adapted to allow radial displacement, e.g. Oldham couplings · CPC title