Aircraft propulsion system geartrain

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12071900-B2
Application number	US-202318233636-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2023
Priority date	Aug 12, 2022
Publication date	Aug 27, 2024
Grant date	Aug 27, 2024

Abstract

A first gear system includes a first sun gear, a first ring gear, first intermediate gears and a first carrier. The first intermediate gears are between and meshed with the first sun gear and the first ring gear. Each first intermediate gear is rotatably mounted to the first carrier. A second gear system includes a second sun gear, a second ring gear, second intermediate gears and a second carrier. The second ring gear is coupled to the first carrier. The second intermediate gears are between and meshed with the second sun gear and the second ring gear. Each second intermediate gear is rotatably mounted to the second carrier. A first propulsor rotor is coupled to the first carrier. A rotating structure is coupled to the first ring gear and includes a turbine rotor. The rotating structure is configured to drive rotation of the first propulsor rotor through the geartrain.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for an aircraft, comprising:
a geartrain including a first gear system and a second gear system;
the first gear system including a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a plurality of first intermediate gears and a first carrier, the first ring gear rotatable about an axis, the plurality of first intermediate gears between and meshed with the first sun gear and the first ring gear, each of the plurality of first intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the first carrier, and the first carrier rotatable about the axis;
the second gear system including a second sun gear, a second ring gear, a plurality of second intermediate gears and a second carrier, the second ring gear rotatable about the axis and coupled to the first carrier, the plurality of second intermediate gears between and meshed with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, and each of the plurality of second intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the second carrier;
a first propulsor rotor coupled to the first carrier; and
a rotating structure coupled to the first ring gear and comprising a turbine rotor, the rotating structure configured to drive rotation of the first propulsor rotor through the geartrain.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second carrier is rotatable about the axis.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a lock device configured to lock rotation of the second carrier about the axis.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the lock device comprises a splined coupling.

5. The assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a brake configured to brake rotation of the second carrier about the axis.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the brake comprises a disk brake.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the first sun gear and the second sun gear are each rotatable about the axis; and
the second sun gear is coupled to the first sun gear.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a lock device configured to lock rotation of the first sun gear and the second sun gear about the axis.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the lock device comprises a splined coupling.

10. The assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a brake configured to brake rotation of the first sun gear and the second sun gear about the axis.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the brake comprises a disk brake.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second propulsor rotor coupled to the second sun gear; and
the rotating structure configured to drive rotation of the second propulsor rotor through the geartrain.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gas turbine engine core including a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section and the rotating structure; and
the turbine rotor within the turbine section.

14. An assembly for an aircraft, comprising:
a geartrain including a first gear system and a second gear system;
the first gear system including a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a plurality of first intermediate gears and a first carrier, the first sun gear and the first ring gear each rotatable about an axis, the plurality of first intermediate gears between and meshed with the first sun gear and the first ring gear, and each of the plurality of first intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the first carrier;
the second gear system including a second sun gear, a second ring gear, a plurality of second intermediate gears and a second carrier, the second sun gear rotatable about the axis, the plurality of second intermediate gears between and meshed with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, and each of the plurality of second intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the second carrier;
a propulsor rotor coupled to the second sun gear; and
a rotating structure coupled to the first ring gear and comprising a turbine rotor, the rotating structure configured to drive rotation of the propulsor rotor through the geartrain.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the second sun gear is coupled to the first sun gear.

16. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the second carrier is rotatable about the axis.

17. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the second ring gear is rotatable about the axis and coupled to the first carrier.

18. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein:
the propulsor rotor comprises a second propulsor rotor; and
further comprising:
a first propulsor rotor coupled to the first carrier; and

wherein the rotating structure is configured to drive rotation of the first propulsor rotor through the geartrain.

19. An assembly, comprising:
a geartrain including a first gear system and a second gear system;
the first gear system including a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a plurality of first intermediate gears and a first carrier, the first sun gear and the first ring gear each rotatable about an axis, the plurality of first intermediate gears between and meshed with the first sun gear and the first ring gear, each of the plurality of first intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the first carrier, and the first carrier rotatable about the axis;
the second gear system including a second sun gear, a second ring gear, a plurality of second intermediate gears and a second carrier, the second sun gear rotatable about the axis, the second ring gear rotatable about the axis and coupled to the first carrier, the plurality of second intermediate gears between and meshed with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, each of the plurality of second intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the second carrier, and the second carrier rotatable about the axis;
a power output coupled to the first carrier or the second sun gear; and
a power input coupled to the first ring gear, the power input configured to drive rotation of the power output through the geartrain.

20. The assembly of claim 19 , wherein
the power output is coupled to the first carrier;
the assembly includes a second power output coupled to the second sun gear;
the power input is further configured to drive rotation of the second power output through the geartrain.

Assignees

• Rtx Corp

Inventors

• Hanrahan Paul R
• Stachowiak David A

Classifications

• B64D35/04

  characterised by the transmission driving a plurality of propellers or rotors · CPC title

• F05D2260/902

  using frictional mechanical forces · CPC title

• B64D35/00

  Transmitting power from power plants to propellers or rotors; Arrangements of transmissions · CPC title

• F05D2260/4031

  as in toothed gearing · CPC title

• F05D2260/40311

  of the epicyclical, planetary or differential type · CPC title