Integral gutter and front center body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016186608-A1
Application number	US-201414911565-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 20, 2014
Priority date	Aug 21, 2013
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fan drive gear system for a turbofan engine is disclosed and includes a gear assembly and a front center body. The front center body is an annular case that supports the gear assembly. The front center body includes a passage portion that defines a portion of a core flow path, a forward flange configured for attachment to a first case structure forward of the front center body, and gutter portion disposed on a radially inner side of the front center body for collecting lubricant exhausted from the geared assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A turbofan engine comprising:
a turbine section; a geared architecture driven by the turbine section and a fan driven by the turbine section through the geared architecture; a front-center unitary body supporting the geared architecture and including a gutter for gathering lubricant exhausted from the geared architecture; and an auxiliary lubricant supply in fluid communication with the gutter for receiving gathered lubricant.

2 . The turbofan engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary lubricant supply is defined within a first case structure attached to the front center body.

3 . The turbofan engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gutter includes an outlet for communicating lubricant to the auxiliary lubricant supply, wherein the outlet includes an extension configured to protrude into the auxiliary lubricant supply.

4 . The turbofan engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gutter includes an inlet for communicating lubricant from the auxiliary lubricant supply to an outlet passage defined within the gutter, wherein the inlet includes an outlet extension protruding into the outlet passage of the gutter.

5 . The turbofan engine as recited in claim 2 , wherein the gutter abuts the first case structure without fasteners and communicates lubricant between the auxiliary lubricant supply and the gutter without seals.

6 . The turbofan engine as recited in claim 1 , including a compressor section and a combustor section in fluid communication with the compressor section.

7 . The turbofan engine as recited in claim 6 , wherein the front center body defines a portion of a core flow path to the compressor section.

8 . The turbofan engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the front center body includes an integrally formed web extending inward to support the gutter proximate the geared architecture.

9 . The turbofan engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the front center body and gutter form a single unitary case structure.

10 . A front center body case for a turbofan engine comprising:
a passage portion for defining a portion of a core flow path; a forward flange configured for attachment to a first case forward of the front center body; and a gutter portion disposed on a radially inner side of the front center body, wherein the passage portion and the gutter portion are continuous uninterrupted surfaces of the front center body.

11 . The front center body case as recited in claim 10 , wherein the gutter portion includes a first channel for gathering lubricant exhausted from a gear assembly and a second channel for exhausting lubricant from an auxiliary lubricant supply.

12 . The front center body case as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first channel includes an outlet extension protruding axially outward for extending into an opening in the first case for communicating lubricant to the auxiliary lubricant supply.

13 . The front center body case as recited in claim 10 , wherein the gutter is configured to surround a gear assembly supported within the front center body.

14 . The front center body case as recited in claim 10 , including a web portion extending between the passage portion and the gutter portion that is an integral structure of the front center body case.

15 . A fan drive gear system for a turbofan engine comprising:
a gear assembly; and a front center body supporting the gear assembly including a passage portion for defining a portion of a core flow path, a forward flange configured for attachment to a first case structure forward of the front center body, and a gutter portion disposed on a radially inner side of the front center body, wherein the passage portion and the gutter portion are continuous uninterrupted surfaces of the front center body.

16 . The fan drive gear system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first case structure includes an auxiliary lubricant supply and the gutter portion includes an outlet extending axially forward into the first case structure for communicating captured lubricant from the gear assembly to the auxiliary lubricant supply.

17 . The fan drive gear system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the gutter portion includes a first channel for gathering lubricant exhausted from the gear assembly and a second channel for exhausting lubricant from the auxiliary lubricant supply.

18 . The fan drive gear system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the passage portion, the forward flange and the gutter portion comprise a continuous uninterrupted cross-section of the front center body.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Cigal Brian P
• Davis Todd A

Classifications

• F05D2240/35

  Combustors or associated equipment · CPC title

• F02C7/36

  Power transmission arrangements between the different shafts of the gas turbine plant, or between the gas-turbine plant and the power user ({F02C3/107 - F02C3/13 and} F02C7/32 take precedence; couplings for transmitting rotation F16D; gearing in general F16H) · CPC title

• F16N31/00

  Means for collecting, retaining, or draining-off lubricant in or on machines or apparatus (oil separators for separating oil from exhaust steam F22G) · CPC title

• F02C3/04

  having a turbine driving a compressor (power transmission arrangements F02C7/36; control of working fluid flow F02C9/16) · CPC title

• F04D29/325

  for axial flow fans (blade mountings F04D29/34, blades F04D29/38) · CPC title