Lightweight and compliant journal pin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016201793-A1
Application number	US-201514853208-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 14, 2015
Priority date	Dec 1, 2014
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An epicyclic gear system is provided. The gear system may comprise an annular gear centered about an axis, a star gear radially inward from the annular gear, a journal pin inside the star gear and comprising an internal bore with a recessed wall, and a sun gear radially inward from the star gear. A journal pin is also provided. The journal pin may include an internal bore formed along an axis of rotation of the journal pin, and a recessed wall of the internal bore with a diameter greater than the diameter of the internal bore.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An epicyclic gear system, comprising:
an annular gear centered about an axis; a star gear radially inward from the annular gear; a journal pin inside the star gear and comprising an internal bore with a recessed wall; and a sun gear radially inward from the star gear.

2 . The epicyclic gear system of claim 1 , further comprising a collar coupled to the journal pin.

3 . The epicyclic gear system of claim 2 , wherein the collar comprises a second recessed wall.

4 . The epicyclic gear system of claim 3 , further comprising a carrier press fit onto the collar.

5 . The epicyclic gear system of claim 4 , wherein the carrier is fixed and the sun gear and the annular gear are configured to rotate about the axis.

6 . The epicyclic gear system of claim 3 , wherein the internal bore and the recessed wall of the internal bore are configured to act as an oil plenum.

7 . The epicyclic gear system of claim 6 , further comprising a passage defined by the journal pin, the passage configured to deliver oil from the oil plenum to a thin oil film between the sun gear and the journal pin.

8 . The epicyclic gear system of claim 3 , wherein the recessed wall has a radial shape.

9 . The epicyclic gear system of claim 1 , wherein the journal pin further comprises an undercut.

10 . A journal pin, comprising:
an internal bore formed along an axis of rotation of the journal pin; and a recessed wall of the internal bore having a diameter greater than the diameter of the internal bore.

11 . The journal pin of claim 10 , further comprising an undercut radially outward from the internal bore and radially inward from an outer diameter of the journal pin.

12 . The journal pin of claim 10 , wherein the recessed wall comprises at least one of a radial shape, an elliptical shape, or a multi-radial shape.

13 . The journal pin of claim 10 , further comprising a passage extending from at least one of the internal bore or the recessed wall to an outer diameter of the journal pin.

14 . The journal pin of claim 10 , further comprising a collar coupled to the journal pin.

15 . The journal pin of claim 14 , wherein the collar comprises a second recessed wall.

16 . A journal bearing, comprising:
a journal housing; and a journal pin inside the journal housing and comprising an inner bore with a recessed wall.

17 . The journal bearing of claim 16 , wherein the journal pin comprises an undercut radially outward from the inner bore and radially inward from an outer diameter of the journal pin.

18 . The journal bearing of claim 16 , further comprising a collar configured to retain the journal pin within the journal housing.

19 . The journal bearing of claim 18 , wherein the collar comprises a second recessed wall.

20 . The journal bearing of claim 19 , wherein the collar is welded to the journal pin.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Muldoon Marc J

Classifications

• F16H57/043

  within rotary parts, e.g. axial channels or radial openings in shafts · CPC title

• F16H57/0482

  Gearings with gears having orbital motion · CPC title

• F16H2057/085

  Bearings for orbital gears · CPC title

• F16C17/02

  for radial load only · CPC title

• F16H1/28

  with gears having orbital motion · CPC title