Bearing thermal relief fan drive gear system assembly method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016258488-A1
Application number	US-201514637452-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 4, 2015
Priority date	Mar 4, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of assembling mating components includes the steps of heating an inner surface of a first cavity of a first part to generate a first expansion, heating an outer surface of a component surrounding an outer periphery of the first part to generate a second expansion of the component that corresponds to the first expansion of the first part, inserting a second part into the first cavity while the first part is in an expanded condition, and cooling the first part to contract around the second part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of assembling mating components comprising the steps of:
heating an inner surface of a first cavity of a first part to generate a first expansion; heating an outer surface of a component surrounding an outer periphery of the first part to generate a second expansion of the component that corresponds to the first expansion of the first part; inserting a second part into the first cavity while the first part is in an expanded condition; and cooling the first part to contract around the second part.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , including heating the inner surface with a first inductive coil disposed within the first cavity and heating the outer surface of the component with a second inductive coil disposed about the outer surface.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first part comprises a first shaft including a splined interior surface and the second part comprises a second shaft including a splined exterior surface receivable within the splined interior surface of the first part.

4 . The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the first shaft comprises a coupling shaft for driving a geared architecture and the second shaft comprises a shaft driven by a turbine section of a gas turbine engine.

5 . The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the component comprises a bearing assembly supporting rotation of the first part, the bearing assembly including an inner race, an outer race and a bearing disposed therebetween and the method includes heating the bearing assembly to expand the inner race and outer race in proportion to expansion of the first part.

6 . The method as recited in claim 5 , including a housing supporting the bearing assembly, wherein the method includes application of heat to the housing to generate expansion of the bearing assembly in proportion to expansion of the first part.

7 . The method as recited in claim 1 , including detecting expansion with a sensor to determine if a predetermined amount of expansion between the first part and the component has occurred to enable installation of the second part into the first part.

8 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first part is heated to a first temperature and the component is heated to a second temperature that is different than the first temperature.

9 . A method of mating shaft sections for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising the steps of:
assembling a bearing assembly about an outer surface of a first shaft; heating an inner race of the bearing assembly; heating an outer race of the bearing assembly separately from heating of the inner race and at the same time as heating the inner race; inserting a portion of a second shaft into a cavity of the first shaft; and cooling the first shaft, the second shaft, the inner race and the outer race of the bearing assembly such that the first shaft shrinks onto the second shaft.

10 . The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein heating the inner race of the bearing assembly comprises inserting a heating device into an inner cavity of the first shaft to an axial location corresponding to a position of the inner race on the outer surface of the first shaft and heating the inner race through the inner cavity of the first shaft.

11 . The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein heating the outer race of the bearing assembly comprises positioning a heating device about an outer surface of the outer bearing race and heating the outer bearing race to expand the outer bearing race proportionate to expansion of the inner race.

12 . The method as recited in claim 9 , including expanding the cavity of the first shaft to provide a fit for a portion of the second shaft.

13 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein an interface between the cavity of the first shaft and an outer surface of the second shaft includes a splined connection.

14 . The method as recited in claim 9 , including a first inductive heating element received within the first cavity for imparting heat to the first shaft and the inner bearing race and a second inductive heating element disposed about the outer housing.

15 . The method as recited in claim 9 , including a housing supporting the bearing assembly and wherein heating of the outer bearing race comprises heating the housing in an axial location corresponding to an axial position of the outer bearing race.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Lin Ning
• Cherpician Berci

Classifications

• F16C19/525

  related to temperature and heat, e.g. insulation · CPC title

• F16C2226/14

  by shrink fit, i.e. heating and shrinking part to allow assembly · CPC title

• F16B4/006

  Shrinkage connections, e.g. assembled with the parts being at different temperature · CPC title

• F16C35/067

  Fixing them in a housing (with interposition of an element F16C35/07) · CPC title

• F05D2260/37

  by a press fit connection · CPC title