Inner spline with top land drainage hole

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022010842-A1
Application number	US-202016923048-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 7, 2020
Priority date	Jul 7, 2020
Publication date	Jan 13, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A spline coupling comprises a male spline member having male spline teeth and a female spline member having female spline teeth complementary to and engaged with the male spline teeth. One or more of the female spline teeth has a tooth height lesser than a tooth height of another one or more of the female spline teeth. The tooth height of the one or more of the female spline teeth is defined by a top land surface of the one or more of the female spline teeth. The tooth height of the other one or more of the female spline teeth is defined by a top land surface of the other one or more of the female spline teeth. A drainage hole in the top land surface of the one or more of the female spline teeth passes through the one or more of the female spline teeth.

First claim

1 . A spline coupling comprising:
a male spline member having a plurality of male spline teeth; a female spline member having a plurality of female spline teeth complementary to and engaged with the plurality of male spline teeth, one or more of the plurality of female spline teeth having a tooth height that is lesser than a tooth height of another one or more of the plurality of female spline teeth,
the tooth height of the one or more of the plurality of female spline teeth defined by a top land surface of the one or more of the plurality of female spline teeth,
the tooth height of the other one or more of the plurality of female spline teeth defined by a top land surface of the other one or more of the plurality of female spline teeth; and
a drainage hole in the top land surface of the one or more of the plurality of female spline teeth and passing through the one or more of the plurality of female spline teeth.

2 . The spline coupling as defined in claim 1 , wherein the tooth height of the one or more of the plurality of female spline teeth is greater than a pitch diameter of the female spline member.

3 . The spline coupling as defined in claim 1 , wherein the drainage hole meets the top land surface of the one or more of the plurality of female spline teeth at a ninety degree angle.

4 . The spline coupling as defined in claim 1 , wherein the drainage hole meets the top land surface of the one or more of the plurality of female spline teeth at a midpoint of the top land surface of the one or more of the plurality of female spline teeth.

5 . The spline coupling as defined in claim 1 , wherein the female spline member includes N female spline teeth, one of the N female spline teeth having the tooth height that is lesser than the tooth height of the other N−1 of the N female spline teeth.

6 . The spline coupling as defined in claim 1 , wherein the female spline member includes eighteen female spline teeth, two of the eighteen female spline teeth having the tooth heights that are lesser than the tooth heights of the other sixteen of the eighteen female spline teeth.

7 . The spline coupling as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an O-ring to seal a distal end of the spline coupling.

8 . The spline coupling as defined in claim 1 , wherein a width of the top land surface of the one or more of the plurality of female spline teeth is at least twice as great as a diameter of the drainage hole.

9 . The spline coupling as defined in claim 1 , wherein the male spline member is disposed on an exterior surface of a drive shaft in a gas turbine engine.

10 . The spline coupling as defined in claim 1 , wherein the female spline member is disposed on an interior surface of a coupling in a gearbox of a gas turbine engine.

11 . The spline coupling as defined in claim 1 , wherein a plurality drainage holes are disposed circumferentially about the female spline member at a distal end thereof.

12 . A female spline member for a spline coupling, comprising:
a plurality of female spline teeth each having a substantially similar tooth height defined by a top land surface of the plurality of female spline teeth; and one or more additional female spline teeth having a tooth height that is lesser than the tooth height of the plurality of female spline teeth and a top land surface having an opening to a drainage hole, the tooth height of the one or more additional female spline teeth defined by the top land surface of the one or more additional female spline teeth.

13 . The female spline member as defined in claim 12 , wherein the tooth height of the one or more additional female spline teeth is greater than a pitch diameter of the female spline.

14 . The female spline member as defined in claim 12 , wherein the drainage hole meets the top land surface of the one or more additional female spline teeth at a ninety degree angle.

15 . The female spline member as defined in claim 12 , wherein the drainage hole meets the top land surface of the one or more additional female spline teeth at a midpoint of the top land surface of the one or more additional female spline teeth.

16 . The female spline member as defined in claim 12 , wherein N female spline teeth each have a substantially similar tooth height and an additional female spline tooth has a tooth height that is lesser than the tooth height of the N female spline teeth.

17 . The female spline member as defined in claim 12 , wherein sixteen female spline teeth each have a substantially similar tooth height and two additional female spline teeth each have a tooth height that is lesser than the tooth height of the sixteen female spline teeth.

18 . The female spline member as defined in claim 12 , wherein a width of the top land surface of the one or more additional female spline teeth is at least twice as great as a diameter of the drainage hole.

19 . The female spline member as defined in claim 12 , wherein the female spline member is disposed on an interior surface of a coupling in a gearbox of a gas turbine engine.

20 . The female spline member as defined in claim 12 , wherein a plurality drainage holes are disposed circumferentially about the female spline member at a distal end thereof.

Assignees

• Pratt & Whitney Canada

Inventors

• Harvey Daniel
• Brito Roberto

Classifications

• F16D2300/06

  Lubrication details not provided for in group F16D13/74 · CPC title

• F16D2001/103

  the torque is transmitted via splined connections · CPC title

• F01D25/18

  Lubricating arrangements (of machines or engines in general F01M) · 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

• F16D1/10 Primary

  Quick-acting couplings in which the parts are connected by simply bringing them together axially · CPC title