Fan drive planetary gear system integrated carrier and torque frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9068629-B2
Application number	US-201414290576-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2014
Priority date	Apr 27, 2011
Publication date	Jun 30, 2015
Grant date	Jun 30, 2015

Abstract

A fan gear drive system includes a fan shaft, a turbine shaft, a fixed structure, and a gear train which includes a torque frame that comprises a base with integrated gear shafts that are circumferentially spaced relative to one another. Each shaft provides a shaft axis. Intermediate gears are supported on each bearing assembly for rotation about the bearing axis. A central gear is located radially inward from and intermeshes with the intermediate gears. A ring gear is arranged about and intermeshes with the intermediate gears. One of the torque frame, central gear and ring gear is connected to the fan shaft. Another of the torque frame, central gear and ring gear is connected to the turbine shaft. The remaining of the torque frame, central gear and ring gear is connected to the fixed structure. A bearing assembly is mounted on each of the gear shafts and provides a bearing axis. Each bearing assembly supports the respective intermediate gear.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fan gear drive system comprising:
a fan shaft;
a turbine shaft;
a fixed structure; and
a gear train including:
a torque frame comprising a base with integrated gear shafts circumferentially spaced relative to one another, and each gear shaft providing a gear shaft axis,
a central gear located radially inward from and intermeshing with intermediate gears, each intermediate gear mounted on a respective gear shaft and configured to rotate about its respective gear shaft axis,
a ring gear arranged about and intermeshing with the intermediate gears, and
wherein one of the torque frame, central gear and ring gear is connected to the fan shaft, another of the torque frame, central gear and ring gear is connected to the turbine shaft, and a remaining of the torque frame, central gear and ring gear is connected to the fixed structure; and
a bearing assembly is mounted on each of the gear shafts and provides a bearing axis, each bearing assembly supports one of the respective intermediate gears.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing assembly includes a spherical bearing configured to permit angular movement of the bearing axis relative to the shaft axis.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the bearing assembly includes a race supporting the respective intermediate gear, and the spherical bearing is received by the race, and comprising a pin configured to prevent relative rotation between the race, the spherical bearing and the shaft about the shaft axis.

4. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the torque frame includes a first passage provided through the bearing shaft and configured to provide lubricating fluid to the intermediate gears, and the bearing assembly includes at least one passageway extending through each of the spherical bearing and the race and in fluid communication with the passage.

5. The system according to claim 4 , comprising an oil baffle supported by the torque frame and in fluid communication with the passage, the oil baffle includes a second passage configured to receive lubricating fluid from an oil transfer assembly during rotation of the torque frame relative to the fixed structure.

6. The system according to claim 5 , comprising a tube fluidly connecting the first and second passages, and the oil baffle including third and fourth passages respectively fluidly connecting to first and second spray bars.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the first spray bar is provided in the oil baffle and configured to direct lubricating fluid at teeth of at least one of the input gear and the intermediate gears, and the second spray bar is supported by the torque frame and in fluid communication with a fifth passage in the torque frame that is in fluid communication with the fourth passage.

8. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the torque frame is constructed from a high strength metallic alloy, and the oil baffle is constructed from a lower strength lighter weight alloy than the high strength metallic alloy.

9. The system according to claim 1 , comprising a turbine section connected to the turbine shaft and is configured to drive the fan shaft through the gear train.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the ring gear is grounded to the fixed structure.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the torque frame is connected to the fan shaft.

12. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the turbine shaft is connected to the central gear.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the ring gear is grounded to the fixed structure.

14. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the torque frame is connected to the fan shaft.

15. A method of designing a fan gear drive system comprising:
defining a fan shaft;
defining a turbine shaft;
defining a fixed structure; and
defining a gear train configured to include:
a torque frame comprising a base with integrated gear shafts configured to be circumferentially spaced relative to one another, and each gear shaft configured to provide a gear shaft axis,
a central gear configured to be located radially inward from and intermeshing with intermediate gears, each intermediate gear mounted on a respective gear shaft and configured to rotate about its respective gear shaft axis,
a ring gear configured to be arranged about and intermeshing with the intermediate gears, and
wherein one of the torque frame, central gear and ring gear is configured to be connected to the fan shaft, another of the torque frame, central gear and ring gear is configured to be connected to the turbine shaft, and a remaining of the torque frame, central gear and ring gear is configured to be connected to the fixed structure; and
a bearing assembly is configured to be mounted on each of the gear shafts and provide a bearing axis, each bearing assembly configured to support one of the respective intermediate gears.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the bearing assembly is configured to include a spherical bearing configured to permit angular movement of the bearing axis relative to the shaft axis.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the bearing assembly is configured to include a race supporting the respective intermediate gear, and the spherical bearing is configured to be received by the race, and comprising a pin configured to prevent relative rotation between the race, the spherical bearing and the shaft about the shaft axis.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the torque frame is configured to include a first passage provided through the bearing shaft and configured to provide lubricating fluid to the intermediate gears, and the bearing assembly is configured to include at least one passageway extending through each of the spherical bearing and the race and in fluid communication with the passage.

19. The method according to claim 18 , comprising defining an oil baffle configured to be supported by the torque frame and in fluid communication with the passage, the oil baffle is configured to include a second passage configured to receive lubricating fluid from an oil transfer assembly during rotation of the torque frame relative to the fixed structure.

20. The method according to claim 19 , comprising defining a tube configured to be fluidly connecting the first and second passages, and the oil baffle is configured to include third and fourth passages respectively fluidly connecting to first and second spray bars.

21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein the first spray bar is configured to be provided in the oil baffle and configured to direct lubricating fluid at teeth of at least one of the input gear and the intermediate gears, and the second spray bar is configured to be supported by the torque frame and in fluid communication with a fifth passage in the torque frame that is in fluid communication with the fourth passage.

22. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the torque frame is configured to be constructed from a high strength metallic alloy, and the oil baffle is configured to be constructed from a lower strength lighter weight alloy than the high strength metallic alloy.

23. The method according to claim 15 , comprising defining a turbine section configured to be connected to the turbine shaft and configured to drive the fan shaft through the gear train.

24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the ring gear is configured to be grounded to the fixed structure.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Sheridan William G

Classifications

• F01D25/16

  Arrangement of bearings; Supporting or mounting bearings in casings (bearings per se F16C) · CPC title

• F16H57/0427

  on rotary parts, e.g. using baffles for collecting lubricant by centrifugal force · 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

• Y10T29/49245

  Vane type or other rotary, e.g., fan · CPC title

• F16H1/28 Primary

  with gears having orbital motion · CPC title