Coupling shaft for gas turbine fan drive gear system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9541007-B2
Application number	US-201113087446-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2011
Priority date	Apr 15, 2011
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A coupling shaft assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a forward coupling shaft section with a forward interface spline and a forward mid shaft interface spline and an aft coupling shaft section includes an aft mid shaft interface spline and an aft interface spline, the aft mid shaft interface spline engageable with the forward mid shaft interface spline.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A coupling shaft assembly for a gas turbine engine comprising:
a forward coupling shaft section includes a forward interface spline and a forward mid shaft interface spline disposed upon a vertical diaphragm extending radially outward from the forward coupling shaft, and a fluid bridge extending axially aft of the vertical diaphragm; and
an aft coupling shaft section includes an aft mid shaft interface spline and an aft interface spline, said aft mid shaft interface spline engageable with said forward mid shaft interface spline, the aft mid shaft interface spline disposed on a forward extending cylindrical extension, wherein the fluid bridge includes openings for communicating oil to the interface between the forward mid shaft interface spline and the aft mid shaft interface spline.

2. The coupling shaft assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said vertical diaphragm includes a radial section perpendicular to an engine axis and an axial section parallel to the engine axis.

3. The coupling shaft assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein said forward mid shaft interface spline is located upon said axial section.

4. The coupling shaft assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said forward interface spline is engageable with a sun gear of a geared architecture for the gas turbine engine.

5. The coupling shaft assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an oil distribution feature between said forward coupling shaft section and said aft coupling shaft section.

6. The coupling shaft assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said fluid bridge includes a circumferential groove and a multiple of axial grooves.

7. The coupling shaft assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said forward mid shaft interface spline fits within said aft mid shaft interface spline.

8. A gas turbine engine comprising:
an epicyclic gear system along an engine longitudinal axis;
a low pressure spool along said engine longitudinal axis;
a forward coupling shaft section along said engine longitudinal axis, said forward coupling shaft section includes a forward interface spline engaged with said epicyclic gear system and a forward mid shaft interface spline disposed on a vertical diaphragm extending radially outward from the forward coupling shaft, and a fluid bridge extending axially aft of the vertical diaphragm; and
an aft coupling shaft section along said engine longitudinal axis, said aft coupling shaft section includes an aft interface spline engaged with said low pressure spool and an aft mid shaft interface spline engageable with said forward mid shaft interface spline, the aft mid shaft interface spline disposed on a forward extending cylindrical extension, wherein the fluid bridge includes openings for communicating oil to the interface between the forward mid shaft interface and the aft mid shaft spline interface.

9. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 8 , wherein said vertical diaphragm includes a radial section perpendicular to an engine axis and an axial section parallel to the engine axis.

10. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 9 , wherein said forward mid shaft interface spline is located upon said axial section.

11. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 8 , further comprising an oil distribution feature between said forward coupling shaft section and said aft coupling shaft section.

12. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 8 , wherein said fluid bridge includes a circumferential groove and a multiple axial grooves to communicate oil toward a bearing system which at least partially supports said low pressure spool.

13. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 8 , wherein said epicyclic gear system drives a fan section at a speed different than said low speed spool.

14. A method for assembling a gas turbine engine comprising: mounting a forward coupling shaft section that includes a forward interface spline and a forward mid shaft interface spline disposed on a vertical diaphragm extending radially outward from the forward coupling shaft to an aft coupling shaft section at an aft mid shaft interface spline, the aft coupling shaft section having an aft interface spline disposed on a forward extending cylindrical extension such that a fluid bridge extending axially aft of the vertical diaphragm and including openings communicates oil to the interface between the forward mid shaft interface spline and the aft mid shaft interface spline.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , further comprising: mounting the forward coupling shaft section at least partially within the aft coupling shaft section such that the fluid bridge is at least partially axially overlapped by a portion of the aft coupling shaft.

16. The method as recited in claim 14 , further comprising:
mounting the forward interface spline to a geared architecture.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 , further comprising:
mounting the aft interface spline to a low pressure spool.

Assignees

• Mccune Michael E
• Cigal Brian P
• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Mccune Michael E
• Cigal Brian P

Classifications

• F05D2220/36

  specially adapted for the fan of turbofan engines · CPC title

• F05D2260/36

  by a form fit connection, e.g. by interlocking · CPC title

• F02C7/36 Primary

  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

• Y10T29/4932

  Turbomachine making · CPC title

• F05D2260/40311

  of the epicyclical, planetary or differential type · CPC title