Reduced misalignment gear system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9745862-B2
Application number	US-201414912535-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2014
Priority date	Aug 21, 2013
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A lubrication system for a fan drive planetary gear system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a stationary first bearing configured to receive a lubricant from a lubricant input, the stationary first bearing is located adjacent a fan drive shaft. A second bearing is configured to rotate with the fan drive shaft, the first bearing engages the second bearing and is configured to transfer the lubricant from the first bearing to the second bearing and into at least one fluid passage in the fan drive shaft. A conduit fluidly connects the at least one passage in the fan drive shaft with at least one component on the fan drive gear system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lubrication system for a fan drive planetary gear system comprising:
a stationary first bearing configured to receive a lubricant from a lubricant input, the stationary first bearing is located adjacent a fan drive output shaft;
a second bearing configured to rotate with the fan drive output shaft, the stationary first bearing engages the second bearing and is configured to transfer the lubricant from the stationary first bearing to the second bearing and into at least one fluid passageway in the fan drive output shaft; and
a conduit fluidly connecting the at least one passageway in the fan drive output shaft with at least one component on the fan drive gear system.

2. The lubrication system of claim 1 including an inner first race on the stationary first bearing configured to transfer lubricant to a first opening in registration with the inner first race in the second bearing.

3. The lubrication system of claim 1 wherein the fan drive gear system includes a first axial side and a second axial side, the stationary first bearing, the second bearing, and a fan output drive shaft bearing is located on the first axial side of the fan drive gear system.

4. The lubrication system of claim 1 wherein the stationary first bearing and the second bearing are mounted between two fan rotor bearings.

5. The lubrication system of claim 1 wherein the stationary first bearing and the second bearing are located radially inward from a radially innermost portion of a fan drive output shaft bearing.

6. The lubrication system of claim 5 wherein the fan drive gear system includes a sun gear attached to an input drive shaft configured to rotate at a first rotational speed and an output attached to the fan drive output shaft configured to rotate at a second rotational speed, the first rotational speed being greater than the second rotational speed, and the second bearing is fixedly attached to the fan drive output shaft.

7. The lubrication system of claim 1 wherein the fan drive gear system includes a plurality of planet gears mounted on bearings and the bearing includes at least one of a ball bearing, a roller bearing, and a journal bearing.

8. The lubrication system of claim 1 wherein the stationary first bearing and the second bearing are disposed about a rotational axis.

9. The lubrication system of claim 8 wherein the conduit is parallel to the rotational axis and at least partially radially aligned with a planet gear of the fan drive gear system.

10. The lubrication system of claim 1 wherein the at least one fluid passageway extends from a radially outer side of the fan drive output shaft to a radially inner side of the fan drive output shaft and the conduit is flexible.

11. The lubrication system of claim 1 wherein the at least one component of the fan drive gear system includes at least one of a ring gear, a sun gear, a planetary gear, and a bearing.

12. The lubrication system of claim 1 wherein the fan drive gear system includes a substantially symmetric carrier.

13. A fan drive planetary gear system for a gas turbine engine comprising:
a fan drive output shaft including at least one fluid passageway;
a planetary gear system coupled to the fan drive output shaft;
a stationary first bearing configured to receive a lubricant from a lubricant input;
a second bearing configured to rotate with the fan drive output shaft and receive the lubricant from the first bearing; and
a conduit fluidly connecting the at least one fluid passageway in the fan drive output shaft to the planetary gear system.

14. The system of claim 13 including an inner first race on the stationary first bearing configured to transfer lubricant to a first opening in registration with the inner first race in the second bearing.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the first bearing and the second bearing are located radially inward from a radially innermost portion of a fan output drive shaft bearing.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the second bearing is fixedly attached to the fan drive output shaft and the at least one fluid passageway extends from a radially outer side of the fan drive output shaft to a radially inner side of the fan drive output shaft.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the planetary gear system includes a substantially symmetric carrier.

18. A method of lubricating a component on a gas turbine engine comprising:
directing a lubricant through an oil transfer bearing;
directing the lubricant from the oil transfer bearing through at least one passageway on a fan drive output shaft;
directing the lubricant through a conduit connecting the at least one passageway on the fan drive output shaft to at least one component on a planetary gear system.

19. The method of claim 18 including leaking the lubricant from the oil transfer bearing and directing the lubricant leaked from the oil transfer bearing to at least one bearing system on the fan drive output shaft.

20. The method of claim 18 including flexing the conduit in response to relative movement between the fan drive output shaft and a carrier on the planetary gear system.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Sheridan William G

Classifications

• F05D2260/40311

  of the epicyclical, planetary or differential type · 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

• F02C7/06

  Arrangements of bearings (bearings F16C); Lubricating ({of turbo machines F01D25/18; of machines or} engines in general F01M) · CPC title

• F16H57/043

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

• F16H57/0471

  Bearing · CPC title