Turbomachine fan clutch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9970352-B2
Application number	US-201213359552-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2012
Priority date	Jan 27, 2012
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

An exemplary turbomachine clutch assembly includes a clutch that moves from a first position to a second position in response to rotation of a turbomachine fan at a speed greater than a threshold speed. The clutch permits rotation of the turbomachine fan in a first direction whether the clutch is in the first position or the second position. The clutch limits rotation of the turbomachine fan in an opposite, second direction when the clutch is in the first position.

First claim

We claim:

1. A turbomachine clutch assembly, comprising:
a clutch that moves from a first position to a second position in response to rotation of a turbomachine fan at a speed greater than a threshold speed, wherein
the clutch permits rotation of the turbomachine fan in a first direction whether the clutch is in the first position or the second position, and
the clutch limits rotation of the turbomachine fan in an opposite, second direction when the clutch is in the first position, wherein the clutch is a ramp/roller clutch.

2. The turbomachine clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the turbomachine fan is a ducted fan received within a duct and is rotatable relative to the duct.

3. The turbomachine clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the threshold speed is less than an idling speed.

4. The turbomachine clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the threshold speed is a threshold rotational speed of the fan.

5. The turbomachine clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clutch is an entirely mechanical clutch.

6. The turbomachine clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clutch moves from the second position to the first position in response to rotation of a turbomachine fan no longer exceeding the threshold speed.

7. The turbomachine clutch assembly of claim 1 , including a lubrication pump that lubricates the turbomachine fan, the lubrication pump powered by the turbomachine fan rotating in the first direction.

8. The turbomachine clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clutch permits rotation of the turbomachine fan in the second direction when the clutch is in the second position.

9. The turbomachine clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the turbomachine fan is in a turbomachine that rotates the turbomachine fan in the first direction during operation.

10. A mechanical clutch assembly for a turbomachine, comprising:
a fan; and
a clutch moveable between a second position that permits windmilling rotations of the fan in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, and a first position that limits windmilling rotation of the fan in the first direction and permits windmilling rotation of the fan in the second direction, wherein the clutch is a mechanical ramp/roller clutch.

11. The mechanical clutch assembly of claim 10 , wherein clutch includes a weight that changes positions in response to centrifugal force, the weight moving the clutch from the second position to the first position when the weight changes positions.

12. The mechanical clutch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the weight is biased toward positioning the clutch in the second position.

13. The mechanical clutch assembly of claim 12 , including a spring that biases the weight.

14. The mechanical clutch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the weight changing positions initiates radial movement of rollers in the clutch.

15. A method of controlling rotation of a turbomachine fan, including:
engaging a clutch to prevent rotation of a turbomachine fan in a first direction about an axis when a rotational speed of the turbomachine fan about the axis is below a threshold speed; and
disengaging the clutch when the rotational speed of the turbomachine fan about the axis meets or exceeds the threshold speed, wherein the clutch is a ramp/roller clutch.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the engaging and disengaging is entirely mechanical.

17. The method of claim 15 , including using centrifugal weights to control the engaging and the disengaging.

18. The turbomachine clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clutch is moveable from the first position to the second position in response to a windmilling rotation of the turbomachine fan at a speed greater than a threshold speed, the windmilling rotation independent from rotations caused by operation of a turbomachine having the turbomachine fan.

19. The turbomachine clutch assembly of claim 10 , wherein the fan is received within a duct and comprises blades that are rotatable relative to the duct.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the rotation of the turbomachine fan is a windmilling rotation of the turbomachine fan independent from rotations induced by operation of a turbomachine having the turbomachine fan.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein rotation of the turbomachine fan causes the disengaging.

Assignees

• Sheridan William G
• Mccune Michael E
• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Sheridan William G
• Mccune Michael E

Classifications

• F04D25/02

  Units comprising pumps and their driving means · CPC title

• F02C3/107 Primary

  with two or more rotors connected by power transmission · CPC title

• F05D2260/4023

  through a friction clutch · 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