Planetary gear system arrangement with auxiliary oil system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9995174-B2
Application number	US-201213428491-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2012
Priority date	Oct 12, 2010
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

A gas turbine engine has a fan, first and second compressor stages, first and second turbine stages. The first turbine stage drives the second compressor stage as a high spool. The second turbine stage drives the first compressor stage as part of a low spool. A gear train drives the fan with the low spool, such that the fan and first compressor stage rotate in the same direction. The high spool operates at higher pressures than the low spool. A lubrication system is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a fan, a first compressor stage and a second compressor stage;
a first turbine stage and a second turbine stage, and wherein said first turbine stage drives said second compressor stage as a high spool, and wherein said second turbine stage drives said first compressor stage as part of a low spool;
a gear train driving said fan with said low spool, and such that said fan and said first compressor stage rotate in the same direction, and wherein said high spool operates at higher pressures than said low spool;
a first spray bar providing lubrication to said gear train; and
a second spray bar extending from said first spray bar and providing lubrication to said gear train.

2. The gas turbine engine of claim 1 , further comprising said gear train having a planetary gear, a sun gear, a stationary ring gear, a carrier in which said planetary gear is mounted, and said carrier mounted for rotation about said sun gear and driving said fan.

3. The gas turbine engine of claim 2 , wherein said ring gear has a recess.

4. The gas turbine engine of claim 3 , wherein said recess is radially outward of gear teeth on said ring gear.

5. The gas turbine engine of claim 4 , wherein said recess is formed by recess portions formed in each of two gear portions which together form said ring gear.

6. The gas turbine engine of claim 2 , wherein said first spray bar provides lubrication to said plurality of planetary gears and to said ring gear.

7. The gas turbine engine of claim 6 , wherein said second spray bar provides lubrication to a shaft of said carrier.

8. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein lubrication flows from said first spray bar to said second spray bar.

9. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein said shaft of said carrier drives said fan.

10. The gas turbine engine of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of planetary gears counter-rotates relative to a direction of rotation of said sun gear and simultaneously orbits said sun gear in the direction of rotation of the sun gear so as to co-rotate said carrier with said sun gear and said low spool.

11. The gas turbine engine of claim 2 , wherein a lubricating system is provided for said gear train.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , wherein the lubricating system includes a lubricant input, there being a stationary first bearing receiving lubricant from said lubricant input, said first bearing having an inner first race in which lubricant flows, and a second bearing for rotation within said first bearing, said second bearing having a first opening in registration with said inner first race such that lubricant may flow from said inner first race through said first opening into a first conduit.

13. The gas turbine engine of claim 12 , wherein said second bearing extends from said carrier about an axis.

14. The gas turbine engine of claim 12 , wherein said first conduit lubricates said planetary gears.

15. The gas turbine engine of claim 14 , wherein the first spray bar is disposed on said carrier.

16. The gas turbine engine of claim 12 , wherein said first bearing includes a second race extending around an interior surface of said first bearing, and lubrication flows from said second race to said first spray bar.

17. The gas turbine engine of claim 16 , wherein lubrication flows from said second bearing to said first spray bar via a pipe mounted on a circular body of said carrier, said circular body holding said plurality of planetary gears.

18. The gas turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the fan rotates slower than the first compressor stage.

Assignees

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

Inventors

• Mccune Michael E
• Sheridan William G
• Portlock Lawrence E

Classifications

• 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

• F01D25/16 Primary

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

• F05D2260/40311

  of the epicyclical, planetary or differential type · CPC title

• F02C3/10

  with another turbine driving an output shaft but not driving the compressor · CPC title