PLANETARY GEAR SYSTEM ARRANGEMENT WITH AUXILIARY OIL SYSTEM

• US 20120088624A1
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Sheridan, William G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,813,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/159
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/16 Arrangement of bearings; Supporting or mounting bearings in casings bearings per se F16C
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/18 Lubricating arrangements of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/642 using maintaining alignment while permitting differential dilatation
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/40311 of the epicyclical, planetary or differential type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A lubricating system for lubricating components across a rotation gap has an input that provides lubricant to a stationary first bearing. The first bearing has an inner first race in which lubricant flows. A second bearing rotates within the first bearing and has a first opening in registration with the inner first race such that lubricant may flow from the inner first race through the first opening into a first conduit.

Claims

1. A lubrication system for lubricating components across a rotation gap, said lubricating system comprising:

a lubricant input;

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.

2. The lubrication system of claim 1 wherein first bearing and said second bearing are disposed about an axis.

3. The lubrication system of claim 2 wherein said first conduit is parallel to said axis and said opening is perpendicular to said axis.

4. The lubrication system of claim 1 further comprising:

a rotating carrier for supporting a planetary gear wherein said second bearing extends from said rotating carrier about an axis.

5. The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein said first conduit is parallel to said axis and said first opening is perpendicular to said axis.

6. The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein said first conduit lubricates said planetary gears.

7. The lubrication system of claim 4 further comprising a first spray bar disposed on said carrier.

8. The lubrication system of claim 7 wherein said first bearing has a second inner race and said second bearing has a second opening in registration with said second inner race and a second conduit for passing lubricant to said spray bar.

9. The lubrication system of claim 7 wherein said first spray bar directs lubricant to a component disposed coaxially with said carrier.

10. The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein said components are any of a ring gear or a sun gear.

11. The lubrication system of claim 7 wherein said first bearing has a third inner race and said second bearing has a third opening in registration with said third inner race and a third conduit for passing lubricant through said first spray bar.

12. The lubrication system of claim 11 wherein said third conduit passes lubricant to a component disposed radially forward of said carrier.

13. The lubrication system of claim 12 wherein said component is a tapered bearing.

14. The lubrication system of claim 1 further comprising;

an arm mounted to ground and attaching to said first bearing for preventing said first bearing from rotating with said second bearing.

15. The lubrication system of claim 14 in which said arm is flexibly attached to said first bearing.

16. A planetary gear system for a jet engine comprises:

a planetary gear;

a sun gear;

a stationary ring gear;

a carrier in which said planetary gear is mounted, said carrier mounted for rotation about said sun gear; and

a lubricating system having

a lubricant input,

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.

17. The planetary gear system of claim 16 wherein said second bearing extends from said carrier along an axis.

18. The planetary gear system of claim 16 wherein said first conduit lubricates said planetary gear.

19. The planetary gear system of claim 16 further comprising a first spray bar disposed on said carrier.

20. The planetary gear system of claim 19 wherein said first bearing has a second inner race and said second bearing has a second opening in registration with said second inner race and a second conduit for passing lubricant to said spray bar.

21. The planetary gear system of claim 20 wherein said first spray bar directs lubricant to any of said sun gear, said planetary gear or said ring gear.

22. The planetary gear system of claim 16 wherein said first bearing has a third inner race and said second bearing has a third opening in registration with said third inner race and a third conduit for passing lubricant from said third inner race through said first spray bar.

23. The planetary gear system of claim 22 wherein said third conduit passes lubricant to a tapered bearing outside of said carrier.

24. The planetary gear system of claim 16 further comprising:

a first gutter attaching to and disposed radially outwardly from said ring gear for capturing oil from said lubrication system.

25. The planetary gear system of claim 24 further comprising:

a second gutter attaching to and disposed radially outwardly from said ring gear for capturing oil from said lubrication system said second gutter being disposed axially from said first gutter.

26. The planetary gear system of claim 24 wherein said first gutter is attached to an oil reservoir.

27. The planetary gear system of claim 26 wherein said second gutter directs oil to said first gutter via an opening in said ring gear.

28. The planetary gear system of claim 24 wherein said ring gear has an oil conduit that allows oil to flow radially outward from said ring gear.