LIGHTWEIGHT GEAR ASSEMBLY FOR EPICYCLIC GEARBOX

• US 20160146112A1
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: van der Merwe, Gert J., BRADLEY, Donald Albert
• Application Number:
  US14/900,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20160146112A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/32 Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/36 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 Class Codes: F02K 3/06 with front fan
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/40311 of the epicyclical, planetary or differential type
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/53 using gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/085 Bearings for orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/08 of gearings with members having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

An epicyclic gearbox comprises a gearbox housing including an inner cavity receiving an input shaft from a low pressure turbine and an output shaft connected to a fan. A sun gear is disposed within the housing and at least one planetary gear engages and orbits the sun gear. The at least one planetary gear is formed of a first material and an insert is disposed between a gear rim of the at least one planetary gear and a journal. The insert is formed of a second material distinct from the first material and of a weight which is lighter than the first material. The gearbox may include but is not limited to both star gearbox and planetary gearbox configurations.

Claims

1. An epicyclic gearbox, comprising:

a gearbox housing including an inner cavity receiving an input shaft from a low pressure turbine and an output shaft to a fan;

a sun gear disposed within said housing;

at least one planetary gear which engages and orbits said sun gear;

said at least one planetary gear being formed of a first material;

an insert disposed between a gear rim of said at least one planetary gear and a journal;

said insert being formed of a second material distinct from said first material and of a density which is less than said first material.

2. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 1, wherein said insert is generally cylindrical.

3. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 1 wherein said epicyclic gearbox is a star gear configuration.

4. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 3 further comprising a carrier which is fixed and a ring gear which rotates.

5. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 4, wherein rotation of said ring gear drives said fan.

6. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 1 wherein said gearbox is a planetary gearbox configuration.

7. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 6 further comprising a carrier, said carrier establishing orbiting of said at least one planetary gear about said sun gear.

8. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 7, wherein said carrier drives rotation of said fan.

9. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 6, further comprising a ring gear-64 disposed outwardly of said at least one planetary gear.

10. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 9, wherein said ring gear is fixed and causes orbiting of said at least one planetary gear.

11. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 10 further comprising a carrier wherein said at least one planetary gear is located.

12. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 11, wherein said carrier rotates and is drivably connected to said fan to cause rotation of said fan.

13. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 1, wherein the second material is of a lighter weight than the first material.

14. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 13, said insert being formed of one of aluminum, a composite material, composite metal matrix, titanium, titanium alloys, magnesium or magnesium alloys.

15. The epicyclic gearbox of claim 1, wherein said insert is connected to said gear rim by one of an adhesive, a weld, a press-fit or a mechanical interface.