IDLER GEAR CONNECTION FOR MULTI-STAGE VARIABLE VANE ACTUATION

• US 20170276016A1
• Filed: 03/24/2016
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Suciu, Gabriel L., Chandler, Jesse M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,443,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/162 for axial flow, i.e. the vanes turning around axes which are essentially perpendicular to the rotor centre line F01D17/167 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/563 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/32 in gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/12 Fluid guiding means, e.g. vanes
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/14 elliptical
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/53 using gears
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/532 of the bevelled or angled type
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/57 using servos, independent actuators, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 19/001 for conveying reciprocating or limited rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/12 Gearings comprising primarily toothed or friction gearing, links or levers, and cams, or members of at least two of these types gearings with cranks, eccentrics, or like members fixed to one rotary member and guided along tracks on the other F16H21/14; crank or eccentric gearings with cams or additional guides, or with members having rolling contact F16H21/28, F16H21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 49/001 Wave gearings, e.g. harmonic drive transmissions harmonic drives specially adapted for positioning programme-controlled manipulators B25J9/1025
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/17 Toothed wheels worm wheels F16H55/22; chain wheels F16H55/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

An actuator system including a harmonic drive operable to drive a variable vane system of a gas turbine engine.

Claims

1. A variable vane system, comprising:

an actuator;

a harmonic drive driven by the actuator;

a multi-planar drive gear driven by the harmonic drive;

a first actuator gear mounted to a first variable vane of a first variable vane stage, the first actuator gear driven by the multi-planar drive gear; and

a second actuator gear mounted to a second variable vane of a second variable vane stage, the second actuator gear driven by the multi-planar drive gear.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the multi-planar drive gear includes a first set of gear teeth in a first plane and a second set of gear teeth in a second plane.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the first set of gear teeth in the first plane is a first gear segment and the second set of gear teeth in the second plane forms a second gear segment.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the first gear segment and the second gear segment are each less than 180 degrees.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the harmonic drive includes a strain wave gearing mechanism.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the strain wave gearing mechanism include a fixed circular spline, a flex spline attached to an output shaft, and a wave generator attached to an input shaft, the flex spline driven by the wave generator with respect to the circular spline.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first actuator gear includes a drive arm.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the drive arm is connected to a first unison ring.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a link between each of a multiple of variable vanes and the first unison ring.

10. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the second actuator gear includes a second drive arm.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the second drive arm is connected to a second unison ring.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the harmonic drive provides between a 30:

1-320;

1 gear ratio.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first gear segment and the second gear segment are each less than 180 degrees.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the multi-planar drive gear is operable to rotate through about 90 degrees.

15. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electric motor.

16. A gas turbine engine, comprising:

a harmonic drive operable to drive a variable vane system through a geared connection, the geared connection including a multi-planar drive gear driven by the harmonic drive.

17. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 16, wherein the multi-planar drive gear includes a first set of gear teeth in a first plane and a second set of gear teeth in a second plane.

18. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 16, wherein the geared connection includes at least one idler gear.

19. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 18, wherein the at least one idler gear is rotationally mounted to a case of the gas turbine engine.

20. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 16, wherein the geared connection includes at least one drive gear direct mounted to a variable vane.