Reduced twist carrier

• US 6,855,089 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Poulin, Martin, Gautier, Robert, Lewis, Alain, Mitrovic, Lazar
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Ha
• Application Number:
  US10/318,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20030162630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 475/331, 475/334, 475/346, 475/901
• US Class Current: 475/331
• 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: F16H 1/46 Systems consisting of a plurality of gear trains each with orbital gears, i.e. systems having three or more central gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/082 Planet carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

An epicyclic gear train includes a sun gear rotatable about a central axis, a concentric outer ring gear, and a plurality of gears mechanically intermediate the sun gear and the ring gear, and which are in meshing engagement therewith. An epicyclic carrier assembly comprises a gear support member and a coupling adapter. The gear support member is adapted to rotatably support the plurality of gears on axles between first and second axle ends. The gear support member has at least a first connecting member. The coupling adapter is disposed concentrically with the gear support member and has a second connecting member. The second connecting member is engaged with the first connecting member to structurally join the coupling adapter and the gear support member. The first and second connecting members are mounted to one another in a plane between the first and second axle ends.

Claims

1. An epicyclic carrier assembly adapted for use in an epicyclic gear train, said gear train including a sun gear rotatable about a central axis, a concentric outer ring gear, and a plurality of gears circumferentially spaced relative to, and mechanically intermediate of, said sun gear and said ring gear and in meshing engagement therewith, said plurality of gears being adapted for receiving torque input from said sun gear, said planetary carrier assembly comprising:

a split gear carrier, comprising a first half and a second half for rotatably supporting respective first and second ends of a plurality of axles of said plurality of gears, said plurality of axles being parallel to said central axis, said plurality of gears being circumferentially located about said central axis and axially disposed between said first and second halves of said split gear carrier, each of said first and second halves having a corresponding first attachment member; and

a carrier support torque frame disposed concentrically with said central axis and axially located between said first half and said second half of said split gear carrier, said carrier support torque frame having an annular mounting flange adapted for fixed engagement with an outer housing and comprising a second attachment member, said second attachment member being mounted to said first attachment members to structurally connect said first and second halves of said split gear carrier to said carrier support torque frame, said first and second attachment members being mounted to one another in a plane between said first and second ends of said plurality of axles of said plurality of gears.

2. The epicyclic carrier assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said epicyclic gear train is a star gear set, and said epicyclic carrier assembly is a star carrier assembly and said plurality of gears are star gears.

3. The epicyclic carrier assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer ring gear is rotatable about said central axis and is adapted for providing torque output from said plurality of gears, said epicyclic carrier assembly being rotatably fixed.

4. An epicyclic carrier assembly adapted for use in an epicyclic gear train, said epicyclic gear train including a sun gear rotatable about a central axis, a concentric outer ring gear, and a plurality of gears circumferentially spaced relative to, and mechanically intermediate of, said sun gear and said ring gear and in meshing engagement therewith, said plurality of gears being adapted for receiving torque input from said sun gear, said epicyclic carrier assembly comprising:

a gear support member, concentric with said central axis, and adapted to rotatably support said plurality of gears on a plurality of axles between first and second axle ends, said plurality of axles being parallel to said central axis, said plurality of gears being circumferentially located on said gear support member about said central axis, said gear support member having at least a first connecting member; and

a coupling adapter disposed concentrically with said gear support member, said coupling adapter having a second connecting member, said second connecting member being engaged with said first connecting member to structurally join said coupling adapter and said gear support member, said first and second connecting members being mounted to one another in a plane between said first and second axle ends.

5. The epicyclic carrier assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said gear support member is rotatable about said central axis and said outer ring gear is fixed relative to a surrounding housing.

6. The epicyclic carrier assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said coupling adapter comprises a torque transfer member that is rotatable with the gear support member and includes a central torque output element comprising a splined portion, said splined portion being adapted for engagement with a driven output.

7. The epicyclic carrier assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said epicyclic gear train is a planetary gear set, said gear support member is a planetary carrier and said plurality of gears are planet gears.

8. The epicyclic carrier assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said driven output is a propeller shaft.

9. The epicyclic carrier assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said outer ring gear is rotatable about said central axis and provides torque output from said plurality of gears, said coupling adapter being fixed relative to a surrounding housing.

10. The epicyclic carrier assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein said coupling adapter is an annular support flange having a splined portion on an outer diameter thereof, said splined portion being adapted for fixed engagement with said surrounding housing.

11. The epicyclic carrier assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein said epicyclic gear train is a star gear set, and said epicyclic carrier assembly is a star carrier assembly and said plurality of gears are star gears.