Flexible support structure for a geared architecture gas turbine engine
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a fan shaft;
a support which supports the fan shaft, the support defines a support lateral stiffness;
a gear system to drive the fan shaft;
a flexible support which at least partially supports the gear system, the flexible support defines a flexible support lateral stiffness with respect to the support lateral stiffness; and
an input to the gear system, the input defining an input lateral stiffness with respect to the support lateral stiffness.
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Abstract
A gas turbine engine includes a fan shaft and a support which supports the fan shaft. The support defines a support lateral stiffness. A gear system drives the fan shaft. A flexible support at least partially supports the gear system, and defines a flexible support lateral stiffness with respect to the support lateral stiffness. An input to the gear system defines an input lateral stiffness with respect to the support lateral stiffness. A method of designing a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
35 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A gas turbine engine comprising:
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a fan shaft; a support which supports the fan shaft, the support defines a support lateral stiffness; a gear system to drive the fan shaft; a flexible support which at least partially supports the gear system, the flexible support defines a flexible support lateral stiffness with respect to the support lateral stiffness; and an input to the gear system, the input defining an input lateral stiffness with respect to the support lateral stiffness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A gas turbine engine comprising:
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a fan shaft; a support which supports the fan shaft; a gear system to drive the fan shaft, the gear system includes a gear mesh that defines a gear mesh lateral stiffness; a flexible support which at least partially supports the gear system, the flexible support defining a flexible support lateral stiffness with respect to the gear mesh lateral stiffness; and an input to the gear system, the input defining an input lateral stiffness with respect to the gear mesh lateral stiffness. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of designing a gas turbine engine comprising:
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providing a fan shaft; providing a support which supports the fan shaft, the support defining a support lateral stiffness; providing a gear system to drive the fan shaft; providing a flexible support which at least partially supports the gear system, the flexible support defining a flexible support lateral stiffness with respect to the support lateral stiffness; and providing an input to the gear system, the input defining an input lateral stiffness with respect to the support lateral stiffness. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A method of designing a gear system for a gas turbine engine comprising:
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designing an output shaft; designing a support which supports the output shaft, the support defining at least one of a support transverse stiffness and a support lateral stiffness; designing a gear assembly to drive the output shaft; designing a flexible support which at least partially supports the gear assembly, the flexible support defining at least one of a flexible support transverse stiffness and a flexible support lateral stiffness with respect to the at least one of the support transverse stiffness and the support lateral stiffness; and designing an input to the gear assembly, the input defining at least one of an input transverse stiffness and an input lateral stiffness with respect to the at least one of the support transverse stiffness and the support lateral stiffness.
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Specification