Torque frame and asymmetric journal bearing for fan drive gear system

• US 8,899,916 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: McCune, Michael E., Sheridan, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flores, Juan G
• Application Number:
  US13/221,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20130051984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 415/112, 415/124.1, 415/229, 415/122.1, 416/170.R, 416/204.R
• US Class Current: 415/124.1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/164 Flexible supports; Vibration damping means associated with the bearing
• 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 3/04 the plant including ducted fans, i.e. fans with high volume, low pressure outputs, for augmenting the jet thrust, e.g. of double-flow type
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/36 specially adapted for the fan of turbofan engines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/64 using positioning or alignment devices for aligning or centring, e.g. pins
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/54 Radial bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/14 elliptical
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/314 the axes being inclined in relation to each other
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/36 in inner-outer relationship, e.g. shaft-bearing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/73 asymmetric
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/40311 of the epicyclical, planetary or differential type
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/2836 by allowing limited movement of the planets relative to the planet carrier or by using free floating planets
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/48 Special means compensating for misalignment of axes , e.g. for equalising distribution of load on the face width of the teeth in combination with distribution of load on the planet-wheels F16H1/2809
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0456 Lubrication by injection; Injection nozzles or tubes therefor oil mist or spray lubrication F16H57/0458
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0479 Gears or bearings on planet carriers
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0486 with fixed gear ratio differentials F16H57/0483

Abstract

A fan drive gear system for a gas turbine engine includes a torque frame and a journal bearing. The torque frame has an arm that extends therefrom, the journal bearing is mounted on the arm. When the fan drive gear system is in an unloaded condition an outer circumferential surface of the journal bearing is disposed at an angle so that it is non-parallel with respect to an axis of the arm. When the fan drive gear system is in a loaded condition the outer circumferential surface is disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the arm. In another aspect, the journal bearing includes a main body, a first wing, and a second wing. The first and second wings extend from the main body and are asymmetric with respect to one another.

Claims

1. A fan drive gear system for a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a torque frame having an arm extending therefrom, the arm providing an axis;

a journal bearing mounted on the arm and having an outer circumferential surface;

a planet gear supported on the journal bearing for rotation about a rotational axis which substantially aligns with and is parallel to the axis of the arm;

a sun gear located radially inward from and intermeshing with planet gear, the sun gear coupled to a low pressure shaft of the gas turbine engine; and

a ring gear arranged about and intermeshing with the planet gear, the ring gear coupled to a fan shaft of the gas turbine engine;

wherein when the fan drive gear system is in an unloaded condition the outer circumferential surface of the journal bearing is disposed at an angle that is non-parallel with respect to the axis of the arm, and wherein when the fan drive gear system is in a loaded condition the outer circumferential surface of the journal bearing is disposed substantially parallel with respect to the axis of the arm.

2. The fan drive gear system of claim 1, wherein the arm has an outer surface that forms a bias angle with respect to the axis of the arm.

3. The fan drive gear system of claim 2, wherein the angle of the outer surface of the journal bearing is substantially parallel to the bias angle of the outer surface of the arm.

4. The fan drive gear system of claim 1, wherein the journal bearing comprises:

a main body having an inner radial surface that interfaces with the arm;

a first wing extending from a first side of the main body; and

a second wing extending from a second opposing side of the main body, the first and second wings being asymmetric with respect to one another.

5. The fan drive gear system of claim 4, wherein the asymmetry is a result of the first wing having a thickness that exceeds a thickness of the second wing along a corresponding axial and/or circumferential dimension.

6. The fan drive gear system of claim 5, wherein the thickness of the first wing and the thickness of the second wing vary circumferentially about the journal bearing.

7. The fan drive gear system of claim 5, wherein the thickness of the first wing along an axial length from the main body to a forward end exceeds the thickness of the second wing along a corresponding axial length from the main body to an aft end.

8. The fan drive gear system of claim 4, wherein the asymmetry is a result of the first wing extending from the main body at a first angle that differs from a second angle formed by the second wing extending from the main body.

9. The fan drive gear system of claim 1, wherein the torque frame is supported at a first end by a stator structure and is unsupported by a fixed structure at a second end.

10. A fan drive gear system for a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a torque frame having an arm extending therefrom, the arm providing an axis;

a journal bearing mounted on the arm, the journal bearing including a main body having an inner radial surface that interfaces with the arm, a first wing extending from a first side of the main body, and a second wing extending from a second opposing side of the main body, the first and second wings being asymmetric with respect to one another;

a planet gear supported on the journal bearing for rotation about a rotational axis which substantially aligns with and is parallel to the axis of the arm;

a sun gear located radially inward from and intermeshing with planet gear, the sun gear coupled to a low pressure shaft of the gas turbine engine; and

a ring gear arranged about and intermeshing with the planet gear, the ring gear coupled to a fan shaft of the gas turbine engine.

11. The fan drive gear system of claim 10, wherein the asymmetry is a result of the first wing having a thickness that exceeds a thickness of the second wing along a corresponding axial and/or circumferential dimension.

12. The fan drive gear system of claim 11, wherein the thickness of the first wing and the thickness of the second wing vary circumferentially about the journal bearing.

13. The fan drive gear system of claim 11, wherein the thickness of the first wing along an axial length from the main body to a forward end exceeds the thickness of the second wing along a corresponding axial length from the main body to an aft end.

14. The fan drive gear system of claim 10, wherein the asymmetry is a result of the first wing extending from the main body at a first angle that differs from a second angle formed by the second wing extending from the main body.

15. The fan drive gear system of claim 10, wherein the journal bearing has an outer circumferential surface, and wherein when the fan drive gear system is in an unloaded condition the outer circumferential surface is disposed at an angle that is non-parallel with respect to the axis of the arm, and wherein when the fan drive gear system is in a loaded condition the outer circumferential surface is disposed substantially parallel with respect to the axis of the arm.

16. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a low pressure turbine;

a low pressure shaft coupled to the low pressure turbine; and

a fan drive gear system coupled to the low pressure shaft, the fan drive gear system having a journal bearing mounted to an arm of a torque frame;

at least one of the journal bearing and torque frame configured to have one or more features that account for a deflection of the fan drive gear system in a loaded condition to align an outer surface of the journal bearing with an axis of the arm;

a planet gear supported on the journal bearing for rotation about a rotation axis which substantially aligns with and is parallel to the axis of the arm;

a sun gear located radially inward from and intermeshing with the planet gear, the sun gear coupled to the low pressure shaft; and

a ring gear arranged about an intermeshing with the planet gear, the ring gear coupled to a fan shaft of the gas turbine engine.

17. The gas turbine engine of claim 16, wherein the one or more features comprises the journal bearing having a main body with an inner radial surface that interfaces with the arm, a first wing extending from a first side of the main body, and a second wing extending from a second opposing side of the main body, the first and second wings being asymmetric with respect to one another.

18. The gas turbine engine of claim 17, wherein the asymmetry is a result of the first wing having a thickness that exceeds a thickness of the second wing along a corresponding axial and/or circumferential dimension.

19. The gas turbine engine of claim 16, wherein the one or more features comprises the journal bearing having an outer circumferential surface, and wherein when the fan drive gear system is in an unloaded condition the outer circumferential surface is disposed at an angle that is non-parallel with respect to the axis of the arm, and wherein when the fan drive gear system is in the loaded condition the outer circumferential surface is disposed substantially parallel with respect to the axis of the arm.