Variable pitch fan pitch range limiter

• US 10,443,412 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2015
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Niergarth, Daniel Alan, Miller, Brandon Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Laurenzi, Mark A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thiede, Paul W
• Application Number:
  US14/838,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20170058683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 416153, 60226
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 11/00 Propellers, e.g. of ducted type; Features common to propellers and rotors for rotorcraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 11/38 fluid, e.g. hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 11/44 electric
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 7/00 Rotors with blades adjustable in operation; Control thereof for reversing F01D1/30
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/58 with control of a variable-pitch propeller
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 1/66 using reversing fan blades
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/0292 Stop safety or alarm devices, e.g. stop-and-go control; Disposition of check-valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/323 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/36 specially adapted for the fan of turbofan engines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/30 Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/72 by turning around an axis parallel to the rotor centre line
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/74 by turning around an axis perpendicular the rotor centre line
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/76 the adjusting mechanism using auxiliary power sources
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/46 redundant, i.e. failsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/56 by hydraulic means, e.g. hydraulic valves within a hydraulic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/62 Electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/64 Hydraulic actuators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A variable pitch fan for gas turbine engine is provided. The variable pitch fan includes a plurality of fan blades rotatably coupled to a disk and an actuation assembly for changing a pitch of each of the plurality of fan blades. The actuation assembly generally includes an actuation member operably connected to at least one of the plurality of fan blades and a pin. The pin is movable between a first position in which the pin is positioned at least partially in a channel defined in the actuation member, and a second position. The pin blocks movement of the actuation member relative to the pin past a range defined by the channel when in the first position. The actuation assembly further includes a retraction system for selectively engaging the pin in moving the pin from the first position to the second position.

Claims

1. A variable pitch fan for a gas turbine engine, the variable pitch fan comprising:

a plurality of fan blades rotatably coupled to a disk, each of the plurality of fan blades defining a pitch; and

an actuation assembly for changing a pitch of each of the plurality of fan blades, the actuation assembly including

an actuation member operably connected to at least one of the plurality of fan blades and defining a channel, wherein the actuation member is a scheduling ring rotatable relative to the disk; and

a pin moveable between a first position in which the pin is positioned at least partially in the channel defined in the actuation member and a second position, the pin blocking movement of the actuation member relative to the pin past a range defined by the channel when in the first position; and

a retraction system for selectively engaging the pin and moving the pin from the first position to the second position.

2. The variable pitch fan of claim 1, wherein the scheduling ring defines a plurality of slots, wherein the actuation assembly further includes a plurality of linkage arms, wherein each linkage arm is operatively coupled to one of the plurality of fan blades and to one of the plurality of slots defined by the scheduling ring.

3. The variable pitch fan of claim 1, wherein the channel defined in the scheduling ring extends generally along a circumferential direction.

4. The variable pitch fan of claim 1, wherein the channel defines a length, wherein the length of the channel represents a first pitch range of the plurality of fan blades.

5. The variable pitch fan of claim 4, wherein the plurality of fan blades further define a second pitch range, wherein the actuation member defines a range of motion relative to the pin greater than a length of the channel when the pin is in the second position, and wherein the increased range of motion of the actuation member corresponds to the second pitch range of the plurality of fan blades.

6. The variable pitch fan of claim 1, wherein the actuation assembly further includes a pin body, wherein the pin is movable between the first position and second position relative to the pin body.

7. The variable pitch fan of claim 6, wherein the pin moves linearly between the first position and second position relative to the pin body.

8. The variable pitch fan of claim 6, wherein the retraction system is a hydraulic retraction system utilizing hydraulic pressure to selectively move the pin to the second position.

9. The variable pitch fan of claim 6, wherein the plurality of fan blades are rotatable by a fan shaft, and wherein the pin body is fixed relative to the fan shaft.

10. The variable pitch fan of claim 1, wherein the actuation member is a linkage arm, wherein the actuation assembly further includes a plurality of linkage arms, and wherein each linkage arm is operably coupled to one of the plurality of fan blades.

11. A variable pitch fan for a gas turbine engine, the variable pitch fan comprising:

a plurality of fan blades rotatably coupled to a disk, each of the plurality of fan blades defining a first pitch range and a second pitch range; and

an actuation assembly for changing a pitch of the plurality of fan blades, the actuation assembly including

an actuation member operably connected to at least one of the plurality of fan blades, the actuation member defining a first range of motion corresponding to the first pitch range and a second range of motion corresponding to a second pitch range, the actuation member further defining a channel, wherein the actuation member is a scheduling ring rotatable relative to the disk; and

a pin moveable between a first position in which the pin is positioned at least partially in the channel defined in the actuation member and a second position, the pin blocking the actuation member from the second range of motion when the pin is in the first position; and

a retraction system for selectively engaging the pin and moving the pin from the first position to the second position.

12. The variable pitch fan of claim 11, wherein the first range of motion of the actuation member is a first range of motion relative to the disk, and wherein the second range of motion of the actuation member is a second range of motion relative to the disk.

13. The variable pitch fan of claim 11, wherein the scheduling ring defines a plurality of slots, wherein the actuation assembly further includes a plurality of linkage arms, wherein each linkage arm is operatively coupled to one of the plurality of fan blades and to one of the plurality of slots defined by the scheduling ring.

14. The variable pitch fan of claim 11, wherein the channel defined in the scheduling ring extends generally along a circumferential direction.

15. The variable pitch fan of claim 11, wherein the channel defines a length, wherein the length of the channel represents the first range of motion of the actuation member.

16. The variable pitch fan of claim 11, wherein the actuation assembly further includes a pin body, wherein the pin is movable between the first position and second position relative to the pin body.

17. The variable pitch fan of claim 16, wherein the pin moves linearly between the first position and second position relative to the pin body.

18. The variable pitch fan of claim 16, wherein the retraction system is a hydraulic retraction system utilizing hydraulic pressure to selectively move the pin to the second position.