Fundamental gear system architecture

• US 8,572,943 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2012
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Sheridan, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wongwian, Phutthiwat
• Application Number:
  US13/557,614
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 60/390.8, 608/05, 184/6.11, 184/6.12, 184/104.1, 415/112, 415/175
• US Class Current: 60/39.08
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/18 Lubricating arrangements of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 3/107 with two or more rotors connected by power transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/06 Arrangements of bearings bearings F16C; Lubricating of turbo machines F01D25/18; of machines or engines in general F01M
• 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 3/06 with front fan
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/4031 as in toothed gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A fan drive gear system for a gas turbine engine includes a gear system that provides a speed reduction between a fan drive turbine and a fan and a mount flexibly supporting portions of the gear system. A lubrication system supporting the fan drive gear system provides lubricant to the gear system and removes thermal energy produced by the gear system. The lubrication system includes a capacity for removing thermal energy equal to less than about 2% of power input into the gear system.

Claims

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

a gear system configured to provide a speed reduction between a fan drive turbine and a fan;

a mount flexibly supporting portions of the gear system radially extending from a static structure of the gas turbine engine with respect to a central axis to accommodate radial movement between the gear system and the static structure; and

a lubrication system configured to provide lubricant to the gear system and remove thermal energy produced by the gear system, wherein the lubrication system includes a maximum capacity for removing thermal energy from the gear system greater than zero and less than about 2% of power input into the gear system during operation of the engine.

2. The fan drive gear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the gear system is configured to transfer power input from the fan drive turbine to the fan at an efficiency greater than about 98% to less 100%.

3. The fan drive gear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the lubrication system includes a capacity for removing thermal energy equal to less than about 1% of power input into the gear system.

4. The fan drive gear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the lubrication system comprises a main lubrication system configured to provide lubricant flow to the gear system and an auxiliary lubrication system configured to provide lubricant to the gear system responsive to an interruption of lubricant flow from the main lubrication system.

5. The fan drive gear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the mount includes a load limiter for limiting movement of the gear system responsive to an unbalanced condition.

6. The fan drive gear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the gear system comprises a sun gear driven by the fan drive turbine, a non-rotatable carrier, a plurality of star gears supported on the carrier and driven by the sun gear and a ring gear circumscribing the plurality of star gears.

7. The fan drive gear system as recited in claim 6, wherein the mount includes a first flexible coupling between an input shaft driven by the fan drive turbine and the sun gear, and a second flexible coupling between a fixed structure and the carrier.

8. The fan drive gear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the gear system comprises a sun gear driven by the fan drive turbine, a rotatable carrier, a plurality of planet gears supported on the carrier and driven by the sun gear, and a ring gear circumscribing the plurality of planet gears.

9. The fan drive gear system as recited in claim 8, wherein the mount includes a first flexible coupling between an input shaft driven by the fan drive turbine and the sun gear, and a second flexible coupling between a fixed structure and the ring gear.

10. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a fan including a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis;

a compressor section;

a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section;

a fan drive turbine in communication with the combustor;

a gear system is configured to;

(a) provide a speed reduction between the fan drive turbine and the fan; and

(b), transfer power input from the fan drive turbine to the fan at an efficiency greater than about 98% to less 100%;

a mount flexibly supporting the gear system radially extending from a static structure of the engine with respect to a central axis to accommodate radial movement between the gear system and the static structure; and

a lubrication system configured to provide lubricant to the gear system and remove removing thermal energy from the gear system produced by the gear system.

11. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 10, wherein the lubrication system includes a maximum capacity for removing thermal energy generated by the gear system greater than zero and less than about 2% of power input into the gear system during operation of the engine.

12. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 10, wherein the lubrication system includes a capacity for removing thermal energy greater than zero to less than about 1% of power input into the gear system.

13. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 10, wherein the lubrication system comprises a main lubrication system configured to provide lubricant flow to the gear system and an auxiliary lubrication system configured to provide lubricant to the gear system responsive to an interruption of lubricant flow from the main lubrication system.

14. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 10, wherein the gear system comprises a sun gear driven by the fan drive turbine, a non-rotatable carrier, a plurality of star gears supported on the carrier and driven by the sun gear and a ring gear circumscribing the plurality of star gears and the mount includes a first flexible coupling between an input shaft driven by the fan drive turbine and the sun gear, and a second flexible coupling between a fixed structure and the carrier.

15. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 10, wherein the gear system comprises a sun gear driven by the fan drive turbine, a rotatable carrier, a plurality of planet gears supported on the carrier and driven by the sun gear, and a ring gear circumscribing the plurality of planet gears and the mount includes a first flexible coupling between an input shaft driven by the fan drive turbine and the sun gear, and a second flexible coupling between a fixed structure and the ring gear.

16. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 10, wherein the mount includes a load limiter for limiting movement of the gear system responsive to an unbalanced condition.

17. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 10, wherein the gear system comprises a gear reduction having a gear ratio greater than about 2.3.

18. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 10, wherein said fan delivers a portion of air into a bypass duct, and a bypass ratio being defined as the portion of air delivered into the bypass duct divided by the amount of air delivered into the compressor section, with the bypass ratio being greater than about 6.0.

19. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 10, wherein a fan pressure ratio across the fan is less than about 1.5.

20. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 10, wherein said fan has 26 or fewer blades.