Variable vane synchronization ring transmission mechanism
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorJohn D. Teixeira
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transmission mechanism includes a planet gear, a set of sun gear teeth and a set of ring gear teeth. The planet gear is configured to be mounted to a synchronization ring for rotation relative to the synchronization ring about a planet gear axis. The set of sun gear teeth are meshed with teeth of the planet gear. The set of sun gear teeth is configured to rotate and drive motion of the planet gear in a circumferential direction about an axis of the set of sun gear teeth. The set of ring gear teeth are meshed with the teeth of the planet gear. The set of sun gear teeth and the set of ring gear teeth are spaced apart from one another.
Claims20
A transmission mechanism comprising:
- a synchronization ring configured for rotation about a centerline axis (A);
- a planet gear configured to be mounted to a synchronization ring for rotation relative to the synchronization ring about a planet gear axis;
- a set of sun gear teeth meshed with teeth of the planet gear, wherein the set of sun gear teeth is configured to rotate and drive motion of the planet gear in a circumferential direction about an axis of the set of sun gear teeth, the set of sun gear teeth actuates the synchronization ring for axial and rotational motion with respect to the centerline axis and wherein the axis (D) is normal to the centerline axis (A);
- and
- a set of ring gear teeth meshed with the teeth of the planet gear, wherein the set of sun gear teeth and the set of ring gear teeth are spaced apart from one another.
A variable vane system, comprising:
- a synchronization ring defining a centerline axis;
- a transmission mechanism including:
- a planet gear mounted radially outward of the synchronization ring for rotation relative to the synchronization ring about a planet gear axis;
- a set of sun gear teeth meshed with teeth of the planet gear, wherein the set of sun gear teeth is configured to rotate and drive motion of the planet gear in a circumferential direction about an axis of the set of sun gear teeth, actuating the synchronization ring for axial and rotational motion with respect to the centerline axis;
- and
- a set of ring gear teeth meshed with the teeth of the planet gear, wherein the set of sun gear teeth and the set of ring gear teeth are spaced apart from one another;
- and
- a plurality of variable vanes operatively connected to the synchronization ring such that the axial and rotational motion of the synchronization ring drives the rotation of the variable vanes to adjust the angle of attack of the variable vanes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.