# US 11,994,038 B2 · Turbine engine module with electric machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,038 B2 - Document ID: US11994038B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/967,460 - Filed: 2022-10-17 - Published: 2023-07-06 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-15 - Assignees: Rtx Corporation - Applicants: Raytheon Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Marc J. Muldoon; Russell B. Witlicki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994038B2 ## CPC - F01D 15/10: Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators - F01D 25/183: {Sealing means} - F01D 15/12: Combinations with mechanical gearing (driven by multiple engines F01D13/00) - F01D 25/16: Arrangement of bearings; Supporting or mounting bearings in casings (bearings per se F16C) - F02C 6/20: Adaptations of gas-turbine plants for driving vehicles - F02C 7/32: Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries - F05D 2220/323: for aircraft propulsion, e.g. jet engines - F05D 2220/70: in combination with - F05D 2220/76: an electrical generator - F05D 2230/51: in a modular way, e.g. using several identical or complementary parts or features - F05D 2240/54: Radial bearings - F05D 2240/55: Seals - F05D 2260/98: Lubrication - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. This turbine engine assembly includes a first rotating structure, a turbine engine apparatus, a rotating coupler and a seal assembly. The first rotating structure is configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The turbine engine apparatus includes an electric machine and a second rotating structure. The electric machine includes an electric machine rotor and an electric machine stator. The second rotating structure is configured to rotate about the rotational axis and is coupled to the electric machine rotor. The rotating coupler is coupled to the first rotating structure by a first connection. The rotating coupler is coupled to the second rotating structure by a second connection. The seal assembly includes a rotating seal land and a stationary seal element. The rotating seal land is mounted onto the rotating coupler. The stationary seal element sealingly engages the rotating seal land. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly for a turbine engine, comprising: a first rotating structure configured to rotate about a rotational axis; a turbine engine apparatus including an electric machine and a second rotating structure, the electric machine including an electric machine rotor and an electric machine stator, the second rotating structure configured to rotate about the rotational axis and coupled to the electric machine rotor; a rotating coupler extending axially along the rotational axis from a first end of the rotating coupler to a second end of the rotating coupler, the rotating coupler coupled to the first rotating structure by a first connection located at the first end of the rotating coupler, and the rotating coupler coupled to the second rotating structure by a second connection located at the second end of the rotating coupler; and a seal assembly including a rotating seal land and a stationary seal element, the rotating seal land mounted onto the rotating coupler, and the stationary seal element sealingly engaging the rotating seal land. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the electric machine is configurable as at least one of a motor during a motor mode of operation; or a generator during a generator mode of operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the rotating seal land is arranged axially between the first connection and the second connection along the rotational axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a bearing rotatably supporting the first rotating structure; a first lubricant circuit configured to provide lubricant to the electric machine; and a second lubricant circuit configured to provide lubricant to the bearing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4, further comprising a lubricant source fluidly coupled in parallel with the first lubricant circuit and the second lubricant circuit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4, further comprising: a first lubricant source fluidly coupled with the first lubricant circuit; and a second lubricant source fluidly coupled with the second lubricant circuit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a bearing rotatably supporting the first rotating structure; a first lubricant circuit configured to provide first lubricant to the electric machine; and a second lubricant circuit configured to provide second lubricant to the bearing; the turbine engine apparatus further comprising a gearbox for the electric machine; and the first lubricant circuit further configured to provide the first lubricant to the gearbox. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a bearing rotatably supporting the first rotating structure; a first lubricant circuit configured to provide first lubricant to the electric machine; a second lubricant circuit configured to provide second lubricant to the bearing; and a gearbox for the electric machine; the second lubricant circuit further configured to provide the second lubricant to the gearbox. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first rotating structure comprises a turbine engine shaft coupled to the rotating coupler by the first connection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the first rotating structure further comprises a bladed rotor connected to the turbine engine shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first rotating structure comprises a gear in a gearbox for the electric machine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second rotating structure comprises a gear in a gearbox for the electric machine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second rotating structure comprises an electric machine shaft; and the electric machine rotor is mounted to the electric machine shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second rotating structure comprises the electric machine rotor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the rotating coupler comprises a flexible coupling disposed axially between the first connection and the second connection. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section and a flowpath extending sequentially through the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section; the turbine engine apparatus radially inboard of the flowpath. ### Claim 17 An assembly for a turbine engine, comprising: a turbine engine shaft configured to rotate about a rotational axis; a turbine engine module including an electric machine and a gearbox, the electric machine including an electric machine rotor and an electric machine stator, the gearbox including a rotating structure coupled to the electric machine rotor, and the rotating structure configured to rotate about the rotational axis; a rotating coupler coupled to the turbine engine shaft by a coupler-shaft spline connection, and the rotating coupler coupled to the rotating structure by a coupler-gearbox spline connection; and a seal assembly including a rotating seal land and a stationary seal element, the rotating seal land mounted onto the rotating coupler, and the stationary seal element sealingly engaging the rotating seal land. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The assembly of claim 17, further comprising: a bearing rotatably supporting the turbine engine shaft; a first lubricant circuit configured to provide lubricant to the turbine engine module; and a second lubricant circuit configured to provide lubricant to the bearing. ### Claim 19 An assembly for a turbine engine, comprising: a gearbox comprising a gearbox rotating structure configured to rotate about a rotational axis; a turbine engine module including an electric machine and a rotating structure, the electric machine including an electric machine rotor and an electric machine stator, the rotating structure configured to rotate about the rotational axis, and the rotating structure comprises or is coupled to the electric machine rotor; a rotating coupler coupled to the gearbox rotating structure by a coupler-gearbox connection, the rotating coupler coupled to the rotating structure by a coupler-electric machine connection, and the rotating coupler configured as a quill shaft; and a seal assembly including a rotating seal land and a stationary seal element, the rotating seal land mounted onto the rotating coupler, and the stationary seal element sealingly engaging the rotating seal land. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The assembly of claim 19, further comprising: a first lubricant circuit configured to provide lubricant to the gearbox; and a second lubricant circuit configured to provide lubricant to the electric machine.