Back to results
US 12,760,685 B2Granted
Gas turbine engine with front support arrangement
AssigneeRtx Corporation
InventorWilliam G. Sheridan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas turbine engine may include a propulsor section including a propulsor having propulsor blades extending from a propulsor hub. A speed reduction device interconnects a turbine and a propulsor shaft that drives the propulsor. Bearings are positioned on opposite sides of the speed reduction device. A propulsor drive gear module is also disclosed.
Claims20
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a propulsor section including a propulsor having propulsor blades extending from a propulsor hub, wherein the propulsor is rotatable about a longitudinal axis;
- a propulsor shaft that drives the propulsor;
- a compressor section including a first compressor and a second compressor;
- a speed reduction device including an epicyclic gear system, wherein the epicyclic gear system includes a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier and a plurality of intermediate gears supported on respective support members of the carrier, wherein the support members extend from the carrier to respective free ends;
- a turbine section including a first turbine and a second turbine, wherein the first turbine drives the second turbine, and the speed reduction device interconnects the second turbine and the propulsor shaft;
- a first bearing that supports rotation of the propulsor hub;
- and
- a second bearing that supports rotation of the propulsor hub, wherein the first and second bearings are positioned on opposite sides of the speed reduction device with respect to the longitudinal axis;
- wherein an outer race of the first bearing and an outer race of the second bearing are rotatable with the propulsor hub.
6 more elements
A propulsor drive gear module for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a sun gear;
- a ring gear;
- a plurality of intermediate gears surrounding the sun gear;
- and
- a carrier including a plurality of support members that support the respective intermediate gears, wherein the carrier includes first and second bearings on opposite sides of the carrier that are adapted to support a propulsor hub, the carrier is adapted to be fixed from rotation relative to an engine static structure, and the support members extend from the carrier at respective proximal ends to respective distal free ends;
- wherein the first bearing includes an inner race and an outer race, the outer race is adapted to be fixed relative to the propulsor hub such that the outer race is rotatable with the propulsor hub in the same direction and at the same rotation speed, the inner race of the first bearing is fixed from rotation relative to the carrier, the carrier is adapted to be fixed from rotation relative to the engine static structure, and an outer race of the second bearing is adapted to be fixed relative to the propulsor hub.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.